*Note: Resolutions should not exceed one page in length with a maximum of 5 operative clauses

• Security Council

  The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is headed by Taylor Heckart.

  The UNSC holds the primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security by addressing any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression. It executes these duties through enacting peacekeeping operations, imposing sanctions, and implementing international regulations on armaments and the use of force. Security Council resolutions often deal with breaches of international peace or severe human rights abuses, as well as matters relating broadly to transregional stability and accountability. As the only UN body with the ability to violate national sovereignty through peacekeeping and sanctions, it has unique powers of enforcement in this regard.

  The UNSC also has a unique membership structure, which includes only 15 nations: 5 permanent members with the right to veto any Security Council resolution, and 10 rotating members selected broadly from the members of the General Assembly on two-year shifts. The Permanent Members (P-5 Nations) are the People’s Republic of China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America. This year, Albania, Brazil,  Ecuador, Gabon, Ghana, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates hold temporary seats.

  References

  • United Nations Security Council News
  • Security Council Report 
  • New York Times: Security Council
  • Euronews: Security Council
  • Economist: United Nations Security Council
  • United Nations: UN Charter (full text)
  • Introduction to the Work of the Security Council (PDF)
  • Best Delegate: Model United Nations Resources
  • Best Delegate: Five Tips on How to Succeed in the Security Council
  • Security Council Report: New Dynamics After the 2020 Elections
  • Reuters News
  • AP News
• International Criminal Court (ICC)

  The International Criminal Court (ICC) is headed by Tuan Graziano (as Chief Justice), Emma Mullet and Savannah Melendez.

  The International Criminal Court (ICC) is an intergovernmental organization and international tribunal that sits in The Hague, Netherlands. The ICC investigates and, where warranted, tries individuals charged with the gravest crimes of concern to the international community: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression. In our ICC committee at our UAA Model United Nations conference, delegates will be paired into partnerships and represent either the prosecution or defendant of their country in an international court case provided to them. Delegates will write legal briefs on their cases and present them during the case proceedings. Additionally, delegates will be expected to answer questions pertaining to their arguments during their speaking time from 3 justices, who will decide the final verdict of each case.

  In the ICC, we are looking for students who have an interest in international law, debate, or are simply looking for a more challenging style of committee to be involved in. The ICC is one of the few committees in which delegates will have access to their laptops and mobile devices to help in further research during the conference. If you are interested in the ICC, attached below are some helpful links to better inform you on the court and the way it runs. The first link is to the Rome Statue - the treaty used by the ICC in which they define each aspect of the crimes under which the court has jurisdiction. Especially helpful if you’re looking to be a part of this committee is the third link which is our digital ePortfolio that is specific to our UAA MUN ICC.

  References

  • Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (PDF)
  • Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court
  • 2020 UAA Model United Nation of Alaska International Criminal Court
  • International Criminal Court
  • International Criminal Court: About
  • International Criminal Court: How the Court Works
  • Understanding the International Criminal Court
  • What is the Rome Statute?
  • How the ICC Works

  • What does the International Criminal Court do?  

• United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (PFII)

  The United Nations Permenant Forum on Indigenous Peoples is headed by Casi LeBlanc and Griffin Lindsay.

  Indigenous peoples are inheritors and practitioners of unique cultures and ways of relating to people and the environment. They have retained social, cultural, economic and political characteristics that are distinct from those of the dominant societies in which they live. Despite their cultural differences, Indigenous peoples from around the world share common problems related to the protection of their rights as distinct peoples.

  Indigenous peoples have sought recognition of their identities, way of life, and their rights to traditional lands, territories and natural resources for years, yet throughout history, their rights have always been violated. Indigenous peoples today are arguably among the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups of people in the world. The international community now recognizes that special measures are required to protect their rights and maintain their distinct cultures and ways of life, and the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues provides a venue for conversations about the needs of Indigenous people to take place within.

  Nation-states/indigenous peoples: 

  • United States - Kanaka Maoli
  • China - Uyghur
  • Brazil - Tikúna People
  • Niger - Tuareg
  • Australia - Pitjantjatjara
  • Russia - Nenet People
  • Nigeria - Hausa 
  • India - Kurukh

  References

  Delegates to the Model UNPFII are encouraged to explore the current and historic relationships between their specific Indigenous groups and corresponding member nations, and how they relate to the conference topic, in order to give context to the work of the committee.

  • United Nations: Department of Economic and Social Affairs (Indigenous Peoples)
  • IWGIA: https://www.iwgia.org/en/
  • Cultural Survival: https://www.culturalsurvival.org/
  • World Bank: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/indigenouspeoples
• Arctic Council (AC)

  The Arctic Council is headed by Savanna Melendez and Denali Partridge.

  Formally established in 1996, the Arctic Council is an intergovernmental forum that aims to address issues faced by Arctic communities and the Indigenous peoples living in the Arctic.  The Arctic Council focuses on issues related to the sustainable development and environmental protection in the Arctic, Arctic shipping, and climate change related matters.  An international forum used to discuss areas of collaboration, the Arctic Council is composed of eight Arctic States, six permanent Indigenous participants, six working groups, and various observers.  At UAA, the Model Arctic Council will be governed by two co-chairs, with representatives from Arctic States and Indigenous permanent participants participating in a working group to reach consensus on issues that affect the Arctic.. 

  One of the subcommittees of the Arctic Council is the working group for the Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment. PAME addresses policy measures that are responsive to environmental changes and land and sea-based activities. The work of PAME focuses largely on the thematic areas of Arctic Shipping, Marine Protected Areas, Exploration and Development, Ecosystem Management, and Arctic Marine Pollution. To address these areas, PAME focuses on achieving consensus development of strategic plans, guidelines, and assessments that work well within existing legal frameworks aimed at preservation of the Arctic marine environment. The chairmanship of PAME rotates every three years between Arctic Council member states, and is currently chaired by the representative from Norway. 

   

  Additional Links:

  https://arctic-council.org/resources/arctic-acronyms/ 

  https://arctic-council.org/explore/topics/pollutants/ 

• International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Accessibility, Affordability and Development

  The International Telecommunication Union - Accessibility, Affordability and Development is headed by Ella Bryner and Jamie Conlan.

  The International Telecommunication Union Development Sector (ITU-D) is a branch of the ITU that is focused on the accessibility, affordability, and development of technology. In a rapidly growing technological world, the ITU-D works to close the digital divide worldwide, to not leave anyone behind, and to drive digital transformation. ITU-D’s focus on the power of information and communications technology for economic prosperity, job creation, digital skills development, gender equality, diversity, a sustainable and circular economy, ​and for saving lives. ITU-D’s work prioritizes those most in need- from people living in the world’s Least Developed Countries to marginalized communities everywhere- in order to provide accessibility, affordability, and development for all. 

  • ITU Development Sector 
  • ITU Key Areas of Action 
  • ITU: Accessibility and Standardization
  • ITU: Affordability
  • IEEE: AI Accessibility 
  • Stanford: Water pollution 
  • Education Divide
  • Agriculture Technology
  • Digital Tech
  • Internet Access Around the World
• International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Cybersecurity and AI 

  The International Telecommunication Union - Cybersecurity and AI is headed by Mckayla Montgomery and Mark Zimmerman.

  The International Telecommunications Union A.I. and Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) drafts and executes policy for emerging technologies in machine learning, digital security, and information safety. By proactively and responsibly working with member states and international stakeholders, ITU-R paves the way for the safe and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) and reducing the impact of cyberwarfare and digital terrorism. ITU-R is focused on promoting international cooperation in Generative A.I. trust and safety policy, setting standards for cybersecurity and counter-cyberterrorism, securing the safety of users on communication and social networking platforms, and combatting dangerous misinformation and disinformation online.

  The International Telecommunications Union was originally founded in 1865 to ensure standardised telegraphy across land and sea, predating most standardisation committees. Since then, ITU has created standards for telecommunications that people around the world continue to interact with. Landmark standards from this committee include fibre-optic internet connections, digital video encoding standards, Internet-of-Things (IoT) connectivity, LTE and 5G mobile networks. During this conference, ITU hopes to create the same agreement on standards around emerging A.I. models and combat threats posed by information or cyber warfare. 

   

  Learn more about ITU-R:
  
  

  • ITU - Key Areas of Action
  • ITU-T - Setting the Standard
  • ITU - Generative AI, what can we expect?
  • ITU - A.I. for Good Summit 
  • ITU-T - Standardizing Cybersecurity
  • ITU-D - National Strategies for Cybersecurity 
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

  The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is headed by Morgan Dauwe and Emma Mullet.

  Originally established as the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) in 1950, the committee was formed for a three-year period to assist displaced Europeans after the Second World War. Ever-present international conflict, however, extended the need for the committee. Since then, the UNHCR has been working to provide humanitarian aid to the world’s most vulnerable with the primary goal to aid those seeking asylum from generalized violence, armed conflict, and/or human rights violations. 

  The foundation of the UNHCR is the 1951 Convention and its only amendment, the 1967 Protocol, that define the word “refugee” and outline the key responsibilities of the UNHCR and the international community. In line with the 1951 convention, the UNHCR has three key priorities; 1) respond to emergencies, 2) protect human rights, and 3) build better futures. In 2021, there were approximately 21.3 million refugees covered under the UNHCR’s mandate, more than double the 10.5 million figure merely a decade prior. The UNHCR works on the ground alongside humanitarian organizations to provide emergency assistance such as food, water, healthcare, shelter, etc. Most of this work takes place in countries in Africa and Asia, the largest hosts and producers of refugees and internally displaced peoples.

   

  UNHCR Website: https://www.unhcr.org/  

  UN Overview of Refugee Issues: https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/refugees 

  Legal basis of UNHCR: 

  • https://ijrcenter.org/refugee-law/
  • UNHCR Statute: https://www.unhcr.org/media/28183
  • 1951 Convention: https://www.unhcr.org/about-unhcr/who-we-are/1951-refugee-convention

  Global Compact on Refugees: https://www.unhcr.org/about-unhcr/who-we-are/global-compact-refugees  

  Statistics: 

  • Refugees Global Trends Report: https://www.unhcr.org/global-trends
  • UNHCR Data: https://www.unhcr.org/unhcr-data
  • UNHCR Figures at a Glance: https://www.unhcr.org/about-unhcr/who-we-are/figures-glance

  Ongoing Emergencies: https://www.unhcr.org/emergencies 

  UNHCR Strategic Direction: https://reporting.unhcr.org/strategic-directions-2022-2026#_ga=2.80725139.506072006.1686198378-208874710.1686198378 

  UNHCR Innovation Service: https://www.unhcr.org/innovation/