Delegate Handbook
SPONSORS
Institute of World Affairs Center for International Education University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
SECRETARIAT
University of Wisconsin Madison and Milwaukee Students
COOPERATING ORGANIZATIONS
UNA-USA Wisconsin Division Wisconsin Governors Commission on the UN
The 2012 Wisconsin High School Model United Nations (WHSMUN) Secretariat is proud to offer this handbook to assist in your preparations for the upcoming conference. This handbook contains detailed background guides for each subcommittee topic; research and procedural information; primers on the United Nations (UN), European Union (EU), Human Rights Council (HRC) and International Court of Justice (ICJ); as well as other important conference information. Background guides for the Security Council (SC), Historical Security Council (HSC), Council of the European Union (CEU), Human Rights Council (HRC), International Court of Justice (ICJ), and Joint Crisis Committee (JCC) simulations will be sent to participating schools in January 2012. We are pleased to announce that in addition to comprehensive awards, we will continue to give awards for the outstanding position papers. The criteria for these awards can be found in this handbook. If you have any questions about the handbook or need any assistance with conference preparation, please contact Secretary-General Sami Ghani by e-mailing him at wisconsinhighschoolmun@gmail.com. We hope that you will find this handbook helpful in your preparations and look forward to seeing you in March!
Sami Ghani
Secretary-General
Roshni Nedungadi
Director-General
Adriana Viswanatha
Under Secretary-General of Conference Administration
Roger Diehl
Under Secretary-General of Crisis Administration
Grant Bodner
Under Secretary-General of Human Rights Council
Maris Janssen
Under Secretary-General of Legal Council
Table of Contents
Table of Contents ...................................................................................................................................... 3 WHSMUN Information ............................................................................................................................ 4 ARE YOU READY? ............................................................................................................................. 5 Preparation.......................................................................................................................................... 5 Responsibilities .................................................................................................................................. 5 Knowledge of the UN......................................................................................................................... 6 Conference Procedures and Rules ...................................................................................................... 6 Understanding Your Nation ................................................................................................................ 6 Special Simulation Member States ........................................................................................................ 6 Security Council ................................................................................................................................. 6 Historical Security Council 1956 ....................................................................................................... 7 Human Rights Council ....................................................................................................................... 7 Council of the European Union .......................................................................................................... 7 Tentative Schedule of Events................................................................................................................. 7 Explanation of Events ............................................................................................................................ 8 Conference Information .......................................................................................................................... 10 General Conference Information ......................................................................................................... 10 Number of Delegates ........................................................................................................................ 10 Dress Code ....................................................................................................................................... 10 WHSMUN 2012 Delegate Code of Conduct ....................................................................................11 Conference Staff ............................................................................................................................... 12 Delegate Services ............................................................................................................................. 12 Awards .............................................................................................................................................. 13 Opening Ceremony .............................................................................................................................. 13 Blocs .................................................................................................................................................... 14 Subcommittees ..................................................................................................................................... 14 Main Committees................................................................................................................................. 14 General Assembly Plenary Session ..................................................................................................... 15 Security Council / Historical Security Council ................................................................................... 15 International Court of Justice............................................................................................................... 16 Joint Crisis Committee: Central Intelligence Agency and the (KGB) .......................................................................................................................... 16 Conference Preparation and Research .................................................................................................... 17 Role-Playing ........................................................................................................................................ 17 The Head Delegate .............................................................................................................................. 17 Researching Your Topic ....................................................................................................................... 17 Resources.......................................................................................................................................... 18 Review of the United Nations .......................................................................................................... 20 Review of the International Court of Justice .................................................................................... 23 Human Rights Council ..................................................................................................................... 23 WHSMUN 2012 Topics and Subcommittee Guides ............................................................................... 24 1.1 Prevention of Small Arms and Light Weapons Trafficking ........................................................... 25 1.2 Piracy in Somalia and its Effect on Regional Security .................................................................. 26 1.3 Outer Space Arms Race ................................................................................................................. 27 1.4 Establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East ........................... 28 1. 5 Cyber Warfare ............................................................................................................................... 29
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2.1 Promoting the Proliferation of Green Technologies ...................................................................... 29 2.2 Improving Fairness on the International Market to Facilitate Growth .......................................... 30 2.3 The International Debt Crisis......................................................................................................... 31 2.4 Improving the International Monetary Fund (IMF)....................................................................... 32 2.5 Micro Financing and the Developing World ................................................................................. 33 3.1 Protection of Human Rights in a War Zone ................................................................................... 34 3.2 Rights to Clean Drinking Water .................................................................................................... 35 3.3 Humanitarian Crisis in Darfur and Sudan and the Violation of International Law ....................... 37 3.4 Ethnic Tensions in China ............................................................................................................... 38 3.5 Displacement of Refugees ............................................................................................................. 39 Position Papers..................................................................................................................................... 40 Resolutions .......................................................................................................................................... 41 Preambulatory Phrases ..................................................................................................................... 41 Operative Clauses ............................................................................................................................. 42 Example of Draft Resolution: The Economics of Global Warming ................................................. 42 Rules and Procedures .............................................................................................................................. 43 Administration and General Conference Rules ................................................................................... 43 Section 1: Administration ................................................................................................................. 43 Section 2: General Rules .................................................................................................................. 44 Section 3: General Assembly (GA) .................................................................................................. 45 Section 4: General Assembly Rules (Points & Motions in Order of Precedence) ........................... 47 Section 5: Main Committees ............................................................................................................ 50 Section 6: Subcommittees ................................................................................................................ 50 Section 7: Security Council (SC) and Historical Security Council (HSC) ...................................... 51 Section 8: Security Council Rules (Points of Procedure and Motions in Order of Precedence) ..... 52 Section 9: Council of the European Union ....................................................................................... 54 Section 10: Council of the European Union Rules........................................................................... 55 Appendices .............................................................................................................................................. 58 Appendix 1: WHSMUN GA Parliamentary Procedure Short Form .................................................... 58 Appendix 2: WHSMUN SC/HSC Parliamentary Procedure Short Form............................................ 59 Appendix 3: WHSMUN CEU Parliamentary Procedure Short Form ................................................. 60 Appendix 4: Qualified Majority Voting (QMV) .................................................................................. 61
Responsibilities
At WHSMUN, students assume the identities and world-views of diplomats from UN member states. Accurate role-playing and representation is critical to being a successful WHSMUN delegate. Shed your American worldview (except for those representing the US!) and adopt the perspectives of the nation you represent. In all your preparation before the conference and all your activity at the conference, you must think and act like a politician from the nation you represent. Consider the economic and political background of people in your nation. What ideologies do they adhere to? Look at their cultures and religions. What do they value? How does their government reflect this? What does it consider important? Consider, for example, whether a repressive government that consistently denies its citizens basic human rights would actually vote for a resolution supporting womens rights to equal access to education. The more you submerge yourself in the identity of a UN representative from your assigned nation, the more fun you will have participating at WHSMUN. Role-playing is play after all, but it also broadens your understanding of others, an important ingredient of the kind of international cooperation promoted by the real United Nations. Once you have received your country and subcommittee assignments, the first step is to decide who will represent the nation in each subcommittee. Only one delegate may be assigned to each of the delegations subcommittees. Schools assigned to the Security Council and other special simulations will require extra delegates, as those simulations will be running at the same time as subcommittees, main committees, and the General Assembly Plenary session. Set up a time schedule for collecting and reading material that should include the following: general information about the United Nations, background information on your country including social, cultural, economic, and political data; bloc ideologies as derived by other organizations your country may belong to; developing and sharpening communication skills needed for effective participation including writing of resolutions, rules of procedure, and public speaking. Do not rely solely on the information presented in this handbook, as it is not intended to be comprehensive. The most effective diplomats are often generalists. Certainly divide the workload and specialize, but do not go so far that you completely ignore topics in other subcommittees. The Plenary session of the General Assembly involves all members of each delegation, and a broad understanding of all topics will come in handy.
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Knowledge of the UN
Participation in the Model United Nations conference requires background knowledge of how the UN operates, even for those not in a UN body at this conference. The following topics are useful to understand: what powers the UN has, the history of the UNs work, and the purposes and functions of the various organs and related agencies of the UN. Begin this part of your research by reading the primer on the UN in this book. Several publications from the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) are available to delegations as a Model UN Kit and will help you in learning more about the UN. Some helpful publications from this organization include: UN at a Glance, Everyones United Nations, Reference Guide to the United Nations, and A Global Agenda: Issues before the United Nations 2010-2011. To order these publications, write to the Publications Department at UNA-USA, 485 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10017-6104 or call (866) 335-4001. Basic Facts About the United Nations, published by the UN itself, is also a good resource. Although not all delegates are a part of special simulations, we encourage all students to independently understand the purpose, format, powers, and history of these bodies. This handbook has a primer on the ICJ and HRC that contain basic information, but you should also consider doing some additional searching for facts, history, policy, statements and structure of these bodies.
8:30 11:30
General Assembly Convenes, Special Committees Resume Lunch Faculty Evaluation Session General Assembly Reconvenes, Special Committees Resume SC, HSC, CEU, ICJ, HRC, and JCC Meetings Adjourn (report to GA Chambers) SC, HSC, CEU, ICJ, HRC, and JCC Reports Closing Ceremonies
9:00 AM
Opening Ceremonies
Representatives of UW-Madison, UWM, and the Institute of World Affairs will give opening remarks followed by the keynote speaker. Up to three delegates, representing different world regions, will then be given the opportunity to make opening statements. Statements will be limited to five minutes and should express the viewpoint of the country represented. Lastly, the Secretary-General will address the General Assembly.
The SC and HSC may request the presence of non-SC/HSC delegations, which will be role-played by the Secretariat.
1:30 PM
Lunch Break
Delegates should take advantage of this valuable opportunity to caucus with fellow delegates while enjoying lunch in the UWM Student Union or at a nearby restaurant. At the United Nations, diplomacy is often conducted best in the Delegate Lounge between official meetings. WHSMUN delegates may even want to plan meetings over lunch with members of their committees.
2:30 PM
The Main Committees will consider the resolutions drafted in their respective subcommittees. Each Main Committee will debate, amend, and either pass or reject each subcommittees resolution. Those draft resolutions that are passed will be placed on the General Assemblys agenda as amended. SC, HSC, CEU, ICJ, HRC, and JCC Meetings resume as well.
Break Main Committees, Special Committees Resume Dinner and Diplomacy Evening Activities
Enjoy a night of activities with your fellow delegates hosted by the Secretariat. Optional activities include a delegate dance and recreational activities within the UWM Student Union.
10:30 PM
Buses will leave the UWM Student Union, bound for the Doubletree Hotel, under Secretariat supervision. Delegates should assemble in lines for their designated bus by 10:15 PM.
FridayMarch 23, 2012 7:15 AM Buses Begin to Depart from Doubletree Hotel
Buses will leave the Doubletree Hotel, bound for the UWM Student Union, under Secretariat supervision. Delegates should assemble in lines for their designated bus by 7:00 AM.
8:30 AM
Resolutions passed in the Main Committees will be discussed, possibly amended, and put to a vote in the General Assembly Plenary. All delegates who were assigned to a subcommittee must be in attendance. The SC, HSC, CEU, ICJ, HRC and JCC will continue their sessions until lunch. .
1:00 PM 2:40 PM
General Assembly Plenary, Special Committees Resume Special Committees to General Assembly
All delegates from the SC, HSC, CEU, ICJ, HRC, and JCC should report to the General Assembly. Representatives of each body will present a progress report on their work to the General Assembly.
3:00 PM
Closing Ceremonies
The Secretary-General will offer closing remarks and distribute awards. The General Assembly will then end its session for the year.
Dress Code
Delegates will be expected to dress in professional (Western) business attire for all WHSMUN meetings. This means jackets and ties for young men and dresses or suits for young women. No jeans, casual wear, or attire traditional to the country they are representing are permitted. Delegates presenting themselves in military attire will not be permitted to participate. If students are dressed inappropriately, the staff will discuss the situation with the student and faculty advisor. Students will be asked to change, or under serious circumstances, will not be permitted to participate. Please also note that in accordance with official UN rules, overt national symbols are not permitted at WHSMUN. This means that delegates may not wear pins of their national flag, bring in flags, or decorate their placards with national symbols.
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Badges
All delegates must wear their names badges at all times. This allows other delegates and staff to quickly recognize who you are and which nation you represent. Name badges serve as your credentials as a UN delegate. Badges are color-coded. Certain areas of the conference are off limits to those not wearing a staff badge. Dark Blue: Senior Staff Blue: Staff Yellow: Faculty White: Delegate
Placards
In the General Assembly, a placard with the country name of each delegation will be placed at the delegations group of seats. These are the property of WHSMUN and must not be defaced or damaged. Please be good environmental stewards and leave the placards in reusable condition. Leave placards on their assigned tables throughout the course of the conference. Delegations caught using placards for nations of which they are not assigned will have that placard confiscated and will be dismissed from the conference. Schools will be billed for careless damage to placards.
Prohibited Items
During ALL SESSIONS, no mobile phones, games, drawing, music players, newspapers, magazines, or other diversions (at the discretion of the Secretariat) will be tolerated. The staff will confiscate such items for the remainder of the conference, and the students faculty advisor will be informed. Delegates may be dismissed from any WHSMUN meeting if the rules of conduct are not observed.
Illegal Substances
The consumption, purchase, transport, and possession of illegal drugs or alcohol are strictly prohibited during the conference and conference events, including during evening activities and at the hotel. Delegates who appear to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol at any time during WHSMUN or any affiliated activity will be removed from the conference and their faculty advisors notified.
Hotel Behavior
Out of respect to fellow delegates and other hotel guests, noise in the halls and rooms of the hotels should be kept to a minimum. Conference staff will work in close contact with hotel security and faculty advisors to ensure the enforcement of quiet hours. At midnight delegates should be in their rooms with doors closed. Conversation and caucusing will be permitted as long as conversation is not audible outside of individual rooms. If the hotel security or conference staff feel the caucusing privilege is being abused in any way, delegates will be asked to return to their own rooms immediately.
Safety
To ensure your safety, please notify your faculty advisor if you leave the hotel premises during evening free
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time. Furthermore, if you decide to leave the hotel, be sure to travel in groups of no fewer than three people. The safety of the delegates is of the utmost importance to WHSMUN staff. Should you ever feel unsafe, please inform your faculty advisor or a staff member immediately.
Promptness
The conference runs on a very tight schedule. Please be considerate to other delegates and be on time to all meetings. Committees will start promptly according to schedule. The presence of each delegation is extremely important to debates and voting. Role call will be taken at the beginning of each session.
Respect
WHSMUN does not tolerate harassment or inappropriate behavior toward other delegates or staff members. Please remember that proper diplomatic decorum is appropriate during the conference and common courtesy is expected during all free time activities. Delegates are asked to remember that they are a representative of WHSMUN, their schools, and themselves. Delegates should ensure that they are in compliance at all times with the rules and regulations of UWM, the hotel, and the WHSMUN conference.
Concerns/Suggestions
Please inform either a member of the Secretariat or your faculty advisor of any problems or suggestions that you have at any time during the conference.
Disciplinary Action
Please understand that should you violate any of the terms of the above code of conduct, you may be subject to disciplinary action including dismissal from WHSMUN and all conference activities without financial compensation and up to a year suspension for your school. Furthermore, in extreme cases, disciplinary or legal action may be taken against any delegate by the conference staff, the hotel, faculty advisors and the Milwaukee Police.
Universality
Please note that all conference participants are bound, through their agreement to partake as a delegation, to uphold in good faith the principles, rules, and regulations of the WHSMUN code of conduct.
Conference Staff
The WHSMUN staff is composed of University of Wisconsin-Madison and Milwaukee students. All have experience in Model United Nations (MUN) and in the areas of international relations and diplomacy, but the degree of experience varies among the staff. Each staff member has been trained by the Senior Staff. The staff serves as the Secretariat, which supervises all activities and simulations at the conference. They work as committee chairs, rapporteurs, delegate services officers, and pages. Any seniors wishing to participate as a staff member in next years WHSMUN should speak to their committee chair for information. We are always seeking new people to help run the conference and make it a success in the future. For more information after the conference, email this years Secretary-General, Charlotte Stein, at wisconsinhighschoolmun@gmail.com.
Delegate Services
The Delegate Services room will be located within the Student Union. WHSMUN staff will be available to answer questions about procedures, like amendments, replace name badges, provide directions to rooms, and assist you with other information about the conference such as research questions.
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Awards
While awards are an attempt at a formalistic measure of pre-conference preparation and conference performance, there is much more to the MUN experience than winning awards. WHSMUN is not a contest; rather, it is a means of providing participants with an introduction to international issues, foreign policy, consensus building, negotiation, conflict resolution and the United Nations. WHSMUN delegates should not be motivated by the prospects of winning an award alone. Instead, an award should come as a pleasant surprise for an overall wellprepared and well-executed work at the conference. At WHSMUN, there are two types of awards: position paper awards and comprehensive awards. There will be one position paper award for each subcommittee. To be considered for recognition, papers must be received by March 2, 2012. Papers will be judged primarily on the clarity of the information presented and the consistency of the position with the countrys actual policy. Use of proper spelling and grammar and overall quality of writing will be factored into award calculations. The second type of award is the comprehensive award. These awards are designed to take into account the overall performance of delegations throughout the two days of the conference. Actions in subcommittees, main committees, and the General Assembly will count toward this award. Awards are given to an entire delegation based on the performance of its delegates throughout the conference. For example, if the delegate from Nigeria does extremely well in his/her particular subcommittee by actively participating in debate and resolution writing, but the rest of his/her delegation performs at a lower level; it is unlikely that the Nigerian delegation will earn a comprehensive award. Delegations with consistent performance in each subcommittee will have a much better chance. Comprehensive awards are solely based on the voting of fellow delegates, and not of Secretariat members. Ballots will be distributed to delegates in committees, where they will vote on award winners. However, violation of any conference rule may render a delegation ineligible for an award, at the discretion of the Secretary-General. There are a total of three outstanding delegation awards in the General Assembly. For those delegates in the SC, HSC, CEU, ICJ, HRC, and JCC two awards will be given on an individual committee basis, one for most accurate diplomatic portrayal of a country and another for exceptional research and position paper. Performance in these committees will not affect the ability to earn a comprehensive award.
Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony is the first meeting of the conference. At this time, up to three pre-selected delegates will give speeches representing their country. Delegates will be selected from different world regions to make opening remarks. The statements are strictly limited to five minutes in length and generally should represent sentiments of the country and region being represented, emphasizing important issues and expressing their hopes for what will be accomplished at WHSMUN. Delegations wishing to make opening remarks should submit a letter explaining why their nation should be given the opportunity speak at the opening session, and briefly outline what they would like to say. Again, these opening speeches should respect the rules of diplomatic language and conduct. It is important that material contained in a representatives speech accurately reflects the beliefs and views of their home government, as well as sentiments for productive diplomacy and global cooperation. These requests are due by March 2, 2012 addressed to: UWM Institute of World Affairs, Attn: Dina Wolf, WHSMUN Coordinator, Center for International Education, P.O. Box 413, Milwaukee, WI 53201 The Secretariat will announce delegations that have been selected prior to the conference.
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Blocs
In the past, WHSMUN has scheduled bloc meetings as a preparation for subcommittee meetings. Though bloc meetings have been eliminated from WHSMUN, it is extremely useful to know which other countries share your foreign policy goals. In subcommittee and, later, in main committee sessions, it may be useful to find these delegations and compare ideas for resolution writing. Blocs can be defined by geographical proximity, membership in regional organizations like the African Union (AU), European Union (EU) and Arab League, or shared cultural, political, or economic goals.
Subcommittees
The subcommittees are smaller groups of delegates, between 25 and 45 students, who discuss specific topic areas. The meetings are run informally and the discussion is in depth. Due to the small group interaction, delegates find that subcommittees are often the most productive and enjoyable sessions of the conference. Each delegation will be assigned to six subcommittees (two in each main committee) and may only send one delegate to each meeting. Please make sure that students know all of the subcommittees to which your delegation has been assigned. Delegates will not be allowed to change subcommittees once at the conference. Delegates should try to become familiar with all aspects of their subcommittee topics in their pre-conference research. Collect useful facts and statistics, and become an expert on the topic. Determine your nations comprehensive position on the topic. Write a position paper that reflects your nations views and concerns. Background guides for all subcommittee topics as well as position paper guidelines and tips for research are found later in the handbook. Delegates must submit a position paper on their topic by March 2, 2012. A great deal of work goes into distributing the position papers before the conference so please make sure you submit your position papers on time! In each subcommittee, delegates will discuss and debate the topic at length, working towards a resolution. Each subcommittee will report to its Main Committee during the Monday afternoon session. These Main Committees will consider the subcommittee resolutions. Those that are passed in the Main Committee will be reviewed by the secretariat and eventually placed on the General Assembly agenda for Tuesday. In your preparation, do not neglect the other topics that will be considered at the conference. Develop an understanding about the research your fellow delegates are doing. Participate in your delegations discussion and strategy sessions. After the subcommittee meetings are over, you will participate in the Main Committee and the General Assembly sessions, so be prepared to discuss topics other than your own. This general understanding is absolutely essential for a productive session in your Main Committee.
Main Committees
The General Assembly meets on Thursday in the form of Subcommittees and Main Committees. These committees join together to form the General Assembly Plenary Session on Friday. The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security), Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural), and Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) all begin by considering the draft resolutions presented by their subcommittees. Resolutions passed by the Main Committees are submitted to the GA Plenary Session for final consideration. In preparing for the Main Committees, delegates should review the revised edition of parliamentary procedure that is featured at the end of the handbook.
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CEU delegations should have position papers of no more than one paragraph per issue submitted to WHSMUN by March 2, 2012.
understanding of your issue, especially as it pertains to your country. 2) Brief summary of your countrys foreign policy and history Know the international organizations (especially regional entities like the African Union or the Organization for American States) to which your country is a member. Often, countries in these organizations have shared interests and can serve as great diplomatic allies at the conference. 3) Important documents and organizations related to your topic In order to create purposeful and efficient resolutions, you must find out how the United Nations has acted on your particular topic in the past. Look for organizations, programs, or other UN bodies that could be extended, changed, eliminated, or replaced. Moreover, you do not want to re-write an existing resolution; innovation is essential. 4) Your countrys reaction to existing UN resolutions You should understand your countrys position on previous UN resolutions. It is not necessary to research every vote your country has made; simply apply what you have already learned about your countrys general foreign policy (see step #2) to important resolutions and create an educated and accurate position. 5) Recent Developments on your Topic, both Domestic and International Read the newspaper! Keep up-to-date on substantial occurrences affecting your country and the international community. Foreign policy and international relationships can change very quickly.
Resources
The United Nations Foundation has designed an excellent up-to-date news service about the UN that you will find helpful in preparing your research (www.unfoundation.org). Other good resources to consult include The New York Times (www.nytimes.com), The Wall Street Journal (www.wallstreetjournal.com), The Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com/), The Christian Science Monitor (www.csmonitor.com/), The Economist (www.economist.com), Foreign Affairs (www.foreignaffairs.org/), the CIA World Fact Book (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html). For more specific information about the UN, you should consult A Global Agenda: Issues before the United Nations 2010-2011, the InterDependent (both by UNA-USA), and the UN Monthly Chronicle. Your school or community librarian should be able to assist you with the UN document searches of subcommittee topics. Current GA resolutions and documents are easiest to locate on-line at http://www.un.org/en/ga/64/agenda/index.shtml. The Public Inquiries Unit of the UN will send upon request a Model UN Kit, which provides general information. You may also request particular information or resolutions on any issue the UN is currently addressing. Mail your request to: Public Inquiries Unit, UN Department of Public Information, United Nations, New York, New York 10017 or call (212) 963-4475. One of the best sources for carrying out Model UN research in recent years is the Internet. Ask your school librarian to help you conduct research on the computer.
Regional/Intergovernmental Organizations:
Organization of American States http://www.oas.org African Union http://www.africa-union.org Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) http://www.aseansec.org European Union (EU) http://europa.eu/index_en.htm Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) http://www.osce.org The Commonwealth http://www.thecommonwealth.org/ The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) http://caricom.org/ South African Development Community (SADC) http://www.sadc.int/ South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) http://www.saarc-sec.org/
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meaning simply that the equality of all states is respected in the UN. Every state, regardless of stature, size, economy, religious affiliation, or political history, shares the same privileges and responsibilities set forth in the charter. Furthermore, as exemplified in the voting procedures of the General Assembly, the voice of each state in all matters of relevance is weighted equally and without bias. Also key is the Charters specification of the UN as a center for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of [their] common ends, a luxury not previously enjoyed by members of the international community. Another important aspect of the Charter, as stated in its second article, is its provision for the respect of state sovereignty in domestic issues. The 13 articles of the 7th chapter of the Charter provide possibly the greatest advancement from the Leagues subjection. These articles deal with actions to be taken by the organization in the case of a situation the Security Council may deem a threat to peace or an act of aggression. Should the SC identify such a situation, the United Nations, under the authority of chapter 7 retains the power to act either with force or through the interruption of economic relations to restore international peace. Much of the UNs peace enforcement success has come through the Security Councils successful implementation of the articles of chapter 7. A complete text version of the United Nations Charter may be viewed online at http://www.un.org/aboutun/charter/index.html. As specified in the charter, the United Nations is composed of six principle organs, the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Secretariat, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and the Trusteeship Council, which is now defunct. The largest of these organs, the General Assembly, is comprised of representatives of each member nation and is tasked with dialogue and debate on any matters within the scope of the Charter and may make recommendations as to possible resolutions for such matters. Questions considered by the Assembly range from maintenance of international security to promoting cooperation among developing nations to the UNs finances and budget. With the exception of certain important issues, voting procedures in the General Assembly require a simple majority to pass, embodying the principle of sovereign equality and making the GA the UNs most democratic organ. To maintain order and efficiency within the GA, it has organized itself into six main committees, including the GA plenary, the 1st Committee (Political and Security), 2nd Committee (Economic and Financial), 3rd (Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural), 4th (Special Political and Decolonization), 5th (Administrative and Budgetary), and the 6th Committee (Legal). These committees meet to make recommendations to be approved in the General Assembly Plenary sessions. Undoubtedly the most notable organ of the UN is the Security Council, composed of the 5 permanent members (P5) China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, and the United States along with ten, GA-elected, non-permanent members who hold two-year terms. The permanent members of the SC possess a permanent veto over substantive motions, meaning the assent or abstention of all the P5 members is almost always necessary for the adoption of substantive matters. The SC is delegated with the responsibility of insuring the maintenance of international peace and security and is the only organ with the authority to act on what it determines to be a threat to security or act of aggression. Along with its enforcement authority comes several other important functions including making recommendations for the selection of the Secretary General, annual reports to the GA, and electing the judges of the ICJ. ECOSOC, the Economic and Social Council is a 54 member body whose representatives are elected to a rotating 3 year term under which new members replace retiring associate members every year. ECOSOC is accountable for, as its name implies, the economic and social activities of the UN including initiating studies and reports ranging from economic, social, cultural, educational, and health issues. The ECOSOC, much like the GA, works through six subsidiary committees: Statistical, Population, Social Development, Human Rights, and Status of Women, and Narcotic Drugs. The charter also specifies provisions for consultation of ECOSOC with nongovernmental organizations that specialize in specific topics of interest to the council. The Secretariat, led by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, is charged with managing the varied day-today tasks of the organization. From coordinating peacekeeping and enforcement operations along with scheduling international forums and conferences on pertinent issues of international concern to translating documents into the official languages of the UN, the Secretariat comprises an enormous staff of nearly 9,000
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international civil servants and incorporates the broadest range of responsibilities in the UN. The only principle organ to be headquartered in The Hague is the International Court of Justice whose permanent seat is located at the Peace Palace in The Netherlands. The primary judicial organ of the United Nations serves as the chief settlement body of disputes among states. The court can also advise international organizations on questions and legal issues submitted by the former. Consisting of 15 Justices, selected by the GA and Security Council to 9-year terms, the judges act as independent magistrates and are not biased by the government of their home state. As is the case with most UN bodies, states brought before the ICJ may only be subject to its jurisdiction upon their prior submission. The sixth and final primary organ of the UN is the Trusteeship Council. Set up by the Charter and tasked with the administration of trust territories, the primary goal of the Council was to promote the economic and political status and self-sufficiency of trust territory inhabitants so as to prepare them for eventual self-governance and independence. The overwhelming and complete success of the Trusteeship Council in guiding Trust Territories toward self-governance prompted its suspension in 1994, with the independence of the last trust territory. The Trusteeship Council has resolved to no longer meet yearly as originally specified in its rules, but to reconvene only when necessary. Accompanying the six principal organs are the myriad of autonomous international organizations affiliated with the UN. The United Nations deals directly with hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Non-Governmental Organizations through the Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS). The Service is not member-oriented and does not officially register NGOs. Rather, its purposes are to offer advice, expertise, and support for NGOs to advance the initiatives of the UN. As mentioned previously, ECOSOC works closely with a number of NGOs on a consultative status. Non-Governmental Organizations work with the UN on nearly every matter of international concern ranging from Peace and Security, to Health and Human Rights, to Education, to Sustainable Development. Some notable NGOs include the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR). An index and complete list of international organizations and NGOs affiliated with the UN may be accessed on the United Nations web page at http://www.un.org/partners/civil_society/ngo/ngoindex.htm. Today the United Nations has evolved into a versatile and responsive organization with far-reaching influence in the international community, while never abandoning its primary objectives of promoting social progress, reaffirming faith in fundamental human rights, achieving international cooperation, and providing a center for harmonizing the actions of nations. The success of an organization may be judged in many fashions; however, critics of the United Nations must concede that never before has an organization of states attained such prestige or such regard. Nor has any before acted, with such overwhelming success, to fulfill the principles and ideals upon which it was founded. Written by Eric Olson and edited by staff members for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee & Institute of World Affairs' Wisconsin High School Model United Nations Program. Bibliography: Armstrong, David, Lloyd, Lorna, and Redmond, John. From Versailles to Maastricht: International Organization in the Twentieth Century. St. Martins Press. New York. 1996. Kahler, Miles. International Institutions and the Political Economy of Integration. The Brookings Institution. Washington D.C. 1995. Office of Public Information. Everymans United Nations: A Complete Handbook of the Activities and Evolution of the United Nations During its First Twenty Years, 1945-1965. United Nations. New York. 1968. Rubin, Jacob A. A Pictorial History of the United Nations. Thomas Yoseloff Ltd. London, England. 1962. Scott, George. The Rise and Fall of the League of Nations. Macmillan. New York. 1973.
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election if they have served two consecutive terms. If the General Assembly decides that a state has committed gross human rights violations while sitting on the Council, the state in question may be removed from the Council by a two thirds majority vote in the GA. The responsibilities of the Council, as set out by General Assembly resolution, are to: Address situations of human rights violations, including gross and systematic violations, and make recommendations; Undertake a universal periodic review of each and every state; Contribute, through dialogue and cooperation, to the prevention of human rights violations; Respond promptly to human rights emergencies; Serve as a forum for dialogue on thematic issues; Make recommendations on the promotion and protection of human rights and, more specifically, make recommendations to the General Assembly, for the further development of International Human Rights Law; Cooperate closely with governments, regional organizations, national human rights institutions and civil society; Promote universal respect for human rights; Promote human rights education and learning, advisory services, technical assistance and capacity building; Promote the full implementation of human rights obligations undertaken by states and the follow up of UN human rights conferences and summits; and Promote the effective coordination and mainstreaming of human rights within the UN system. The Council has many channels in which they can act upon the responsibilities outlined above, one of which is producing resolutions. Although the Council has already come under heat for its failure to act in the face of some human rights abuses, there is a review scheduled for 2011 in which members will reflect on the previous five years and chart the way forward.
WHSMUN 2012 Topics and Subcommittee Guides 1st Main Committee (Disarmament and International Security):
Prevention of Small Arms and Light Weapons Trafficking Piracy in Somalia and its Effect on Regional Security Outer Space Arms Race Establishment of a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in the Region of the Middle East Cyber Warfare
Topics and Background Guides for the following Special Committees will be available by January 31, 2012:
Security Council Historical Security Council (1956) Council of the European Union International Court of Justice Human Rights Council Joint Crisis Committee
Is there cause for concern in regards to the spread of piracy to other nations?
http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/51/a51r044.htm http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=24074&Cr=general&Cr1=debate
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1. 5 Cyber Warfare
With the development of the Internet and its subsequent spread across the globe, cyber warfare has become a very real and very important issue. Due to the democratic nature of the Internet, it has been used by many different organizations and groups. These have included formalized and informal resistance groups, national militaries, and individual actors. Recently the hacking group Anonymous and its offshoot Lulzsec demonstrated the ability of small and motivated groups of talented individuals to gain access to classified and protected information. Their hacking efforts included the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's Library System, as well as the Texas Police database. The subsequent release of sensitive documents demonstrates the actual danger that cyber warfare can cause. During the 2008 invasion of South Ossetia by the Russian Federation, trained computer hackers were some of the first lines of offensive used against the Georgian military, effectively disabling many of their automated defense systems. Cyber attacks can be paired with physical conflict, as in that case, but can also be used in covert operations. Rather than have direct conflict, which can be extremely costly in both human lives and monetarily, cyber warfare allows for operations to be committed from a remote location and putting nearly no one in immediate danger. However, cyber warfare is not a victimless crime and the possibilities of infringing upon the human rights of a nations citizens to have free access to information or protection from harm due to military or personal information being leaked or the inability of an organization to provide protective services to citizens can all create victims from a cyber attack even if it is done from a remote location. Due to the incredibly fast changing nature of online interactions it can be difficult and near impossible for a country or international institution to predict the next phase in the evolution of cyber warfare. Physical means of combat, including weaponry, ballistic missiles, and weapons of mass destruction, still pose a great threat to all nations; however, the uncertainty that cyber warfare represents is a significant issue that must be addressed by the international community. As cyber warfare is a relatively new issue, there exists little information in prior resolutions on how to address it. In a January 2010 speech at a World Economic Forum debate, International Telecommunications Union secretary general Hamadoun Toure warned that the international community needs to consider cyber attacks very seriously, advocating that member states should now consider when a cyber attack becomes a declaration of war. Topics for Consideration Does your country have widespread internet access? What level of internet literacy do your citizens have? Can the monitoring of internet activities to prevent cyber warfare infringe on the rights of citizens? What type of information breach should be considered a declaration of war? If groups or individuals are conducting the attacks, is a declaration of war possible? Helpful Resources and Works Cited http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2010/gadis3419.doc.htm http://www.vsb.org/docs/valawyermagazine/vl0210_cyber-warfare.pdf http://uswgo.com/un-agency-calls-for-global-cyberwarfare-treaty-drivers-license-for-web-users.htm http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/16/AR2010071605882.html http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h8Uvk-jpSvCWT-bqYSg1Ws4I4yAA
endorsed a joint decision by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to create the International Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC. Since that time, the IPCC has been responsible for reviewing and assessing internationally published information on climate change, and throughout the decades their evaluations about climate change and its factors have become more and more definitive. The IPPC Second Assessment Report (1995) was responsible in large part for the Kyoto Protocol of 1997, which legally bound 37 industrialized countries and the European community to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 2012 marks the end of the first commitment period of the Protocol, by which time information by the IPCC must be reevaluated in order to produce an international framework to address the continuing issues climate change presents. June of 2009 saw the non-binding Copenhagen Agreement come to new conclusions about the state of the earths climate, centered on an effort to keep the increase in global temperature below two degrees Celsius. Developed countries, the biggest emitters, were to continue leading the charge in establishing targets of reduction, while developing countries were to commit to mitigation policies and actions. The Agreement drew attention to the fact that unchecked carbon emissions, especially from developing countries, would lead to growing emissions beyond 2020, and that developing countries must commit to substantial abatement measures.
Recent Developments In a press release from May 2011, the Economic and Finance Committee (ECOFIN) spoke of the need to further increase climate funding in coming years; on this note, it also addressed the issue of where to obtain resources to finance efforts that mitigate climate change. The issue now becomes where to find that funding, and what roles countriesdeveloped and developingmust play now in order to increase the amount of green technologies available in order to control carbon emissions for the future. Topics for Consideration What types of green technology hold promise is reducing carbon emissions? What types of cultural or economical shifts are necessary to allow nations to adopt such technologies? Is it fair for developing countries to be bound by climate change regulation when currently developed countries were not subject to such regulations during industrialization? What role do multinational corporations have in reducing carbon emissions? Think about the role of such corporations in developing countries. Helpful Resources and Works Cited http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ecofin/122072.pdf http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/publications/publication15372_en.pdf http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg1/ar4-wg1-chapter1.pdf http://www.ipcc.ch/organization/organization_history.shtml http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copenhagen_Accord
Unfortunately for many former colonies, they were faced with unexpected challenges. Issues of land reform and production were suddenly in question; former colonies that had been used solely for the export of raw materials now had to make their own infrastructure, or fail in the face of rapidly expanding global trade. Former colonies faced many challenges in attempting to industrialize, such as internal political divisions, Cold War geopolitics and, perhaps most importantly, debt traps. In the 1950s and 60s, many developing countries took out loans from the World Bank, hoping to build their infrastructure. New monetary policy in major trading nations like the USA deepened recession in North America and Europe, and as a consequence, many developing nations, particularly in South America, who had traded with them in the past, were unable to pay back their loans. The Washington Consensus of 1989 brought the three major international financial organizations, the IMF, WTO, and World Bank, together to figure out a solution to the loan default of so many underdeveloped nations. They came up with Structural Adjustment Policies (SAP), a series of provisions aimed at decreasing debt and increasing export power in these countries. The reality of SAPs was further debt traps, as countries had become dependent on the IMF and World Bank for loans; additionally, the rules of the free market did not apply equally to all countries, developing ones in particular. The Market Today Many developing nations are still at a loss on the global scale, and it is in large part due to the same historical factors. There remains a strong belief in export development as a way to reduce poverty in these nations, as well as the lowering tariff rates to make it easier for developing nations to enter and remain in the market. Topics for Consideration Is the establishment of a local economy important for Post-colonial countries? Can a strong international export based economy strengthen local/ national economies as a whole? What types of provisions have the IMF and WTO placed on Structural Adjustment Loans? Do you feel that such provisions infringe on a nation-states sovereignty? The IMF was originally created after WWII to aid European nations in rebuilding their countries after war. Many of the IMF loan debt was forgiven, in order to allow the countries to rebuild and stabilize their economies. Do you feel there are circumstances in which the IMF should forgive loans? What penalties should be enacted if a country defaults on a loan? Helpful Resources and Works Cited http://www.intracen.org/uploadedFiles/intracenorg/Content/Publications/Market-access-transparency-fairness-inglobal-trade-Export-Impact-for-Good-2010.pdf http://fcic.law.stanford.edu/ http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/2009/NEW032409A.htm http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/meltdown/
The Eurozone felt the shock of the US recession, and many goods and service industries tied to the US were suddenly diminished, as the net export market took a sharp downturn. Industries like tourism and shipping were particularly hard hit. The European sovereign debt crisis began in Greece. Until 2007, Greece had a quickly growing economy. However, the country also had large structural debts, as it had borrowed much money to finance public sector jobs, pensions, and other social programs. After 2007, the tourism industry fell, as did imports as the US struggle began. In 2010, it was discovered that the Greek government had paid banks hundreds of millions of dollars in order to hide its real debt level, incurred from heavy borrowing from the EU. This, along with rampant tax evasion, put Greek debt around 216 billion Euros. Greece requested a bailout from the IMF in 2010; alternatively, Greece may have had to leave the European Union entirely. Since it is still part of the EU, it could not simply print more money and lower interest rates, as has been done recently in the US in order to control some debt. The EU had no choice but to bail Greece out, or let it default on its loans, plunging the entire world economy further into crisis. The Greek crisis began to shake the worlds faith in other Euro zone nations. Portugal and Ireland, both with high deficit, received bailouts as well. Spain and Italy, which hold larger portions of the Euro zones economy, were able to stay afloat, despite their high debt. Measures and Controversy In 2010, the EU established the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) to maintain European economic stability via aid to economies in need. The Facility complements loans from the IMF with the European Central Bank taking measures to reduce volatility and buying government debt to stabilize the market. There has been disagreement between some national leaders as to how countries debts should be taken care of. The bailouts of several countries, Greece in particular, have been a subject of contention between Germany, one of the EUs biggest exporters of capital, and the rest of the Union. Topics for Consideration Should harsher measures be taken against countries that require bailouts to avoid defaulting on their debts? i.e., should Greece have been forced to leave the EU? Is it up to powerful economies like Germany to lead the charge in bailing out indebted countries? Is it viable for the Euro to continue as a currency? Do bailouts encourage more financial irresponsibility? i.e., if the bailouts in countries like Ireland and Greece fail, will the EU provide financial aid for them again? Is it more economically sensible for a country like Greece to leave the EU, or a country like Germany? Which might make the EU better off financially? Helpful Resources and Works Cited http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2011/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=35&pr.y=13&sy=2011&ey=2011 &scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=174&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC&gr p=0&a= http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-SF-10-009/EN/KS-SF-10-009-EN.PDF http://www.academicjournals.org/ajbm/PDF/pdf2010/29Dec/Romeo.pdf
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the predecessor of the World Trade Organization were founded. The IMFs role in the global economy is large and has come into controversy in recent decades. The organization maintains exchange rates and provides loans to countries with temporary deficits. It helps ensure that currencies are relatively strong, and employs discipline when countries are fiscally irresponsible. IMF funding comes from trust funds, as well as quotas paid by each country, depending on the size of its economy. Additionally, the IMF demands conditions for the loans it gives. These may be stricter financial stability laws and practices, or matters of government corruption or human rights issues.
Issues Current issues with the IMF include fairness in accountability and voting. Under the current system, the body must have 85 percent approval to pass new policy. Holding 15 percent of financial power in the IMF gives a country automatic veto power. Only the US and European Union hold such power, which has caused contention with poorer nations, who want a larger part of the decision making process. Additionally, the IMF is often seen as a safety net for countries in desperate need of loans. Some countries have historically and still presently depend on the IMF for much needed money, but have failed to develop infrastructure or reform economic policy according to IMF conditionality policy. The IMF has also been criticized for allegedly assuming a one size fits all policy for countries. The organization has had great successes, but also great failures in providing financial assistance, proving that each countrys unique situation requires unique action. Topics for Consideration Should financially insecure countries be allowed a bigger voice in IMF decision making? How can the IMF be held more accountable for its policy of conditionality? What kind of policy might benefit heavily indebted countries? Countries with temporary debt? How have other international organizations worked with or around one size fits all policy to benefit all members as much as possible? Helpful Resources and Works Cited http://www.investopedia.com/articles/economics/09/international-monetary-fund-imf.asp#axzz1cPCBQAd8 http://www.imf.org/external/about.htm http://www.imf.org/external/np/exr/facts/glance.htm http://www.cfr.org/economics/international-monetary-fund/p25303
credit lines, savings accounts, insurance programs, and fund transfer assistance. The United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) in particular has worked with many non-governmental organizations to aid in providing micro-financing programs. The UNCDF analyzes regions for different criteria relating to finance to see how to best develop their sectors. According to the UNCDF, it follows these key steps: a sector review focused on analyzing the key opportunities and constraints for access to financial services for the poor and low-income people, from the macro- (policy), meso- (financial infrastructure) and micro- (retailer) perspectives; an assessment of on-going initiatives by key stakeholders (including donors) and of the gaps that need to be filled at those three levels of intervention; and the development of a programming framework (in the form of a National Micro-finance Strategy, Action Plan or other), that stems from the above analysis to build an inclusive financial sector in that country. Issues Countries have been somewhat critical of micro-financing programs, specifically arguing that it doesn't benefit the true victims of poverty, the poorest of the poor. Some institutions that were founded on the premise of nonprofit micro-finance institutions (MFIs) have evolved into for-profit institutions whose primary goal is no longer providing aid and services. In addition, due in large part to their structure, some micro-finance institutions have exorbitantly high rates of interest, much higher than standard credit institutions.
Topics for Consideration Has your nation used micro-finance institutions in the past? Does your state or region suffer from extreme levels of poverty? How has your government worked to combat poverty in the past? Are there regulations that can be created to ensure microfinance institutions have vested interest in the populations they are serving? Helpful Resources and Works Cited http://www.un.org/esa/africa/microfinanceinafrica.pdf http://www.uncdf.org/english/microfinance/ http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=29297&Cr=ifad&Cr1
Human rights violations tend to proliferate in war zones. Rapes are very common in many war zones, as thousands of innocent women are caught in the crossfire between groups at war. The United Nations SOCHUM has recently stepped up its efforts to combat rapes globally, working to ensure safety and medical services to those affected. Resolutions such as the UN General Assembly 688, ratified in 1991, give a good framework for dealing with a variety of human rights issue in war torn regions. Though this particular resolution focused only on Iraq, it outlines a variety of human rights abuses present in such areas. Military tribunals have been utilized in areas such as Rwanda, the former Yugoslavia, and Serbia. These tribunals must have some support of the government to be initiated, which can be an issue when political leaders are a party to the conflict itself. However, they can be incredibly useful at holding those who have committed such actions accountable before the international community. Topics for Consideration Delegates should focus on how their particular country views human rights: are they signatories to the United Nations human rights treaties? Which ones? Has your country been charged with committing violations of human rights? How has your country responded to other countries violations of human rights? Helpful Resources and Works Cited http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/ http://www.un.org/Docs/scres/1991/scres91.htm http://daccess-ods.un.org/TMP/4745507.83634186.html www.ohchr.org
water across a country. Those with poor infrastructure may suffer from massive droughts, or simply not have the water treatment facilities to ensure safe drinking water. Topics for Consideration What are the overall sanitation and accessibility issues regarding water within your borders? Does your population have easy access to clean and safe water? Are there political, geographic, or environmental issues affecting your populations accessibility? Helpful Resources and Works Cited http://waterwiki.net/index.php/UN_Human_Rights_Council_Resolution_on_Water_and_Sanitation http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/water_rights_and_wrongs_english.pdf http://www.globalissues.org/article/601/water-and-development http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-10797988
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3.3 Humanitarian Crisis in Darfur and Sudan and the Violation of International Law
Background Since 2003, the United Nations has been calling attention to the dangerous situation in Darfur, Sudan. According to a recent United Nations report, more than 200,000 people have been killed, and at least 2,000,000 have been displaced as a result of the conflict in Darfur. Conflict continues between government supported, Janjaweed militia, and Darfuri civilians. The conflict arose in February of 2003, when a group known as the Sudan Liberation Army and the Justice and Equality Movement began attacking government targets to protest discrimination of black Africans and suppression of non-Arab Sudanese groups. They accused Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir of preferring Sudanese Arabs in most aspects of society. In response, numerous Sudanese Arab groups united behind the militant Janjaweed. According to reports by the non-governmental organization Human Rights Watch, the Sudanese government provided weaponry and funding to the Janjaweed, encouraging them to attack unarmed civilian groups throughout Darfur. Some have accused the government of participating in and encouraging ethnic cleansing, and in some extreme cases, genocide. Even with the United Nations reporting that the number of people killed has been more than 200,000 with no clear answer to whether they died as a direct result of the violence in Darfur or from hunger and disease within the camps of the over 2 million displaced, the Sudanese government continues to deny that there these deaths constitute a genocide and that the situation is being exaggerated. In fact, they estimate the death toll at being around 10,000. The international community and aid agencies all continue to bring to light the magnitude of the crisis and hope for peaceful solutions as well as accountability for the crimes that have been committed and are considered crimes against humanity. Not only did the International Criminal Court issue an arrest warrant in 2009 for Omar al Bashir but several peaceful initiatives have occurred as well. In June of 2011, a new Darfur Peace Agreement was proposed at the Doha Peace Forum, which established three states in Darfur and a new government involving a power sharing set-up. Though fighting has largely subsided in the region, the effects of the conflict are still felt by the local population. Women and children were often the targets of rapes and attacks, many being brutally beaten or killed. As such, it is important for delegates to consider manner to address those who still feel the scars of the past eight years. Topics for Consideration What programs could be put into place to aid those who suffered under the Janjaweed? How accountable should we hold the Sudanese government? What measures can be taken to ensure an issue like this doesn't turn violent in the future? Helpful Resources and Works Cited http://www.hrw.org/legacy/english/docs/2004/07/19/darfur9096.htm http://www.un.org/News/dh/infocus/sudan/fact_sheet.pdf http://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2006/65972.htm http://www.hrw.org/news/2004/07/20/sudan-new-darfur-documents http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3496731.stm
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http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49c3646c2.html http://www.un.org/en/globalissues/briefingpapers/refugees/overviewofforceddisplacement.html
Position Papers
The purpose of the position paper is two-fold. First, the position paper assists delegates in keeping their preparatory research specific to the committee topic. This not only helps to reduce extraneous research, but also helps to ensure that delegates have all the necessary information to be an effective participant at the conference. Second, position papers also serve as a way for other delegations to research your countrys views. A good position paper will provide the essential details of a countrys position on a given issue. Papers should be written in a narrative format (full sentences please!) and should be between three and four paragraphs in length. When writing position papers, it is not necessary to include general background information on your topic, as this is covered in the background guides provided to each delegation. Delegates should take particular care to clearly and accurately reflect their countrys position. Additionally, spelling and grammar count, so please be sure to proofread. Finally, position papers will not be accepted unless they have been typed and are in the proper format. After you have written your position paper, review it with other delegates and your faculty advisor for suggestions. This provides useful practice in making a presentation before a critical but friendly audience. Position papers must be uploaded in *Microsoft Word format to the WHSMUN website, according to the directions provided. Position Papers must be submitted to the website by March 2, 2012.
*Delegates must upload the papers in proper format if they wish to be considered for awards.
Following is a sample position paper written from the perspective of a representative of the Russian Federation in First Main Committee on the subject of the Prevention of Violent Disintegration of States: Intrastate violence and the fragmenting of governments is not a concern to be left to the citizens of a country alone. In an increasingly global world not only are the rights and sanctity of the individuals in these nations threatened by instability, but the economic and political future of the world is also implicated. The Russian Federation recognizes the importance of preventing the violent disintegration of states. We seek to work with our friends and allies to ensure not only stability and prosperity for the peoples of troubled regions, but also for the world. One of the major causes of social strife is the economic situation within the state. It is no coincidence that states in unrest are often among the poorest in the world. Russia sees economic stability as key to developing political and social stability. Through foreign investment in the growth of underdeveloped regions, states, which are often pushed into discord by an inability to meet economic needs, have a chance to focus on causes of strife without the catalyst of poverty. This investment by outsiders serves to further not only the state, but the investors own interests. This comes by creating a partnership that will allow for better trade relations in the future. In terms of protecting citizens before infrastructure can be built, Russia also advocates regional policing and the development of friendly boarders aided by international support. In times of internal conflict refugees often flee the fighting to safer nations. In order to prevent spillover conflict from the
added burden of refugees, Russia advocates regional networks of states to help provide for persons in exile. This mutual system will provide a safety net for the participants should they face strife in the future as well as helping current victims. Both of these solutions provide the added benefits of allowing the state to pursue its own remedies, without having outsiders force solutions upon them. This preserves the legitimacy of government by leaving governance to those in the state. As well, the rights of all citizens can be guaranteed by making the aid and membership in the friendly boarder program contingent on respecting commitments to human rights as outlined in UN declarations and other agreements. Through interaction with outsiders in a positive context the racism and xenophobia, which is often triggered in times of strife, is eased. This helps to minimize the recurrence of violence in the future. By looking to the economic, political and social needs of nations in strife, Russia hopes we may find security for all people.
Resolutions
Resolutions are the basic formal declarations or statements of the United Nations. They are a call for action by some organ or member state(s) of the UN and an expression of global opinion. The resolutions submitted to the Main Committees and General Assembly will be the basis for all debate that will take place at WHSMUN. Each subcommittee will be responsible for writing one resolution per topic. Therefore, every delegate must understand and be proficient in using the proper format for resolution writing. Every resolution consists of two sections: preambulatory and operative clauses. The preamble serves to describe and outline the problem or subject that the resolution will be addressing. A good resolution will have a preamble that provides strong justification for taking action on a matter. The preamble begins with the name of the UN body being addressed. The preamble often includes statistics, facts, and quotations from the UN Charter and from previous UN resolutions that dealt with the same subject. The preamble then continues with the reasons supporting the resolutions actions. Each clause of the preamble begins with a present participle phrase, some of which are suggested on the following page. The second section of the resolution consists of operative clauses. These are numbered statements that delineate what actions should be taken, make recommendations, or express approval or disapproval. The resolution may request action by member states, the Secretariat, or by other bodies of the UN. Each of the operative clauses begins with a verb that emphasizes the statement. Resolutions are developed during the conference. Delegations are encouraged, however, to practice writing and debating draft resolutions. Pre-written draft resolutions will not be accepted at the conference, as the resolution should be a product of the entire subcommittee.
Preambulatory Phrases
Affirming Alarmed by Approving Aware Bearing in Mind Believing Confident Contemplating Convinced Emphasizing Expecting Expressing its appreciation Expressing its satisfaction Fulfilling Fully alarmed Fully aware Fully believing Further deploring Keeping in mind Noting further Noting with approval Noting with deep concern Noting with regret Noting with satisfaction Observing Recognizing Referring
Declaring Deeply concerned Deeply conscious Deeply convinced Deeply disturbed Having heard Deeply regretting Desiring
Further recalling Guided by Having adopted Having considered Having devoted attention to Having examined Having received Having studied
Seeking Taking into account Taking into consideration Taking note Viewing with appreciation Welcoming
Preambulatory clauses are the introduction to the resolution. The verbs that begin each phrase should be all caps and in bold type. These clauses end in a comma. __________________________________________________________________
Operative Clauses
Accepts Affirms Approves Authorizes Calls for Calls upon Condemns Confirms Designates Draws the attention Emphasizes Endorses Expresses its appreciation Expresses its hope Further invites Further proclaims Further resolves Has resolved Notes Proclaims Reaffirms Recommends Regrets Reminds Requests Solemnly affirms Strongly condemns Supports Takes note of Transmits Trusts Urges
Operative Clauses must begin with a verb in the present tense, and is all caps and in bold type. They describe the action of the committee. These clauses are numbered and end in a semicolon, except for the last clause which ends in a period.
**These are only suggestions for the phrases that may be used in resolutions. There may be other phrases that delegates may find more appropriate for their particular resolution.
AWARE that not all countries will be able to aid equally due to the current global economical situation, EMPHASIZING that climate change affects the global economy, DESIRING justice, equality, and fairness in the topic of global warming, OBSERVING that the Kyoto Protocol will not reach its goals by its deadline of 2012, RECOGNIZING that rapid climate change in the past has caused the collapse of complex societies, BEARING IN MIND that global climate change will have impact on all nation, NGOs, and multinational corporations, KEEPING IN MIND that many countries have traditional-fuel based economies and will be financially impacted by global warming regulations that limit international consumption, RECOGNIZING the anthropogenic nature of climate change, 1. Requests advisors to educate willing countries on actions they may take to combat climate change; 2. Encourages countries to join and follow the Copenhagen Accord; 3. Calls upon world organizations such as the WTO, the World Bank, and IRENA to provide resources for research and development on technologies designed to fight climate change; 4. Urges the creation of newer programs to aid the economic development of developing countries along a reduced-emission pathway; 5. Allows countries with fuel-selling dependent economies to continue the practice of fossil fuel sale without penalty; 6. Urges member nations to create a pollution tax proportional to economic size, stability and environmental impact, based on UN standards; 7. Recommends a continuation of the current cap and trade system, in which industries adhere to emission limits ultimately, set by international consent, in order to retain control of government sponsored allowances; 8. Emphasizes the importance of international collaboration on technological advances aimed at reducing the impact of global climate change; 9. Supports fair and open trade of climate change-fighting technologies; 10. Supports development of alternative economic sectors in fuel-selling dependant countries.
Rules and Procedures Administration and General Conference Rules Section 1: Administration
1.1: Executive Committee:
The Executive Committee shall have under its authority all matters that deal with: the assignment of countries, substantive matters of the conference, and the Secretariat. The Executive Committee has sole authority at WHSMUN regarding staff and conference logistics. The Executive Committee is composed of the Secretary-General, the Director-General and the IWA WHSMUN Coordinator.
1.7: Quorum:
A quorum will be one fourth of the member delegations in attendance at the conference. A quorum is required for all business to take place. The number required for quorum may be altered at the discretion of the Secretary-General.
2.2: Speeches:
Delegations may only speak after receiving recognition from the Chair. Delegations, and not individual representatives, are recognized so multiple delegates may speak when a delegation is recognized. Delegates must speak only about the topic at hand. The Chair may censure speakers who are off topic; said decision may not be appealed.
2.7: Languages:
The official working language of WHSMUN is English. Every attempt by delegations should be made to ensure that delegates can communicate effectively in spoken and written English.
2.8: Censure:
Delegations found to be in repeated, severe violations of WHSMUN rules, regulations, and policies will be censured. Censure consists of removing voting and speaking privileges for a delegation for a period time as determined by the presiding authority. In extreme cases, expulsion will be considered. If a delegation is participating in actions that are considered severe enough, the presiding authority will attempt to issue a warning to the delegation notifying them they are in danger of censure, and why they will be censured if the behavior does not stop. Appeals to censures will be granted and conducted with the offending delegates, head delegate, and faculty advisor. The Secretary-General will act as presiding authority. Until the appeal is completed, the delegation will not be allowed to vote or speak in formal session.
3.2: Precedence:
The points and motions as listed in Section 4 are in order of precedence. This means that if there is a motion on the floor, only motions of higher precedence may be called for by delegates. Points are of higher precedence than motions.
wait to be recognized by the Chair. When making a point, delegates must state their point as they raise their placard. Only points of order (Rule 4.1) may interrupt a speaker. -The correct grammar to be used when making a motion is: The delegation of _______ moves to
3.6: Penalties:
Delegations who are recognized to speak to a position on a main motion and who speak on the opposite shall be censured. Delegations falling to observe diplomatic courtesy toward fellow representatives, Secretariat members, faculty, or other individuals may be censured and removed from their committee or the conference. The latter decision rests jointly in the hands of the Secretary-General and the IWA WHSMUN Coordinator.
of inquiry. Points of Inquiry may not be made until after a delegation finishes their speech. Delegations wishing to raise a point of inquiry should rise immediately following a speakers substantive speech (but wait to be recognized by the Chair). Points of Inquiry are only in order if the speaker has not already yielded the balance of his or her time to the Chair. The speaker may decline to continue accepting points of inquiry at any time. This point may not interrupt a speaker.
4.4: Caucus:
Unmoderated Informal Session: A delegate may move to recess to an unmoderated informal session when the floor is open, prior to closure of debate. This motion requires a second and is not debatable. The motioning delegate must give a purpose and an overall time limit for the caucus. The time limit and acceptance of the motion are subject to the Chairs discretion. Once the motion is accepted, it is immediately put to a vote, requiring a simple majority to pass. Moderated Informal Session: A delegate may move to recess to a moderated informal session when the floor is open, prior to closure of debate. This motion requires a second and is not debatable. The motioning delegate must give a purpose, an overall time limit for the caucus, and a speaking time for the individual speeches. The time limit, number of speakers, and acceptance of the motion are subject to the Chairs discretion. Once the motion is accepted, it is immediately put to a vote, requiring a simple majority to pass. If the motion passes, the assembly will move directly into the moderated informal session for the specified amount of time. The Chair will accept speakers on the predetermined subject of the moderated caucus, and the Assembly will return to formal session when the time limit has expired.
This motion requires a second. This motion is debatable, with two speakers for and two speakers against the motion. This motion requires a simple majority for passage.
consideration, make an amendment to strike it.) This motion must clearly state in what way the resolution is to be divided. This motion is only in order after debate has been closed on the resolution, but before moving into voting procedure. Delegations will first vote on whether or not to divide the resolution. This motion requires a second and is debatable, with the pro and con speakers only discussing the merits of the actual motion. o If there are multiple motions to Divide the Question, then they are disposed of in the order of descending disruption to the resolution. o If the first vote fails, the Assembly returns to voting procedure on the resolution as it stands. If the first vote passes, the resolution is divided into two pieces to then be voted on separately. The second vote is taken to determine whether or not to keep the divided out portion of the resolution. If the second vote passes, then the divided segment(s) will be kept but as an annex to the original resolution. If the second vote fails, the particular clauses under consideration are discarded and no longer part of the resolution. Both votes require a simple majority for passage.
4.15: Reconsideration:
This motion is used to bring back any main motion (resolution or amendment) for which debate was adjourned. This motion requires a second for consideration. This motion is debatable, with two affirmative, and two negative speakers. This motion requires a 2/3 majority for passage. Upon passage, the item to be reconsidered comes up for discussion immediately. This motion can only be made between substantive agenda times.
5.2: Agenda:
The Main Committee agenda shall be set by the Secretariat and the order of it may not be changed. Only resolutions from subcommittees may be discussed in the Main Committees. All resolutions that pass in the Main Committee shall go onto the agenda for the General Assembly Plenary Session.
Section 6: Subcommittees
6.1: Presiding Authority:
The Chair of each subcommittee shall determine the rules for their subcommittee.
Before the end of the subcommittee meeting, the delegations must select one representative of the Subcommittee to propose the resolution in the Main Committee.
7.4: Quorum:
Quorum shall consist of ten member states in the Security Council and the Historical Security Council. When the Historical Security Council is simulating the year 1965 or before, quorum shall be seven member states.
7.5: Attendance:
Each Security Council member delegation assumes the responsibility to have two accredited representatives present at each Council session.
7.7: Amendments:
All amendments must be written on official WHSMUN amendments forms and must be signed by at least 5 delegations before they may be accepted by the Secretariat. The amendment proposer, after Secretariat approval, must then move to amend the resolution. The number of signatures required for an amendment may be altered at the discretion of the Secretariat and said decision may not be appealed. There shall be no friendly amendments.
7.8: Voting:
All voting shall be subject to Article 27 of the United Nations Charter. Voting shall be by show of placards, except on Main Motions and amendments, when any member nation may call for a roll call vote
(which is obligatory if called for). Each member state shall have one vote. On matters where there is little or no division among the members, unanimous consent may be requested of a motion. All votes of absentia shall not count toward the total vote for the purposes of determining a majority. During a roll call vote, before the final results are announced, delegations will be allowed to change their vote. Delegates who request to change their vote must change their vote. During voting procedure, there must be silence on the floor, and delegates may not enter or leave the Security Council Chamber.
Section 8: Security Council Rules (Points of Procedure and Motions in Order of Precedence)
8.1: Point of Order
See GA Rule 4.1
effect of ending debate on a topic area, and it brings all remaining draft resolutions for that topic area to a vote. This motion is debatable. A simple majority is required for the motion to pass.
the floor at any given time. This motion is not debatable. The sponsoring delegation will be allowed to speak first on the draft resolution, if desired.
9.2: Quorum:
Quorum for the Council of the European Union consists of 15 of the 25 member nations of the EU.
9.5: Resolutions:
Resolutions passed by the Council of the European Union must have at least 5 sponsors before they are brought to the floor with a motion to bring a draft resolution to the floor. Sponsors must vote for a resolution if it is voted on without amendment. Resolutions must have one operative and one perambulatory clause. Any number of draft resolutions can be on the floor for a particular issue, but only resolutions pertaining to the issue are considered on the floor. Therefore, if the agenda is changed before a resolution is voted on, the resolution can not be voted on until the agenda is changed again to address
9.6: Amendments:
All amendments must be written on official WHSMUN amendments forms and must be signed by at least 5 delegations before they may be accepted by the President. The amendment proposer, after Secretariat approval, must then move to amend the resolution. The number of signatures required for amendment may be altered at the discretion of the Secretariat and said decision may not be appealed.
Multiple draft resolutions can be on the floor at one time. This motion is not debatable.
-No -No No
-No -No No
No No
Majority N/A
No No
4.8: Adjournment of Debate 4.9: Closure of Debate 4.10: Change the Order of the Agenda (GA only) 4.11: Consideration of Amendments 4.12: Change the Limits of Debate 4.13: Object to Consideration 4.14: Division of the Question 4.15: Reconsider
Majority
No
Has the effect of tabling an issue, without a vote on the content Ends debate on any issue open to debate, and brings it to a vote Used to change the order of resolutions, in the GA only Bring an amendment to the floor for discussion Used to change the maximum amount of time per speaker or per topic Prevents discussion, for grave reasons, of a resolution Divides resolution/amend into separate parts for voting Bring back to discussion a resolution or topic that was tabled
Yes Yes No
No No No
No No No No
No No No No
No No No No No No
Description
Used to point out a misuse of the rules Ask any question of the chair, or to gain clarification Ask a question of a speaker at the end of their speech Request to make procedural motion subject to a QMV Recess the meeting for a specific amount of time, often to caucus Moves the meeting into an informal session Changes the order of the agenda, tabling issues if the current agenda is changed Ends debate on any issue open to debate, and brings it to a vote Ends the meeting for the year Brings a new draft resolution to the floor for debate and voting Brings a new draft amendment to the floor for debate and voting Impose (or repeal) a limit on the length of debate Divide a resolution into two or more pieces, to vote on Invite a non-EU representative to the discussion
No Yes
Majority 2/3 Majority 2/3 Majority Majority 5 Sponsors 5 Sponsors Majority Majority Majority
No No
10.8: Closure of Debate 10.9: Adjournment of the Meeting 10.10: Consideration of a Draft Resolution 10.11: Consideration of a Draft Amendment 10.12: Limits on Debate 10.13: Divide the Question 10.14: Party to the Dispute
Yes No No No
No No No No
No No No
Remember, when a vote is taken a majority of all present countries is needed as well as 255 of 345 votes. Additionally, a member state can call for verification that at least 62% of the entire EU population is represented by the majority for the resolution to be adopted. An illustrative example of QMV Debate has closed on Resolution 1.1, passing with a 2/3 majority of 27 countries 17 in favor, 3 in opposition and 7 in abstention. The Council is now in immediate voting procedure. Condition 1: Number of countries A majority of members present vote in favor of the resolution (20 of 27): Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden Members voting against (7 of 27): Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom The first condition necessitating a majority of member states in favor have been satisfied (20 out of 27). Condition 2: Number of votes Austria (10), Bulgaria (10), Cyprus (4), Czech Republic (12), Finland (7), France (29), Germany (29), Greece (12), Italy (29), Ireland (7), Latvia (4), Lithuania (7), Luxembourg (4), Malta (3), Poland (27), Romania (14), Slovakia (7), Slovenia (4), Spain (27), and Sweden (10) all voted in favor. 10 + 12 + 10 + 4 +7 + 29 + 29 + 12 + 29 + 7 + 4 + 7 + 4 + 3 + 27 + 14 + 7 + 4 + 27 + 10 = 256 Votes Belgium (12), Denmark (7), Estonia (4), Hungary (12), Netherlands (13), Portugal (12), and the United Kingdom (29) all voted in opposition. 12 + 7 + 4 + 12 + 13 + 12 + 29 = 89 Votes Therefore, 256 out of 345 weighted votes are in favor of the resolution, or 74.2%. The second condition is satisfied. Condition 3: Population size Belgium challenges that the majority represents less than the required 62% of the EU population. When calculated, however, the 20-member majority represents over 76% of the entire EU population. A majority has been achieved and the third condition satisfied. Resolution 1.1 passes.