2020 Structuring Sustainability Secretary-General’S Address Dear Delegates
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2020 Structuring sustainability Secretary-General’s Address Dear Delegates, Thank you for taking the first step on your journey into the most underrated aspect of MUN: research. Given below are the background guides, starting points for learning about your agendas, and briefs on the basic information that is pertinent to the UN regarding them. These guides serve mainly as a launch pad to explore your topic in detail, and not an end to your research. ADMUN has only one agenda per committee, while most MUNs have 2 to 3. The reason for this is simple: we want a highly qualitative, serious, in-depth discussion on the agenda, and that means we expect a relevant amount of research. For the coming conference, I’d like to give a short list of the most important areas of knowledge regarding an MUN agenda, and I’d highly recommend that you prepare a research binder containing this information. Firstly, understand the background of your issue, and be able to cut it up into small, specific problems to solve. The Kashmir issue, for example, pertains to terrorism, legality, and peace between the relevant countries. Secondly, understand the role your country plays in this issue. Regardless of whether you are in the WTO, look at your major trading partners, allies, rivals, and understand what your country wants from this issue. Thirdly, understand what the UN wants to accomplish, and what has already been tried. Past resolutions, private sector initiatives, and even military methods are all often relevant. Check why they worked - or didn’t. Finally, find out what exactly the innovative solutions for this issue are. This can be ideas you have come up with yourself, siphoned from opinions of academics and politicians, or it can be detailed policy proposals from think tanks like Demos. Remember to genuinely try to take an interest in what’s going on, as these issues could affect you directly the next time you try to get a visa for a trip, or even explain why the job market for specific fields is booming (or stagnating). Remember that you can always mail your chairs at their given email IDs if you have any doubts on research, and that you will do the vast majority of your work in committee with other delegates in person. Our chairs have worked very hard on these guides, and they are of the utmost quality in terms of content, and they are invested in these topics both academically and personally. Please look over them with the care they deserve. I hope to see you all well prepared and sharp on the days of the conference. Have fun researching! :D Regards, Shaurya Chandravanshi Deputy Secretary General Program Director’s Welcome Dear Delegates and Faculty Advisors, On behalf of the Secretariat, I would like to welcome all of you ADMUN 2.0. With ADMUN ’19 being a huge success, we hope to see the same amount of enthusiasm among all those who are involved in this year’s ADMUN. This year’s background has been tailored in a way that delegates gain enough knowledge regarding their agendas but at the same time are asked questions which require them think critically. To start with, the chairs have written a letter to the delegates, outlining what is expected from the committee, followed by a brief summary of what the committee does. After this, a few key terms are discussed, and the agenda is introduced. The background of the issue is described along with its current situation and to conclude the major parties involved and problems the resolution must address have been given. A few starter links have also been provided by your chairs to make it easier to research your topic further. Do keep in mind that the issue goes far beyond what has been discussed in the background guides and delegates must research more than what has been given. The theme for ADMUN 2.0 is Structuring Sustainability. The need for sustainability is growing each year and as we move closer to 2030, it is important that we start acting on the Sustainable Development Goals. To conclude, a big thank you to all those who were involved in making and researching for the background guides. I am sure that these background guides will help you see what really needs to be discussed regarding your agendas. All the best! Veena Madhu Program Director ADMUN 2.0 United Nations Security Council Agenda: The situation in Kashmir Letter to Delegates Dear delegates and faculty advisors, On behalf of the Executive board and the organizers, we welcome you to ADMUN 2020. This year, the Security Council looks forward to a fruitful debate, with cooperation, interaction and thorough research fueled with the rage of inspiring resolutions which provide a framework for structuring sustainability. The objective is to draft realistic and meticulous resolutions which will aid member states as well as non-state actors to overcoming conflict. You should consider your country’s capabilities and must abide by their foreign policy. Moreover, due to the topic being extremely controversial, make sure that you have researched every aspect of it. You would also need to check how your country has voted for this topic in the past. However, we primarily believe that each delegate should be equipped with not only the skills of diplomacy but an insight on how to solve international issues using this diplomacy - and have a great time doing it. We urge every delegate to participate in the conference and enjoy your time doing it! Sincerely, The UNSC chairs About the Committee As peace and security was of utmost importance to the members of the United Nations, an executive organism was founded to deal with the world’s growing threats to peace and security. The ratification of the United Nations Security Council occurred on the 24th of October 1945 as one of the six principal organs of the United Nations to maintain International Peace and Security following World War II and the failures of the late peacekeeping international body the League of Nations. In the event of a threat to peace, a breach of peace, or an act of aggression, the UNSC may decide on measures such as the imposition of economic sanctions, severance of diplomatic relations, and deployment of United Nations Peacekeepers to which the Members of the UN must comply in accordance to the UN Charter, making it the most powerful and the only binding committee across the UN bodies. The United Nations Security Council comprises of 5 permanent members and 10 non-permanent members, elected on a regional basis to serve a term of two years. The veto wielding members include China, France, Russia, U.K, and the USA while the bi-annual members are Belgium, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Indonesia, Kuwait, Peru, Poland, and South Africa. Chapter V https://www.un.org/en/sections/un-charter/chapter-v/index.html Chapter VII https://www.un.org/en/sections/un-charter/chapter-vii/index.html Key Terms o Article 370 An article acknowledging the special status of Jammu and Kashmir as an autonomous state, having ability to formulate its own laws for its residents o Plebiscite “A vote by which the people of an entire country or district express an opinion for or against a proposal especially on a choice of government or ruler” o Shimla Agreement An agreement to put an end to conflict and improve relations A mutual commitment to the peaceful resolution of all issues through direct bilateral approaches. To build the foundations of a cooperative relationship with special focus on people to people contacts. To uphold the inviolability of the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, which is a most important CBM between India and Pakistan, and a key to durable peace.” o Princely State A princely state, also called native state (legally, under the British) or Indian state (for those states on the subcontinent), was a vassal state under a local or regional ruler in a subsidiary alliance with the British Raj. o United Nations Security Council Resolution 47 (1948) A resolution recommending the demilitarization of troops by Pakistan and India in Kashmir; an appointment of a plebiscite administrator nominated by the UN to conduct a plebiscite in the state. o Union Territory An administrative division in the Republic of India; (in this case) a division associated with territorial claim Introduction Over the course of 70 years, Kashmir has been a battleground for three wars, fought between two massive armies. Along with the 14.53 Million (Estimates - 2019) inhabitants of Jammu and Kashmir, are the half a million Indian troops and the countless Pakistan-based and other non- state actors residing in the 222,236 square kilometers of land which has been a source of conflict for the two nuclear armed rivals. Rehan, a 23-year-old woman who was born and brought up in Kashmir had this to say when she was asked about the situation, “I was born in this conflict, and I have to die in this conflict. We are the pawns in the hands of both nuclear giants, and anyone can die at any time.” As you might have already figured out, the issue of Kashmir is a territorial dispute between India and Pakistan, along with China coming into play from time to time. As of 2010, India claims 43% of the region which includes Jammu, the Kashmir Valley, Ladakh and the Siachen Glacier while Pakistan controls 37% which include Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan. China currently administers the remaining 20% (mostly uninhabited areas), the Shaksgam Valley, and the Aksai Chin region.