Topic 1: Autonomous Weapons Systems and Meaningful Human Control

Autonomous weapons are systems that can select and attack targets using AI, with little or no human input. They are already being developed and tested, and the war in Ukraine has sped up the use of AI-assisted drones. Countries disagree on what to do: Austria and others want a legally binding treaty to limit these weapons, while states like France and the UK prefer voluntary guidelines. The central question is how to define “meaningful human control,” meaning how much a human must be involved in a decision to use lethal force. In this committee, delegates will debate whether to ban, regulate, or simply set standards for these weapons, and how any rules could be enforced. It’s a chance to shape the rules for a technology that is changing warfare right now.

Topic 2: Arms Control and Nuclear Risk Reduction in Europe

Arms control treaties are agreements that limit weapons and let countries inspect each other to build trust. Many of the ones that protected Europe are now gone: the INF Treaty ended in 2019, Russia withdrew from the CFE Treaty in 2023, and New START, the last major US-Russia nuclear limits treaty, was suspended by Russia and reached its scheduled end in 2026. With these agreements gone, European states are debating nuclear sharing within NATO and whether Europe needs its own deterrent, with France playing a key role. Delegates will decide how to reduce the risk of conflict, whether by reviving old treaties, negotiating new ones, or starting with smaller steps like transparency and communication measures. If you want to work on one of the biggest security questions facing Europe today, this is the committee for you.

Topic 1: Responding to the Migration Crisis of 2015

More than one million refugees and migrants crossed into Europe in 2015, a major surge that overwhelmed the existing reception systems in many frontline states such as Greece and Italy, put pressure on transit countries across the Balkan route, and led to many disagreements about how responsibility should be divided. The surge in refugees was a result of a combination of factors: many were fleeing conflict in Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq, a number of migrants were escaping poverty and instability across regions of Africa and the Middle East. Nations reacted very differently to this situation and it has continued to shape political tensions today. Delegates of this committee are asked to evaluate the scenario posed in 2015 and develop coordinated solutions. They should consider how to distribute responsibility fairly among states, strengthen safe and legal pathways, address the root causes of displacement to mitigate future resurgences, and protect the rights of asylum seekers.

Topic 2: Aging Population Demographics and the Workforce

"Many countries across the world are facing a decline in birth rates, and Europe’s population especially is aging rapidly. This major demographic shift threatens economic growth and creates labor shortages in a number of sectors, some more than others. This also places mounting pressure on pension and healthcare systems. The depopulation of rural areas as young workers move to cities deepens these challenges in many regions.

Delegates are asked to propose strategies that might work to sustain productive, resilient economies as societies age. Solutions may include new/reframed family and childcare policies, raising workforce participation among women and older workers, investing in new technologies and automation, reforming pension systems, and integrating migrants into labor markets. Delegates are encouraged to work creatively to combine different solutions into a plan that can address the wide breadth of this issue. "

Topic 1: Protection of Persons Displaced by Climate Change

As the global temperature rises, glaciers and ice sheets melt into the sea, causing catastrophic erosion and flooding in coastal communities. Conversely, extreme droughts in land-locked regions lead to severe famines and, in extreme cases, destructive wildfires that tear through dry areas, thereby forcing residents to seek new terrain. Across the world, people are losing their homes as a result of climate change, especially those without access to resources or financial stability. Delegates will begin by viewing the broader scope of climate migration and its effects before delving deeper into how the United Nations can enact measures to protect at-risk populations from losing their homes and sense of belonging.

Topic 2: An Economic Approach to Combatting Climate Change

Many nations around the world are already establishing legislation that intends to combat the effects of climate change. From promoting energy efficiency to taxing carbon emissions and plastic usage, individual governments are attempting to prevent the prominent causes of climate change and incentivize more optimal alternatives. However, in this committee delegates will work to create a universal scaffold for how to allocate proper funding to where it is most useful. By considering the wealth, power, and emissions distribution of each country, delegates will seek to divide the economic burden associated with combating climate change and encourage sustainable growth and development to create a lower-carbon economy.

Topic 1: Combating Colonial Language Erasure While Expanding Equitable Access to Education

Across the world, education systems look different across borders: varying accessibility, literacy outcomes, and prioritization of linguistic and cultural preservation. As a global community, we must acknowledge the disproportionate impact of colonialism in the phenomena of educational erasure. Colonial legacies continue to shape which languages are taught, which histories are preserved, and who has access to quality education. As dominant languages increasingly dictate educational and economic opportunities, endangered languages and Indigenous knowledge systems risk being lost across generations, and those effects have already begun. Delegates will examine how UNESCO and its member states can expand equitable access to literacy and multilingual education alongside revitalizing endangered languages and preserving cultural heritage.

Topic 2: Countering Genocidal Propaganda by Protecting Media during Mass Atrocities

Over the last century, mass atrocities have unfolded across numerous regions, from the Holocaust and the Rwandan Genocide to ongoing atrocities in Darfur. Throughout these crises, media has served as both a vehicle for inciting violence and a means of documenting abuses: particularly in the spread of digital disinformation during conflicts, information can become a powerful instrument of dehumanization instead of mobilization. Yet, efforts to restrict harmful content present their own dangers, as governments may exploit censorship to silence dissent, suppress independent journalism, and conceal human rights violations. The study of western news representation of mass atrocities and the dynamics of differential reporting are also a critical issue to contend with. Delegates will examine how UNESCO and its member states can counter genocidal propaganda, strengthen protections for domestic journalism, and promote responsible, culturally-informed information-sharing without undermining freedom of expression or enabling state censorship.

COMING SOON

Topic 1: Upholding the Rule of Law and Democratic Principles

Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union proclaims a union “founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights.” However, over the past decade, concerns have surged across Europe over judicial independence, media freedom, pluralism, the integrity of elections, and the consolidation of executive power. To many observers, these trends seem to expose the limitations of the European Union in its ability to defend its own fundamental values. Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union, specifically designed to defend against breaches of Article 2 through formal warnings or sanctions, has often faltered under the unanimity requirement (e.g. in Hungary and Poland). Other mechanisms such as the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation and Court of Justice of the European Union have also produced mixed results, repeatedly being cited for inconsistent application and overreach. Meanwhile, political polarization, the growing influence of social media platforms, and misinformation campaigns from both foreign and domestic actors are straining public trust in the European Union and in democratic institutions across the continent. Delegates in this committee will explore how the EU can enforce its founding principles through multilateral institutions and legal frameworks, while simultaneously avoiding undermining national sovereignty or fueling divisions between member states. Delegates will have to evaluate the effectiveness of current enforcement mechanisms and democratic institutions, as well as decide what kinds of reforms are needed to guarantee the rule of law and foundational democratic principles across the European continent.

Topic 2: Strengthening European Defense and Security

"As war continues on the European continent, uncertainty mounts over the future of the US-European transatlantic security relationship, and threats such as cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns proliferate, the European Union is facing increasing pressure to take greater responsibility for its own security. Initiatives such as the Readiness 2030 plan, SAFE loan framework, and European Defence Industry Programme have been created to help increase defense spending, incentivize a “buy European” approach, and rebuild the industrial capacity of European nations. However, serious divides remain over how to finance these initiatives, whether to prioritize European producers over non-EU suppliers, and how to balance joint defense and borrowing with preserving national sovereignty and autonomy. Additionally, divides remain between the threat levels percieved by frontline states in eastern and northern Europe and those in the south and west, creating different incentives for defense spending.

In this committee, delegates will explore how the EU can build a comprehensive and robust defense framework that strengthens the bloc’s position while respecting member states’ sovereignty. Delegates should consider how best to finance defense initiatives, ensure coordination between EU member states, and develop the long-term trajectory of European defense cooperation."

Topic 1: Organizing Papuan Defense Forces

Throughout the 1980s, Papua New Guinea was racked with conflict including tribal fighting across the main island and secessionist movements following Papuan independence. Bougainville had already attempted several times to declare independence from Papua New Guinea, but in 1988, the fighting reached a fever pitch with the collapse of lucrative gold and copper mining. The Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) has begun organizing a massive effort to secede. While the issue of independence may be valid, the BRA has intense internal conflicts, resulting in increasingly violent tactics. There is also a risk that armed separatists could spread into the rest of the country, encouraging further provincial violence and the ultimate collapse of the nation. The mission of the delegates is to organize the Papua New Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF) to end the civil war while doing its best to maintain infrastructure and prevent loss of life.

Topic 2: Building Independence and Centralized Power

Since the declaration of Papuan independence, the government has been racked with corruption, infighting surrounding the extent of centralization, and heavy politicization of the bureaucracy. The Bougainville Crisis has brought the government to a head. Unless the government can find ways to effectively centralize power and reduce party fighting within the government, there is a low likelihood of maintaining Bougainville and preventing mass provincial conflict. While it is essential to fight the active war, delegates must also ensure that the government remains stable and is able to prevent the war from spreading into the other provinces. Delegates must also find ways to build governmental compromise with Bougainville to prevent future wars from breaking out and destabilizing the country.

Topic 1 : Securing the Bab el-Mandeb Strait: Houthi Attacks on Commercial Shipping

Ships are under attack, crew members remain captive, and governments are weighing how far they are willing to go to secure the Red Sea. It is January 2024, and Houthi attacks on commercial shipping have brought the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to the forefront of the Security Council’s agenda. Following the seizure of the Galaxy Leader, delegates must secure the release of its crew and decide how to protect vessels passing through these waters. Naval escorts, sanctions, and military action are all on the table, but agreement on their use is far from certain. As new attacks and diplomatic disputes unfold, the Council must act quickly: a response intended to protect shipping could trigger a much larger war.

Topic 2: Protecting Civilians and Securing Humanitarian Access in Sudan’s Civil War

Since April 2023, the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces have fought for control of Sudan, leaving civilians caught between them. Now, in January 2024, families have fled their homes, aid deliveries face obstruction, and promises to halt the fighting have offered little protection. The Security Council must turn demands for humanitarian access into arrangements that work on the ground. Delegates will negotiate pauses in fighting, secure routes for relief, and decide what consequences should follow when armed groups break their commitments. As negotiations falter and relief operations come under threat, the Council faces an urgent question: how can it protect civilians when doing so depends on cooperation from those endangering them?

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