Councils
Beginner/ Novice Level Councils
1 or 2 Person Delegations | 57 Total Delegations
Beginner Security Council
Council Directors: Della Johnson & Rashmi Ryan-Brundin
Total Councils: 3 (3 rooms)
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Topic One: Venezuela’s power struggle & humanitarian crisis
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The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is facing one of the world’s most politically-influenced medicine shortages and humanitarian crisis to date. Venezuela’s 31.6 million wide population has burdened many of the effects of the Nicolás Maduro administration which has been in power since 2013. Many countries including the United States have recently recognized opposition leader, Juan Guaido has Venezuela’s democratically-elected President, creating further tension between Venezuela and the rest of the world. The council is tasked with creating a resolution that provides humanitarian aid to the population of Venezuela, declares a President, and prevents further suffering from occuring in the country due to power.
Topic Two: Yemeni Civil War
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After the uprising of the Arab Spring and the transition of power from authoritarian President Ali Abdullah Saleh to deputy Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi in 2012 the Republic of Yemen has faced a lot of corruption, unemployment, and food shortages. Rebellion group, Houthi decided to take matters into their own hands by inciting violence and eventually seizing the northern part of Yemen, which borders Saudi Arabia. This gain of power by the Houthis lead to President Hadi fleeing Yemen which set off an alarm to neighbor Saudi Arabia. The Houthis, a Shia group, backed by Iran became in direct conflict with the Saudi Arabian military and others wishing to restore the Hadi government. The council is tasked with creating a long-term resolution that establishes peace in the region and inciting a plan for government.
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Delegations (15): United States of America, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Russian Federation, French Republic, People’s Republic of China, (VETO POWER) Federal Republic of Germany, Republic of Poland, Dominican Republic, Kingdom of Belgium, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, State of Kuwait, Republic of Peru, Republic of South Africa, Republic of Côte d'Ivoire
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Guest Delegations (4): Republic of Colombia, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sultanate of Oman, Federative Republic of Brazil
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Guest delegations can participate in everything except substantive voting!
Veto power is in order for resolutions only, as long as a explanation for the veto is given!
Beginner Security Council
BACKGROUND GUIDE
Email for Position Paper submission by April 19th, 2019: 758857@dpsk12.net
Beginner Security Council
COUNTRY ASSIGNMENTS
BSC
Low-Intermediate Level Councils
1 or 2 Person Delegations | 63 Total Delegations
Low-Intermediate Special Council: Israel-Palestine Crisis
Council Directors: Hanae Leieritz & Allison Hastings-Wottowa
Total Councils: 3 (3 rooms)
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Topic One: Israel-Palestine Conflict
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Following the Second World War, Zionist movements acting alongside the British government gained the territory known as the ‘Holy Land’ in the Middle East from the Ottoman Empire. The conflict regarding Arab Palestinians already inhabiting the region soon arose, and the modern conflict has since been hotly debated. In 1949, the Armistice demarcation line was established to mitigate the violence that had ensued. This border was intended to be only a temporary solution, serving as a de facto border of Israel until 1967. The Green Line drawn at this point was meant to establish national borders between the ethnic and religious groups of Israel and Palestine. Palestine’s portion of the Green Line encompasses the West Bank- bordering Jordan and the Dead Sea- and the Gaza Strip- a small enclave bordering Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea. Constructed by Israel during the Second Intifada, the Separation Wall between Israel and the West Bank cuts into the territory of the West Bank demarcated by the Green Line compromise, effectively isolating thousands of Palestinians from the bulk of the territory and acting as an apartheid wall based on ethnic, religious divisions. In 2003, the United Nations General Assembly seemed the wall illegal under international law, though no formal efforts from the Israeli government have been taken to dismantle the barrier. Delegates in the council are tasked with discussion of legality, cultural and economic implications, and next steps regarding the wall in the present day. The conversation will be conducted in the form of a ‘special council’- there will be guest delegations, with the ability to contribute to discussion but not vote, and the style of a security council will not be used, therefore veto power will be out of order.
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Delegations (19): Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Russian Federation, United States of America, Syrian Arab Republic, Republic of Iran, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, French Republic, Lebanese Republic, Arab Republic of Egypt, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Federal Republic of Germany, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Hellenic Republic of Greece, Republic of Turkey, Republic of India, Canada, People’s Republic of China, Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Republic of Korea
Guest Delegations (3): State of Israel, Palestine/West Bank (Fatah), Jerusalem
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Guest delegations can participate in everything except substantive voting!
Veto power is out of order for this council!
Low-Intermediate Special Council
BACKGROUND GUIDE
Email for Position Paper submission by April 19th, 2019: 698838@dpsk12.net
Low-Intermediate Special Council
COUNTRY ASSIGNMENTS​
LISC
Intermediate Level Councils
1 Person Delegations | 45 Total Delegations
Intermediate U.N. Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO): Media Accountability
Topic One: Freedom and protection of the press
Topic Two: Media credibility
Council Directors: Thandi Glick & Jonah Koeppe
Total Councils: 1 (1 room)
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Topic One: Freedom and protection of the press
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The 2018 assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi Arabian agents has been one of the most publicly and contentiously discussed examples of the epidemic of violence facing journalists globally. In 2018, at least 53 journalists were killed worldwide, an unconfirmed number of whom were executed by state agents. And across the board, journalists are often the first to face state-sponsored repression, including exile, political imprisonment, and murder. As states like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the Philippines continue to violate rights to freedom of speech and freedom of the press, it is important that broader protections of journalists, and of freedom of expression both online and in print, be established. In this council, delegates will be expected to draft resolutions that work towards greater protection for journalists, particularly those in conflict zones, while also coming to solutions regarding the state of freedom of expression, both online and in print. Delegates are also called upon to address the situations of journalists who are already facing retributive acts like political imprisonment. Delegates are encouraged to make use of directives to grapple with ongoing issues in their states that are relevant to the topic at hand.
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Topic Two: Media credibility
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In recent years, politicians around the world, from Damian Collins to Donald Trump to Pavel Krasheninnikov, have made statements regarding the credibility of prominent media sources in their countries. The responsibility a media organization has is to its audience, and many have recently called into question the level to which that responsibility is maintained. In some cases, it is state interest that is accused of disrupting that duty: state run media sources in countries such as China and North Korea are widely regarded as purposely misleading of citizens who rely on the news sources. From ombudspersons in Syria and South Africa to the recent U.K. lawsuit against Facebook, a number of states have begun taking steps to introduce some state control over the information spread via news and social media. This council seeks to address the role of the state in mitigating the spread of false information through news and social media, and in maintaining journalistic integrity despite the influence of various actors, including government officials.
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Delegations (24): Arab Republic of Egypt, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Federation of Malaysia, Federative Republic of Brazil, Kingdom of Denmark, Kingdom of Libya, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, People’s Republic of China, Republic of Cameroon, Republic of Ecuador, Republic of Ghana, Republic of Hungary, Republic of Iraq, Republic of Italy, Republic of Korea, Republic of the Philippines, Republic of South Africa, Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Republic of Turkey, Russian Federation, Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Turkmenistan, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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Guest Delegations (1): United States of America
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Guest delegations can participate in everything except substantive voting!
Veto power is out of order for this council!
Intermediate UNESCO
BACKGROUND GUIDE
Email for Position Paper submission by April 19th, 2019: 775422@dpsk12.net
Intermediate UNESCO
COUNTRY ASSIGNMENTS​
Intermediate Special Council: African Resource Union
Topic One: The sustainability of resources in Africa including Wakanda
Council Directors: Claire Weiser
Total Councils: 1 (1 room)
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Topic One: The sustainability of resources in Africa including Wakanda
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Imperialism devastated Africa in years 1881-1941 and the effects are still seen today. In post-colonial Africa, even resource rich countries fight for economic and political independence. The newly discovered Wakanda has created new discussion around allocation and usage of resources. Much like Wakanda, countries such as Angola, Zambia, Nigeria, and many other African countries are rich in resources. Yet, unlike in most African countries, Wakanda’s resources have been exceptionally well managed and have avoided the influence of Western powers for years. Shared Wakandan resources could be beneficial for Africa's infrastructure, humanitarian crisis and poverty, and economic development as a whole. But, if Wakanda lets go of their long held isolationists values, they could perhaps face the same colonial fate as many African countries before. While most participants will represent countries, Wakanda will be represented by three different religious leaders who make up the main identities within Wakanda. All African Union countries and Wakandan representatives will have voting powers, yet countries not part of the African Union will not have voting rights in council. Because this council includes a fictional society/ country, some facts regarding Wakanda have been inferred from Marvel documents and are stated in the background guide. Representatives are responsible for creating resolutions and directives to figure out the future of African resources while adequately responding to crisis that occur throughout the council.
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Delegations (15): T’Challa (Black Panther Cult), M’Baku (White Gorilla Cult), Umbala (Lion cult leader), Republic of Angola, Republic of Zambia, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Liberia, Republic of the Sudan, State of Libya, People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, Republic of South Africa, Republic of Angola, Republic of Botswana, Burkina Faso
Guest Delegations (5): United States of America, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, French Republic, People’s Republic of China, Canada
Intermediate Special Council
BACKGROUND GUIDE
Email for Position Paper submission by April 19th, 2019: 668525@dpsk12.net
Intermediate Special Council
COUNTRY ASSIGNMENTS​
IUNESCO
ISC
LAECOSOC
Low-Advanced Level Councils
1 Person Delegations | 21 Total Delegations
Low-Advanced Economic & Social Council (ECOSOC): The Chinese Social Crisis
Topic One: Uyghur internment
Topic Two: Government overreach with social credit scores & internet restrictions
Council Directors: Ben Hamik
Total Councils: 1 (1 room)
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Topic One: Uyghur internment
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In the autonomous Chinese region of Xinjiang which borders Kazakhstan & Mongolia China has instilled strict control over the population and the territory. The region is home to key trade routes between Asia and Europe which China’s President, Xi Jinping hopes to advance as part of his international policy. As well the Xinjiang region contains a rich amount of oil, natural gas, and coal which the Chinese government has taken full advantage of. The Uyghurs, a Turkish ethnic group, and one of China’s 55 officially recognized ethnic minorities, call Xinjiang home with over 10 million Uyghurs based in the region. Through China’s strict control over the population of Xinjiang the Uyghur people have been restricted from most freedoms such as having a passport, practicing their religion which to most is either Buddhism or Sunni Islam, and buying/selling any items associated with the Uyghur culture. This has caused many Uyghurs to flee China for other homes such as the U.S. or other western countries. Washington D.C. is newly home to over 1,000 Uyghurs, many of them who have been threatened by the Chinese government since their escape. A large portion of Uyghurs, reportedly 1-3 million, have been sent to “reeducation camps” located in remote parts of Xinjiang which has raised concern from U.N. human rights officials. This council is asked to draft a resolution that includes recommendations for restoring fair treatment of the Uyghur people and provides safeguards for the prevention of further disenfranchisement from the Chinese government. Cooperation with all delegations including China is key.
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Topic Two: Government overreach with social credit scores & internet restrictions
China’s population of 1.4 billion has been named the most surveilled group in the world. With over 200 million CCTV cameras across the country, some with newly-introduced facial recognition technologies, the police forces of China always know where someone is, what they are doing, and who they are. China government states, “if you are an ordinary citizen we only use the information we collect if you need help.” Many citizens however express that China’s surveillance on them seems as more of a control factor on the population and less of a helping hand. Many cities in China have instilled facial recognition systems to enter markets, train stations, and grocery stores. In Guiyang for example, their system allows police officers with smart glasses or body cameras to look at someone and see a complete profile including gender, ethnicity, origin, occupation, and criminal history. All this data allows the Chinese government to restrict specific citizens from certain locations and settings. As well internet restrictions prevent China’s population from free access to the web and its’ services including some Netflix content. All these restrictions raise the question whether this is government overreach and a violation of human rights.
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Delegations (21): Canada, People’s Republic of China, Republic of Turkey, United States of America, Russian Federation, Republic of Korea, Japan, French Republic, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Ukraine, Republic of India, Federal Republic of Germany, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Republic of Turkmenistan, Islamic Republic of Iran, Kingdom of Denmark, Republic of Ireland, Federative Republic of Brazil, Republic of Belarus, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Kingdom of Norway
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Guest Delegations (0):
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Veto power is out of order for this council!
Low-Advanced ECOSOC
BACKGROUND GUIDE
Email for Position Paper submission by April 19th, 2019: 666499@dpsk12.net
Low-Advanced ECOSOC
COUNTRY ASSIGNMENT​
Advanced Level Councils
1 Person Delegations | 29 Total Delegations
Advanced Judicial Council: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17
Topic One: Prosecution of those responsible for the downing of
Malaysian Airlines Flight 17
Council Directors: Hugh O’Bryan
Total Councils: 1 (3 rooms)
Topic One: Prosecution of those responsible for the downing of
Malaysian Airlines Flight 17
The downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 is one of the worst air disasters in recent history and strained tensions between East and West. Almost 300 hundred people were killed when a missile hit the aircraft while flying over Russia. An international investigation found that pro-Russian Ukrainian separatists were likely responsible for downing the aircraft, and that Russia was likely involved with the production and transportation of the missile that destroyed the aircraft, yet Russia has limited its cooperation with investigative efforts. Currently, Russia, and Russian linked groups are claiming that a Ukrainian fighter shot down the aircraft, yet they have provided different, inconsistent explanations since for the downing since 2014 and little evidence for any explanation. Nobody has been officially charged or tried in relation to the incident, yet multiple people have been placed under investigation.
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Special Procedure: Quick Overview
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This Advanced Judicial Council aims to provide an encompassing legal verdict concerning accused persons charged with perpetrating the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. As a trial exactly like this one has never occurred before, liberties have been taken with regards to time constraints and participation requirements. However, these procedures have been based on the Dutch legal structure which is a civil-law-based legal structure, and these procedures have been influenced by those used in the Lockerbie Bombing Trial. According to the Netherlands, backed by international agreements with Ukraine, the trial will eventually take place at The Hague, be directed by the Dutch Criminal Supreme Court, therefore falling under Dutch criminal law.
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There will be three major, involved groups: the judges, the prosecution (of which two judges are a part of), and the defense, and the day will be broken into two major stages. For most of the morning, there will be time for each of the groups to come together in separate rooms to discuss the major arguments that will be presented and the approach they will collectively take during the trial. This discussion will be similar to an unmoderated caucus in standard Model UN parliamentary procedure. This stage is designed to give delegates a significant amount of freedom when deciding their sides viewpoints but also encourages delegates to work in teams to accomplish a collective goal. The second half of the day will be the actual trial, for which all groups come together in one room, witnesses will testify, and judges will decide on a verdict. The trial will take all of the afternoon, and may begin in the later part of the morning, yet specific timing has yet to be decided. There will be P.O.s and adult MUN judges present at all stages. Delegates will receive a detailed procedure guide in early April. Additionally, in the weeks and days leading up to the conference, there will be an opportunity to discuss the procedure with the P.O.s. as well as get to know other delegations in assigned side (be that: prosecution, defense, or judges).
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Delegations (13):
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!Please request one group (Justices, Prosecution, Defense) when registering, not one individual!
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Justices
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Justice Willem van Schendel
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Justice Leo van Dorst
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Justice Tineke Splinter-Van Kan
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Justice Elishewa van Griend
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Justice Nastja van Strien
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***Ebe Johan Hoftsee - Procurator General of the Supreme Court*** (NON-VOTING)
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Prosecution
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Justice Jan Ilsink (operating as public prosecutor)
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Fred Westerbeck: Leader of the Joint Investigation Team
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Tjibbe Joustra: Leader of the Dutch Safety Board
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Defense
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Igor Girkin (Russian Nationalist)
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Igor Girkin’s lawyer, Kerem Canatan
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Oleg Vladimirovich (codename “Orion”, involved Russian GRU agent)
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Oleg Vladimirovich’s lawyer, Dmitry Kalinichenko
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Advanced Judicial Council
BACKGROUND GUIDE
Email for Position Paper submission by April 19th, 2019: 771114@dpsk12.net
Advanced Judicial Council
SPECIAL PROCEDURE
Advanced Judicial Council
COUNTRY ASSIGNMENTS
Advanced Historical Council: The 1885 Northwest Rebellion
Topic One: Recognition of indigenous rights
Council Directors: Lukas Lopez-Jensen
Total Councils: 1 (1 room)
Topic One: Recognition of indigenous rights
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Westward expansion and the mistreatment of Indigenous peoples are often associated with the United States, but what about our neighbor to the north? This council focuses on Indigenous rights in 19th century Canada, at a time when the nation’s prairies were loosely and apathetically governed by a rising Western nation. Delegates will take the perspectives of the Canadian Militia, Mounted Police, parliamentarians, local governors, and of course, the oppressed Metis, Cree, and Blackfoot people themselves.
Delegations (16):
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Big Bear: A Cree chief allied with the Metis who united his people against the federal government.
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Adolphe-Philippe Caron: The Minister of Militia and Defence.
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Crowfoot: Chief of the neutral Blackfoot tribe, giving a voice to indigenous peoples not rebelling.
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Lief Crozier: Superintendent of the North-West Mounted Police.
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Edgar Dewdney: Lieutenant Governor of the Northwest Territories.
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Gabriel Dumont: A Metis leader involved with military coordination against the Canadians.
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Henry Ross Halpin: Member of the Federal Indian Department.
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James Isbister: Northwest Settler and sympathizer to the Metis.
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Acheson Irvine: Commissioner of the North-West Mounted Police.
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William Henry Jackson: Anglo-Canadian sympathizer to the Metis.
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John Macdonald: Superintendent of Indian Affairs, as well as the Prime Minister of Canada.
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Frederick Middleton: General Officer Commanding the Militia in Canada.
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Poundmaker: A Cree advocate for his people to the Canadian government.
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Louis Riel: Metis rebel and the face of the rebellion, who established a government for his people.
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Wandering Spirit: Co-leader of the Cree Warrior Society and a key figure in battles.
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Thomas P. Wadsworth: Indian Inspector for the Northwest Territories.
Guest Delegations (0):
Advanced Historical Council
BACKGROUND GUIDE
Email for Position Paper submission by April 19th, 2019: 673420@dpsk12.net
Advanced Historical Council
COUNTRY ASSIGNMENTS
AJC
AHC