Our Committees Are What Make Us Special

“It was so life-giving to listen to the voices of the young leaders expressing their thoughts on global issues.”

— YMUN XLVII Delegation

General Assembly

  • Chair: Joanne Lee

    Topic 1: Tackling the issue of Brain Drain in Developing Countries

    In an increasingly globalized world, Brain Drain has become a significant problem, especially for developing countries. This phenomenon, characterized by the exodus of skilled individuals from the developing world in pursuit of better opportunities, leads to both the loss of expertise and a weakened economy in the original country. The reasons for this trend are diverse, including economic disparities, political instability, and technological advancements. It's not confined to the countries of origin; it also affects the destinations, often leading to overcrowding and resource strains. The healthcare sector, in particular, is hard-hit, with governments and recruitment agencies playing significant roles in encouraging migration. The solution lies in a broader perspective—international collaboration—fostering research and development, improving local conditions, and involving expatriate professionals in creating opportunities at home. In this committee, we will be working towards seeking solutions that work towards collective progress and advancement for all.

    Topic 2: Addressing and preventing Inflation in the Global Economy

    Inflation, the persistent rise in prices for goods and services, has become a global concern since the end of 2021, affecting regions worldwide. Central banks typically aim for low and stable inflation, but recent trends have shown inflation rates rising, impacting consumers and businesses alike. High inflation erodes purchasing power, particularly for those with fixed incomes or savings, while hyperinflation can lead to economic collapse as currency loses its value rapidly. On the other hand, deflation, or negative inflation, can be equally problematic, causing decreased investments, layoffs, and economic uncertainty. Policymakers grapple with the challenge of mitigating these inflationary pressures, which have significant consequences for economic well-being, asset markets, and everyday life. In committee we will underscore the importance of carefully navigating the inflation landscape to ensure economic stability and prosperity and create preventative measures to curb inflation in the global economy.

GAs are the largest committees at YMUN Dubai, and also some of the most intense. This year's General Assembly committee comes the closest to simulating a real United Nations committee. It covers a broad range of real-world topics, requiring delegates to conduct thorough research, advocate for their ideas, and work effectively with many other delegates.

Economic and Social Councils

ECOSOCs are mid-sized committees that offer a middle ground between the intimate settings of the smaller committees and the diverse nature of the largest committees. YMUN Dubai will feature several of these committees representing a broad range of economic and social topics, where delegates will advocate for their own nation while collaborating to resolve issues of global importance.

  • Chair: Suvd Tumenjargal

    Topic 1: Water Safety

    Formally recognized as a right by the United Nations in 2010, the access to clean drinking water and sanitation is crucial for sustaining and enhancing livelihoods and facilitating socio-economic development. Despite the consistent and continuous efforts of nations to effectively manage water resources, the global water crisis persists, denying 40 percent of the world’s population this fundamental right. Moreover, according to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, nearly 80% of our wastewater is discharged into the environment untreated, which contributes to the growth of water-borne illnesses and contamination. The scarcity of clean water is further intensified by various contributing elements such as, but not limited to climate-induced hydrological disruptions, increasing demand stemming from rapid population growth, and reduced accessibility caused by geopolitical conflicts. As a result, it further amplifies the vulnerability of the already disadvantaged, compromises the health and safety of communities, and leads to a decline in food production. Hence, it is critically important for the UNDP to address the root causes of this global crisis and lead initiatives that promote equitable water access and sustainable management. This is not just an environmental imperative but a moral one, where the right to water equates to the right to life.

    Topic 2: Transforming Health Dynamics

    The 2011 World Conference on Social Determinants of Health emphasized the need for greater efforts to address unequal allocation of health resources and community-specific determinants that damage citizens’ health. Yet, the Covid-19 pandemic has laid bare the pervasive inequalities and ethical dilemmas that still affect global health, particularly that of unequal distribution of resources and the lack of transparency in global health decision-making. Such disparities in health care can lead to marginalized groups facing higher risks of serious health conditions, as they often lack access to medical services and preventative care. This reflects a dire need for improved infrastructure and health care systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) that are immune to external shocks, a more efficient vaccine distribution and storage system, and cohesive cooperation in global drug development. There’s also a critical need for better clinical trials and trained personnel in LMICs that consider local healthcare levels, logistics, and resource constraints. These shortcomings signal a call for ethical governance and an equitable sharing of medical research benefits and resources, prompting considerations for how global health can be reformed post-pandemic.

  • Chair: Dominique Castanheira

    Topic 1: Women and Children in the Workforce

    The presence of women and children in the global workforce is a multifaceted issue, marked by a range of challenges and disparities that transcend borders and cultures. In both developed and developing countries, women confront systematic discrimination due to gender, race, and economic disparities. 104 countries have laws that prevent women from working in specific jobs, and 2.7 billion women are denied the same job choices as men, perpetuating inequality. This pervasive problem is shaped by various cultural, economic, and religious forces, making it crucial to address from a global perspective. To empower women and children in the workforce, it is imperative to explore equitable maternity support, breastfeeding assistance, maternal health, and access to affordable childcare. This topic delves into the complexities of women and children's roles in the workforce, seeking to identify and implement effective solutions that will lead to greater gender equality, worker empowerment, and economic development.

    Topic 2: Climate Action – Forced Migration and Climate Refugees

    Climate change has unleashed a formidable crisis, driving unprecedented shifts in global temperatures and intensifying the frequency and scale of natural disasters. According to United Nations data, a staggering average of over 20 million people are now compelled to leave their homes annually due to climate-related factors, including heavy rainfall, prolonged droughts, desertification, environmental degradation, sea-level rise, and cyclones. The complex intersection of climate change, displacement, and the consequences of conflict further underscores the urgency of addressing climate refugees' needs. This multifaceted problem is not isolated, as climate change often fuels socio-political conflicts, and the impacts of conflict can worsen environmental disasters. In the face of this unfolding crisis, global leaders and policymakers must come together to develop holistic, sustainable solutions that encompass climate mitigation, refugee relief, healthcare, and the protection of vulnerable groups.

  • Chair: Semira Mohamed

    Topic 1: Russia-Ukraine Conflict

    In our contemporary political moment, NATO has been a focal point in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as Ukraine attempts to enter the alliance. As the conflict advances, including Russia’s cyberattacks against Ukraine, international bodies have convened to address human rights violations and investigate possible war crimes. NATO member states are divided on a plan of action, but such action is becoming increasingly imperative. The partnership between NATO and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) presents a potential opportunity for seeking justice for victims, though there remain obstacles within the UN to using its various departments to support justice-seeking efforts in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, particularly because of the numerous African and Latin American states who receive support from China and Russia. This topic will delve into the potential avenues for addressing human rights violations and possible war crimes , as well as the obstacles that may arise, to develop a plan of action through which justice can be achieved for victims of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

    Topic 2: Latin America

    The subject of Great Power competition in Latin America dates back centuries. Since 9/11, the United States has gradually withdrawn from the region; however, this poses challenges as China and Russia have increased their financial assistance. In recent years, American foreign policy in Latin America has focused on immigration, border security, and combating the spread of narcotics. America has done little to uphold criminal justice in the region, which has become increasingly necessary due to the unconditional aid that Russia and China are providing to Latin American states. The CCPCJ oversaw the creation of the United Nations Latin American Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (ILANUD), which attempts to develop policies and advance cooperation toward crime prevention in the region; however, the scope of their activities is limited by the broader hegemonic dispute between the United States and China & Russia. This topic will delve deeper into the question of how to ensure justice in Latin America with regard to the issues of authoritarianism and violence, with consideration for how the proliferation of drugs presents an acute domestic problem for the United States that shapes its response (or lack thereof) to the region's challenges. Furthermore, we will consider how the broader context of Great Power competition shapes American foreign policy in Latin America, seeking to identify strategies to promote justice and prosperity in the region.

Specialized Agencies

Specialized committees provide students with the opportunity to discuss topics in an engaging, imaginative, spontaneous, and intellectually-stimulating atmosphere. Their small size leads to very lively debates, which encourage delegates to react quickly and engage fully with the topics being discussed. The committees cover a wide range of time periods, regions, and might include both fictional and non-fictional topics.

  • Chair: Karla Perdomo Núñez

    International Humanitarian Law is promoted and spread by the International Committee of the Red Cross, founded by Henry Dunant when he saw the war with the most casualties ever and just questioned who would be there to help them, then he thought of the idea to assist them and so the Red Cross was founded. The ICRC has four principles on which it is based: humanity, impartiality, independence, and neutrality [ICRC]. It is able to impart these principles in wartime with these four action steps: cooperation with national branches of the ICRC, assistance to people in need(medical assistance, access to water and food, housing), prevention(spreading what IHL is and what it means), and protection(of ICRC workers and of the citizens and places considered zones that belong to citizens and are neutral—hospitals, schools, etc). The ICRC is able to promote and apply international humanitarian law thanks to many actors(state and non state actors) acknowledging their right to be in a location providing assistance, and sometimes that does not happen, but the ICRC is not a policing organization so they are only able to assist if armed actors consent to them being there. While working on the ICRC, Delegates will ask the question of whether the ICRC is able to promote its values and carry out its mission in the face of the humanitarian crises our world is facing today. Delegates will question and debate the ICRC’s current role in the Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan with armed non-state actors barring them from entering the warzone as well as its potential and urgent role in the crisis unfolding in Gaza with armed state actors.

  • Chair: Misaal Tabassum

    Topic 1: Imminent and Developing Threats

    An ongoing intelligence battle with Russia that has been aggravated by its war with Ukraine, the National Center for Cybersecurity has been launched as a centralized front to deal with an increasingly diverse set of cybersecurity threats, and domestic threats from sources such as dissident republican groups in Northern Ireland; these are just a few of the security concerns the UK has been confronted with over course of the last few years. The Intelligence Community is facing the monumental task of determining how to deal with these issues alongside other relevant contemporary threats. Considering the simultaneous emergence of these issues, how can the Intelligence Community collaborate to determine priorities and facilitate streamlined interagency collaboration in order to accomplish its goals?

    Topic 2: Developing and adapting intelligence in the 21st century.

    The days of dressing up in a trench coat and following a suspected threat are in the past. The rise of globalization and the Internet–as reinforced by the astounding increase in tourism and Internet usage in the UK–has created an increasingly complex intelligence landscape. As other countries have embraced this through oftentimes sinister means such as developing biological weapons, the Intelligence Community must determine how we plan to adapt. This entails developing new tools to account for enemies both within (through means such as increased surveillance) and without (through competitive technological innovation and beyond). Yet ethical questions related to the topics such as privacy cannot be overlooked. How can the Intelligence Community develop fair and effective strategies to accomplish its goals in the Information Age?

  • Chair: Samad Hakani

    Topic 1: Dispute over the Status and Use of the Waters of Silala (Chile vs. Bolivia)

    The Silala river, originating in Bolivia and terminating in Chile, is an important source of water and energy for tens of thousands of people in both countries. However, Bolivia claims that Chile’s alteration of the river’s course through man-made processes prevent the river from being deemed a “natural transboundary watercourse.” This would mean Bolivia has sole ownership of the river and the ability to charge Chile for use of the water. Chile, meanwhile, holds that the river naturally flows through Chile and thus allows them use of the water. Even if the river is deemed to be Bolivia’s property, thousands of Chileans rely on it for water. This case has many ramifications for the future of international water disputes. Which country is right? And what is an amendable solution for both parties?

    Topic 2: Armenia v. Azerbaijan

    The autonomous region of Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan is majority ethnically Armenian. In 1991, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, a full-scale war broke out as the region attempted to join Armenia and declared independence from Azerbaijan, renaming itself the Republic of Artsakh. Armenia gained control of the region and surrounding land, but skirmishes and conflicts continued to occur. In 2020, Azerbaijan launched an offensive and took back much of the land, but not without significant bloodshed. Recently, Azerbaijan launched another offensive and blockaded the only corridor between Artsakh and Armenia, eventually capitulating the government, forcing it to dissolve and the ethnic Armenians to flee. Both Armenia and Azerbaijan claim their people are victims of ethnic cleansing. Who should rule the region of Nagorno Karabakh? Did either country break international law in their quest to claim the region?

  • Chair: Nishah Jaferi

    The annexation of Hawaii remains a unique chapter in American foreign policy, persisting as one of the most convoluted instances to date. The United States, driven by potential economic and military gains, grappled with the fact that a considerable faction of Hawaiians vehemently opposed annexation. The central dilemma revolved around whether Hawaii should be annexed, prompting contemplation on the future dynamics of the relationship between the U.S. and Hawaii.

    Topic: The Newlands Resolution

    July 1st, 1898 is the date. Prior to this on February 15th, 1898, the U.S.S. Maine, a U.S Navy battleship, exploded and sank off the coast of Havana, Cuba. This incident, marking the death of over 200 Americans, sparked heightened tensions between the United States and Spain. With the start of the Spanish-American War, calls for the annexation of Hawaii as a strategic naval base in the Pacific would also commence. The Newlands Resolution was proposed by Congressman Francis G. Newlands who argued that Hawaii would serve as a valuable asset to the United States Navy in the Pacific. The primary goal of the 55th Congress will be to vote on a joint resolution considering both the United States security concerns over the Spanish-American War as well as interests of the Hawaiian people. An urgent and exhilarating task then awaits: how to grapple with the pressing issues of Hawaiian sovereignty, relentless United States expansionism, and the ever-looming array of foreign security concerns. Decisive action is paramount in this high-stakes endeavor.