Chair: Justin Duca
COMMITTEE TOPICS:
Topic A: Disaster Relief
One of the main responsibilities of the United Nations in the 21st century is to coordinate effective disaster relief for affected nations around the world. OCHA, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Human Affairs, states that, “[United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) teams] … are provided free of charge to the disaster-affected country, and deployed upon the request of the United Nations Resident or Humanitarian Coordinator and/or the affected Government.” With ever increasing threats from Climate Change and other worldwide disasters, delegates will have to answer questions regarding how best to respond to these disasters, and given new geopolitical constraints, if coordinated responses are even effective in this day and age.
Topic B: Status of UN Peacekeeping Efforts
Peacekeeping is one of the core elements of the United Nations. Among the listed purposes of the United Nations, (Chapter 1, Article 1 of the UN Charter), the first stated purpose is, “To maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace.” Peacekeeping is, therefore, one of the most important functions of the United Nations. But how successful have recent efforts been? There are currently 13 peacekeeping operations worldwide, while some global conflicts have been ongoing for at least 20 years. What should governments do to ensure continued global cooperation to resolve violent conflict and enforce each member state’s sovereignty? Should the scope of UN peacekeeping missions be amended from their current status? These and more questions will be answered by you in this committee.