Since its inception almost seventy years ago, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has remained one of the most important ‘deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the United Nations.’ A global forum with 193 member states; it served as a founding institution of the UN in 1945 under its Charter. The first session was convened on 10thJanuary, 1946 under Paul-Henri Spaak (President; Belgium) in the Westminster Central Hall in London and included 51 nation states. FACTS ABOUT UNGA
•Votes taken on issues such as — recommendations on peace and security, the election of members and budgetary questions — require a two-thirds majoritybut others are decided by simple majority.
“The devil came here yesterday. Yesterday, the devil was here in this very place. This rostrum still smells of sulphur.”
• The decisions are not binding.
On 20th September 2006, the Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez • Each year, the UNGA elects a began his speech by waving his General Assembly president to Spanish copy of ‘Hegemony or serve a one year term in office. The survival: America’s quest for globcurrent officeholder is MogensLyk- al dominance’ (Noam Chomsky), ketoft(Denmark). comparing George W. Bush to the devil. • South Sudan, inducted a week after its independence on 9th July “I have great pride in being the 2011 is the newest member. first woman, a Brazilian woman, to open the United Nations GenerHISTORIC MOMENTS al Assembly.”
“Do away with the philosophy of This committee is significant in the plunder and you will have done process of standard-setting and away forever with the philosophy codification of international laws. of war.” • It has seven main committees set up to deal with specific matters designated as — Political and security, Economic and financial, Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural, Trusteeship, Administrative and Budgetary, Legal, Special political.
Nixon and John F. Kennedy.
On 20th September 2011, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff became the first woman to open the round of speeches.
The longest speech of 4 hours and In November 2012, the UNGA voted 29 minutes by the Cuban President, to upgrade the status of Palestine to Fidel Castro in 1960 resounds years a ‘non-member observer state’. later. He is remembered for his reproach of the U.S. imperialism and discoloured remarks about the Presidential candidates– Richard Page 1 | LSR MUN 2016
SIGNIFICANT STATES TO LOOK OUT FOR An issue of deliberation and disagreement that arises is the definition of ‘armed conflict’ and the fate of treaties in case the belligerents have treaties with third states or international organizations. The course of action in case of internal armed conflict is a grey zone too.
articles and international law. Russia and Colombia note the ambiguities, thereby calling for inclusion of more technical terms. Belarus suggests length and intensity to be considered while analysing the effect of armed conflict on treaties.
It is hoped there will be an unequivocal definition for terms ‘material breach’ and ‘fundamental change of circumstances’ in Article 18(Other cases of termination, withdrawal or suspension). Questions such as endurance of treaties of friendship during armed conThe United States advocates the flict and stance of the third states South Africa is propounding for central theme to shift from ‘aggres- not actively involved in the conflict homogeneity of the definition, sion’ (Article 15) to all unlawful are anticipated to be discussed. which was not the same in the draft use of force. Page 2 | LSR MUN 2016
The ‘once-in-a-generation’ opportunity presented by the 2005 World Summit culminated with a decision to create a unique commission for the coordination of peace-efforts in post-conflict areas. Consequently, on 20 December 2005, the General Assembly and the Security Council enacted concurrent resolutions (Resolution 60/180 and Resolution 1645) to establish the UN Peacebuilding Commission. Ever since its creation, the commission has been labelled fervently – it has been called ‘an unusual and unique experiment’ and a ‘watered-down entity’ with little muscle. Several luminaries have attended the PBC meetings. These include the former Secretary General Kofi Annan, former Secretary General Mr. Jan Eliasson, His Excellency José Ramos-Horta - a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, and former President of Timor Leste, Mr. Donald Keberuka, President, African Development Bank, and Ms. Judy Cheg-Hopkins, United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on the University for Peace.
As the PBC meets for yet another session, with an agenda to discuss the relevance and effectiveness of peace enforcement in conflict-affected areas, nations engaged in such scenarios will find themselves hard-pressed for answers. But in the pursuit of such answers, it is first necessary to delineate the precise implication of peace enforcement, as opposed to peacekeeping. It is common knowledge that peace enforcement entails a more rigorous and methodical military presence, but is that the only line of distinction? The vitality of such clarity between the two issues will be evident when it is seen how rapidly a situation can turn into one requiring peace enforcement, instead of simply peacekeeping. In addition, humanitarian grounds will need to be taken into account whilst deliberating about the deployment of a peace enforcement taskforce. It is imperative that such aspects of the issue are not relegated to the background, as peace should ultimately benefit humanity.
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Since questions relating to peace enforcement missions affect countries both directly and indirectly associated to the peace process, it is discernible that all nations will be desirous of the optimal conclusion. Notwithstanding, nations that have undergone or are undergoing peace enforcement missions will be key actors in the debate – these include South Sudan, Congo, Afghanistan, Kosovo, the Middle East and Liberia, among others. In light of the wide ambit of the PBC’s current agenda, it is imperative that all nation states deliberate over the myriad implications that can issue forth from such a dialogue. In the end, it is the cumulative responsibility of the world community to pave the way for the arduous journey to world peace.
IMPORTANT PERSONALITIES WHO VISITED UN PEACEBUILDING COMMISSION
Ms. Judy Cheg-Hopkins at UNPBC
Former Secretary General, Kofi Annan at UNPBC
Former Secretary General Mr. Jan Eliasson
PICTURES FROM THE HISTORIC PRESIDENTIAL POLLS IN BURUNDI
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On October 24, 1945, the victors of World War II — China, the U.S.S.R., France, the United Kingdom, and the United States — ratified the UN Charter, creating the Security Council and establishing themselves as its five permanent members with the unique ability to veto resolutions. The first temporary members were Australia, Brazil, Egypt, Mexico, the Netherlands, and Poland.
friction or give rise to a dispute, in order to determine whether the continuance of the dispute or situation is likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security”.
and Lebanon. NOTABLE RESOLUTIONS
UNSCR 1325 addresses not only the inordinate impact of war on women, but also the pivotal role On January 17, 1946, the Security women should and do play in conCouncil met for the first time in flict management, conflict resoluLondon. The first UN peacekeep- tion, and sustainable peace. ing mission was deployed in 1948 formula”. to the Middle East; there have been 60 more. Over the last 60 years, the Resolution 242 following the six The Charter also established the Security Council has taken action day war in 1967 between Israel, purpose of the Council, to “inves- to defuse innumerable internation- Egypt, Jordon and Syria laid the tigate any dispute, or any situation al crises, the most recent of which foundation for the “ land for peace which might lead to international include those in North Korea, Iran, formula”.
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EMINENT (CONTROVERSIAL) PERSONALITIES Pakistani Foreign Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto addressed the UN Security Council on 15 December 1971 criticising the working of United Nations.
lemma too. Looking at the situation with a humanitarian perspective, it seems cruel to further delay their rehabilitation into a normal world. However, with growing terrorism it seems important to check for terrorist opportunists who might enter Europe. Another ISSUES OF CONCERN: issue might be traditional economic migrants taking advantage of the Influx of migrants into a country exodus to achieve their long-held increases demand for housing fa- hopes of making it to Europe. cilities, food, healthcare, education and employment in their new sur- SIGNIFICANT PARTICIPANTS: roundings. The provision of these facilities becomes the responsibili- Active participation from certain ty of the state, thus adding a strain countries is imperative to arrive on the administrative authorities. at a general consensus to resolve In places like Hungary and Poland, the refugee crisis and sail to safer there exist seething anti-immigrant shores. Lebanon’s acceptance thus sentiments that could boil over as far has been a cause of relief for a new arrivals continue to flow in. large number of refugees. HowThe lack of proper documentation ever, its recent turn to hostility with the refugees is a cause of di- has sought disapproval of many.
Furthermore, while countries like Lebanon, Jordon and Iraq have opened their borders, they remain far from “housing” these refugees. UK’s underwhelming support for the cause has been critiqued immensely. While Italy has been open to immigrants, its fundamental fallacy in treatment, identification and checking of asylum requests has served to initiate migration out of Italy to France etc., consequently accentuating border tension. Greece’s dwindling support owing to increased drain of resources on account of internal economic instability would raise a pertinent question regarding the sustained well-being of its present occupants.
1946 - BIRTH OF THE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN During the inaugural meetings of the UN General Assembly in February 1946, a Sub-commission dedicated to the Status of Women was established under the Commission on Human Rights. In May 1946, the first Chairperson of the Sub-Commission, Bodil Begtrup (Denmark - pictured above far right), requested a change to full commission status. In this picture: At Hunter College, the Sub-commission on the Status of Women meets. From left to right are: Mrs. Hansa Mehta, India; Mrs. Way Sung New, China; Miss Fryderyka Kalinowski, Poland; Miss Angela Jurdak, Lebanon; Miss Minerva Bernardino, Dominican Republic; Mrs. Marie Helene Lefaucheux, France; and Mrs. Bodgil Begtrup, Denmark and Chair of the committee. Photo Date: May 8th, 1946
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The National Security Council (NSC) of India is a three-tiered organization that oversees political, economic, energy and security issues of strategic concern. HISTORY Discussions about developing a National Security Council began in earnest in 1988, in line with the development of India’s nuclear and missile programs. This was strongly resisted and contested by the army chief of staff, V.N. Sharma. India’s nuclear policy has always been a source of friction between India’s political and military leaders. The Vajpayee administration (BJP) in 1998 finally created the NSC. Since then, however, the prime minister has retained final authority over nuclear policy. Two years after the NSC’s establishment, military interests were integrated with political and scientific interests. NSC and the National Security Advisor position, which was first filled by Brajesh Mishra, were created in tandem. IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL: • It consists of the Strategic Policy Group, the National Security Advisory Board and a Secretariat from the Joint Intelligence Committee. • It operates within the executive office of the Prime Minister of India. • It acts as a link between the executive branch of the Government
and the intelligence services. The Strategic Policy Group is at the nucleus of the decision making process in the NSC. • The National Security Advisor heads the NSC and advises the Prime Minister on issues of national and international security. It is to him that the intelligence agencies send their reports. The current National Security Advisor is Ajit Doval. HISTORICAL MOMENTS IN THE COMMITTEE:
for a war. • Head of the Research and Analysis Wing: Responsible for gathering foreign intelligence and analysing information regarding counter-terrorism; will be critical in shaping the committee’s course because the intelligence will decide whether we are at war, or not. • Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC): Responsible for analysing intelligence data from the Intelligence Bureau and the RAW, Directorate of Military Intelligence, Directorate of Naval Intelligence, Directorate of Air Intelligence.
• It produced a Draft Nuclear Doctrine in 2001. WHAT TOPICS SHOULD BE DIS• It produced a Strategic Defence CUSSED? Review in 2002. • It produced a National Security The topics which should be disReview in 2007. cussed are the foreign policies of India especially in relation to PERSONALITIES TO WATCH OUT countries like China, the erstwhile FOR: Soviet Union, the United States of America and Pakistan. Its econom• Ministry of External Affairs: Re- ic policies and programmes for agsponsible for the conduct of India’s ricultural, military, financial and relations with foreign countries, industrial development must also the ministry will be decisive in ne- be scrutinized. gotiations that could prevent wars This committee gives us all a chance from happening. to examine the difference its estab• Minister of Home: Responsible lishment could have made during for internal security, it must ensure that time of political, national and that domestic conflicts don’t have economic turmoil; a chance to go a backlash and give a consequent back in time, to rub out or add a impetus to civil terrorism. few names from and to our list of • Defence Secretary: Responsible war heroes by creating or averting for supervising the government re- wars; a chance to take the “road not lating directly to national security taken,” and see if it could truly have and the Indian armed forces, and made “all the difference.” has a climacteric role in agreeing Page 7 | LSR MUN 2016