Dear Delegates,
Welcome to NAIMUN XLIX and the General Assembly’s Sixth Committee: Legal! My name is Silky Kadakia, and I am thrilled to be chairing this committee for the second year! I am a senior at Georgetown studying Government, Psychology and Studio Art. I am originally from Edison, New Jersey, where I learned to love Model UN. After more than eight years, I am excited to close off my Model UN experience with a committee as interesting as Legal. Along with MUN, I love to dance, take photos, and travel. I am a part of GU Jawani (Georgetown’s very own bhangra team!), the South Asian Society, and the Senior Class Committee. I hope to make NAIMUN an unforgettable weekend filled with dynamic topics, thoughtful debate, and memorable experiences.
I am joined by another Legal returnee, Matt Eible, who will serve as this committee’s Director. Matt is a sophomore in the School of Foreign Service with a planned concentration in international law. His first MUN experience happened once he came to Georgetown, but since then he has learned to love the Legal Committee. Matt is originally from DeWitt, Michigan, and is an avid tennis player and political junkie. At Georgetown he is a part of the Campus Living Advisory Board as well as an elected member of the Residential Judicial Council. He is interested in giving NAIMUN an impactful and insightful role in your lives this year, just as it has done in his own.
The international community is plagued with issues involving national sovereignty, human rights and security. Likewise, in our Legal committee, we will be discussing topics revolving around these themes in an attempt to establish international law and code. International law is necessary to promote order within the world. The way states interact with one another and what actions are appropriate in certain circumstances are dictated by different forms of international law. However, at the same time, international law lacks clout. Therefore, it is the Legal Committee’s responsibility to put forth plausible and enforceable recommendations of international law in the form of resolutions. These recommendations should have global agreement as well as appropriate accountability.
Our topics include cybersecurity and human rights intervention, both which will need extensive cooperation and negotiation. As technology advances, nations draw more attention to alternate methods of attacks. Cyberattacks and cyberterrorism threaten international security and are issues that must be addressed. Questions to start with include: (1) Is a nation responsible for an attack initiated by an individual? (2) Can retaliation for a cyberattack be considered just war? On the other hand, human rights violations are an ongoing issue of the past. This topic will address the continuing debate of national sovereignty versus the rights of a human. Questions to consider for this topic: (1) When is it appropriate for the international community to intervene? (2) Does an international community have to intervene?
The two of these topics are substantially different, yet extremely fascinating for the international community and for international law. I hope that each one of you will prepare, research, and debate to the best of your ability. Good luck and feel free to contact me with any questions. I am looking forward to meeting all of you this upcoming February!
Hoya Saxa,
Silky Kadakia
Chair, Sixth Committee: Legal
NAIMUN XLIX
silkykadakia@gmail.com
