Hofstra University Model United Nations Conference United Nations

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Hofstra University Model United Nations Conference United Nations Hofstra University Model United Nations Conference United Nations General Assembly Special Political and Decolonization Committee Fourth Committee Elizabeth Wolf Chairperson 1 Delegates, Welcome to Hofstra University’s Model United Nations Conference! During this amazing conference, you will be spending a lot of time with me during committee sessions so I would just like to let you know a little bit about myself and my involvement with Model UN. I am currently a senior History and Geology double major with a minor in Sustainability at Hofstra. When I am not working on lab reports or working at one of my two jobs, I try to be an active member of the Hofstra community. I am Vice President of the Democrat club on campus that I helped establish my freshman year. I am also involved with the Geology club, Students for a Greener Hofstra, and a divestment campaign. I joined Model UN last spring because my dream career is to work with the United Nations Environmental Programme. HUMUN 2013 was my first Model UN conference. I had the honor of being dais for the Future Crisis Committee, where we worked with the issue of the Arctic race for resources after climate change had opened up a “Northwest Passage” and access to oil reserves in the region many years into the future. Delegates were forced to think of the effects of climate change on different countries and how to handle the new resources available in a way that helped not only individual countries, but also the world as a whole. I’m glad to say that I caught the Model UN “bug” and have come back to chair this year’s SPECPOL committee! During these committee sessions, we will be discussing the treatment of the Kurdish people in Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey and the reformation of the UN Peacekeeping Missions to prevent abuses. I chose these topics because both the Kurds and peacekeeping missions and the troops that staff these missions have come up in past class discussions and I felt that these discussions were not only very fulfilling “mental yoga” sessions, but they are also connected to a great deal of current events spanning multiple regions. Finding resolutions to these topics will require a great deal of creative and abstract thinking as well as teamwork. I’m excited to meet you all and engage in some serious mental yoga. Your chair, Elizabeth Wolf [email protected] 2 Introduction to the Committee The Special Political and Decolonization Committee (SPECPOL) is the fourth committee within the General Assembly of the United Nations. It deals with a variety of subjects, including those related to “decolonization, Palestinian refugees and human rights, peacekeeping, mine action, outer space, public information, atomic radiation, and the University for Peace.”1 Hofstra University Model United Nations Conference’s SPECPOL delegates will be asked to confront two hot-button international issues: the treatment of the Kurdish people in four different states in the Middle East and the reformation of the UN Peacekeeping Missions. SPECPOL was initially a committee that focused on decolonization, but after the liberation of most colonies and all of the UN trust territories, the committee took on the “Special Political” duties.2 These duties have included “celestial governance,” activities of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East, and peacekeeping missions.3 There is an annual debate on space because more states have become involved in the exploration of outer space. Every year the committee also discusses the issues surrounding the nearly five million Palestinian refugees who have been displaced due to the fighting surrounding the mandate of the creation of Palestine. Lastly, and most importantly to our discussion, the SPECPOL committee discusses ways to make the peacekeeping troops more efficient by deploying them quicker, enhancing the protection given to civilians, and developing institutions to help improve peace building in states ravaged by conflict and war.4 3 Introduction to the Topics The topics of Hofstra’s University Model United Nations Conference SPECPOL committee – the treatment of the Kurdish people and reforming UN Peacekeeping missions – are important, long-standing issues for the international community and matters the UN must address. Both issues are very complex and made up of a wide variety of components, along with a huge divergence in opinions among UN member states. Thus, in addition to studying this background guide, you should thus research these topics thoroughly so that you are accurately reflect your state’s position. The Kurdish population spans Iraq, Iran, Syria, Turkey, and a very small section of Armenia. Kurds constitute one of, if not the, largest minority in each state. Driven by the notion of national self-determination, the Kurds have been pushing for a sovereign state, or some level of autonomy, since the fall of the Ottoman Empire after 4 World War I. However, because they are a minority in Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey, Kurds have not always received the equal treatment. Indeed, one can argue the basic rights of Kurds have been violated by each of the states they reside. Since the Kurdish people make up a substantial percentage of the population in each of the states, it is important to address the mistreatment Kurds face so to prevent escalation into yet another international humanitarian tragedy. The second topic on peacekeeping mission reform is important because the UN sends troops on these missions with the hope of restoring or enforcing peace in conflict regions all around the world. The resources, including the troops themselves (which are UN-member state forces) and the money it takes to send them on missions with the materials they need, are contributed by member states through a complex equation made up by said members. While peacekeeping missions have contributed significantly to security and stability in many ways around the globe, there have been too many instances of the “blue helmets” engaging in unethical behavior in the states in which they are deployed, including sex trafficking. It is important to make sure that peacekeeping missions are done efficiently and ethically. Poorly behaving peacekeeping troops and other problems can undermine UN values, exploit already victimized civilians, and ultimately lead to the failure of peacekeeping missions. In this committee, delegates will have to explore ways to prevent such outcomes and devise reforms that bolster the efficiency and ethicality of peacekeeping missions. 5 Topic A: The Kurdish Question The Kurds are known as the largest group of people without its own state. Dispersed among Armenia, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey, the Kurdish people are largely a Sunni Muslim non-Arab people that speak language most similar to Persian. Prior to the First World War, the Kurds were mostly a nomadic people living in the Mesopotamian plains and highlands of Ottoman Empire and Iran. The notions of nationalism and national self-determination – important forces in Europe and beyond both before and after World War I – began to resonate among the Kurds in the early 20th century. But the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire that resulted in the creation of a number of new nation states did not include a separate Kurdistan. Indeed, Turkey, Iran, and Iraq all agreed to not recognize an independent Kurdish state.5 Kurdish inability to create their own nation-state is inconsistent with the idea of national self-determination, something promoted by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson during World War I as a way to promote international peace and stability. Indeed, while promoting his famous “Fourteen Points,” Wilson argued, “National aspirations must be respected; peoples may now be dominated and governed only by their own consent. ‘Self-determination’ is not a mere phrase. It is an imperative principle of actions which statesmen will henceforth ignore at their peril.”6 The creation of the UN system, along with the treaties and conventions that came out of the UN system, enshrined the idea of national self-determination in international law. For example, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Article I, Section I) states, “All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.”7 6 In addition to being a question of self-determination, the Kurdish issue raises important human rights concerns. As the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 2 states: Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.8 Kurds have been discriminated against in Turkey, Iraq, Syria and elsewhere. Since the formation of Iraq, Syria, Turkey and the rest of the states that emerged after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, Kurds have suffered from political, social, and economic discrimination. There have been movements – such as the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) that has waged a violent campaign against the government of Turkey – that have sought an independent Kurdistan because of such issues combined with national self- determination motivations. Because Kurdish issues span multiple states and include issues of internationally recognized rights and national self-determination, the “Kurdish Question” is clearly an international issue that SPECPOL should address. The main issues associated with the “Kurdish Question” that the committee will focus on are political and social and involve citizenship, representation in government, religion, and education.
Recommended publications
  • The Right to Peace, Which Occurred on 19 December 2016 by a Majority of Its Member States
    In July 2016, the Human Rights Council (HRC) of the United Nations in Geneva recommended to the General Assembly (UNGA) to adopt a Declaration on the Right to Peace, which occurred on 19 December 2016 by a majority of its Member States. The Declaration on the Right to Peace invites all stakeholders to C. Guillermet D. Fernández M. Bosé guide themselves in their activities by recognizing the great importance of practicing tolerance, dialogue, cooperation and solidarity among all peoples and nations of the world as a means to promote peace. To reach this end, the Declaration states that present generations should ensure that both they and future generations learn to live together in peace with the highest aspiration of sparing future generations the scourge of war. Mr. Federico Mayor This book proposes the right to enjoy peace, human rights and development as a means to reinforce the linkage between the three main pillars of the United Nations. Since the right to life is massively violated in a context of war and armed conflict, the international community elaborated this fundamental right in the 2016 Declaration on the Right to Peace in connection to these latter notions in order to improve the conditions of life of humankind. Ambassador Christian Guillermet Fernandez - Dr. David The Right to Peace: Fernandez Puyana Past, Present and Future The Right to Peace: Past, Present and Future, demonstrates the advances in the debate of this topic, the challenges to delving deeper into some of its aspects, but also the great hopes of strengthening the path towards achieving Peace.
    [Show full text]
  • Preservation of Cultural Heritage
    “ Preservation of Cultural “ Heritage 1. Letter from the Secretary General 2. Letters from the directors 3. Introduction of the committee 4. Current situation 5. Introduction of the topic 6. Past International Actions 7. Bloc positions 8. Possible Solutions 9. QARMAS 10. Position papers 11. References Letter From the Secretary General Dear Delegates and Faculty Advisors, Last year the Casuarinas Debate Team organized our first Model United Nations conference called CASMUN, and once again it is an honor to have you back with us. It has not been too long since the Casuarinas Debate Team started, and since then having our own Model UN competition was a goal: a difficult one, but not impossible to achieve. In 2020, we were planning to organize the conference at our school, following the measures for what appeared to be only a 3 month quarantine. However, because of the Covid-19 pandemic we were forced to organize a virtual conference, which we were able to accomplish through the hard work of our Faculty Advisors and the Casuarinas Debate Team. This year is no different, and with much more experience in hand, we are organizing another virtual conference full of dedication, enthusiasm and transparency in order to offer all delegates a suitable space for self expression and formal discussions. Casuarinas Model UN is the result of the effort of many people, including our Faculty Advisors, your committee chairs, and all the members of our Secretariat who volunteered to participate. Personally, I would like to thank them all in advance for their commitment. Finally, I would like to point out that Model United Nations is about having fun and learning not only about global issues, but also acquiring and improving soft skills that will benefit delegates in the long term.
    [Show full text]
  • Strategic Nonviolent Struggle: a Training Manual
    NONVIOLENT TRANSFORMATION OF CONFLICT—AFRICA STRATEGIC NONVIOLENT STRUGGLE: A TRAINING MANUAL Christopher A. Miller EDUCATION FOR PEACE AFRICA PROGRAMME The mission of the University for Peace is to provide humanity with an international institution of higher education for peace with the aim of promoting among all human beings a spirit of understanding, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence, to stimulate cooperation among peoples, and to help lessen obstacles and threats to world peace and progress in keeping with the noble aspirations proclaimed in the Char- ter of the United Nations. Charter of the University for Peace, Article , approved by the UN General Assembly in Resolution A/RES/5/55 University for Peace, Africa Programme PO Box 794, code 50 EDUCATION Addis Ababa, Ethiopia FOR PEACE AFRICA Tel: +5--68099 PROGRAMME Fax: +5--68099 Email: [email protected] Website: www.africa.upeace.org NONVIOLENT TRANSFORMATION OF CONFLICT—AFRICA Additional titles in this series: ‘Bite Not One Another’: Selected Accounts of Nonviolent Struggle in Africa Only Young Once: An Introduction to Nonviolent Struggle for Youths Also available: Teaching Model: Nonviolent Transformation of Conflict To order, contact [email protected] 4 NONVIOLENT TRANSFORMATION OF CONFLICT—AFRICA STRATEGIC NONVIOLENT STRUGGLE A TRAINING MANUAL Christopher A. Miller Mary E. King Series Editor EDUCATION FOR PEACE AFRICA University for Peace, Africa Programme PROGRAMME Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 5 Cover photo: Strained relations among the more than sixty ethnic groups in Côte d’Ivoire were exacerbated by the civil war that began in 99. Interethnic relations within the nation are thus a key factor in seeking a representative and democratic government and building national unity and sustainability.
    [Show full text]
  • UN-Mandated University for Peace CURRICULUM VITAE A
    CURRICULUM VITAE A. PERSONAL INFORMATION Name: Dr. Mihir Kanade Nationality: Indian Office Address: University for Peace, Apdo. 138-6100, Ciudad Colon, San Jose, Costa Rica. Email: [email protected] B. CURRENT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE • Academic Coordinator, United Nations mandated University for Peace, Costa Rica (2016-present) • Head of Department, International Law and Human Rights, United Nations mandated University for Peace, Costa Rica (2014-present). • Director, Human Rights Centre, United Nations mandated University for Peace, Costa Rica (2009-present). • Adjunct Faculty a. Chaikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal (2013-present) b. Universidad Alfonso X El Sabio, Madrid, Spain (2012-present) c. Long Island University, New York, United States (2014-present) • Member, International Advisory Board for ‘Business and Human Rights’, International Bar Association (2016). C. PAST PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE • Assistant Professor, Department of International Law and Human Rights, United Nations-mandated University for Peace, Costa Rica (2009-2014). • Short Term Consultant, United Nations University, Japan, on project titled ‘WTO Agreements, United Nations and Human Security’ (2009-2011) • Legal Practitioner, Supreme Court of India and Bombay High Court (2003-2008). D. ACADEMIC BACKGROUND: • Doctor in Peace and Conflict Studies, United Nations mandated University for Peace, Costa Rica (2015). Dissertation: The Multilateral Trading System and Human Rights: A Governance Space Theory on Linkages. • Masters in International Law and the Settlement of Disputes, UN-University for Peace, Costa Rica (2009). P.O. Box 138-6100, San José, Costa Rica Tel: + (506) 2205-9000 Fax: + (506) 2249-1929 UN-mandated University for Peace E-mail: [email protected] www.upeace.org • LL.B. (Professional Degree), Nagpur University’s Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • General Assembly Fourth Committee
    General Assembly Fourth Committee Recent Developments In its 67th session, the General Assembly adopted nearly 30 different texts based on the recommendation of the Special Political and Decolonization committee—or the General Assembly Fourth Committee.1 As per its mandate, the GA Fourth Committee produced draft resolutions and adopted reports on a plethora of topics, including but not limited to: the University for Peace, the work of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, decisions concerning decolonization, peacekeeping, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Israeli practices in Palestine, outer space, and information governance.2 The GA Fourth Committee produced four draft-resolutions on UNRWA: Assistance to Palestine refugees, Persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities, Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, and Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues—all of which were contained within the GA Fourth’s report on the UNRWA.3 The first resolution—adopted with 170 in favor, 1 against, and 8 abstentions— regretted the continued plight of the refugees, specifically that they still required basic health, education and living assistance.4 The second resolution, with a similar amount of support, reaffirmed the right of return for Palestinian refugees.5 The third resolution, also with similar support, expressed concern with UNRWA’s current funding levels
    [Show full text]
  • BAYERN MODEL UNITED NATIONS © 2021 Bayernmun the 2021 BAYERN MODEL UNITED NATIONS Franconia‘S Largest United Nations Simulation Hosted By
    Nuremberg, Germany 26 - 28 February 2021 Security Council Background Guide 2021 Updated and edited by: Anne Hahn, Dorothee Karbe, Tamara Titz BAYERN MODEL UNITED NATIONS © 2021 BayernMUN THE 2021 BAYERN MODEL UNITED NATIONS Franconia‘s Largest United Nations Simulation Hosted by Dear Delegates, Welcome to the 2021 Bayern Model United Nations! The topics under discussion for the Security Council are: I. Resource Scarcity and Its Relation to Conflict II. The Situation in Yemen The Security Council is the international community's most powerful institution dedicated to maintaining peace and security. The Council may issue both binding and non-binding resolutions, release presidential statements, commission reports by the Secretary-General, and authorize peacekeeping or humanitarian missions, among other actions. The Council’s unique legal authority and broad reach makes it the leader of the international community’s efforts to maintain international peace and security. This Background Guide serves as an introduction to the topics on the agenda. However, it is not meant to be the only resource for your research. We invite you to conduct additional research, explore your Member State’s position in-depth, and examine the policies of other Member States to facilitate negotiations and consensus building. The (annotated) bibliography can help you with your initial research and may lead you to other relevant sources. We ask each delegation to draft and submit a position paper by 12 p.m. (CET) on 15 February 2021. Guidelines will be made available in the download section of our Homepage.If you have any questions regarding your preparation for the committee and the conference itself, please contact us at [email protected].
    [Show full text]
  • UNESCO's Work on Education for Peace and Non-Violence: Building
    UNESCO’S Work on Education for Peace and Non-Violence BUILDING PEACE THROUGH EDUCATION ED-2008/WS/38 ED-2008/WS/38 UNESCO’S Work on Education for Peace and Non-Violence BUILDING PEACE THROUGH EDUCATION ED-2008/WS/38 Education shall be directed toward the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and “ friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups and shall further ” the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace. Article 26, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights The promotion of peace through education is The goal of UNESCO’s education programmes at the heart of UNESCO’s mission. As stated and partnerships is the development of com- in its constitution of 1945, UNESCO advances prehensive systems of education that embrace international peace and the common welfare the values of human rights, intercultural under- of humanity through educational, scientific and standing and tolerance. Education for peace cultural relations between peoples of the world. and non-violence promotes the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours that reflect and Though the world has changed over the past sixty inspire these values. years and continues to change at an ever in- creasing rate, UNESCO’s mission - a commitment The International Decade for a Culture to promoting universal values of peace and non- of Peace and Non-Violence for the violence, human rights and social justice, intercul- Children of the World, 2001-2010: tural dialogue and mutual understanding – persists with growing urgency. UNESCO’s approach to As the lead agency within the UN system for the educating for peace is multidimensional, in that International Decade for a Culture of Peace and it links education with a range of activities that Non-Violence for the Children of the World, 2001- address the root causes of violence, from human 2010, UNESCO is responsible for coordinating security to sustainable development.
    [Show full text]
  • GA2 Background Guide
    New York City, NY, USA NMUN•NY 28 March - 1 April (Conf. A) / 5-9 April (Conf. B) General Assembly Second Committee Background Guide 2021 Written and updated by: Maike Weitzel and Martin Schunk, Directors Kenny Van Nguyen, Assistant Director NATIONAL MODEL UNITED NATIONS nmun.org © 2020 NMUN NATIONAL MODEL UNITED NATIONS THE WORLD’S LARGEST UNIVERSITY-LEVEL SIMULATION • SINCE 1927 13570 Grove Dr., Suite 294 • Maple Grove, MN 55311 www.nmun.org • [email protected] • 612.353.5649 Dear Delegates, Welcome to the 2021 National Model United Nations New York Conference (NMUN•NY)! We are pleased to introduce you to our committee, the General Assembly, Second Committee (GA2). This year’s staff is: Directors Maike Weitzel (Conference A) and Martin Schunk (Conference B), and Assistant Director Kenny Van Nguyen (Conference B). Maike has a Bachelor of Arts in European Studies and a Master of Arts in International Relations. Martin recently graduated with a Master of Arts, in Media Culture and Media Economy. From 2019 to 2020, he was a Carlo-Schmid-Fellow at the United Nations Department of Global Communications. Kenny completed his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Communication from the University of Colorado at Boulder and is an AmeriCorps Service Member Alumni. He is currently a staffer to Colorado's Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera. The topics under discussion for the General Assembly Second Committee are: I. Financing for Development II. Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) for Sustainable Economic and Financial Development III. Disaster Risk Reduction The General Assembly Second Committee is one of the six Main Committees of the UN General Assembly.
    [Show full text]
  • References: Child Soldiers
    1 References: Child Soldiers Books Beah, Ishmael. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier (Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2008). Bok, Francis. Escape from Slavery: The True Story of My Ten Years in Captivity and My Journey to Freedom in America (St. Martin's Griffin, 2004). Brett, Rachel and Irma Specht. Young Soldiers: Why they Choose to Fight (Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc., 2004). Briggs, Jimmie. Innocents Lost: When Child Soldiers Go to War (Basic Books, 2005). Dallaire, Romeo. They Fight Like Soldiers, They Die Like Children: The Global Quest to Eradicate the Use of Child Soldiers (Random House, 2010). Denov, Myriam. Child Soldiers: Sierra Leone's Revolutionary United Front (Cambridge University Press, 2010). de Temmerman, Els. Aboke Girls, Children Abducted in Northern Ugan da (Fountain Publishers, 1995). Dunson, Donald. Child, Victim, Soldier: The Loss of Innocence in Uganda (Orbis Books, 2008). Eichstaedt, Peter. First Kill Your Family: Child Soldiers of Uganda and the Lord's Resistance Army (Lawrence Hill Books, 2009). Gates, Scott and Simon Reich. Child Soldiers in the Age of Fractured States (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2009). Honwama, Alcinda. Child Soldiers in Africa (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2007). Jal, Emmanuel. War Child: A Child Soldier's Story (St. Martin's Griffin, 2010). Kahn, Leora. Child Solders (PowerHouse Books, 2008). London, Charles. One Day the Soldiers Came: Voices of Children in War (Harper Perennial, 2007). McDonnell, Faith. Girl Soldier: A Story of Hope for Northern Uganda's Children (Chosen Books, 2007). Rosen, David M. Armies of the Young: Child Soldiers in War and Terrorism (Rutgers University Press, 2005). Singer, P.W.
    [Show full text]
  • Nations Unies
    CENTRAi/"X CHRON UNITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIES S, N.r. IOO17 EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL CABINET DU SECRETAIRE GENERAL REFERENCE: 11 April 2000 Dear I would like to thank you for your letter of 2 March, enclosing the " Strategy and Program" for the University for Peace. The partnerships and initiatives that have been proposed have the potential to make a significant contribution to the revitalization of the University for Peace. It is gratifying to know that the response has already been positive. As you are aware, these efforts have the support of the Secretary-General I am grateful to you for sharing your thinking at this stage and look forward to discussing these plans with you in more detail. Yours sincerely, Mr. Maurice Strong Rector University for Peace Ciudad Colon UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSIDAD PARA LA PAZ UNIVERSITY FOR PEACE CREATED BY U.N. GENERALASSEMBLY, RES. / 35 / 55. DEC. 5. 1980 President of the Council February 17,2000 MFS-060-00 Mr. S. Iqbal Riza Chef de Cabinet Executive Office of the Secretary General United Nations New York Dear Iqbal: I finally received tbejnputs of our Council members jyhich have enabled us to complete the documentation of our Strategy of revitalising the University for Peace and our plans for developing and implementing it. I am now enclosing an Executive'Suinmary along with a package of the more detailed documents on which this is: Based. I am pleased to say that I am getting some encouraging responses on our efforts to develop partnerships with universities and institutions along the way and potential sources of support.
    [Show full text]
  • SC Background Guide
    NEW YORK CITY, NY, USA 19 - 23 March (Conf. A) / 9 - 13 April (Conf. B) NMUN•NY nmun.org/nmun_ny.html SECURITY COUNCIL BACKGROUND GUIDE 2017 Written by: Eileen Austin, Maike Weitzel, Martina Vetrovcova, and Jakob Landwehr Contributions by: Michael Valdivieso and Joshua Cummins NATIONAL MODEL UNITED NATIONS © 2016 NCCA/NMUN THE 2017 NATIONAL MODEL UNITED NATIONS SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE ASSOCIATION 19–23 March (Conference A) & 9 -13 April (Conference B) • www.nmun.org Dear Delegates, Welcome to the 2017 National Model United Nations New York Conference (NMUN•NY)! We are pleased to introduce you to our committee, the Security Council (SC). This year’s staff is: Directors Joshua Cummins (SC-A, Week A), Michael Valdivieso (SC-A, Week B), Eileen Austin (SC-B, Week A), Martina Vetrovcova (SC-B Week B), Maike Weitzel (SC-C, Week A), and Jakob Landwehr (SC-C Week B). Joshua completed his B.A. in History and M.A in International and Comparative Politics, and he currently works for General Dynamics. Michael completed his B.A. in International Relations from Universidad San Francisco de Quito and currently works there as a Project Coordinator. Eileen completed her B.S. in Political Science and B.A. in International Studies and currently works for Cintas. Martina received her B.A. in International Studies and Diplomacy from the University of Economics in Prague and her M.A in Political Science from Heidelberg University, and she is currently pursuing her PhD in International Relations at Heidelberg University. Maike graduated with a B.A. in European Studies from the University of Magdeburg and is pursuing her M.A.
    [Show full text]
  • A/74/PV.45 General Assembly
    United Nations A/74/ PV.45 General Assembly Official Records Seventy-fourth session 45th plenary meeting Thursday, 12 December 2019, 10 a.m. New York President: Mr. Muhammad-Bande ................................. (Nigeria) In the absence of the President, Ms. Beckles Since 2015, Chief Justice Mohamed Chande Othman (Trinidad and Tobago), Vice-President, took has overseen major progress in the investigation, the Chair. first as Head of the Independent Panel of Experts and, thereafter, as the Secretary-General’s Eminent The meeting was called to order at 10.05 a.m. Person. His latest report (see A/73/973), issued in early September, is substantial and presents valuable new Agenda item 128 information. We express our sincere gratitude to the Eminent Person and his team for their dedicated work. Investigation into the conditions and circumstances resulting in the tragic death of Dag Hammarskjöld We also thank all Member States that have and of the members of the party accompanying him collaborated with and contributed to the investigation, particularly those that have appointed national Draft resolution (A/74/L.20) investigators to conduct dedicated reviews of national The Acting President: I should like to inform archives to determine whether additional relevant members that action on the draft resolution is information exists, as well as the Secretary-General postponed to a later date to allow time for the review and our colleagues at the Secretariat, who have worked to ensure that the United Nations has reviewed its own of its programme budget implications by the Fifth specific records and archives for declassification of Committee. The Assembly will take action on the draft information relevant to the case.
    [Show full text]