Security Council

Dear Delegates,

Welcome to the most exciting and significant committee at Harvard National Model United Nations 2010: The UN Security Council! Taking place in the present day United Nations, our committee will explore some of the most pressing issues in today’s world. Together, we will try to understand and explore these topics as we take steps toward resolving them. As we do so, we will also be exploring the Security Council’s role in today’s world.

I am a sophomore at Harvard College and I will probably be studying History and Literature as well as Philosophy. At Harvard, in addition to HNMUN, I participate in HMUN (our high school conference), ICMUN (the traveling team) and I play the trumpet in the Harvard University Band. I have participated in Model UN since my freshman year of high school, taking part in numerous Security Councils as a delegate, so I understand the excitements and frustrations of your roles in this committee. I greatly look forward to sharing this weekend with you and tackling these important topics together.

This year, the HNMUN Security Council will be exploring two complex and pressing issues in our world: Narcoterrorism and the Situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These are problems that will present us with both theoretical and practical debate.

In terms of narcoterrorism, how do we even define it? What powers does the SC have to deal with the situation? How can the SC work with individual governments to combat the problem? We will also look at the case studies of Colombia, Mexico and Afghanistan.

The Situation in the DR Congo is no less critical. The failed Kabila state is providing a chaotic and dangerous atmosphere for domestic and foreign exploitation of the Congo. How should the SC react to the roles played by Rwanda and Uganda in escalating violence? How can UN peacekeepers be most effective? What can the UN do about refugees and human rights violations?

These are not easy questions, but they are vital ones. Our jobs when we convene in February will not be easy. However, I can assure you that this committee will be dynamic, engaging and enjoyable. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you, and I look forward to seeing you in February!

Sincerely,

Michaela Ross
Director, Security Council
Harvard National Model United Nations 2010

Topic Area A: The Situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has had a history riddled with chaos and violence. The elected president, President Kabila, has been unable to maintain control over the land, as numerous rebel groups and factions war over resources and power. The situation is not helped by interference from neighboring states, particularly Rwanda, looking to profit from the chaos. The DR Congo is descending further and further into outright war.

The situation in the DR Congo is relevant to the SC and the purposes which the SC serves. It involves international actors and violence occurring across state borders. There are massive human rights violations being carried out by all sides. The nations in the SC also have a financial stake in the situation, as many international corporations operate within the DR Congo’s resource filled borders.

The SC must react to the roles played by Rwanda, Uganda and other African nations in escalating violence while determining how it can/should support the failing Kabila government. Member states must also figure out how UN peacekeepers can be used most effectively. Finally delegates will face the humanitarian issues of refugee protection and human rights violations.

Topic Area B: Narco-Terrorism

Narcoterrorism involves the violent attempts made by those in the narcotics trade to influence the policy of governments. The term itself has come under debate, yet it is clear that narcoterrorism has a growing presence in our world, especially in Latin America. Narcoterrorism now refers to terrorist groups that rely on narcotics to finance their operations, such as FARC, ELN, and AUC in Colombia and PCP-SL in Peru. This topic is an especially interesting and complex way of looking at both terrorism and illicit narcotics trafficking. Narcotics trafficking often takes place across borders and thus falls in the SC’s purview.

Each nation has a stake in this issue. America is involved in Mexico and Afghanistan. Countries such as Turkey and Austria have concerns over drug trade in the EU and surrounding countries. Drug trafficking is also deeply tied to other violations of international law such as human trafficking and organized crime. Drugs affect the domestic and foreign policy of every nation and thus narcotics trafficking would make an interesting and complex topic for the UNSC to address.

Security Council members will have to discuss and determine how to define narcoterrorism, what powers the SC has to deal with the situation, and how the SC can work with individual governments to combat the problem. The issue will pay particularly close attention to the situations in Colombia, Mexico and Afghanistan.