BISMUN VII MINISTRY OF MAGIC PRESIDENTS: MARIA PAULA RUEDA & JUANITA VILLEGAS BACKGROUND GUIDE BARRANQUILLA, COLOMBIA Honorable Ministers, I hope you are having a great day. My name is Maria Paula Rueda and with my amazing co-president Juanita Villegas, we are honor to have you in this moderate debate. We are very thankful that you are being part of the Harry Potter Ministry of Magic Council. More than a duty, we have a responsibility in the Ministry of Magic. This committee is a great way to demonstrate our creativeness and our reasoning. Our abilities are only limited by our imagination, but with this we have a huge weight in our shoulders and as expressed before, the responsibility of sticking with our fandom and stay true to our loved Magic World written by the inspirational J.K Rowling. My only hope for this experience is to learn from all of you and to listen to your opinions and debate. I really hope to have a magical experience, if any doubts please contact me [email protected] or my co-president: we are willing to help with any issue. Have a great day. Welcome to BISMUN VII. Regards, Maria Paula Rueda Caicedo. British International School Model of United Nations Honorable ministers, My name is Juanita Villegas and along with co-president Rueda, we will moderate the debate and accompany you in this amazing experience. It is an honor for us to welcome you to BISMUN VII. I hope we all have a magical committee work. This debate will take place on the “Ministry of Magic” from the universe of Harry Potter series, written by the British author J.K Rowling and based indirectly in the Holocaust. We will demonstrate that political criteria and debating skills can be applied in fictional setups, by relating these fictional situations with circumstance that have deteriorated our community. We expect all minister to know their role and position regarding the addressed issue, always using a formal language and a diplomat attitude, as well as, been informed about the topic and historical background of the Ministry of magic. I hope that you enjoy this experience in the committee. If there are any doubts do not hesitate to contact me: [email protected] . I am willing to help and answer any question. Best wishes, Juanita Villegas Perdomo. British International School Model of United Nations Introduction to The Committee The British Ministry of Magic was founded on 1707 by the Wizard ‘s council. Its main role is to regulate the Wizards laws and politics in Britain. It is composed by: 1. Department of Magical Muggle-Born 2. Department of Non-Magical MuggleBorn 3. Department of Education 4. Department of Magical Creatures 5. Department of Work 6. Department of Economy 7. Department of Defense 8. Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes 9. Department of Improper use of Magic 10. Department of Magical Games and Sports 11. Department of Muggle- Artefacts 12. Department of International Magic cooperation 13. Department of Magical Transportation 14. Department of Prophecies and Department of Justice 15. Ministry of Magical Law Enforcement 16. Ministry of Magical Cooperation The Muggle Prime Minister is aware of the wizarding world. Presumably this is also true of the President of the United States and of other world leaders. In extreme cases where a magical creature has been seen by Muggles and the usual interventions won't suffice, we work with the Muggle Prime Minister to concoct a believable lie to give to the public. British International School Model of United Nations Topic A: Heist in the Department of Mystery (9th Floor) Issue Back when Voldemort took over the Ministry of Magic, an anti-Muggle law was exerted: all the Muggle-Born wizards were forced into a prison camp, since they were accused of “stealing magic”. In these camps, Voldemort’s allies tortured the prisoners, both physically and psychologically, by burning them and using “unforgivable curses”. Around 700 Muggle-Born wizards were killed with “Avada Kedavra” and thousands were tortured with “Crucio” in this camp. This genocide was forgotten due to the sensible topic around the Wizard World, thus this information was prohibited to be published. On 1998, the Battle of Hogwarts took place. It signals the end of the Second Wizarding War (WWII) where Voldemort -also known as Tom Riddle- and his army were defeated. Afterwards, the Muggle-Born were freed and reintroduced into the wizarding world; they were offered the same opportunities as Non-Muggle-Born wizards. A plethora of the innocent ‘prisoners’ were sent to ‘St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries’ to receive treatment and heal the damage made by these curses after the prison camps were eradicated. Most of them presented similar symptoms of those of a Muggle disease called “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder” such as flashbacks, paranoia and hallucinations. However, years later, the Muggle-Born Wizards, who actively presented symptoms of trauma and PTSD due to their experiences in the prison camps, rebelled against the British Ministry of Magic, conspiring to eliminate all the Pure-Blood wizards. These conspirations were lead by a wizard with an unknown identity who makes him/herself represented by an “X”. British International School Model of United Nations People believe she/he is a presumably British young adult, who has proven to be a very skillful wizard. Rumors says that this individual had endured abuse on his/her childhood due to their blood status and the early lost of their parents. After being in the Prison Camp, they started showing a mental unbalance, mostly due to Post Traumatic Stress Disease. After various failed attempts to detain this ‘criminal’ -which resulted on the dead of an Auror and personal from the Ministry of Magic- “X” along with their allies burst into the Department of Mystery, and infiltrated into the Love Chamber. In this place, they simulated “self-sacrificing”, which made them immune to all charm. This indicates that “X” has probably received an education from a witchcraft and wizardry school like Hogwarts, and that they have access to one of the “prohibited books” only available on the library of this school. Thus, the Ministry suspects that someone from Hogwarts is helping “X” to completely their plan. Later, “X” intruded the Hall of Prophecies by disguising with a Polyjuice Potion and using the “Imperio” curse with the security. She/he stole a forecast about someone who will “revolutionize the Ministry of Magic and exterminate the Pure- Blood Wizards”. Positions With “X” and their allies being immune to all charms, chances of detaining them are decumbent, leaving the Ministry of Magic little options. The main one is establishing a negotiation with “X”. Nonetheless, this has a negative outlook since “X” judgment is blurred by revenge and the trauma after he or she saw the atrocities performed on Prison Camps. Another solution to prevent the plans of wizards’ extermination is to eliminate these immune Muggle Born Wizards; a proposal that will be taken into action if all most of the members of the British Ministry on Magic approve. British International School Model of United Nations Historical Background Muggle-born wizards have been discriminated by Pure Blood wizards through the history. Indeed, it was the main causes for Voldemort to start a war: his hate towards the “Mud-Blood” wizards. Nonetheless, in the past few years the Wizard World has overcome this discrimination by eliminating all social inequality and eradicating all prison camps, offering the same employment opportunities. Still, there are some cultural prejudices that are still visible in the convivial treatment of Non-Muggle-Born wizards and Muggle-Born Wizards, but the ministry is working to eliminate this idiosyncrasy. For instance, the Minister for Magic elected this year is Hermione Jean Granger, a Muggle-Born wizard, who fought in the II Wizarding War against Voldemort. She has ascended to Minister for Magic from the ‘Deputy Head of the Department of Law Enforcement and Leader of S.P.E.W’ (Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare) Further Research Research question: If the Muggle Born Wizards rebelled to the Ministry of Magic, how would each of the ministers react? What are the most important issues that must be taken care of? How would the world be affected, and the magical institutions be affected if they take control? How is it possible to avoid such a war between this two sides of magic world? Should Muggle Born Wizards have the same rights as Non-muggle born wizards (pure blood)? Would there always be a tension between them? British International School Model of United Nations Suggestions Ministers: Please take into consideration that this committee is fictional but is as valid as any other. And like any other committee learn about your own position and how it can affect the world around it, considering that you have in your hand not only the Muggle World but the Magical too. The best defense is an offense, bring valid statements and a reasonable amount of data to support it. Never forget that there is not such thing as a perfect minister, find you own weakness, learn about it and make the it your strength. And the most important thing, have fun and make your voice sound! The world depends on you. British International School Model of United Nations References Harry Potter Wiki. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/Main_page Rowling, J. K., Davidson, A., Rowling, J. K., Rowling, J. K., Rowling, J. K., Rowling, J. K., . Rowling, J. K. (2015). Harry Potter: The complete collection. London: Bloomsbury. VanderArk, S., & Drasnin, T. (n.d.). Ministry of Magic – The Harry Potter Lexicon.