International Labor Organization (ILO):
Addressing Human Rights Violations in the Fashion Industry
The global fashion industry, a multibillion-dollar economic force, has been a key driver of economic growth and cultural innovation for decades. However, alongside its successes, the industry has also been linked to exploitative labor practices, including child labor, unsafe working environments, excessive hours, and inadequate wages. This committee aims to address these concerns, focusing on safeguarding labor rights and advancing global justice. Delegates will work together to explore solutions that balance the industry's economic impact with ethical responsibility, ensuring a more equitable future for those within the fashion business.
Background Guide
Addressing Human Rights Violations in the Fashion Industry
The global fashion industry, a multibillion-dollar economic force, has been a key driver of economic growth and cultural innovation for decades. However, alongside its successes, the industry has also been linked to exploitative labor practices, including child labor, unsafe working environments, excessive hours, and inadequate wages. This committee aims to address these concerns, focusing on safeguarding labor rights and advancing global justice. Delegates will work together to explore solutions that balance the industry's economic impact with ethical responsibility, ensuring a more equitable future for those within the fashion business.
Background Guide
UNHCR: Redefining 'Refugee' — Addressing Climate Refugee Issues
In 1951, The UN Refugee Convention defined the word “refugee” as someone who cannot return to their country of origin for fear of persecution for their "race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.” This definition is outdated—climate refugees fleeing natural disasters, rising sea levels, desertification, ocean acidification, and other climate-change-induced push factors are excluded from this definition. This means they are not eligible for UN refugee protections, and many countries often do not include them in treaties, quotas, or human rights declarations, which makes them especially vulnerable. Island nations in the South Pacific will be the first to experience the disappearance of their homes and entire countries due to rising sea levels, as countries like Kiribati and Tuvalu sit less than a meter above sea level. How can they be sent back to their countries of origin if their country is underwater? Do the world’s leading carbon emitters like China and the USA have a moral obligation to the people displaced by their effects on climate? This committee will develop plans to include climate refugees in UN humanitarian work and to find short-and-long-term solutions to climate refugee needs.
Background Guide
In 1951, The UN Refugee Convention defined the word “refugee” as someone who cannot return to their country of origin for fear of persecution for their "race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.” This definition is outdated—climate refugees fleeing natural disasters, rising sea levels, desertification, ocean acidification, and other climate-change-induced push factors are excluded from this definition. This means they are not eligible for UN refugee protections, and many countries often do not include them in treaties, quotas, or human rights declarations, which makes them especially vulnerable. Island nations in the South Pacific will be the first to experience the disappearance of their homes and entire countries due to rising sea levels, as countries like Kiribati and Tuvalu sit less than a meter above sea level. How can they be sent back to their countries of origin if their country is underwater? Do the world’s leading carbon emitters like China and the USA have a moral obligation to the people displaced by their effects on climate? This committee will develop plans to include climate refugees in UN humanitarian work and to find short-and-long-term solutions to climate refugee needs.
Background Guide
Disarmament and International Security Committee (DISEC): Nuclear Arms Control
In 1945, the American atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki killed over 100,000 people and caused thousands more deaths in the long term due to radiation, genetic harm, and environmental damage which has lasted for generations. Although nuclear weapons have not been used since, over 12,000 remain in our world today. Powerful countries often maintain that nuclear weapons are essential for national security and deterrence, yet they face growing international pressure to reduce the likelihood of future nuclear attacks around the world. In this committee, delegates will decide on a new international policy for nuclear weapons, focusing on concrete steps towards arms control, non-proliferation, and potentially even disarmament.
Background Guide
In 1945, the American atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki killed over 100,000 people and caused thousands more deaths in the long term due to radiation, genetic harm, and environmental damage which has lasted for generations. Although nuclear weapons have not been used since, over 12,000 remain in our world today. Powerful countries often maintain that nuclear weapons are essential for national security and deterrence, yet they face growing international pressure to reduce the likelihood of future nuclear attacks around the world. In this committee, delegates will decide on a new international policy for nuclear weapons, focusing on concrete steps towards arms control, non-proliferation, and potentially even disarmament.
Background Guide
ECOFIN: European Energy Crisis
Due in large part to an aging infrastructure, the war between Russia and Ukraine, and rampant overconsumption, Europe now finds itself in the midst of an unprecedented energy crisis. Before the war, Russia made up 47% of Europe’s gas supply so the sudden reduction of this source has been devastating. This deficit has caused poverty, immense inflation, and slowed economic growth across the EU. While European countries have tried to address this crisis by providing relief to citizens, attempting to reduce their reliance on Russian gas, and move to different forms of energy, these efforts have been generally unsuccessful. Energy prices are at record highs and the European economy is struggling. So delegates, what is next? How will Europe overcome this crisis and what countries will step up to fill their energy deficiency?
Background Guide
Due in large part to an aging infrastructure, the war between Russia and Ukraine, and rampant overconsumption, Europe now finds itself in the midst of an unprecedented energy crisis. Before the war, Russia made up 47% of Europe’s gas supply so the sudden reduction of this source has been devastating. This deficit has caused poverty, immense inflation, and slowed economic growth across the EU. While European countries have tried to address this crisis by providing relief to citizens, attempting to reduce their reliance on Russian gas, and move to different forms of energy, these efforts have been generally unsuccessful. Energy prices are at record highs and the European economy is struggling. So delegates, what is next? How will Europe overcome this crisis and what countries will step up to fill their energy deficiency?
Background Guide
UN Security Council: The Exploration and Exploitation of Antarctica
Antarctica is known for its penguins, cold weather, and harrowing tales of explorers dying of starvation and the harsh climate. Although many expeditions have occurred, some parts of the continent are still too harsh to explore. Delegates will work towards discovering ways to traverse, investigate, and utilize this mostly uncharted land for all mankind. Antarctica has many untapped valuable resources, including geothermal energy, diamonds, gold, coal, and more than ⅔ of the world’s freshwater. The value of Antarctica for science and tourism has also grown in recent decades, especially as the world has gotten warmer. In this committee, the five permanent members and non-permanent members of the UN Security Council will work together to influence how Antarctica is explored and developed in the coming decades and centuries.
Background Guide
Antarctica is known for its penguins, cold weather, and harrowing tales of explorers dying of starvation and the harsh climate. Although many expeditions have occurred, some parts of the continent are still too harsh to explore. Delegates will work towards discovering ways to traverse, investigate, and utilize this mostly uncharted land for all mankind. Antarctica has many untapped valuable resources, including geothermal energy, diamonds, gold, coal, and more than ⅔ of the world’s freshwater. The value of Antarctica for science and tourism has also grown in recent decades, especially as the world has gotten warmer. In this committee, the five permanent members and non-permanent members of the UN Security Council will work together to influence how Antarctica is explored and developed in the coming decades and centuries.
Background Guide
Joint Crisis Committee: World War I
Entente Powers:
Great Scott, leaders of the Western Entente powers! Archduke Franz Ferdinand has been assassinated in Sarajevo! The Austrians are inconsolable, the Russians are mobilizing, and the Kaiser of Germany is ready for war. With tensions at an all-time high, it seems like Europe and indeed the whole world is primed for conflict. But with brewing independence movements, radical political forces, and deadly technologies fomenting violence throughout the world, who will triumph? Which nations will stand as masters of the globe? Who will lead the world into the Roaring 20s? And what are YOU doing for your country? We, the Entente powers, must band together to fight back against the forces of evil and destruction, for all our sakes. We shall beat them back from whence they came! Good luck, delegates, grab your hipe and jump into that cubby hole, for the world itself is at war.
(Combined) Background Guide
Great Scott, leaders of the Western Entente powers! Archduke Franz Ferdinand has been assassinated in Sarajevo! The Austrians are inconsolable, the Russians are mobilizing, and the Kaiser of Germany is ready for war. With tensions at an all-time high, it seems like Europe and indeed the whole world is primed for conflict. But with brewing independence movements, radical political forces, and deadly technologies fomenting violence throughout the world, who will triumph? Which nations will stand as masters of the globe? Who will lead the world into the Roaring 20s? And what are YOU doing for your country? We, the Entente powers, must band together to fight back against the forces of evil and destruction, for all our sakes. We shall beat them back from whence they came! Good luck, delegates, grab your hipe and jump into that cubby hole, for the world itself is at war.
(Combined) Background Guide
Central Powers:
Wahnsinn! The heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne has been assassinated in cold blood on the streets of Sarajevo! With tensions between Germany and France at an all-time high, and with the Entente powers’ continuous infringements on Central Power unity and sovereignty, global stability itself sits on a knife’s edge. But with growing separatist movements throughout the world, radical ideologies taking hold in our people’s imaginations, and novel technologies threatening to decimate millions, who can tell which side will be the eventual victor? We, the Central Powers, must stand firm to protect our nations’ dignity and integrity. Not through speeches and majority decisions will the great questions of the day be decided--but by iron and blood. Good luck, delegates, watch out for strafing and avoid that booby trap, for the world itself is at war.
(Combined) Background Guide
Wahnsinn! The heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne has been assassinated in cold blood on the streets of Sarajevo! With tensions between Germany and France at an all-time high, and with the Entente powers’ continuous infringements on Central Power unity and sovereignty, global stability itself sits on a knife’s edge. But with growing separatist movements throughout the world, radical ideologies taking hold in our people’s imaginations, and novel technologies threatening to decimate millions, who can tell which side will be the eventual victor? We, the Central Powers, must stand firm to protect our nations’ dignity and integrity. Not through speeches and majority decisions will the great questions of the day be decided--but by iron and blood. Good luck, delegates, watch out for strafing and avoid that booby trap, for the world itself is at war.
(Combined) Background Guide