Invitation to the Saint John s School Model United Nations Competition

Invitation to the Saint John’s School

Model United Nations Competition

October 12

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Federación de Naciones Unidas de Puerto Rico

Baldwin School of Puerto Rico Colegio Marista

Colegio Puertorriqueño de Niñas Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola

Saint John’s School TASIS Dorado

Guests

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Friday, September 7, 2012 Dear Saint John’s School Community,

The Saint John’s School United Nations (SJSMUN) Club would like to invite you to the SJSMUN Competition to be hosted on Friday, October 12, 2012 and Saturday, October 13, 2012.

The objective of our competition is to engage students in high quality debate and discuss important political, economic, historical, and humanitarian issues. We would also like to encourage the development of research, writing, and public speaking skills of participating students.

This year a representative from Best Delegate, Felix Kevin Chan, will be joining us on the morning of Friday, October, 12, 2012 to host advanced workshops for experienced delegates. In the afternoon, Mr. Chan will give a talk to all members of Federación de Naciones Unidas (Federación) before the first committee session begins.

Students, parents, teachers, and administrators are welcome to attend opening ceremonies, committee sessions, and closing ceremonies (see schedule at the end of the document). There will be ushers available to guide registered guests around committees for those who are interested in seeing the Model United Nations in action.

The competitions hosted by Federación in past years have provided excellent forums for debate and discussion and Saint John’s School hopes to continue in this great tradition.

We look forward to your participation! Warm regards,

José Augusto del Rosario Cardona Secretary General Amelia O’Neill Moderator Yaelle Shaked Under-Secretary General Olga Alfonso Moderator

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Committees

International Drug Control Treaty of 2012

Illicit drug markets have global dimensions and are the result of highly complex international networks dedicated to the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, and sale of substances that are legally prohibited by many states. Drug trafficking is a widespread problem that has been tackled internationally on few occasions. In 1988 the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances was held to develop and implement global measures to combat the illicit trade of drugs. Although the convention helped strengthen the framework of international cooperation in criminal matters, the drug trade continues to grow at an alarming speed.

This committee will focus on the different drug policies that countries around the world have implemented internally and internationally since the late 1980s, and its goal will be to draft an international drug control treaty for the year 2012. The focus of this international drug control treaty will be to analyze the policies that have (and have not) worked around the world to reduce the detrimental effects of drugs on society, and to create a new set of goals for the upcoming decades.

Summit of the G-20 Major Economies

Developments in technology, transportation and communications systems have ushered in an age of globalization: no longer can economies operate as individual actors in an international playing field. The current global economic crisis, aptly dubbed the “Great Recession,” has called for cooperation at the international level, which has led leaders to activate the G-20 major economies entity. Now more than ever, economic policies must be in step with each other, so as to not exacerbate the current economic catastrophe.

In this committee, delegates will be taken back to the start of the Great Recession to discuss policy and economic measures to both stabilize and remedy the current crisis. This will be a futuristic crisis committee and delegates are expected to deal aptly with a series of situations involving the destabilization of major world economies. Delegates are also expected to resolve these crises through cooperation and diplomacy, noting the concerns of fellow delegations and operating within the bounds of international law.

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La Guerra Civil Española

La Segunda República Española fue instituida el 14 de abril de 1931. Este régimen heredó un país atrasado en lo social y lo económico, con unas tremendas tasas de analfabetismo y pobreza. Las condiciones laborales rayaban la esclavitud y el gobierno enfrentaba una omnipresente Iglesia Católica que gozaba de gran influencia sobre todo aspecto social, político y económico. Estas circunstancias precipitaron la guerra civil más grande de Europa en el siglo XX.

El comité comenzará con el Golpe de Estado del 17 y 18 de julio del 1936 y se mantendrá en estado de “guerra” hasta el primero de abril del 1939. Se enfocará la discusión mayormente en el conflicto entre el Bando Republicano (Frente Popular) y el Bando Sublevado (Zona Nacional) y como los ideales de los mismos toman parte en el desarrollo de la resolución final de esta devastadora guerra. También se trabajará el tema del liderazgo del Generalísimo Francisco Franco y como este transformó la población, economía, cultura e ideología española.

Indian Independence Movement

The Amritsar massacre compounded with frustrations over the great sacrifices and casualties felt in World War I, created an atmosphere of wide unrest in India in the beginning of the 20th century.

The movement for independence saw the rise of numerous political and regional campaigns ranging from the well-known non-violent approach of leaders like Mohandas Gandhi to the militancy of leaders such as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

This committee will focus on the climax of the Indian Independence Movement in the 1940s, and will analyze the repercussions of the partition of India into newly segregated states. Delegations representing Muslim, Hindi and British leaders will discuss the vast political, social, religious and economic changes the sub-continent felt as a result of Indian independence.

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International Forum on Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is predominant in many relationships all around the world. It transcends political borders, cultures, socio-economic status, and race. Because domestic violence goes largely unreported and its victims suffer in silence, even socially liberal governments have a difficult time addressing this form of abuse in a meaningful manner.

The goal of this committee is to promote an exchange of ideas on how domestic and international law can address the issue of domestic violence, and how governmental and non-governmental entities can help reduce and eradicate this form of violence.

Topics of primary concern will include the following: rape, torture, domestic violence legislation, protection of victims of violence, and the long-lasting emotional and psychological damage done to victims. Additionally delegates must be prepared to address the issue of whether domestic violence legislation should apply to same-sex partnerships, and the rise of female violence against males in heterosexual relationships.

Schedule of Events

Friday, October 12, 2012

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM: Opening Ceremonies & Conference by Best Delegate “How Countries Should Act in the Real World”

6:30 PM -- 8:30 PM -- Committee Session I

Saturday, October 13, 2012

8:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Committee Session II 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM: Committee Session III 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM: Closing Ceremonies

If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact Mrs. Amelia O’Neill at