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Committees and Resolutions

General Committees:

ECOSOC- Question of Insurance During Disasters
SOCHUM- Question of Intellectual Cultural Heritage Protection
UNEP- Question of Sea Level Rise Around Small Developing Island States
SPECPOL - Question of the Global Standard of Democracy
UNHRC - Question of Safe and Healthy Buildings

Special Committees:

ICJ - Hypothetical Dispute Case: Iran vs. United States - USA's Withdrawal from Iran Nuclear Deal
UNSC - Question of Transnational Organised Crime
Crisis Committee - The Creation of a Treaty for Mars Sovereignty

Plenary:

Question of Artificial Intelligence in Literature and Education

Press:

Press Delegate Briefing Paper

General Committees

ECOSOC- Question of Insurance During Disasters:

There is a pressing global imperative to address the inaccessibility of insurance systems, particularly in certain Western nations, and its detrimental effects on vulnerable populations during times of crisis. Disasters such as hurricanes, wildfires, and floods have disproportionately impacted vulnerable communities, leaving them at a severe disadvantage in terms of asset protection and recovery. However, the current insurance framework often exacerbates these disparities, leaving vulnerable populations with limited access to essential coverage.

The inaccessibility of insurance systems for vulnerable populations can be attributed to various factors, including financial barriers, discriminatory practices, bureaucratic complexities and lack of information. In light of these challenges, the ECOSOC committee must prioritise addressing the inaccessibility of insurance systems for vulnerable populations to promote resilience and reduce disparities in asset protection and recovery during times of crisis.

To learn more about this resolution, visit the briefing paper below:

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SOCHUM- Question of Intellectual Cultural Heritage Protection:

In the SOCHUM committee, delegates will discuss the resolution: Question of Intellectual Cultural Heritage Protection. The proposed resolution aims to tackle the intricate issue of safeguarding intellectual cultural heritage against exploitation, misuse and appropriation. It acknowledges the immense value of preserving diverse cultural legacies worldwide while recognizing the challenges posed by existing intellectual property laws.

This resolution highlights the complexity of the issue, focusing on legal, ethical and cultural dimensions. It stresses the importance of establishing a universal framework that defines and ensures careful consideration , respecting and actively incorporating specific protocols a relevant culture may have and legislate intellectual property rights of communities. Additionally, the resolution advocates for international cooperation in investigating and prosecuting illicit trafficking of cultural property, alongside encouraging financial contributions to support the recovery of cultural heritage. It calls for more long term actions such as the implementation of educational programs and public awareness initiatives to address the issue comprehensively.

To learn more about this resolution, visit the briefing paper below:

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UNEP- Question of Sea-Level Rise Around Small Developing Island States

The urgency to address climate change impacts on small island developing States (SIDS) is higher than ever, particularly in the context of marine-associated risk. Rising sea levels, exacerbated by climate change, pose existential threats to SIDS by eroding coastlines, overwhelming critical infrastructure, and displacing communities. Additionally, ocean acidification, driven by increasing carbon dioxide levels, compounds the challenges faced by SIDS by threatening marine biodiversity and coral reef ecosystems, which serve as natural barriers against coastal erosion and support essential fisheries. Moreover, extreme weather events including tropical cyclones and storms are becoming more frequent due to climate change, causing significant destruction on maritime activities in SIDS.

Addressing these marine-associated climate change impacts requires international cooperation and proactive measures to unite global resilience and promote sustainable maritime practices in SIDS. This resolution will aim to reduce the negative impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations and ensure the long-term health of our oceans and island nations by clauses such as enhancement of coastal defences, investment in ecosystem-based adaptation strategies, and strengthening maritime infrastructure.

To learn more about this resolution, visit the briefing paper below:

View the Briefing Paper

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SPECPOL - Question of the Global Standard of Democracy:

2024 will be the largest year for the exercise of democracy in the history of the world, with its estimated over half of the world's population will go to the polls. Voting and democracy will be in many people's minds this year, therefore SPECPOL will talk on the Question of the Integrity of Global Democracy. This resolution will look at countries that consider themselves democratic and whether or not they stack up to that claim by considering a global definition of democracy incorporating aspects such as transparency and political freedom.

The goal of this resolution is to promote the debate about democracy as a vessel of power. The idea that we can look around the world at different countries, and question whether or not the democratic process in said country is functioning as it should. This resolution provokes delegates to realise the scope and value of democracy and to not take it for granted especially in New Zealand's case.

To learn more about this resolution, visit the briefing paper below:

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UNHRC - Question of Safe and Healthy Buildings

This year in the UNHRC committee we aim to cover the right of all peoples to live in safe and sturdy structures. This resolution would recognise the challenge that is posed in many parts of the world in ensuring that structures people live in are healthy and clean but most importantly structurally sound. Inspiration for this resolution has come from earthquakes last year in Turkey, Syria and Morocco which highlighted the issue of building code enforcement to ensure buildings are safe for people in vulnerable regions.

The themes this resolution would cover would revolve mainly recognising the need for international building standards and enforcement, while recognising the challenges around shortages of housing, high cost of the policies and potential conflict with heritage protection. It will call for the creation of an internationally drafted and applicable building code that will ensure it will be adaptable for different regions of the world. In addition it will call for enforcement mechanisms across member states to ensure it is upheld and states held accountable. The resolution would also pursue the correction or demolition of buildings that are deemed to be unsafe under the rules created.

To learn more about this resolution, visit the briefing paper below:

View the Briefing Paper

View the Resolution

Special Committees

UNSC - Question of Transnational Organised Crime

Transnational organised crime is any profit driven activity of an international nature taking place in more than one country. With an increasingly globalised economy has brought with it increasingly internationalised crime. Fluid international borders that help promote economic interdependence have also enabled effects of conflict, crime and political instability to seep through. One of the most recognisable forms of transnational organised crime occurs through the trade of illicit drugs. It is the most profitable form of transnational crime with its global value estimated to around USD$320 billion. These transactions take place in what is known as the informal economy, where transactions are not recorded or covered by national laws meaning they do not contribute to potential tax revenue and gross domestic product figures.

Many states in the midst of high government corruption and transnational crime find themselves in a position where they have little resources left to deal with the root cause problems. While being bogged down bringing corrupt officials to justice, or trying to maintain internal security, these states are increasingly struggling to improve their economic positions and trust in institutions. Compounding against them are the international resources of transnational organised crime groups. It is clear that the resources of one state alone are not enough to tackle an increasingly international crisis, hence there are growing calls for an international solution.

To learn more about this resolution, visit the briefing paper below:

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Crisis Committee - The Creation of a Treaty for Mars Sovereignty

The idea of colonising Mars has captivated the imagination of scientists, engineers, and visionaries for centuries. From the speculative writings of authors like H.G. Wells to the scientific proposals of pioneers like Wernher von Braun, the concept of establishing human settlements on Mars has been a recurring theme in science fiction and scientific discourse alike.

In more recent history, discussions surrounding Mars colonisation have intensified with the advent of space exploration missions conducted by various nations and private entities. Mars rovers, such as NASA's Curiosity and Perseverance, have provided invaluable data about the Martian environment, paving the way for future human missions.

The colonisation of Mars has also been a subject of international collaboration and competition. The International Space Station (ISS) serves as a testament to the potential for global cooperation in space exploration. However, as nations develop the capability to send humans to Mars, questions of sovereignty, resource utilisation, and territorial claims have come to the forefront of international discourse.

At the heart of discussions surrounding Mars sovereignty is the question of legal jurisdiction and governance. Unlike Earth, Mars does not have an established framework of international law governing its use and ownership. As such, any declaration of sovereignty over Mars must navigate a complex legal landscape.

To learn more about this resolution, visit the briefing paper below:

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ICJ - Hypothetical Dispute Case: Iran vs. United States - USA's Withdrawal from Iran Nuclear Deal

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, was signed in 2015 between Iran and the P5+1 countries (United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, and Germany), with the aim of limiting Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. However, in May 2018, the United States, under the Trump administration, unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA and reimposed sanctions on Iran, sparking a significant international controversy.

The judges would be challenged to explore the legality of several key aspects. This would involve interpreting the fine details of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to determine the obligations of the parties, assessing the validity of the United States' withdrawal from the agreement and therefore examining whether the withdrawal constituted a breach of treaty obligations, and considering the concept of state responsibility for any harm caused by the US's actions. Overall, the judges' task would be to carefully evaluate the legal arguments and evidence presented by both parties to render a fair and impartial judgement based on principles of international law and justice.

To learn more about this case, visit the dossier and briefing paper below:

View the Dossier and Briefing Paper

Plenary

Question of Artificial Intelligence in Literature and Education

NOTE: Every country delegate will be participating in the plenary session.

Artificial Intelligence has advanced at such a rapid pace that it has outstripped the ability of academics and legislation to keep it in check. With the release of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, academics and world leaders have scrambled to figure out the place that these tools will have in our future. Much debate has been raised in both the possibilities and challenges of AI utilisation in many fields but heavily in the space of academia and education.

Overall this resolution will look to highlight the potential problems of implementing AI systems into the forefront of educational spaces. In summation of the above, perpetuating learned biases, access inequality exacerbating negative inequality in educational outcomes, and the potential for a loss in critical thinking and problem solving skills due to the use of AI systems to assist educators. The resolution will aim to find ways to mitigate these issues from high level intergovernmental avenues to more specific on the ground methods. We aim to make this an unprecedented look into AI framing it in a way that covers topics away from conflict use and security matters and towards its use in constructive matters.

To learn more about this resolution, visit the briefing paper below:

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Press Delegates

Press Delegate Briefing

The Press Programme aims to equip Press Delegates with skills in critical communication in many forms of media while working in alignment with your assigned media organisation. Being a Press Delegate involves working throughout the conference to follow tips, report on committee happenings, conduct interviews, and synthesise information in written and visual forms. You will also play an instrumental role in the publication of The Briefing Paper and other daily NZMUN news content. It is an opportunity to connect delegates across the conference with one another, provide another lens for delegates in debating, and have some fun with publishing wholesome content!

To learn more about how to be a Press Delegate, visit the briefing paper below:

View the Briefing Paper

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