UN Security Council simulation
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Myanmargenocidesimulation.docxThe United Nations: An Examination of Myanmar, Human Security and International Responsibility
Should the actions against the Rohingya be classified as genocide? What responsibility does the international community have to end this crisis? What measures should be undertaken by the state, region, and international community?
Simulation preparation involves two steps:
· Researching the United Nations Security Council state you are representing
· Researching the main issues/concepts/dilemmas surrounding the Myanmar crisis
UN Security Council State Preparation
Each student will be responsible for researching and representing the interests for one of the United Nations Security Council members. There will be one or two students representing each country but grades will be determined based on individual contributions (i.e. your grade will not be impacted by your partner’s participation). The permanent Council members are China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The current non-permanent members are (with year of term's end): Belgium (2020), Côte d’Ivoire (2019), Dominican Republic (2020), Equatorial Guinea (2019), Germany (2020), Indonesia (2020), Kuwait (2019), Peru (2019), Poland (2019), and South Africa (2020).
“Under the UN Charter, the Security Council has the responsibility of maintaining international peace. It is the most powerful body of the UN; while other committees can only make recommendations for action, the Security Council makes decisions that its member bodies must implement. The Council may deal with international conflict in many ways. When fighting breaks out, the Council’s first goal is usually to call for a ceasefire or an end to violence. It may also send peacekeeping forces to protect citizens and ensure that any UN decisions are carried out. The Council can use more forceful measures to achieve its goals as well, such as issuing economic sanctions or authorize military force.” (http://www.un.org/sc/members.asp).
“Under the Charter, the functions and powers of the Security Council are:
* to maintain international peace and security in accordance with the principles and purposes of the UN;
* to investigate any dispute or situation which might lead to international friction;
* to recommend methods of adjusting such disputes or the terms of settlement;
* to formulate plans for the establishment of a system to regulate armaments;
* to determine the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression and to recommend what action should be taken;
* to call on Members to apply economic sanctions and other measures not involving the use of force to prevent or stop aggression;
* to take military action against an aggressor;
* to recommend the admission of new Members;
* to exercise the trusteeship functions of the United Nations in "strategic areas";
* to recommend to the General Assembly the appointment of the Secretary-General and, together with the Assembly, to elect the Judges of the International Court of Justice” (http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/unsc_functions.html).
Preparation: Begin by researching your selected country. Pay special attention to important economic, historical, military, political, and social factors impacting your country. Use the most recent statistics possible (i.e. 2015 or later) in order to provide a more current assessment. The following links provide a starting point:
· http://www.policyalmanac.org/world/index.shtml
· http://hdr.undp.org/en/statistics/
· http://www.un.org/sc/members.asp/
· http://data.worldbank.org/country
· http://apps.who.int/ghodata/
· http://www.un.org/en/members/index.shtml
· http://www.nationmaster.com/index.php
· http://www.rand.org/congress/international.html
News sources that are typically viewed as “unbiased”
· http://www.independent.co.uk/
· http://wn.com/ (pulls resources from across the globe)
Simulation topic preparation
Begin by researching the answers/reasons for the following questions:
· Who are the Rohingya? Why are they being persecuted? Who is targeting them?
· What kinds of atrocities are Myanmar forces being accused of committing? What have been the catalysts for increased violence?
· Why are they fleeing Myanmar? Where are they going? What kind of assistance should the refugee recipient states receive?
Next consider the concepts of nation, national identity and self-determination. These concepts are enshrined in Article I of the United Nations Charter, which states that the UN’s purpose is to “develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples.”
· What is self-determination? Why is there “a problem inherent in self-determination,” as stated in the essay?
· “Myanmar Follows Pattern in How Ethnic Cleansing Begins” (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/18/world/asia/myanmar-rohingya-ethnic-cleansing.html)
· https://www.un.org/press/en/2013/gashc4085.doc.htm
· https://unpo.org/article/4957
· What is the definition of nation? Why are ethnic and religious definitions of nation problematic? What are the challenges to defining nation based on political beliefs and citizenship?
· https://www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/article/172/30341.html
· Why and how are the Rohingya being impacted by these definitions?
Simulation 1
By the end of simulation 1, the class will need to vote on 1) whether Myanmar is classified as genocide, 2) what united message should the UN Security Council send to the Myanmar government, and 3) what measures should be mandated by the UN in regards to Myanmar, Bangladesh, the international community, etc?
· As the class works towards policies and positions, I will post surveys that the class will vote on.
As a member of the UN Security Council, you will need to find balance in order to advocate for the interests of your state, region and the world. The Security Council will need to:
· Examine the international law definitions of genocide, displaced person and refugee;
· http://www.un.org/ar/preventgenocide/adviser/pdf/osapg_analysis_framework.pdf
· Determine if the Rohingya crisis should be classified as genocide;
· What united message should the international community send to the Myanmar government who blames the Rohingyan people for the violence and refuses to identify them as an ethnic group;
· What direct action should be undertaken by the international community in regards to the Myanmar government?
