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Model United Nations 2022 Spring Committees
*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 Birch Boyer.
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, Belgium, the Dominican Republic, Estonia, Germany, Indonesia, Niger, South Africa, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia, and Vietnam hold temporary seats.
References
- United Nations Security Council News
- Security Council Report and especially this excellent article on initial SC proceedings relating to COVID
- 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
- Salvaging the UNSC’s COVID Response
- China’s Use of Vaccines as Global Political Capital
- Security Council Report: New Dynamics After the 2020 Elections
Example Resolutions:
- International Criminal Court
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is headed by Abbie Lampman (as Chief Justice) and Ella Bryner.
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
- United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (PFII)
The United Nations Permenant Forum on Indigenous Peoples is headed by Vanessa Tufaga and Katie Scoggs.
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.
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.
Advice for delegates:
Each government has its own policies that relate to Indigenous groups, and each Indigenous group has a unique relationship with its government. This is a unique committee to participate in, and you will best be served by researching the relationships relevant to your assignment. This will allow you to best represent your assignment’s point of view while working in committee. We are happy to help you find resources, but googling will provide you with excellent resources. Whether you are an Indigenous representative or a Member State, please look for resources that reflect both of those perspectives so that you understand the whole relationship.
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Arctic Council (AC)
The Arctic Council is headed by Marya Halvorsen and Jiale Turner.
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 Indigenious 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 around the Arctic marine environment.
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 Sweden.
References
- About the Arctic Council
- Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment
- Discovering the Arctic
- Establishment of the Arctic Council
- What is the Arctic Council and what does it want?
- About PAME
Sustainable development in the Arctic Marine Environment
- As sea ice melts, access to untapped resources becomes possible.
- How do we shape international norms around potential pollution? Oil spills, mining run-off?
- How do we establish who has claim to previously frozen territory?
- Voices of Indigenous residents.
Resources relating to sustainable development in the Arctic Marine Environment
- Cooperation for a Sustainable Arctic Ocean
- What’s Next For Sustainable Development?
- UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs: "Challenges and Opportunities for Indigenous Peoples' Sustainablility
- Sustainable Development in the Arctic: SDGs and the Role of the Arctic Council
- Arctic States Reaffirm Commitment to Sustainable Development of Arctic Ecosystems and People
- Rising Temperatures and Rising Tensions: Climate Change and Geopolitics in the Arctic
Shipping lane customs and best practices
- Are Arctic waters international waterways or sovereign waterways?
- How can we regulate marine traffic?
- How do we approach remediation after pollutive events?
- Where are military ships and ports reasonable? How do we balance commercial interests with military interests?
Resources about Arctic shipping lanes
- PAME: Arctic Marine Shipping
- Navigating the Future of Arctic Shipping
- Geopolitical Implications of New Arctic Shipping Lanes
- Take the Arctic Corporate Shipping Pledge
- NOAA: Arctic Shipping Issues
- WWF: Shipping in the Arctic
- The Geography of Transport Systems: Polar Shipping Routes
- Arctic Shipping Routes, the New Suez Canal?
- Melting Arctic Ice Pits Russia Against U.S. and China for Control of New Shipping Route
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Economic and environmental impacts of Arctic shipping: A probabilistic approach
Canada
Iceland
- Release of the 2021 Arctic Council Joint Declaration and Strategic Plan in Reykjavik, Iceland
- Arctic Council Foreign Ministers Sign the Reykjavik Declaration, Adopt the Council's First Strategic Plan and Pass the Chairmanship from Iceland to the Russian Federation
- Recap of the Arctic Council’s Ministerial Meeting 2021 in Reykjavik
Russian Federation
Sustainable Arctic Tourism
- What can we learn from Venice? How do we preserve this resource for future generations?
- Limitation of cruise ships. How many and when? Impact on marine mammal habitat.
- Limitation of tourist access.
- Indigenous perspectives on tourism.
Product: Consensus statement
Model Arctic Council Delegate Information Sheet
This year’s Model Arctic Council will emulate the work of the working group for the Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment. The specific topics that we will take up at this year’s Council are:
Sustainable development in the Arctic Marine Environment
- As sea ice melts, access to untapped resources becomes possible.
- How do we shape international norms around potential pollution? Oil spills, mining run-off?
-
How do we establish who has claim to previously frozen territory?
-
Voices of Indigenous residents.
Shipping lane customs and best practices
- Are Arctic waters international waterways or sovereign waterways?
- How can we regulate marine traffic?
- How do we approach remediation after pollutive events?
-
Where are military ships and ports reasonable? How do we balance commercial interests with military interests?
Delegates should come prepared to discuss these issues from the perspective of the Arctic State or Indigenous group that they represent. Resources have been made available to help delegates solidify what these views may be. It is important to note that the Arctic Council is a consensus body, and as such, the only proposals that may pass this body must be agreed upon by all Arctic States present. This committee will rely heavily on caucusing and negotiation, with the goal of reaching proposals which are agreeable to all parties.
Indigenous representatives should work to influence the conversations that happen between Arctic States to reach outcomes that are friendly or responsive to them. It may serve an Indigenous delegate well to know which Arctic States respect the human rights of Indigenous people, as delegates of those States may be more open to influence. While Indigenous representatives won’t impact the outcome of the consensus vote, they may jointly issue a statement in support of or against the outcome.
Example Arctic Council Proposals
- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
The International Atomic Energy Agency is headed by Jac Norvell-Moomaugh and Eugene Ye.
Humanity’s first introduction to atomic power was a sobering one. Atomic energy has ever since been understood as one of the most destructive forces devised by man. With that destructive force came great potential. As the human species forges on, a question has loomed over our heads. How will this new power be used? Should it be feared or welcomed? In response to the new fears raised by the advent of nuclear weapons, the IAEA was established in order to
ensure that atomic energy would be used to advance the human species as opposed to realizing the destructive potential of the technology.As a delegate to the IAEA, it will be your responsibility to examine the complex and nuanced issues that atomic power poses to the international community, especially in light of climate change. Climate change has presented a species-wide threat to survival. Changing weather patterns, melting sea ice, and other natural disasters are becoming more and more common. Much of the issues stem from extensive use of fossil fuels. Nuclear energy presents a
potential alternative to the reliance on fossil fuels.How can we as a species navigate the difficult balance of power presented by atomic energy in the 21st century? As delegates to the IAEA, you stand in the position to lead discussion and decide what new actions and policies will be adopted in the upcoming Spring Model UN conference.
Here are some resources to acquaint yourself with in order to come into this conference prepared to discuss the future of atomic energy.
- The official website of the IAEA is a great place to start. This website provides an excellent overview of the IAEA’s goals, programs, and services.
- The United Nations also has a website which gives a brief overview of major events which have influenced the role of atomic energy in the modern world.
- The U.S. nuclear regulatory commission (NRC) also has some amazing resources for examining nuclear power, primarily from the United States standpoint, but still gives good information on various issues like waste disposal and security
- Euratom is a body created by the European Union whose purpose is to develop and improve upon the use
- Need a quick crash course on the problem nuclear waste poses to society? View this well researched video that goes into detail in an abridged format discussing the issue.
- The Nuclear Energy Institute is a NGO based in the US that focuses on preserving nuclear powerpl ants, making safer regulations, and shaping a carbon free emission future.
- Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation is a Russian state owned corporation that is currently undergoing major overseas expansion; Ethiopia and Egypt are two of its major clients in Africa.
- Thorium is a potential alternative to uranium as a fuel for atomic energy. This video is about eleven minutes long, and gives a well-rounded introduction to thorium as such an alternative, and how it might be used in the future.
- United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP)
The United Nations Environmental Programme is headed by Gabriella Gonzalez.
No nation, from the most powerful to the most humble, can escape the ravages of environmental catastrophe. Man-made environmental change has left a lasting impact on Earth. With only one planet able to sustain the human race, the United Nations aims to protect, improve, and support nations and peoples in efforts to protect the planet.
Created in 1972, The United Nations Conference hosted in Stockholm, marked the first ever conference with the environment as the forefront issue. This resulted in the creation of the UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme). UNEP heads the environmental prospects of the United Nations by inspiring, supporting, and enabling nations and all citizens around the world to improve the quality of their life. It implements this duty by influencing, educating, and empowering nations and their peoples on environmental issues.
The UNEP also has seven areas of concentration to help guide their work. These include climate change, disasters and conflicts, ecosystem management, environmental governance, chemicals and waste, resource efficiency, and environment under review (empowering global governments to make environmental change). It uses these topics to drive commitment to its’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals as sustainability is the main goal of UNEP. Sustainability can help not only generations today, but also the generations of tomorrow.
References