HenryMUN 2024

Topics

1. Bringing Justice to International War Criminals
2. Addressing the Failure to Investigate Torture Cases in National Courts

About the committee

Topic 1: Bringing Justice to International War Criminals The International Criminal Court is often questioned in its effectiveness. Its relationship with international powers is complicated, and tends to favor a pro-Western agenda. The ICC also has a weak record of convicted cases. An ineffective and biased court system makes conviction of war criminals incredibly difficult to execute. In order to bring justice to these criminals, we first must change the systems that have failed the victims of their war crimes. ______________________________________________________________________ Topic 2: Addressing the Failure to Investigate Torture Cases in National Courts It is a country’s responsibility to bring justice to victims of torture, yet many states are not handling this issue with the urgency it deserves. The refusal to investigate cases can further put victims at risk for increased abuse and torture. These actions show neglect towards civilians, and human rights as a whole.

Countries

Topics

1. Environmental Sustainability Within the Textile and Fashion Industry
2. Restoration of Coral Reefs Affected by Rising Sea Temperatures

About the committee

Topic 1: Environmental Sustainability Within the Textile and Fashion Industry The fashion industry uses around 79 to 91 billion cubic meters of water yearly. This is around 4% of global freshwater extraction. Farming cotton, dyeing, and treatments to fabric can lead to a single shirt using up to 3000 liters of water. Fast fashion’s impacts on carbon emissions, pollution, and water use are gradually increasing, making the fashion industry the third most polluting industry in the world. As fast fashion grows in popularity, so do the environmental consequences. ______________________________________________________________________ Topic 2: Restoration of Coral Reefs Affected by Rising Sea Temperatures 14% of the world’s coral reefs are bleached beyond repair. Rising sea temperatures lead to coral death, and 75% of coral reefs at still risk for major damage. Coral reefs house biodiverse ecosystems, and without them the food chain would collapse. As the planet’s temperature increases, more coral is bleached, bringing our oceans closer to environmental disaster and permanent damage to our planet.

Countries

Topic

Gran Colombia: The Latin American Revolutions

About the committee

The Spanish Empire stands on top of the world as the greatest colonial empire of the century under the rule of Ferdinand VII. With over 5 million square miles of land, there are many different groups of people living under Spanish Rule, including Peninsulares, who are Spaniards living in the colonies, as well as Creoles, who are Europeans born in the colonies. Because of their birth places, the Creoles are denied many rights and freedoms, which fuels their hatred and desire for independence from the Spanish Crown. When Napoleon Bonaparte of France invades Spain, a newfound opportunity for the Creole rulers arises. They declare their independence and after much bloodshed, unite the former colonies into the super state of Gran Colombia. Many former Spanish colonies join the federation including Ecuador, Panama, Venezuela, and Peru, who each have their own leaders with their own political beliefs. Simón Bolívar is the head of the nation and, as a Centralist, opposes the Federalists which causes friction in the newborn nation. Tensions burst on April 30, 1826, when a revolution known as La Cosiata strikes in Venezuela. Venezuelan leader José Antonio Páez leads this uprising, attempting to separate his republic from Gran Colombia. Delegates will be tasked with sorting out this diplomatic crisis and representing Latin American leaders who, once wartime allies, are now bitter enemies at odds with one another. As presidents, military officials, and revolutionary figureheads, you will explore the themes of politics, loyalty, and nationalism in order to assert your beliefs concerning how this nation should be established. Welcome to Gran Colombia, and as Simón Bolívar once said, "He who serves a revolution plows a sea”.

Countries

Topics

1. Safe Management of Nuclear Waste
2. Effectively Decommissioning Nuclear Power Plants

About the committee

Topic 1: Safe Management of Nuclear Waste Nuclear waste is incredibly difficult to safely store and handle due to properties like heat, toxicity, and radioactivity. If waste is not stored properly, it can lead to health issues and genetic mutations upon exposure. Nuclear waste products like Cesium-137 have a half life of around 30 years, but Plutonium-239 has a half life of 24,000 years, raising questions of how to store these byproducts safely and effectively. ______________________________________________________________________ Topic 2: Effectively Decommissioning Nuclear Power Plants Decommissioning power plants is a difficult and tedious task. If it is done ineffectively, there is a risk of radiation exposure, public health risks, environmental damage, and even economic consequences. Extensive steps must be taken to remove and store all fuel and byproducts of nuclear power. Even safely decommissioning these power sources presents the risk of large amounts of radioactive materials and their storage.

Countries