Day One Committee Recap
Day 1 - World Health Committee
Intense debate started in the World Health Committee yesterday. The Republic of Korea introduced his resolution, which immediately fired debate with delegates from France, USA, Sweden, and the Russian Federation. The resolution included a mandatory screening for HIV in all health checks, and bases itself as a short-term plan. There were numerous holes in the resolution, with the priority of Day 2 standing to be creating and finalizing amendments as a final shot at getting resolutions passed.
Day 1- Security Council
In security council, debate opened with Belgium's proposed resolution. Belgium read the resolution aloud, prompting a Q&A session, with one of the main points of interest being military action and violence risks. The Delegation of Belgium assured that domestic military was up to each country because of their sovereignty. The resolution paper is meant to provide the framework for each nation to the best of its ability to promote security through internal military. The Delegation of Belgium also stressed that the paper will encourage domestic military action with respect for sovereign nations. Another theme stressed in this Q&A session was the resolution paper’s main purpose- stopping illicit drug trafficking and to a lesser extent focusing also on arms trade. A few delegations such as China and Kuwait were interested in adding amendments to Belgium’s resolution which was how debated ended on the end of the first day.
Day 1- Economic and Environmental
In the Economic and Environmental committee, the debate focused on the topic of illegal animal poaching. The resolution deplores the rising number of illegally poached animals and the dangerous rate of their extinction. It also makes citizens aware that wildlife trade is the second biggest threat to species, and that animal reservations are the key to preventing it. The resolution also encourages the formation and support of organizations that will help combat illegal poaching and other dire environmental needs. All the countries, excluding Germany and the United States of America, supported the resolution. North Korea decided to take their support to the podium. North Korea agreed with this argument because they believed it would give a hotline for species being poached on the black market. They also thought it would be effective because the resolution would monitor inflation with leather and fur trade. Germany and the United States of America did not show support for it because they felt as if the document was far too vague and failed to mention the topic of smuggling. This resolution was passed.
Day 1- Disarmament and International Security
The committee of Disec held an interesting debate on the resolution of whether various countries should demilitarize space. Sweden presented with their neutrality clause and claimed that space was never meant to be occupied with humans and it shouldn’t be done now. Sweden does believe that humans should increase their knowledge about space and continue with scientific research. Greece then responded by expressing concern about the countries that do want to militarize space and they believe its a horrible act that would leave other countries debilitated. Greece stepped in and communicated concern about North Korea because they would be left vulnerable to an attack if they were to militarize space. Sweden again stressed their neutrality and wanted to focus on exploration in space and would use the international monetary fund to accomplish this. Sweden supports the need to further education about space because the earth is polluted and humans should have a plan in place incase disaster struck. Sweden suggests that schools offer more information and classes dedicated to space that would benefit scientists and students in exploration in space. Egypt responded to this by saying that space is not ours to begin with and we shouldn't try to militarize it. Finland believes that we should militarize space, but only to protect the earth. The chair then called a seven minute unmoderated caucus.
Day 1- Human Rights
A large topic for debate yesterday in the Human Rights Committee was the proposal of a resolution to address child soldiers in various armed conflicts in Yemen, South Sudan, Afghanistan, and the Philippines. A key element of this resolution is the READ plan, which stands for Reformation, Education, Announcement, and Discrimination. This plan targets on stabilizing countries with the conditions that allow for child soldiers to be brought into conflicts. This resolution was proposed by Sweden with Pakistan, Greece, and Australia supporting the passing. Germany, France, Japan, and Canada were opposing the resolution due to their belief that it lacked specificity and clarity about how to aid the child soldiers and prevent the problem from continuing. There was also a lack of information about how to handle the problem of child soldiers being used by non-governmental or rebel forces. The proposed resolution focused on not only taking the child soldiers out of their horrible situations, but reforming the countries so that child soldiers are not needed anymore.
