General Assemblies

Special Political and Decolonization Committee (SpecPol)

The Special Political and Decolonization Committee (SPECPOL) is the Fourth Committee of the United Nations, and often deals with issues including decolonization, peacekeeping, and outer space. It is important in the modern age, especially considering current political moves towards the militarization of space, to pursue peaceful international uses of outer space. But other issues are closer to home: it is estimated that 78 countries across the globe are contaminated by mines, explosives, and other “UXOs” or “Unexploded Ordnance”. These shells and mines are leftovers from wars and civil unrest, and frequently injure and kill civilians and non-combatants, and international cooperation is required to address the issue. Finally, it is important for the United Nations to consider the question of United Nations Peacekeeping in all of its aspects. Accounts of rape and other criminal activities frequently plague UN Peacekeeping missions, and the recent attribution of a cholera outbreak in Haiti to UN Peacekeepers throws further doubt onto the aid these missions provide.

WHO

The World Health Organization is the health arm of the United Nations and plays a leading role in recommending health regulations and providing disaster relief response. One of the issues this committee will be facing in the spring will be the new epidemic of vaping and tobacco use. The 2016 US surgeon General reported a 900% increasing in vaping from 2011-2015. Around the world especially in developing countries, there are very few rules on tobacco sales which means many people are getting addicted due to lack of education and regulation on the harm done from nicotine and other chemicals. Additional, this committee will focus on strengthening WHO disaster relief effort. One example of why this necessary can be studied through the Ebola outbreak from 2013-2016. The disease spread rapidly and killed many due to uncoordinated response from the world community including WHO. Our committee will focus on centralizing the world disaster relief and making sure communication is strengthened and resources are where they need to be.

UNEP

Welcome to United Nations Environmental Programme! Right now, we find ourselves in a time where being environmentally-conscious has fallen by the wayside, in favor of money-making or convenience. On an everyday basis, it's easy not to think about where your phone goes when you trade in a new one; perhaps for a company, you don't want to consider the effect of fishing nets in the ocean when you're raking in thousands of dollars from the practice. In this committee, we want to challenge you to consider that practice a little more, and hopefully come across on the other side thinking about the world around you a little more. UNEP is thrilled to welcome you, and we look forward to seeing your solutions.

Superhuman Technologies and Resources Conference (S.T.A.R.C)

The Superhuman, Technologies and Resources Conference is a fictional United Nations General Assembly committee on the discussion that led into the Sokovia Accords. Although these accords were ratified by 119-member countries, the process it takes to get to that point, as well as the discussions on shared technologies and neo-terrorism, make for a committee revolving around key international concepts with a flare for the imagination. This committee will be extremely in depth, where all the necessary information will be available via the background guide and its included additional texts. Each individual nation has been affected by the introduction and culmination of superhumans and advanced technologies, and each has its own opinion and issues. Join the nations of the world in discussing international registration of superhumans, sharing domestic and alien technologies among one another, and devising an entirely new international system of defense against neo-terrorism and intergalactic threats.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a global agency dedicated to ending hunger and providing safe and plentiful food for all. FAO deals with issues of hunger and food security in both developed and developing nations, and the FAO committee this year at MUSMUN will be no exception. This year, the FAO committee will be focusing on sustainable production of food as one topic and providing adequate nutrition for all as a second topic. A third topic may potentially be determined later. Come join us as we discuss one of the few things that brings everyone together: food!