History Repeats Itself: The 2nd Congo Crisis

Aurora Lai, Press Corps 2

UNSC, Historical Crisis — The inaugural trans-African musical festival on February 19th, 1966, a celebration boasting intercultural music sensations and figures, such as the Beatles, turned to be merely a facade for three unknown perpetrators to assassinate the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) President Mobutu. In the aftermath of his death, the committee discovered that three nations, two being European, have their troops stationed along the western border. A coincidence? The delegates think not. 

Still, with the fragility of the nation in the hands of this committee, the Security Council wasted no time attempting to resolve the utter disarray that followed Mobutu’s murder. As a unified front, the delegates proposed the “UN Electoral Oversight Division” directive, composed of 25 member states and designed to train the Congolese people how to conduct free and fair elections. Despite the committee’s persistence for a truly democratic government in the DRC, the directive ultimately failed. The NAIMUN Daily had the opportunity to sit down with delegates to discuss the remaining potential of this goal and whether they believed other nations would take advantage of the DRC’s instability. 

“Honestly, we’ve seen them amassing troops before any real action has occurred,” expressed the delegation of Mali. “It’s hard to believe that some other countries aren’t doing something with this coincidental power vacuum.”
Mali’s suspicion was entirely correct. As some delegations secretly vied for Mobutu’s empty throne, others weren’t as cautious. One interviewed delegation revealed an open plan for the supposed “Mufasa communist invasion” of the Congo. Similarly, the delegates of Nigeria and the United States of America weren’t afraid to admit their attempts at an anti-communist coup in the DRC, where their military troops would dress as pirates—a disguise meant to parallel that of the President of the Republic of Congo’s (ROC) forces in Brazzaville, part of the 1/3 of the DRC captured by the ROC just the night before.

Despite speculations over failed coup attempts by different delegations, the catalyst for the 2nd Congo Crisis brought an unexpected and unprecedented wave of terror for the Congolese people as the UNSC split between the communist-infused ROC/Western DRC and anti-communist eastern DRC. The country has indisputably descended into complete chaos with several international agents declaring the DRC as a failed state, leaving its future in serious jeopardy. 

In the eastern bloc associated actors, the delegations of Mali, USSR, Uganda, China, Uruguay, Bulgaria, and Nigeria sponsored the Brazzavillian occupation of the DRC’s capital, inputting Raman Bellum, a Soviet-backed leader, as its de facto leader. Unlike the other pro-communism delegations, Chinese forces are not stationed in Brazzaville; rather, Chinese troops are currently fighting to maintain communist rule in the eastern DRC by diverting the anti-communist efforts of rebel groups backed by the United Kingdom and France.

As the delegation of Jordan clarified for the NAIMUN Daily, referring to the moral correctness of infringing on another state’s sovereignty, “When they go low, we go high.”

Beyond the trans-African festival and failed coups, the 2nd Congo Crisis has initiated a split within the UNSC itself, shattering the cries for democracy that this committee seemed adamant on answering. 
The future for the DRC seems narrow, and in this two-way crossroad, it’s uncertain which would be deemed “the high road.”

The Building Blocks of Sovereignty

Mariella Mattaliano, Delegate 1

Tensions are rising between unrepresented nations and host nations. Host nations, like Russia, take advantage of and cultivate the land and the people of unrepresented nations, like the Republic of Tuva, for their benefit. The large nations steamroll over the weaker unrepresented nations. The unrepresented nations have had enough of this mistreatment, and many are striving for sovereignty, but how do these nations build up to the independence they desire?

The republic of Tuva, a nonautonomous region, belongs to its host nation, Russia. With only one road through the entire territory and citizens living in yurts, Tuva is very disconnected from the modern world. Because their economy and nation, in general, are nowhere near the status of Russia there is little the unrepresented nation can do to defend itself from the tyrant nation. 

Per capita, Tuva had the most deaths out of any Russian region in the duration of the Russia-Ukraine war. Like many unrepresented nations, Tuva’s people were being used by the Russian government to fight a war that did not necessarily involve them. 

NAIMUN Daily got the chance to speak with the Republic of Tuva’s delegate, Jai Ahuja. 

“You can’t have any overall solutions without defining sovereignty,” Ahuja says.

The Republic of Tuva cannot achieve the rights they deserve while they are still controlled by Russia. In order to gain these rights, the unrepresented nation first would need to gain sovereignty. Although it would be ideal to achieve sovereignty in as little amount of time as possible, that is not realistic. Short-term solutions would leave the Republic of Tuva weak and at the mercy of Russia.

For the Republic of Tuva, the realistic option is to gain sovereignty the long way. The first step on this long journey for the unrepresented nation is to gain power in their own government. This means evicting the leader Russian citizens have elected and replacing them with a person native to the Republic of Tuva. 

Ahuja also states, “They have no one to speak up against Russia… Tuva has no power to undermine the Russian government or to grant themselves sovereignty”.

After electing a leader with the best interests of Tuva in mind, the next step is to go to Russia with their demands. It is predictable that Russia will push back on these demands and want to enforce its power on Tuva more than ever. 

With the predictable pushback from Russia, it is vital for the Republic of Tuva to gain allies to defend itself from Russian forces. In gaining allies, the unrepresented nation is becoming more in touch with the modern world and expanding its outreach. 

As an unrepresented nation, the ability to gain sovereignty in a way that is designed specifically for each nation is important. If one nation was able to gain sovereignty in a quick and easy way that does not mean it will work for every country. For countries under the influence of larger nations like Russia, it is the more strategic and smart choice to slowly prop themselves up to slowly but surely build themselves up to sovereignty.

Blocs Form and Ideas Spread on the First Full Day of the Human Rights Council at NAIMUN LX

Cooper Grabow, Press Corps 13

UNHCR, General Assemblies — On the first full day of the Georgetown High School MUN conference, many ideas were brought up as possible solutions for the issue of modern slavery and sex trafficking. From forward-thinking ideas involving artificial intelligence (AI), to traditional solutions like collaborating with established Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), much progress was made.

Many diverse blocs of delegations were formed, including the BFFR, consisting of Egypt, Ukraine, and other nations. In speeches to the committee concerning ways to aid the victims of trafficking and provide humanitarian relief to them, many similar themes were brought up.

“Protecting victims that have already suffered this trauma is the most time-sensitive aspect of this issue,” stated the delegation from Egypt. “We are focusing on [rehabilitation] to promote sheltering that aids physical and mental damage to victims.” 

There was a room wide consensus that victims needed to be a priority for all solutions that were going to be proposed, and each of the working groups later made progress to add language pertaining to providing aid to all who required it. 

The delegation of Saudi Arabia went further, saying that “the most victimized group [of those enslaved and sex trafficked] is immigrants.” The delegation proposed a resolution to guarantee any refugee or immigrant a passport into the country of their choice.

This seemingly struck a chord with many other delegations, as murmurs quickly spread across the room. Some representatives saw it as hypocritical for Saudi Arabia to comment on protecting immigrants, while the Saudi government has faced worldwide criticism regarding their treatment of refugees and foreign workers.

Despite concerns, the Saudi Arabian delegation was able to partner with other nations, and is prioritizing efforts to build up regional economic cooperation, and creating larger, more structured regional economies. The NAIMUN Daily was unable to reach the delegates from Saudi Arabia to discuss specifically how they viewed a regional economic boost as a tool to combat sex trafficking. Other delegates were skeptical, as quizzical looks and whispers of doubt rushed about the room when they proposed their plan

“No way that helps,” said one delegate. 

Many other delegations were focused on the innovative approaches that incorporated AI, as well as highly advanced facial recognition technology in order to identify and track the suspected sex traffickers. Speaking with regard to its potential implications, the delegation from South Africa proposed a bilateral approach to technology that involved a user based approach to improve network connectivity in rural areas, and a government based approach that uses AI to aid databases in collection and identification of suspected perpetrators. Many of the other delegations in the committee seemed to agree, as South Africa is part of a large group of countries.

Overall, new alliances were formed, and many ideas were proposed, modified, rejected, and accepted in the Human Rights Council, and progress is very positive. 

Follow the NAIMUN Daily in coming days to read more about specific resolutions coming out of the UNHRC and all other committees at the North American Invitational Model United Nations conference!

Professor Angelo Rivero Santos on the Future of Latin American Democracy

Ember McMullen, Press Corps 9

CHILEAN CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, Contemporary Crisis - Dr. Angelo Rivero Santos is no stranger to the intricacies of Latin American politics. Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Dr. Santos originally immigrated to the United States to study mechanical engineering, but he soon found himself enamoured with the world of international diplomacy. This interest in diplomacy eventually led to his appointment as the White House’s Deputy Ambassador to Venezuela, where he represented the interests of his home country in the United States.

Over his lengthy career in international relations, Dr. Santos has become an expert on Latin American politics, and for the past several years he has focused on the communication of his experiences to future diplomats as faculty at the Center for Latin American Studies at Georgetown University. But you don’t have to be a Hoya to learn from Dr. Santos; this Friday, he spoke to the Chilean Constitutional Convention about his visions for the future of Latin American democracy. 

“You have a responsibility, your generation has a huge responsibility, you know why? Because we have bought the idea of democracy as the best system to organise a society. In Latin America, we have bought the idea,” Dr. Santos told the delegates. 

Yet the protection of democratic ideals is not an easy task, as these delegates have been learning through the drafting of a new Chilean constitution. These ideals are particularly hard to live up to in Latin America, where the diversity of the acting powers, diversity of economic sectors, and diversity of the population represent hundreds of conflicting interests all given equal importance under a democracy. As many Latin American countries, including Chile, recover from post-colonial dictatorships, they are increasingly using the redrafting of national constitutions to protect marginalised groups and democratic ideals.

“So the challenge is what kind of [constitution] we can use to optimise and maximise the interest of the different sectors of the particular population,”Dr. Santos stated. “Does the social contract represent the interest of the majority of the people? That is a key question for us in the politics of Latin America.” 

When asked for further advice for drafting the Chilean Constitution by the delegates, Dr. Santos said, “I don't want to take a side, [but] what I can tell you is this. What we have learned in Latin America [is] that the over-concentration of power at the central level…perhaps is not very efficient. We have tried that in the 19th century as central, strong states. Then we went to the other extreme. [We did that] beginning in the 1980s-1990s, when something called the neoliberal process told us, ‘Government is a problem. You need to decentralise.’… So the point is that there's got to be a balance [of centralisation and decentralisation] depending on the local conditions of different countries, where you need a strong state and [an] efficient state, [as well as a] capable state that… satisfies the needs and wants of the majority of the population.” 

In the face of widespread social unrest, including the 2019 student protests in Chile, democracy seems to be on the back foot. However, this is not necessarily the case. According to Dr. Santos, if we wish to secure the future of democracy in Latin America, the rights of all people, not just those in power, must be protected, and the government must be strong enough to enforce the laws that protect these rights. This is a delicate balance indeed, and it represents a difficult path forward for the delegates of the Chilean Constitutional Convention. However, Dr. Santos believes these delegates to be up to the task, and he knows that they will do what is right for the people of Chile.

Afghan-Soviet Friendship Treaty Sparks Controversy in Jalalaba

Amy Liu, Press Corps 25 

REVOLUTIONARY ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN OF AFGHANISTAN, Historical Crisis — Soviet Union soldiers have been placed in Jalalabad, Afghanistan to provide protection and food to Afghans in need, in accordance with the newly implemented Afghan-Soviet Friendship Treaty. Across Jalalabad, cries of outrage ring loud in response through protests on the streets. 

“I don’t believe the Soviets are here to protect us,” Amara, an Afghan mother and student, said to the BBC. “They are here for their own power, their own control.” 

Following the protests against the ASFT, the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan convened to address next steps to take. RAWA is an organization that promotes womens’ rights through means such as working in refugee camps and organizing protests. Just prior to the enactment of the ASFT, RAWA passed four directives regarding acid attacks against women. 

Many women in RAWA echoed the sentiment that foreign intervention would be detrimental to Afghanistan and especially to Afghan women, who have endured decades of oppression. In particular, a key mission of RAWA has been to resist Soviet influence ever since the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. Every year, RAWA has held a protest against the Soviet Union on the anniversary of the invasion. 

“Historically, any kind of intervention within Afghan politics has only resulted in death,” Hajira, a mobile doctor, said to RAWA. “I think the Soviets only want control within our country. We must put elected women in positions of power.”

Likewise, Pakistani journalist Anis Haroon stated, “We cannot let the Soviets now come in and push out Afghan leaders.”

However, popular singer Hamida “Rukshana” Assil is hopeful for the outcome of the treaty if cautious diplomacy is upheld. 

“Our Afghan leaders have never fought for us throughout history,” Assil told the NAIMUN Daily. “Realistically, even if we don’t agree with the Soviets, we can help them serve our own interests.” 

Shortly after the anti-Soviet protest, counter-protestors took to the streets to support the ASFT. Some were optimistic for the changes Soviet intervention would bring while others were relieved at the potential of leaving the current state of Afghan politics behind.

“I am tired of Sharia law.” Sharba, a student, said to the BBC. “I am tired of our religious leaders telling us what we can or cannot do. We need to get rid of all the religious leaders and instead, we need to support the Soviets who are here to help us, save us and introduce us to a new lifestyle where women can once again have equality.” 

One thing is for sure — it will take time and action for peace to be restored in Afghanistan. The ASFT is only the start — for better or for worse. 

Justice Brett Kavanaugh Left Disappointed with Recent Supreme Court Ruling

Zach Irani, Press Corps 7

SCOTUS, Non-Traditionals – Today in Washington D.C. the Supreme Court assembled for the hearing of Moore v. Harper, deciding whether it is constitutional for state legislatures and supreme courts to manage or alter congressional maps. Those siding with Moore strongly endorse the “independent state legislature theory”, arguing that only the state legislature has the power to establish rules. Beyond that, the theory states that those legislatures can go as far as contradicting their own state constitution in their decisions. 

Following the Court’s hearing of Moore v. Harper, The NAIMUN Daily was able to interview Justice Brett Kavanaugh to gather insight on the case. Kavanaugh was happy to reveal that he was fairly impartial to the issue, illustrating many weaknesses in both the petitioners and the respondents' arguments. 

“Both sides are messy. And that's how any constitutional case is going to be” Kavanaugh said. “Frankly, if it wasn't messy, it wouldn't get to the Supreme Court, we only take the messy cases, which is why it's often so divisive.”

As it reached time to make a decision, the majority of the court ruled in favor of Moore, that is, they agreed that the party-based gerrymandering was legal, and that the independent state legislature was permissible constitutionally. Kavanaugh was left stranded, being the only justice to dissent. The other seven justices not only had a plurality, but beyond that had a single agreement, meaning they all held the same opinion with identical reasoning. 

When asked about why he chose to dissent, Kavanaugh expressed his criticisms of the other justices. 

“I dissented because…they only cited one case [McPherson v. Blacker] that made up the basis of their argument, and I argued that that case was fully irrelevant.”

Additionally, in his isolated opinion, Kavanaugh stated that the Court's decision represented a departure from its history. He argued that the majority's reasoning overturned over “three hundred years of precedent” and thus was a threat to equal and free elections.

The NAIMUN Daily also asked Kavanaugh about his emotions regarding the case, along with his feelings on the state of the court. 

“Well, I am deeply disappointed by the majority of the court,” Kavanaugh stated.  

He expressed his concerns with the court’s decision, arguing that it sets a dangerous precedent for the future where voters no longer elect their representatives, but rather, the representatives are the ones selecting their voters.

While it is unknown what will happen as a result of this decision, it is clear to both Justice Kavanaugh and The NAIMUN Daily that this decision has the capability to cause an immense amount of disruption in the American government. 

Discourse in Kingdom Paradise: Tensions Reach a Boiling Point in Bronze Age Power Council

Mantra Iyer, Press Corps 12

BRONZE AGE POWER COUNCIL, Historical Crisis – Late at night on February 16th, 1200 BCE, on what seemed to be another restless night of deliberating through plans on the elimination of the Sea People, disaster struck in Bronze Age Power Council kingdom paradise when nearby Volcano Hekla erupted, causing all negotiation – the little that was happening – to come to a screeching halt.

With the Sea People, a ragtag group of aggressive sea pirates beginning to pillage much of the Near East, the Bronze Age Power Council was convened together in an attempt to foil the plans of these pirates. From the genesis of their meeting, the Pharaohs and Queens from both sides of the Nile had begun their incessant bickering. Eventually, there was silence – silence prompted by the news of nearby Volcano Hekla erupting. When figures were asked to come up with a solution to prevent further damage, consensus could not be released. Instead, solutions of standardizing currencies and other non-priorities were discussed.

The NAIMUN Daily had the opportunity to sit down with several prominent figures amidst the chaos.

“The gods are angry at us,” Adad-Shuma-Usur, King of Babylon, said. “The sea pirates were never the issue. Our fall will continue to be inescapable, unless we find a way to cooperate and collaborate.”

In an attempt to provide stability, Cyprus, Hittites and Egypt ventured to institute a standardized silver currency. Nevertheless, it faced enormous opposition from relatively small countries. They believed the silver currency was incredibly vulnerable to corruption and condemned it as an abuse of power, once again, self-interested. Small empires allied to prevent this from occurring, passing an executive order that enforced a 150% tax on any trade using the silver currency, with an additional 50% tax on any trade with an empire involved with producing that currency.

Although every figure had some role in the continued prolonging of this time of emergency, some figures had more of a hand in it than others.

“The figures of Babylon, Hittites, and Egypt seem more interested in power grabbing than helping the common good,” Kazi Teshub, king of Carchemish, said. “Of course, natural disasters play a role in causing distress in the Council, but it us that exacerbate the issue.” However, Teshub highlighted to NAIMUN Daily reporters that she, too, is not that innocent in the power-grabbing antics and has significant plans that promise ripple waves that will be felt all through the Red Sea.

Will they be able to put aside their petty differences and work together to find a solution despite their tumultuous friendships, or will they let these bubbling tensions and looming animosities, in a similar fashion to Volcano Hekla, explode?

European Council Passes Media Bias Directive Amidst ‘Democratic Backsliding’ Concerns in Hungary and Poland

Olivia Metelo, Press Corps 18

EUROPEAN COUNCIL, Contemporary Crisis — The European Council passed a directive supporting public access to individual media organizations and scientifically-based accurate information regarding the novel COVID-19 pandemic, council members tell the NAIMUN Daily. 

Mette Frederiksen, prime minister of Denmark, was a sponsor for the directive and spoke on the importance of the policies for the European Union.

“We believe that it's necessary for each individual country to have centralized access to their own media outlets,” said Frederiksen.

Another directive, “Council Cable,” attempted to address media bias and censorship by creating a European Union-wide media organization. Charles Michel, president of the European Council, was a co-sponsor of the directive and noted the media organization’s potential to reshape European media to be more factual. 

“If there was a station funded by the European Union, that was created by all of the nations,” said Michel, “it could help to prevent democratic backsliding and make sure that all the people of Europe are getting the most accurate current events and factual news.”

However, not all council members agreed. Klaus Iohannis, president of Romania, raised concerns about too much power being put in one media organization.  

“It would be a little too controlling for a media outlet,” said Iohannis. “It can lead to a monopoly on the media that is produced. It’s more important for individual sources to be heard.”

Similarly, Mark Rutte, prime minister of the Netherlands, felt that one organization defining what can be deemed “unbiased” could become problematic.

“We weren’t okay with the fact that the EU was overstepping its territory and trying to impose the idea that one source of information is okay because every country has a different idea about what is unbiased,” said Rutte.

Such concerns were common sentiments among many council members and, as a result, Council Cable did not pass.

However, Michel maintained that the directive could have proven beneficial, stating that countries would still hold some level of autonomy in their media.

The directives come as Hungary and Poland, both European Union member states, experienced media censorship as a part of a trend called “democratic backsliding,” in which certain nations face a decline in democratic qualities. 

This trend is a major concern for the European Council – something council members hope to be able to combat through increased accountability for free speech and media. 

Ultimately, Michel still supports the directive, despite not achieving exactly what he envisioned.

“It definitely did impact [...] certain aspects of the media issue in a positive way, but [...] there were certain aspects that remained untouched,” said Michel.

Despite initial disputes on how to get there, both Frederiksen and Michel agreed that protecting the media from bias and censorship is vital.

“The whole point of democracy,” said Frederiksen, “is to have individual voices for all different people, regardless of whether or not it's leaders or citizens.”

Divisions in Tokugawa Shogunate Causes Suspicion and Tension Among Members

Anastasia Stoltz, Press Corps 14

THE FALL OF EDO, Historical Crisis — In response to multiple crises that concern Japan, many members of the Tokugawa Shogunate disagree on how to respond, and which crises to respond to first. There are internal issues regarding the Imperial Court, which the Shogunate considers an enemy. There are also external issues regarding Russia. 

If those problems weren’t enough, Japan is also facing a major economic issue of inflation. Inflation is causing a standstill of progress with the Tokugawa Shogunate. 6 directives have been proposed to tackle the inflation issue, however only one directive passed.

“We are worried about the peasants because they are the most affected by inflation. We are trying to fix it as much as possible, it is our biggest priority,” says Ii Naosuke.

Multiple directives were also discussed to address other current issues in Japan, most of them considering Japan’s national military. Many shogunates voted to strengthen and establish a national military. Katsu Kaishu mentioned possible war and in response said, “Without a strong navy, we will not survive, and we will be taken advantage of.” To which Saionji Kinmochi agrees, “It is vital that we elevate our naval capacity, we cannot stop at diplomacy.”

Another directive focused not on naval security, but establishing a national military. Viscount Enomoto Takeaki said, “We need to enhance our security as a country, we don’t have the ability to suppress rebellion; in any case, having a national military would be nice to have.”

However, other members, such as Arai Ikunoske, disagreed, calling such directives as an act of aggression that will instigate violence. Ikunoske asked fellow members, “How will Russia react?” 

Another directive was proposed to support the side of shogunates who disagree with aggressive directives. In favor of the more peaceful policies, Matsudaira Sadaaki said, “We have heard directives of improving our national security, but none about resolving internal conflicts and about peace. Our enemies are the imperial court, we need to keep the Daimyo in check.”

The Japanese Shogunate seem to be overwhelmed with the possibility of war, yet many members are coming to an agreement about how they will proceed with Russia and the Imperial Court. 

Many policies are being passed, aiming to build a positive alliance with Russia. “Russia is an opportunity, we should not come into conflict, we should come into alliance with them,” states Viscount Enomoto Takeaki. Japan has also hosted Russian diplomats, attempting to share Japanese culture. 

Because of increased diplomatic interactions with Russia, the relationship has grown more positive. Russia is not necessarily Japan’s best friend yet, but it’s developing. 

However, in the midst of debate surrounding directives, suspicion arises when ominous messages send a warning. Trust no one, is the main message of this mysterious communication. Confusion and anxiety erupts amongst members as a result of this sinister content. 

Furthermore, there seems to be secret communication between members in the Imperial Court and members from the Tokugawa Shogunate, and this is causing a lack of consensus among the members about how to proceed. Will they work together to continue to stay in power, or will external and internal forces cause the disbandment of the Shogunate?

Georgetown Professor Alan Tidwell Reframes “The Kohimarama Conference”

JJ Dove, Press Corps 16

THE KOHIMARAMA CONFERENCE, Historical Crisis — As NAIMUN reconvened this Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, for Committee Session II, The Kohimarama Conference Committee hosted guest speaker Alan Tidwell, Director of the Center for Australian, New Zealand and Pacific Studies at Georgetown University. 

Professor Tidwell’s work, centering Australian-American relations, includes published works “Land, Indigenous Peoples and Conflict” and “Conflict Resolved?”, a critical examination of conflict resolution which can be found within the Library of Congress. He has also been featured on “The Precision-Guided Project” podcast, where he offers an analysis of Oceanian geopolitics, and published several papers with various institutions in Sydney, Australia. 

His expertise and personable, down-to-earth demeanor also earn him a perfect (5/5) rating on RateMyProfessors.com. 

“I'm actually considering dropping out of Georgetown and moving to Australia after taking his proseminar. [...] I have never met a professor who is more accomplished or chill,” an anonymous student claimed as recently as Dec. 17, 2022.

Throughout his presentation, delegates in the “Kohimarama” committee, set in 1860 New Zealand, were encouraged to pose questions and propose solutions to the crisis. 

In one such comment, Pehimana, Son of Nga Rauru Chief Aperahama Tami-i-parea, contemplated the implications of the Maōri people “legitimizing” themselves by establishing self-led institutions. He suggested that, had they done so, British colonizers may have approached conflict resolution with more respect and willingness to collaborate. 

By raising the issue for Tidwell’s consideration, he sought to determine the merit of his proposal in the context of the committee, reinforcing or replotting his next steps in the historical crisis.

Tidwell considered Pehimana’s proposition an “interesting one,” citing Maōri internal conflict, specifically during the Musket Wars, as an obstruction for its occurrence. However, despite the historical impossibility of Maōri institutionalization, he seriously considered the potential of this idealistic hypothetical in the committee’s simulated context. 

“That would be a really powerful movement,movement”, said Tidwell. In his eyes, the tribes uniting and institutionalizing in this way could very likely have changed the outcome of the Kohimarama Conference. Effecting Maōri institutionalization in their committee could bring the delegates closer to the peaceful resolution their chairs desire.  

It’s this ability of Tidwell’s, to wed his extensive knowledge of Australian history with critical analysis of its “how”s and “why”s, that has made his perspective so impactful to the committee. 

Pehimana stated, “He affirmed my ideas for the institutions.” 

“He clarified and told us about the roots of the problem,” wrote Tamati Waka Nene to NAIMUN Daily. 

Identifying the causes of the crisis in this way has allowed delegates to create and refine possible solutions with more clarity. Though they have independently conducted research on the topic, Tidwell’s more intensive knowledge and capacity to dynamically apply it to the simulation offers a more holistic perspective on the issue. 

Tidwell’s contributions to the “Kohimarama” delegates reinforce the importance of intelligent discussion rooted in mutual respect. NAIMUN 60’s theme, Empathy in Action, takes center stage in this intersection of information and cooperation, where negotiation and conflict resolution can thrive.

Potential Supervolcano Eruption Due to Action of BP Oil

Juliette Sánchez, Press Corps 19

EARTH FIRST!, Non-Traditionals — BP Oil’s new acquisition of land in a potentially catastrophic location could lead to the activation of the currently dormant super volcano, The Yellowstone Caldera. BP Oil, The British Petroleum Company, has purchased land encroaching on the territory of Yellowstone National Park, with the stated intention of turning the land into a widely profitable coal mine. 

“With BP’s mining explosions in Yellowstone, it can lead to some internal reactions to cause the volcano to become active. When it becomes active, a massive eruption could actually cover most of the Western United States.” said Nicole Horseherder.

Horseherder, Executive Director of Tó Nizhóní Áni, a Navajo Nation Organization focused on preserving water and protecting native land, and Earth First! advisor, stated, “The public should be afraid of this. This is a realistic issue if BP continues with their actions.”

Earth First!, a radical environmentalist activist group, has begun a widespread social media campaign against the building of the BP Oil Company’s mine near Yellowstone National Park.

“This is the way to start a movement,” said Martha Lee, author and environmentalist involved in the campaign.

The campaign focuses on the potential drastic environmental impacts and rallying a sense of nationalism against The British Petroleum Company.

Lorin Lindler, Earth First!’s Policy Advocate, told the NAIMUN Daily, “We remember the Boston Massacre, and Lexington and Concord and Bunker Hill. We don’t want the British blowing up more stuff in this country, and I think the public is going to understand that.”

“The American public hates the British and getting blown up, so I think that will rally a lot of public support to our cause” stated Lindler.

The environmental impacts, if the supervolcano were to explode, could be disastrous and global. 

“The volcano smoke generated from this eruption will drop global temperature to a dangerous level,” said Horseherder.

Urgency is of the utmost importance in the campaign, as communicated by Paulette Smith, Founder of Nez Perce Women Protecting Mother Earth, a Native American Tribe organization, and consultant to Earth First! “I think that people are more afraid of losing their lives than losing the environment. They don’t see how one leads to the other.”

Earth First!’s campaign is beginning to see traction, as protests are going underway at the site where the mine would be built. Protesters, who credit their knowledge to the campaign, are chaining themselves to trees on the land purchased by The BP Oil Company in attempts to stop construction.

If The BP Oil company were to relinquish or sell the land, the company would take a major financial hit. In the past, Earth First! has rallied around the destruction of oil industry tycoons, such as BP. As the campaign continues and leads to more concrete action, Earth First! activists will continue to promote their radical environmental policies, prioritizing the life of the planet over the greed of its people.

Accusations fly after a secret letter was released from President Sukorno

Siena Kraft, Press Corps 21

INDONESIAN NATIONAL REVOLUTION, National Security Apparatus — Today a letter detailing a possible land trade between the President of Indonesia, Sakurno, and a Dutch business was found in the President’s private residence.

Sukarno is a part of the Republican Party and due to the past turmoil with the Dutch, high tensions arise in the tense of the Dutch. The Dutch were unable to take over Indonesia during the Japanese occupation of Indonesia as they were on the other side of the world and were struggling with funding and military. However, after Indonesia declared independence, the Dutch began to threaten Indonesia’s sovereignty with military power in the pursuit of gaining their former territory back. In order to justify this the Dutch are claiming that Indonesia’s declaration of independence is a collaboration with the Japanese and that the Republican Party is a “creation of Japanese fascism.”

After it was announced that this letter was found accusations quickly came to the surface. Tan Malaka, a part of the Republican party was one of the first to jump to accuse Sukarno. 

Malaka told us “It is important to figure out if our president is colluding with the Dutch.” Tan Malaka is a leader of the Pemuda, a group of young activists who believe in hostile takeovers as a peaceful takeover was not possible in their eyes. The Pemuda was frequently found on the front lines of the conflict between Indonesia and Japan. The youth spread their revolutionary and extreme nationalist ideas throughout Indonesia with radios, graffiti, and newspapers. Pemuda was responsible for the kidnapping of Sukarno and his right-hand man. During the kidnapping, the group pressured Sukarno into declaring independence. 

Later today Sukarno told the NAIMUN daily that he “can’t confirm or deny whether [the news] was true at the moment.”

Unfortunately, there has been no update on the situation, but Malaka launched a directive that would create an investigative team fueled with the parties teams that would be a part of congress. This team is only supposed to find facts and present them. The party intends to come up with a plan for what is to be done after the facts have been presented.

Climate Change & Women: A Perspective by Developing Countries

Ane Usandizaga, Press Corps 22

Delegates representing Egypt, Haiti, and Kazakhstan at the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) speak up about the struggles that women in developing countries face as a consequence of climate change.

COMMISSION on the STATUS of WOMEN, ECOSOCs — Climate change is one of the most significant issues plaguing the world in the Twenty-First Century. Its side effects and repercussions range from disturbing climate patterns to destroying habitats and ecosystems. While all members of the human species have suffered the consequences of this crisis, climate change has wreaked particular havoc in marginalized communities, especially women in developing countries. As such, the CSW has congregated to discuss their positions and possible solutions in response to this crucial issue.

“We want to draw attention to underdeveloped countries, and see what we can do to help those countries specifically because they face the worst consequences of climate change,” said the delegate from Haiti to The NAIMUN Daily on Feb. 17.

Members of the commission stressed the importance of climate change awareness in this globalized world and remarked on the value of collaborating with other countries to reach a satisfactory consensus.

“The way that we’re [discussing] this topic in our conference shows that we’ve learned more, and we’re learning more. How we’ve seen the melting of ice caps, and articles, and stuff like that,” said the delegate of Haiti. “Everyday, we see more and more of an effect. So I think that countries will start to see that and realize that something needs to be done.”

Delegates also addressed their expectations going forward in the commission in terms of cooperation with other members.

“I think as time goes on, more people are going to see the effects of climate change and realize that it's really a problem, they need to act now. I think that there may be disagreement on solutions, but their common goal of saving the world will still be in mind,” stated the delegate of Egypt.

It is essential that countries come up with solutions that will benefit all nations in this fight to protect women troubled by climate change. Members of the commission reflected on their plans and ideas to successfully meet this goal.

“We want to promote more sustainable buildings, and just resources. So [the] future will be more sustainable. I think, like, as a developing country, there's gonna be a lot of like buildings built in the future. And we believe that making sustainable buildings… would be helpful,”  said the delegate of Kazakhstan.

The intersectionality between women and the situations in developing countries took center stage as members emphasized the need for economic cooperation as a means to solve the debated topics.

“Places like Haiti don’t really have enough funds to pay for that [sustainable] stuff,” said the delegate of Haiti. “So if we could get federal funding. I think that would really help with that type of stuff.”

Further stress was made on the urgency of promoting women’s empowerment and independence, as women are severely more affected by climate change than men due to their dependency on natural resources as a means of livelihood.

“I think that one big problem is a limitation of data. Women who are in need, their voices are not being heard, because what they need is not being taken into account in a proper system. So instituting a better database, which can be spread across borders, [and] more regional areas is something that really would help,” stated the delegate of Egypt.

Throughout the next two days, members of the Commission on the Status of Women will continue to debate the harrowing topic of women and climate change, drawing special attention to women in developing countries and international cooperation, and setting a stage for tangible frameworks, insightful discussions, and meaningful research to take place.

Chaos and Disunity Brews in the Social, Cultural, and Humanitarian Committee

Tiko Bdoyan, Press Corps 23

SOCHUM, General Assembles — The UN Summit is currently underway, and tensions are high in the Social, Cultural, and Humanitarian Committee as they discuss the issue of climate change and cultural extinction. The topic at hand is a pressing matter that affects us all, but the lack of consensus among nations is causing chaos and disunity.

Panama has proposed changing the Paris Peace Accords to prioritize climate action, while Belgium wants to provide more land rights to indigenous people. The Central African Republic is focusing on uplifting underdeveloped countries, and the U.K. is looking to improve the Paris Peace Accords.

Chad has proposed giving indigenous people a voice in the conversation, and Belize wants to implement carbon credits. Jordan, on the other hand, has suggested implementing a carbon tax. Angola emphasized how oil pipelines run through indigenous land, and Lesotho gave an extremely passionate speech about the UN simply being ineffective because no one can agree on anything. That same delegate from Lesotho said “nothing is happening and nothing is going to happen if we keep acting this way.”

Delegates from Pakistan emphasized their own countries efforts in fighting climate change and how other countries should also take individual approaches while delegates from Jordan emphasized more collective international approaches to the problem. 

A delegate from Albania said “What we need in this conference is some unity” when asked how it was going so far. His block, which was unnamed as of then, focused on the most technological solution to climate change. 

The lack of unity in the committee is palpable, with nations having wildly different ideas on how to tackle the issue. The discussions are becoming increasingly heated, and it seems like a solution is further away than ever.

A delegate from Saudi Arabia stated “It’s important to us that countries continue using oil” soon after a delegate from Belize commented on the dangers of oil and oil pipelines.

One proposal that stood out was Australia's suggestion of developing mushrooms that absorb carbon. They opened with “In Australia, there are a lot of fun guys, but what we need is some fungi!” However, even this idea met with skepticism and criticism from other nations.

One of the meta issues facing the conference was a surplus of working papers. With over one hundred and fifty delegates the committee boasted a whopping eighteen working papers to start. This proved to be problematic considering there had been a limit set of only ten. By the end of the second session this number had been reduced to thirteen. It remains to be seen if the remaining groups will be able to overcome their pride and stubbornness for the sake of progress.

The world is at a critical juncture, and the discussions in the Social, Cultural, and Humanitarian Committee are a clear indication of the challenges we face in tackling the issue of climate change and cultural extinction. It is clear that we need a unified approach to this problem, but it is also clear that there is no easy solution.

The world is watching, and it is up to the committee to find a way forward. We can only hope that they can put their differences aside and come to a consensus that will benefit us all. Until then, chaos and disunity will continue to brew in the committee, and the future of our planet will remain uncertain.

Top Bloc Tackling Abuse Of Diplomatic Immunity

Kate Radzville, Press Corps 24

SPECPOL, General Assemblies — The Special Political and Decolonization Committee is hard at work to fix the issue of national peacekeepers abusing their diplomatic immunity. A brief rundown of the issue, there have been many instances of humanitarian peacekeepers physically and sexually abusing the people they should be helping. SPECPOL has come together to eradicate this issue. The Top Bloc was created to fix that.

Top Bloc is made up of many delegations and led by the Argentinian delegate. He agreed to an exclusive interview with the NAIMUN Daily in which he tells the world about a new resolution to solve the peacekeeper problem.

“I believe that our bloc has an integral focus on communication. The reason why the peacekeepers problem happened is because of lack of communication between the nations sending peacekeepers and the nations receiving the peacekeepers” stated Argentina.

Later on, Argentina explained how Top Bloc will use new high grade technology known as the world wide web and 2G Wifi to educate, inform, and communicate with everyone involved in the humanitarian efforts of peacekeepers.

Peacekeepers were issued diplomatic immunity to be used to protect them from unjust foreign governments, but many abused this power. Therefore, the Top Bloc wants to issue preventative legislatures to limit what circumstances this diplomatic immunity can be applied to. This will make sure that future peacekeepers will be held to higher standards and help protect those in nations that will receive peacekeepers.

With that being said, the world cannot legally try past peacekeepers who abused their power, but Top Bloc does want to reach out to those who have been hurt in the past.

“... as well as rehabilitation centers, to help those who have been previously abused (by peacekeepers)”, said Argentina.

With all of these efforts to fix the trust that has been broken and maintain good relations between the UN’s peacekeepers and other third-world countries, there must be a central source of funding. When asked how all of this would be paid for, Top Bloc went on to provide quite the answer.

“We’re using bonds”, Argentina explains, “we’re partnering with NGOs and also incorporating funding from the IMF, the world bank, as well as working with the United Nations”.

All of this goes to show that even in these trying times, the nations included in the Top Bloc wish to keep peacemakers peaceful and extend their apologies and support efforts for those who have been impacted by such wrongful actions in the past.

All of this goes to show that even in these trying times, the nations included in the Top Bloc wish to keep peacemakers peaceful and extend their apologies and support efforts for those who have been impacted by such wrongful actions in the past.

Turkey-Syria Earthquake Brings the Reality of Millions to the Podium: The World Health Organization at NAIMUN LX

Aashna Miharia, Press Corps 11

WHO, General Assemblies — In the first hours of Feb. 6, 2023, a natural disaster forever altered the lives of millions in Turkey and Syria. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit horrified these nations and the world as the death toll rose with each passing hour. 

Many of the subsequent issues, including the effect of cheaply-built housing and a lack of access to medical care, are currently magnified in the media regarding the people of Turkey and Syria. However, nations worldwide also face similar daily struggles, mainly due to the rapidly-growing urbanization rates. 

From Feb. 16 to 19, the delegates of the World Health Organization are striving to craft practical solutions to the multi-faceted issue in the cross-section of poverty and health that rapid urbanization creates. 

“I'm really hoping that our delegates come up with some solutions that address the inequities in health care and resource access around the world,” Lauren Tomiko, this committee's chair and a Georgetown junior studying Science, Technology, and International Affairs (STIA), said.

As of Friday morning, the delegates have congregated in four large blocs to write resolutions on their common goals. 

“Accessibility to appropriate medical care is probably the most pressing issue,” the delegate representing the Republic of Senegal said to the NAIMUN Daily, speaking on behalf of fellow developing nations in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

Their bloc, with nations such as Mozambique, Sweden, and Fiji, want to address the declining health conditions of urban populations, often largely populated with low-income people. 

“Declining health due to urbanization is a very prevalent topic in a lot of countries because so many countries in the world are still developing,” Senegal continued. “So this [resolution] would really affect countries in every continent, and it's just something that needs to be addressed.” 

The recent tragedy has compelled The Republic of Turkey's president to focus on improving infrastructure.

“We need to focus on the people in the cities such as Istanbul, which was affected by this earthquake as now they've lost their homes,” Turkey's representative delegate stated. “They don't have any money and they don't have food.”

The Principality of Monaco is working closely with Turkey this weekend. As a nation that sees sparse poverty within its walls, they are eager to help others in the UN. 

“[Monaco wants to] try and send architects to these nations to help with [their] infrastructure,” Monaco said. “[They can] help out and help design low income buildings that can hold as [many] people as they can comfortably [hold] without causing spread of disease and other issues like that.”

Monaco and Turkey's final resolution aims to incentivize other developed nations to donate to a novel fund and implement a carbon tax among countries. 

But that is not the whole story. Turkey believes another deeper issue accounts for the unmanageable magnitude of their current situation. 

“Pollution is an issue that's impacting millions of people across the world. We're dealing with a crisis, as there's multiple people living in slums who are surrounded by waste,” said Turkey.

With that, The Republic of Turkey's bloc dedicates its committee time to improving sanitation and finding alternative uses for waste. For instance, utilizing pollution's biogas, Turkey plans to morph it into the very thing many lack: energy. 

For months, the World Health Organization planned to discuss the complex causes and effects of urbanization and natural disasters, including infrastructure and sanitation, this weekend. To the untrained eye, it may seem merely well-timed due to the historical earthquake in Syria and Turkey a mere eleven days ago. 

In reality, these issues weave through the quilts of lives, communities, and cultures. In the two more days of NAIMUN LX left, the delegates will continue collaborating to help improve the lives of millions dwelling in one Eurasian region and around the world.

General MacArthur Promises Military Response if Japan Rejects Demands for Authority

Minji Bu, Press Corps 10

INDONESIAN REVOLUTION, National Security Apparatus — The conclusion of a decade long international conflict that resulted in the bloodshed of millions would expectedly be met with fanfare and joy. But today, one such catastrophic conflict became the prologue of a rapidly approaching successor. This afternoon, American General Douglas MacArthur promised that continuous refusal of his demands for authority by Japan would be met with invasion from the American military.

General MacArthur, supreme commander of the allied powers, presented a list of demands to the newly formed Japanese provisional government this morning. The list includes calls for the complete surrender of authority over Japan to the U.S, including the administration of Japanese imports and exports, military units, and the education system’s curriculum.

“I have given my orders to the Japanese committee, that education, economic policies, and the military will all come under my control, so that I will rebuild Japan more democratically and economically stronger,” said MacArthur to NAIMUN Daily News.

The orders are being opposed by members of the Japanese provisional government. Many are disturbed by the far-reaching control that the U.S would gain over aspects of Japanese policy should the demands be met. Several express their fears that Japan’s historical cultures and customs will be erased under American control.

“Most of the committee wanted further negotiations with America regarding its demands,” stated Ichikawa Fusae, a womens’ rights advocate. “We didn’t want [America] to take away Japan’s cultural identity,” 

Immediately following their surrender in World War II, Japan established a new provisional government to oversee the recovery of the country. In possession of a powerful military and surrounded by ocean on four sides, Japan held a favorable position in the war. Now, just months after the war’s end, Japan’s geographic location may prove to be a vulnerability against the U.S’s naval invasion.

When questioned by the NAIMUN Daily, Gen. MacArthur gave a brief outline of America’s intended military invasion.

“If [the Japanese] don’t comply… they’re gonna see some unfortunate circumstances, that being an amphibious invasion. They’ll feel the full might of the U.S army,” the general stated.

Hours of debate, negotiations, and communication between the two parties yielded no results. As the world clock steadily counts down to another conflict, the livelihoods of innocents around the world, still recovering from the second world war, are in jeopardy. The status of Japan’s sovereignty, America’s demands, and the protection of peace following one of the bloodiest wars in history remains a highly debated issue that can only result in staggering ramifications for the international community.

Repatriation Removes Relics from the Museum Experience: A New Smithsonian Initiative Proposes a Solution

Kevin Wang, Press Corps 6

SMITHSONIAN BOARD OF REGENTS, Contemporary Crisis — The Smithsonian Institution, one of the world's largest museums and research complexes, is reexamining its policies as part of a broader effort to address the harms caused by repatriation. 

Repatriation, the process of returning cultural artifacts to their country or community of origin, has become a hotly debated issue in the museum world.

On one hand, repatriation is seen as a way to right historical wrongs and to restore dignity and sovereignty to the communities that have had their cultural heritage taken away from them. On the other hand, repatriation can harm the museum experience by depriving visitors of the opportunity to learn about and appreciate diverse cultures.

The Smithsonian, which houses more than 155 million artifacts and works of art, has made a firm commitment to returning cultural artifacts to their original homes. For example, in 1989, the Smithsonian established the National Museum of the American Indian Act, which requires the Smithsonian to return, upon request, any Native American objects of cultural significance to their tribes of origin. 

In response to recent arguments about the damaging effects of repatriation on the museum viewer’s experience, a group formed from the Smithsonian Board of Regents proposes a novel, technological solution. The group includes Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, Vice Chair Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, and Leila Amineddoleh of Amineddoleh and Associates, a consulting firm which helps museums and collectors authenticate and ethically procure their art. 

This esteemed group wants to create the Smithsonian Accessibility Program (SAP) with the principal goal to empower and enable all citizens of America to appreciate the diverse cultures of the world. Summarizing their mission, Senator Cortez Masto says, “The United States wants to emphasize the power of the Smithsonian to the entire world and wants to support local museums and so we can further the American culture and people.”

Core to their mission is the Digital Categorization of Art (DCOA) subcommittee, which aims to digitize all of the artifacts of the Smithsonian. They have developed augmented reality (AR) technology to convert 3D objects into digital snapshots with Unreal Engine, a high fidelity visualization software. The initiative aims to use cutting-edge technology to render 3D models of their artifacts, allowing people from around the world to experience the Smithsonian's vast collection like never before.

The use of AR technology will allow people to interact with the Smithsonian's artifacts in a whole new way. Users will be able to view the artifacts from all angles, zoom in for a closer look, and even manipulate them in real time. This technology will provide a level of interactivity and engagement that is not possible with traditional museum exhibits.

The Smithsonian's new initiative is expected to take several years to complete, as the institution has an enormous collection to digitize. However, the effort is seen as a crucial step in making the institution's collection more accessible to the public, particularly during the ongoing pandemic. 

Now, the museum can repatriate artifacts effectively without losing the allure of the museum experience. The Smithsonian's new initiative is a testament to the institution's commitment to innovation and to making its collection more accessible to people around the world. As the project progresses, it is sure to transform the way people interact with museums and cultural institutions.

The New Government Shows Uncertainty of Creating a New Government

Truman Schulte, Press Corps 5

KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE, Contemporary Crisis —The new national government is already dealing with theological, ethnic, and nationalist tension in their new government. Kosovo just got out of an almost two-decade civil war that fought for Kosovo's independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and later from Serbia as a whole.

 Kosovo's local/temporary parliament argued over whether or not to implement the new government immediately and withdraw some of the United Nations/European Union Protection.

Some of Kosovo’s interim parliament members want the new government to be perfected entirely before they see signs of exploitation and corruption. In contrast, others like the new government to be upstanding in preventing countries like Serbia from taking over again. 

Delegate Hashim Rexhappi of the Kosovo National Bank wanted a more secure and outlined an economic plan for the country to stabilize and protect Kosovo. Rexhappi wanted that to be a part of the new government before Kosovo implemented any financial stability plan.

The new government is now off the ground with only some international police, United Nations Peacekeepers, and European Union police as temporary security for the young nation. Another referendum of Serbia absorbing 50 Million dollars of the national debt failed very quickly.

Delegate Sanije Alijaj argued that a national military would protect Kosovo, increase technological advancements and infrastructure, and provide some form of financial stability for some citizens.

At the same time, Dukahin Gornai of the Gazeta Express believes that the military would be great but would also show nationalism and competitiveness toward Serbia and other hostile nations. Serbia would have to take Kosovo seriously. Though he points out that Serbia is looking for a reason to attack again, he points out the significant difference between Kosovo’s size, military power, and population as reasons why a military would not even work.

However, they do not want Serbia to take them too seriously and go into another war; Gorani believes that the world needs to know that Kosovo is not the attacker and make sure the international community labels Serbia as the attacker in this situation. A military would not support this situation with the rest of the world.

As some crises come into play, with 45 Ulttra Natioanlsits forming a shadow government in Northern Kosovo, the Kosovar Serbs bring up a potential issue with ultra-nationalism within its borders while also trying to improve relations with Serbia. That crisis alone is very challenging, and finding a solution that appeases and solves all these problems is hard. 

Rising Tensions Divide Ad Hoc Committee

Jacob Cross, Press Corps 3

AD-HOC COMMITTEE of the SECRETARY-GENERAL, Non-Traditionals — Delegates from the extremely competitive Ad-Hoc Committee to the Secretary General are serving as a council of revolutionary anarchist women prior to and during the Spanish Civil War of 1936. This collective is primarily focused on adapting to the fracturing Republican Party and establishing their own political movements to promote equal rights in a society that often disregards them.

On the first day of the conference, a significant majority of delegates agreed to place their support behind the Republican Party, as an alternative to the right-wing Nationalist Party. As all of the women represented are anarcho-feminists, there are large overlaps in their political beliefs and ideally, this collective would serve as a unified front dedicated to progressing the rights and opportunities available for women in a largely inequitable society. However, as the committee has continued to debate through numerous crises, certain notable fractures have formed in this once-unified body.

Some delegates raised concerns surrounding the numerous factions within the Republican  Party and the party's inability to provide stable support for women. This included movements to support an anti-war faction that dedicates its attention to improving the lives of women under the current government. However, an increasingly strong faction hopes to improve the status of women in the event a civil war does occur, providing an important discussion on which side to support entering the second day. 

The second committee meeting reinforced the trend of straying away from remaining as one unified body as the war drew closer. Many delegates continued to resist the war and argue for policies aimed at protecting the peace. Included in this group was Soledad Casilda Hernaez Vargas, a prominent revolutionary, who endorsed creating another faction focused entirely on progressing women’s rights.

“We should create our own political movement and our own party to be able to protect women and push our ideals forward,” she told the NAIMUN Daily. 

This would involve pursuing policies that promote the economic expansion of the roles of women such as creating agricultural communes, which would also ensure food security. This group is primarily anti-war hoping to avoid the inevitable cost of a bloody conflict and continues to support measures increasing the power of women under the current government rather than fighting for radical changes.

However, another large faction, led by Felisa De Castro Sampedro, is arguing to immediately abandon the path for peace and fully endorse the Republicans. This would provide women a much larger say in the weakened Republican government should a civil war erupt. Although this faction doesn’t support the civil war, they note that they would rather preemptively establish themselves than be left behind supporting peace when the war begins.

The first two committee sessions have already divided the collective opinions of Spanish women from a once unified coalition to a split based on party lines, a trend that can only be expected to continue. It is simply a matter of time until each delegate finds out for themselves for whom the bell tolls.