Saturday
On Saturday, delegates continued debate and were able to pass several resolutions! Read on for a rundown of the committees’ activities.
Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice
The CCPCJ Committee successfully passed four resolutions!
Resolutions addressed the concerns they have discussed throughout the past two days and are very encompassing. They focused heavily on security.
There will be stronger regulations in opioid-producing countries, nations with heavier traffic routes will have stronger security at points of entry and stricter regulations for police, financial institutions, and doctors who handle opioids.
They encourage doctors to be more cautious and encourage countries to make prescribing addictive opioids more difficult.
The establishment of the Council for Education will help form stronger education backgrounds on the dangers of opioid abuse along with hotspot schools and regions in areas where opioid use is higher.
They urge the creation of comparable anti-smoking campaigns as these have been proven effective in younger groups.
The resolution calls for the funding of local businesses to allow those who must sell opioids alternatives to support themselves and their families.
Finally, a needle buyback program was introduced to prevent the use of the same needles among multiple people.
Commission on the Status of Women
Counter Terrorism Committee
Delegates in the Counter Terrorism Committee debated Topic A: International Travel and Terrorism. Delegates from France and Saudi Arabia wanted to fund the sources of more protection and security of other countries, as terrorism and international travel have been linked since the advent of modern terror groups.
“It easier for terrorism to find their way into a country,” the delegate from Israel said.
The countries’ goals were to find solutions to stop terrorism. Russia delegate came up with a solution of advertising terrorism.
When Topic B: Non-state Funding of Terrorism was addressed, China, Israel and Afghanistan wanted more funding on a better Database to track terrorists easier and more quickly.
The delegate from France intertwined, saying, "Funding for a database is important; however, it should be less of a concern and we should focus on funding the army and security more, instead of relying 100% on computers." The delegate hopes to focus more on specific monitoring outside of database.
Another proposal was in set of how Drug Trafficking raises money for the terrorist. Many of the nations have come to an agreement that this is one big cause on why terrorists exist today. Many of the developed nations were trying to focus on the short term effects of stopping drug trafficking altogether. However, Israel made the point that “Developed countries have taken decades to stop the addictions. Long strategies to fight addiction are not easy as well, a proposed solution is to just cut off drugs altogether.
Disarmament and International Security Committee
International Law Commisison
The UConn Model United Nations International Law Commission passed three resolutions encouraging popular sovereignty and support for social and economic development in territories.
“Our first priority should be to ensure a [territories] is given the proper conditions to improve themselves and determine their own destiny,” the delegation of the Central African Republic said. “As a council, we need to make sure first and foremost territories are in a good condition so they can properly transition.”
One bloc of the commission created a working paper that created a policy to advance infrastructure and technology, reform and education territories known as the TRE Branch plan.
“It’s a way to fix all the inhumane treatments that are happening to these territories,” the delegation from France said. “The territory is an extension, a branch of the mother country. They can grow and sustain themselves while still being under control of the mother country.”
The resolutions also call for the creation of a voter education program to allow territory citizens to make an education decision about assimilation or independence.
The commission also called upon NGOs and corporations to emphasize bringing technology and education to territories.
Joint Crisis Committee
United Nations Development Programme
Delegates in the United Nations Development Programme were assigned to Topic A, discussed Energy Production in Developing Countries. France’s Delegate was fighting for a long-term effect of changing nonrenewable energy to renewable energy instead of thinking about Short term effects of changing between both until 2030. France wanted to get rid of fossil fuel all together.
“Fossil fuel can be expensive depending on how it’s used, and we need to look for solutions for nonrenewable energy and get rid of fossil fuels,” the delegate from France said.
Delegates from nations China, Ethiopia, Chad, and Egypt were fighting for more coal, oil and fossil fuel use due to the fact that it is more efficient and cheaper.
“Some need energy for survival, we need to provide that energy as soon as possible and provide the cheapest route in order to jumpstart more green energy,” the delegate from Egypt said.
The representations of these specific countries were fighting for more fossil fuel and oil for small developing countries.
“Developed countries should give their technologies to developing countries to improve on energy production,” the delegate from South Africa said.
South Africa is interested in learning more about Green Energy, which is why they proposed they would educted the adults on how to handle this type of energy properly and safely.
"Further development of nuclear energy can become a catastrophe to developing countries," the delegate from France said.
France believes giving nuclear weapons to developing countries for the purpose of building green energy is questionable, because anyone would talk that power and use it for bad. The United Kingdom also agreed with this statement because it is too expensive to just “hand it out to anyone.”
United Nations Environment Programme
United Nations Environment Programme started to discuss Topic A: Working with Regional Seas. Many nations have come to an agreement that there should be a law to tax big companies’ polluters instead of taxing citizens. Also to spread more awareness of environmental damages through social media and education.
“The one who polluted the ocean with oil or filled the air with toxin should be responsible and should not be clumsy onto why so much pollutant is getting to our environment," the delegate from Afghanistan said.
Even though some countries have banned dumping trash into developing countries, many continue to do it without consequence.
The delegate from India brought up the issue of developed countries bring their trash to developing countries and leaving it in their hands to handle what happens to the trash. Germany and Brazil produced a solution to take care of the trash by actually rescuing, recycling, and reducing it all. Pakistan argues that developed countries should work to develop a cleaner environment, not just the developing countries.
Many of the nations have agreed to spread awareness through big corporations and education on of the consequences of littering and dumping things in places wherever without suffering the consequences. As China delegate stated “Everyone is polluting the environment not just the big corporations, many people just do not realize their carbon footprint they leave behind or how they actually do not do anything about improving for a cleaner environment.”
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
UNESCO delegates presented working papers to the rest of the committee regarding how to protect cultural heritage sites. The working papers included ideas regarding education, youth involvement, terror attacks, and preservation.
Working Paper 1.1 promotes and discusses how best to educate people about World Heritage sites. Ideas in the paper include increasing social media usage, establishing virtual tours, encouraging tourism and regulating it. Questions about virtual tours were raised by the delegate from Libya about whether virtual tours would remove economic benefit from touring in person. The sponsors responded by asserting that anyone with the means to visit a UNESCO World Heritage site would still do so in person.
Establishing a junior ranger program is discussed in Working Paper 5.1. According to the paper, the longevity of the World Heritage sites is dependent on youth involvement, which is why a junior ranger program should be established. When asked by the delegate from Israel who these junior rangers would be, the sponsors of this paper responded by saying they would be 5-18 years old, and it would be an extracurricular activity. The delegate from Syria asked who would teach these rangers, and the paper’s sponsors responded that adult park rangers would teach the program. The delegate from Iraq voiced support for this program because it would give children something productive and educational to do.
The working papers establish means of protection for World Heritage sites against terror attacks. Clause four of Working Paper 2.1 establishes a no-fly zone over World Heritage sites that currently are or have been under threat. It establishes that the United States Committee U.S Committee of the Blue Shield should be allowed to react in emergency responses at risk of cultural armed conflict.
The working papers establish means of protection against negative environmental impacts. Clause 5 of Working Paper 3.1 states, “Asks member nations to act against corporate damage to the environment and natural heritage sites by implementing emission caps and moratoriums on particularly harmful practices like fracking.” In an interview conducted with the Press Corps, the delegate from Serbia voiced support for this clause saying it will help protect people and their cultures.
In interviews conducted by the press corps with the delegate from Syria, the delegate stated that all of the working papers have good ideas but need to be more concise and state ideas more clearly. The delegate from Yemen voiced concerns that some programs such as the junior ranger program might not be practical in lesser developed countries.
United Nations High Commission for Refugees
The UNHCR debated job placement and integration as a key solution to the economic refugee issue.
“Inflation and lack of infrastructure caused the economic deterioration of Latin American countries,” said the delegate from the United Kingdom.
Germany offered that, by introducing a national database for employment opportunities, refugees in their host countries can search for work that is related to many of the kills they already have.
France agreed and mentioned that the “civil service” program, an employment database program, is used in their own country is a potential solution as well.
The United Kingdom also addressed how the lack of legal representation plays a big role in this as well.
The delegate said that NGOs like American Civil Liberties group is one that could be helpful.
United Nations Human Rights Council
United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund
United Nations Security Council
In the midst of their deliberations on whether it should use the International Criminal Court (ICC) or a new tribunal to investigate the Rohingya genocice by Myanmar, the UConn Model United Nations Security Council council learned that Myanmar announced it would arrest all journalists in the country and ban any others from entering.
“The actions taken against the press aren’t just immoral, they don’t make sense for Myanmar,” the delegation from Bangladesh said. “The only thing more information could do is change our minds.”
“A rational person could conclude maybe Myanmar has something to hide,” the delegation from the United Kingdom said.
The United States resisted the idea of the UN involving itself in this matter.
“Unfortunately there’s not much international legislation can do about this as we respect the nation sovereignty of Myanmar,” the delegation from the United States said. “If they want to restrict freedom of speech and freedom of press as disappointing as that is to the United States, they can do that.”
This development reflected the larger instability in the region. The delegates were divided on the use of the ICC to monitor the situation.
“Moving forward with a tribunal with countries may be a better way to move forward then going through with the ICC,” the delegation from Japan said.
Nations such as Finland supported the establishment of a tribunal.
“There is no such thing as no bias, everyone has a bias,” the delegation from Finland said.
“Every country is biased towards their own interests whether they realize it or not. The best way to cancel this bias is to have multiple independent organizations from multiple areas of the world investigate.”
The United States of America supported the use of the ICC.
“It is very good at getting the job done. It is very good at prosecuting. It is very good at making sure the people responsible for these atrocities are punished,” the delegation from the United States said.
India emphasized that a regional solution with minimal ICC oversight would be more appropriate as it would be better able to understand the cultural issues in the region.
“The ICC, despite it being an organization that has been around for over 70 years, it is a huge and really slow moving organization that will not be adequate in dealing with the issues we see in Rakhine state today,” the delegation from India said.
United Nations Social, Cultural and Humanitarian Affairs Committee
The UConn Model United Nations Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee passed a resolution inviting countries in which LGBTQ+ rights are not protected to allow their citizens to emigrate to safe haven locations.
“Safe haven cities are a beautiful middle ground solution,” the delegation from Thailand said. “There is a very prominent LGBTQ community and night life that is especially represented in these cities and simply having a city lapeled a safe haven would allow these comm to exist without fear.”
Ghana, Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan proposed this plan. The resolution also focused on education about LGBTQ+ issues as a means for social change in countries where the rights of LGBTQ+ citizens are limited. The plan also created a system of safe haven cities for LGBTQ+ people who face persecution in their home countries.
“They shouldn’t be treated as a long-term solution,” the delegation from Ghana said. “Countries should start focusing on long-term goals and these would be initiatives to educate people in Tier II cities so they can finally move into Tier I status if they choose to.”
The sponsors said their plan would help pave the way for more countries to legalize same-sex marriage.
“Our whole plan is providing resources for those who want to take those steps,” the delegation from Kyrgyzstan said.
Some countries, such as Venezuela, were originally skeptical of the idea.
“Even though the goal of them is to increase assimilation and acceptance, but it will allow Tier III countries to forget about the issue on the whole because they won't have to deal with these people,” the delegation from Venezuela said. “It’s counter-productive.”
The committee voted down another resolution sponsored by Brazil and Saudi Arabia. The resolution invited nations that do not condone same-sex marriage to allow LGBTQ+ citizens to emigrate to other countries. The countries harboring these refugees would receive funding from NGOs if needed.
World Health Organization
Delegates noted that the mass production of vaccines is the first step to increasing their availability in all countries.
"Education on disease prevention should be focused alongside vaccines,” said the delegate from India.
Sri Lanka was concerned about how this would be funded, citing that a lot of resources are needed to increase availability.
Pakistan said by using NGOs, the United Nations can help open public clinics that will be used to education and the administration of the vaccines.
They hope to use this targeted approach to address the most pressing areas first.
The WHO Committee also took a look at more working papers today after France introduced one that took a broad approach on how to educate countries and spread the availability vaccines.
“If we don’t utilize the systems we have, we aren’t doing the job of the UN, we should always be looking back and fixing things,” the delegate said.
WHO took this to heart in discussing a social media campaign that could spread the positivity among vaccines.
“Often times, we only see vaccine horror stories” the UK delegate said, and through a social media campaign, they feel that spreading the success stories will build trust in communities.
Among this, the working paper calls for a major education reform that can teach the youth about the safety and importance of vaccines. This will be taught by a specialist that will be transported by the UN to the country in need.
They also ensured that the countries that need the aid the most will be adequately funded. This will be done by identifying the countries with the highest anti-vaccine rates and lowest vaccination rates.
Nigeria brought up the buddy system as discussed earlier in the day. The delegate expressed concerns that countries will not be paired up in a fair and efficient way and hope that a resolution can be more specific in identifying this.
A possible five-year contract can be used to solve this.