Letter from the USG:
Welcome all delegates! My name is Jennifer Chuang, and I will be serving as Under-Secretary General for Historical and Specialized bodies for WAMUNC XIV. These bodies are unique in that they are not as large as General Assembly committees and force delegates to think critically about one specific topic. The size of the committee makes it ideal for both those new to Model United Nations as well as the more experienced debaters, who enjoy the competitive size. Historical and Specialized committees offer a vast array of topics that cover various aspects of the international system.
This year I am pleased to announce that we will hold six historical and specialized bodies. They are: the Novice Program, the International Olympic Committee, the Committee on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, the North Ireland Peace Settlement Negotiations, the Press Corps, and Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Program. These committees offer a Model UN experience unlike any other.
The Novice Committee is perfect for those who have just entered in the world of Model United Nations. This committee will operate the same way as other committees, with the addition of guidance from the staff in a more educative setting.
The International Olympic Committee and Commission on Crime and Criminal Justice are smaller international bodies. As the international community comes together every two years to compete and cheer on their favorite athletes, the politics behind the organization is far more complicated. The Commission on Crime and Criminal Justice is the commission within the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, which includes topics such as corruption, criminal justice, drug prevention and drug trafficking, human trafficking and migrant smuggling, as well as terrorism prevention.
For the committee on the North Ireland Peace Negotiations, we must jump back in time to the second half of the twentieth century. This conflict started in the 1960s in Northern Ireland between the Protestants and Catholics. It ended in 1998 with the Belfast Agreement, but not before spilling over into England, the Republic of Ireland, as well as mainland Europe.
The Press Corps and Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Program operate differently from most committees. NGOs form a vital part of the international system and offer aid in times of crisis. Delegates in NGO Program will represent one specific NGO and have the opportunity to travel to different committees, offering assistance based on their NGO’s mission. Delegates in the Press Corps also travel to different committees, but to interview various delegates and officials to write reports on the proceedings of committees. The Press Corp is ideal for those who have experience in or enjoy the art of journalism.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have about the committees. See you at in March at WAMUNC XIV!