INDEX 1. South Asia and the Far East An Overview 2. Crisis Affairs Press Release 3.

. United Nations Security Council 3.1 Agenda 1: Situation in Afghanistan 3.2 Agenda 2: Situation in Timor-Leste 4. United Nations General Assembly First Committee (DISEC) 4.1 Agenda 1: Demilitarization of the South China Sea 4.2 Agenda 2: International Security Concerns Related to the Swat Valley 5. United Nations General Assembly Second Committee (ECOFIN) 5.1 Agenda 1: Promoting Collective Actions of South Asian Countries to Reduce Dependency for Energy Resources from the Middle East 5.2 Agenda 2: Establishment of a potential economic and financial bloc to represent South Asia and the Far East. 6. United Nations General Assembly Third Committee (SOCHUM) 6.1 Agenda 1: Comprehensive Measures to Protect Regional Languages of Far Eastern Countries like Papua New Guinea from Extinction. 6.2 Agenda 2: Food Security in Laos and Vietnam 7. United Nations General Assembly Fourth Committee (SPECPOL) 7.1 Agenda 1: The Status of Taiwan. 7.2 Agenda 2: The Status of Spartly and Paracel Islands 8. United Nation Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) 8.1 Agenda 1: Human Rights Violation in Myanmar. 8.2 Agenda 2: Repatriation of Tibetan refugees in India 9. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) 9.1 Agenda 1: Discussing Important Educational Programs To Further Educate The Girl Child 9.2 Agenda 2: Steps for Establishment of a Socially Cohesive Environment in the Diverse Countries of the Far East 10. South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) 10.1 Agenda 1: Co-operation between SAARC Member Nations to Eradicate Poverty and Unemployment 10.2 Agenda 2: Collective Measures to be Taken to Resolve Long Standing Border Disputed Among SAARC Member Nations

South Asia and the Far East An Overview It has been said that the world's economic centre-of-gravity is moving back to Asia, after being swung briefly into the West by the Industrial revolution. The sun has long set over the British Empire, America is coming to terms with its overstretch and a young, dynamic Asia seeks to rise. This rise is not preordained, but conditional to whether the governments can take those necessary steps to put their name on the 21st century. Arguably the most important steps are socioeconomic. To harness the demographic dividend, South Asia must lift its people from debilitating, unproductive poverty, and welcome intraregional trade and closer cooperation between nations. It remains to be seen if SAARC can sink its political differences, resolve border disputes and create common security and trade arrangements. What further complicates matters is the number of issues to balance: A war-torn Afghanistan whose future must be determined, a new-born Timor-Leste must be strengthened, and the Spratlys and Paracels likes remain like sparks uncomfortably close to a bonfire. Insurgents loom over the SWAT, waiting for their turn, Philippines and Taiwan look uncertainly to the United States, as increasingly loud voices are heard across Japan, Korea and China. Energy security, anticipation of multipolarity and securing national interests have all led to the emergence of flexible coalitions, whose agreements on one issue are countered by sharp disagreements over others. Hopefully security concerns will not impede evolution of FreeTrade and other economic agreements, perhaps even a framework for a future economic union can be laid down. Perhaps the culture of Asia, our common links and heritage, serve in unifying us. May it be preserved and cherished, and not be forgotten as concerns deemed more urgent take our attention. The century is still in its infancy. The outcomes a few years hence are many. The expectations of the people are rising. This regions conflicts, its turbulence, its peoples, its economics, all of its promises and all of its threats are ours. This is our home. It will be the Asian Century; it will be Our Century yet.

Soumitra Bhoyar Secretary General

Crisis Affairs Press Release The crisis of today is the joke of tomorrow. - (H. G. Wells)

The true test of any delegate is in how he or she handles a crisis situation. Being able to keep your calm in the face of panic, present a united front and resolve issues is an important part of being a representative of a nation. Of course, we have no interest in telling you what crises you may be facing, but we are more than happy to give you an insight into these completely plausible crises. I. United Nations Security Council 1. The Situation in Afghanistan: The Taliban has decided to elect a new leader who has gone on record to state that Pakistan, as its natural ally, must side with Afghanistan against the Western infidels or suffer consequences. India has taken grave measures including refusing to play cricket with Afghanistan. France calls for a dope test, claiming that the new leader would win because of election performance-enhancing drugs. 2. The Situation in Timor-Leste: A band of ex-guerrilla warriors from Timors past attack UN convoys claiming that the UN intends to curtail its nationhood. Upcoming presidential elections are put in jeopardy as several lemur testes are found strewn in voting booths, in what seems to be the first documented case of dyslexic terrorism. United Nations General Assembly First Committee (DISEC) 1. Demilitarization of the South China Sea: The situation in the South China Sea escalates after the British frigate HMS Devonshire enters into Chinese-held waters in the South China Sea, where it is sunk. A Chinese J-7 fighter jet sent to investigate the British presence is shot down and later investigations reveal that the Devonshire's survivors were shot with Chinese weaponry. The British have given a 48-hour ultimatum to the Chinese, after several media reports have identified this as Chinese aggression. 2. International Security Concerns Related to the Swat Valley: Reuters reports reveal that a crack paramilitary unit is now hiding in the Swat Valley, making attacks on internally displaced persons, picking them off at close range. They have

II.

revealed that they are in possession of a highly toxic neurosuppressor known only as VX gas, which they will use on the Swat Valley residents, unless their demands are met. III. United Nations General Assembly Second Committee (ECOFIN) 1. Promoting Collective Actions of South Asian Countries to Reduce Dependency for Energy Resources from the Middle East: In a curious turn of events, several windmills in Abu Dhabi, which were part of the largest wind-power generation plant, have gained sentience and are marching on to the Gaza strip. South Asian countries have decried this as an Arab move for dominance in the Middle East. The Israelis are currently in talks with Spain, to acquire the services of one Mr. Quixote and Mr. Panza. 2. Establishment of a Potential Economic and Financial Bloc to Represent South Asia and the Far East: The release of a movie Rush Hour 4: Delhi Dojo becomes a major financial bone of contention. The movie, backed heavily by Chinese and Indian producers, tanks in the West. The consortium cries foul, claiming that Western distributors were directed to not release the movie in the phases that were planned, so that the movie would lose money. Financial experts everywhere are baffled as to how this was supposed to affect the economy. United Nations General Assembly Third Committee (SOCHUM) 1. Comprehensive Measures to Protect Regional Languages of Far Eastern Countries like Papua New Guinea from Extinction: A group of gamers, who get stranded on Papua New Guinea on their way back from a gaming convention, teach the locals l33tsp3@k. Soon enough, the lingo catches on and slowly begins to threaten the native tongue of Guinea Pigg. 2. Food Security in Cambodia and Laos: A peculiar form of rot that affects rice, and spreads on physical contact, has ravaged the fields of Cambodia. Crops have failed, farmer suicides have increased, and prices for staple foods are rising. United Nations General Assembly Fourth Committee (SPECPOL) 1. The Status of Taiwan: The issue of whether objects Made in Taiwan are actually Made in China sparks the debate of the question of Taiwan. 2. The Status of the Spratly and Paracel Islands: Tensions escalate as Chinese fishermen are eaten by sharks with lasers fitted on them. The Chinese claim that these bionic sharks are

IV.

V.

weapons of the West and operated by Taiwan to gain superiority in the South China Sea. VI. United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) 1. Human Rights Violations in Western Myanmar: The sorry plight of several women comes to light, who complain that despite trademark and copyright violations, no recompense has been given to their citizens to even be able to use Burma Shave. They claim that the right to be presentable is grossly violated by this atrocity committed by the Burma Shave Corporation. 2. Repatriation of Tibetan refugees in India: Tibetan refugees approach UN officials claiming that they have been attacked by Yetis whenever they have engaged in attempts to return to Tibet. India claims that these are rumors started by Tibet to foist these persona non grata onto India. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) 1. Discussing Important Educational Programmes in South Asia to Further Education of the Girl Child: Aliens approach our world. These aliens however, seem to have a matriarchal system of dominance and seem to lay great emphasis on education and dignity of women. Their strict beliefs dictate that they must destroy any other life forms that cannot maintain those standards. The UN must present a more efficient and believable plan for education and improvement of quality of life of the girl child. 2. Steps for Establishment of a Socially Cohesive Environment in the Diverse Countries of the Far East: Vietnam is bought by an American Veterans group that turns it into a theme park and entertainment package for the Far East. Several nations protest the devaluation of the culture of the Vietnamese. South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) 1. Co-operation between SAARC Member Nations to Eradicate Poverty and Unemployment: Riots break out at unemployment offices in India and Pakistan, as both their cricketing boards take a collective decision that only people currently employed may be allowed to watch cricket matches. 2. Collective Measures to be Taken to Resolve Long Standing Border Disputed Among SAARC Member Nations: Tensions erupt on the Indo-Pak border as firing resumes after some

VII.

VIII.

Pakistani soldiers are believed to have crossed the border, in what is being captioned an invasion.

Please note: These are just representative crises, to give you no idea whatsoever of the crises you are going to face at the conference. We hope you enjoyed them though, as much as we think you will enjoy the actual crises. Looking forward to meeting you all.

Harshad Rane Under-Secretary-General, Crisis Affairs

Febin Mathew Under-Secretary-General, Crisis Affairs

United Nations Security Council AGENDA 1 : Situation in Afghanistan The story of Afghanistan is in so many ways a very tragic one. Afghanistan is one of the most impoverished nations of the world. It is one of the most wartorn, most ravaged, and most beleaguered of nations. It is a nation that has been beset by invasion, external pressure and internal upheaval since before the time of Alexander the Great. Its people are people who have endured more than most of us can ever imagine. In fact, for many Afghans, all that has changed in the last one thousand years are the weapons which have been used against them. The U.S. war in Afghanistan marks its twelfth anniversary, with about hundred thousand U.S. troops deployed in a counterinsurgency role, primarily in southern and eastern regions still fighting a war to liberate Afghanistan from the hands of the Taliban and make Afghanistan a democratic country with a stable economy so that it can stand shoulder to shoulder to its powerful neighbors, who for years have exploited Afghanistan for their own interests. According to several Afghans has been the core reason why Afghanistan never prospered as a nation is due to foreign interests and exploitation. President Barack Obama however plans to withdraw all combat troops by 2014 while the ISAF mandate would end at that time as well due to which Afghanistan would be fully vacated by foreign boots if all goes according to plan, but serious doubts remain about the Afghan government's capacity to secure the country. To come up with a comprehensive exit strategy, the international community first of all needs to understand the internal forces that shape Afghanistan and indeed the internal issues that need to be resolved in order to preserve the progress made by the international community in terms of physical and institutional infrastructure and indeed in terms of the economy of the country. Within Afghanistan there are over 40 major ethnicities who speak over 50 separate languages or dialects. Its citizens naturally identify with those who speak their language and share their culture. Their loyalty is first to their local leaders and their tribe. Identification with an abstract Afghan nation has always been fragile. Moneer Koshani Vice Chairperson, United Nations Security Council

AGENDA 2: Situation in Timor-Leste For a country that was under the tyranny of a more powerful country for so long, independence, more often than not, is a word that entails and carries a better and promising future. Timor-Leste (East Timor's official name) on the other hand, is a country that has a different scenario. Although the actual date of independence was around November of 1975, East Timor was touted to be the first independent country of the 21st century. But this fact didnt give them enough time to prepare for an independent way of life. The reason behind this was over three hundred years of influence and oppression of the Portuguese empire. It is no wonder that even the culture and way of thinking of most of the Timorese is a lot different compared to the time when they werent ruled by the Portuguese. Then after exactly nine days of independence, East Timor was taken off guard by the invasion of their neighboring country, Indonesia. Obviously, this was an immediate problem that confronted the newly independent country. In fact the invasion became such a great problem that they were forced to seek help from their former invaders. Portugal then turned to the UN and the Security Council to do something about the situation. In response, the UN gave the Indonesian army a resolution condemning their actions but they were hesitant to do anything else. It was only after twentyfour years that the Timorese people gained back their complete independence. The 24-year military occupation of the Indonesian troop was a brutal experience for them. In September 1999, the world witnessed the war between the Indonesian Army and the East Timorese militant after voting for the Independence of the country. Even though more than a decade has passed since their independence and more than five years since their self-governance, it will take more than just mere decades to remove the trauma, patterns of criminality and violence, injustice and isolation in the people's system. This is one of the immediate problems that East Timor is facing.

Between the beginning of the external intervention in Timor-Leste in September 1999 and the national crisis of 2006, the country was considered one of the most successful cases of external promotion of democracy and nation-state building. The conditions were about as ideal as they could be: there had been a general consensus over the future between external and internal actors, an almost complete lack of spoilers, and a high degree of international interest. Nonetheless, the result to date has been an imperfect democracy, illustrated by a lack of socio-economic progress, a politicization of the security forces, corruption, and a poorly functioning judiciary. While some have blamed external actors for imposing their kingdom in TimorLeste, and see the main problems in the East Timor being political culture, some will argue that the situation is a more complex mix of internal and external factors. Building a democratic nation-state is a challenging exercise, even given the most ideal of circumstances. Urvi Thakkar Chairperson, United Nations Security Council

United Nations General Assembly First Committee (DISEC) AGENDA 1 : Demilitarization of the South China Sea Evolution is inevitable. The nature of all things undergoes metamorphosis, and conflict is no different. The most contested areas of the globe in the last century lay on dry land in Europe, particularly in the flat expanse that rendered the eastern and western borders of Germany artificial and exposed to the inexorable march of armies. However, over the last few decades, the frame of focus has shifted towards the east, and the dispute in the South China Sea is occupying centre stage. Where once the might of armies tipped the scales, the geography of East Asia indicates the arrival of a naval century, where sea and air capability shall highlight the victor. There are numerous considerations to be accounted for in the navigation (pun intended) of this agenda, and a long list of paradoxes. The South China Sea holds massive strategic significance, not only due to its role as one of the worlds primary trade arteries and abundance of fish, but also because of the potential oil and gas reserves. Yet the South China Sea is a tangle of competing territorial demands. China, Taiwan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei all assert overlapping claims over land features and adjacent waters in the sea, heightening diplomatic tensions and potentially laying the foundation for a future military conflict. And while no country is blameless in this standoff, China is clearly the most egregious aggressor. Moreover, most of the nations involved must continuously perform a balancing act between their diplomatic relations with Washington and Beijing. With countries taking more aggressive stands, Chinas ambiguity and increasing militarization, USAs vested interest and numerous allies, the region has become a hotspot of naval activity, an escalating number of skirmishes and declining diplomacy. Thus, the need to quell the situation is apparent and urgent. A consolidated framework for the peaceful and holistic resolution of territorial disputes, maritime rights and decreased militarization is sorely required. All in all, this situation is a salad of tensions with a dressing of dilemma, and we wish the delegates bon appetit.

Deyvaansh Misra. Chairperson, UNGA DISEC

AGENDA 2: International Security Concerns Related to the Swat Valley The Swat Valley has been a region unsettled by violence and turmoil for many years. The residents of this peaceful land had hoped, when the Pakistan military launched severe operations to take back control of the valley from the oppressive Taliban led by Maulana Falullah in 2009, the bloodshed would finally come to an end. However, all those hopes were in vain. The Swat valley continues to be a hotbed of terrorist activity due to Taliban members constantly sneaking back into the valley from nearby Dir district or the Kunar province of neighbouring Afghanistan. The Swat valley region grew in notoriety a few months ago when Mala Yousafzai, a 15 year old activist for educational and womens rights, was targeted and shot in the head in the main city of Mingora. The incident drew attention to the fact that the region was at peace only in name. Despite the numerous check posts set up by Pakistani military, it is known that the Taliban presence in the region is just as strong, only less visible. Anyone who dares speak out against the Taliban or its methods becomes the next target and, unfortunately, attacks like the one on Malala are nothing new to the Swati people. As recently as Jan 10 of this year, an explosion in the basement of a religious seminary killed 22 people and injured more than 70 others. This attack on Swat took place on the same day as numerous suicide bombings and blasts in the city of Quetta, aimed to target the Shiite Muslim minority. Due to the numerous alleged cross border attacks, Pakistan has complained to the NATO and Afghan forces, asking them to take action against the Taliban who have taken refuge there but the NATO has firmly rebutted these claims and officials in Kabul continue to deny Taliban presence on Afghan soil. In turn, NATO and US forces accuse Pakistan of harbouring terrorist networks that carry out attacks on NATO and ISAF forces, causing displacement of thousands of people. With the NATO set to leave in a years time, Taliban attacks on both sides of the border have intensified with no end in sight and the Swat valley bears the brunt of this violence. With measures taken by the Pakistani government having failed, it now falls to the UNGA DISEC to come to a consensus and secure the region against any further threats to the security of its members and stop the violence that has cast a shadow on so many lives. Praveena Rajasekar Chairperson, UNGA DISEC

United Nations General Assembly Second Committee (ECOFIN) AGENDA 1: Promoting Collective Actions of South Asian Countries to Reduce Dependency for Energy Resources from the Middle East With the growth spurt in India post the dot com crash, South Asia has been steadily looked upon as one of the great investing havens across the world. With a large workforce that is steadily metamorphosing into largely skilled workforce, nations such as India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, are gaining greater access to markets across the world. With the spotlight firmly on them, these economies have a grave responsibility to maintain concrete fundamentals which will allow them to remain relevant in times of boom or bust. One such fundamental is Balance of Payments, or more specifically the current account, which is greatly skewed by the dependence on energy imports. Escalating oil prices in a global scenario that has a number of developed nations recuperating or reeling from recession is a recipe for disaster. Delegates of the ECOFIN Council will have to focus their efforts on providing South Asian economies with relevant solutions to their overdependence on the Middle East for energy imports. The South Asian economies will seek to come together and work in their relevant economic blocs to forge a plan that diversifies their energy portfolio in order to remain immune to adverse shocks from the Middle East. But the nature of this diversification and consensus towards the same will be of main importance as committee deliberates over the days of the Conference. All delegates are expected to be well versed with the different fundamentals of all South Asian economies in order to come up with a cohesive plan of action for the entire region. Current account deficits, energy import distribution and exchange rates are some of the facts that all delegates must be aware of as they enter committee to forge a joint plan for the South Asian region as a whole. All delegates must be aware of their own countrys energy portfolio in order to provide the economies in question an idea on how to better diversify their own energy imports. The ECOFIN hopes to be a highly technical committee that debates largely on fact and then further on principle. The Second Committee has a mandate to deliberate on all matters pertaining to global finance and economics and with a certain amount of monopoly power exercised by the Middle East over

the South Asian countries viz a viz energy resources, there are contentious underlying issues that need to be cleared out. We hope to see many sessions of endless debate, controversy and diplomacy in Mumbai MUN and we wish all the delegates the greatest luck for the same.

Ashwin Chandrashekhar Chairperson, ECOFIN

Agenda 2: Establishment of a potential economic and financial bloc to represent South Asia and the Far East. The General Assembly-2 (ECOFIN) is one of the most important councils of the UN as it addresses problems related to the economies of different countries and finds plausible solutions in order to maintain economic stability in a country. Economic stability is not only important for a government but also its people. The formation of an economic and financial bloc could be a major solution to the economic crisis in the Far East. The East Asian economic crisis is probably the most important economic event in the region of the past few decades and for the next few decades. The great debate on causes is whether the blame should be allocated to domestic policies and practices or to the intrinsic and volatile nature of the global financial system. The three countries (Thailand, Indonesia & Republic of Korea) under the IMF's direct tutelage have slid into deep recession. Partly due to spill over effects, other countries such as Malaysia and Hong Kong have also suffered negative growth in the year's first quarter. Even Singapore is tottering on the brink of minus growth. The three affected countries had faced initial problems resulting from currency depreciation and stock market decline, such as debt repayment and a great financial weakening of the corporate and banking sectors. But then came a second set of problems resulting from the high interest rates and tight monetary and fiscal policies that the IMF imposed or advised. The most important factor of this economic crisis is the depreciation of currencies in this region. Hence, the increase in import of funds will result in increase of debt. The formation of an economic and financial bloc might result in self sufficiency, comparatively stable economies and to a certain extent increase in the GDP of a country. At Mumbai MUN 2013, I look forward to seeing some of the brightest young minds throughout their nations, debate about economic and financial problems and come up with solutions in relation to them. Regards, Jai Goradia. Chairperson, ECOFIN.

United Nations General Assembly Third Committee (SOCHUM) Agenda 1: Comprehensive Measures to Protect Regional Languages of Far Eastern Countries like Papua New Guinea from Extinction. The Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee is the third of six main committees of the United Nations Organizations General Assembly. Created at the first session of the General Assembly in 1946, it consists of representatives from all 193 UN member nations, with each country receiving one vote on all procedural and substantive matters. The Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee (SOCHUM) is one of the most important and contentious bodies within the United Nations Organisations. One of the founding missions of the United Nations Organisations is the universal protection of human rights, and SOCHUM is the committee of the General Assembly where discussions of human rights issues take place. SOCHUMs mandate also covers a number of other social, humanitarian, and cultural topics from discrimination to drug control. At first, the fate of endangered languages in eastern countries may appear to be a less pressing and critical issue than many of the others that the United Nations Organisations faces today. With the threat of a nuclear war hanging over the daily negotiations of the worlds leaders and countless families living in destitution, why would the United Nations Organisations take the time to discuss an issue of such seemingly little importance? Upon further analysis, however, language endangerment is about more than just the future of linguistic diversity. The problem of language endangerment is intrinsically connected to debates over intangible cultural heritage, individual and communal identity, economic opportunity, and minority rights, which are all subjects deemed important by the international community. Given the numerous causes for language endangerment outlined above, it is not surprising that more languages are nearing extinction than ever before. The prevalence of dominant languages and the small number of indigenous languages explain the magnitude of the problem of language endangerment today. It is with these broader issues in mind that we consider the fate of endangered languages in eastern countries as a question for the international community to solve.

Aaditya A. Damani Chairperson, SOCHUM

Agenda 2: Food Security in Laos and Vietnam The General Assembly allocates to its Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Affairs Committee, commonly referred to as the "Third Committee", agenda items relating to a range of social, humanitarian affairs and human rights issues that affect people all over the world. The Committee also discusses the advancement of women, the protection of children, indigenous issues, the treatment of refugees, the promotion of fundamental freedoms through the elimination of racism and racial discrimination, and the right to selfdetermination Food security is a comparatively recent term which refers to the sustained supply of appropriate food to everyone in a society to enable their healthy development, without serious disruption to the environment, their livelihoods and their culture. Consideration of current food security circumstances in Cambodia and Lao PDR needs to be put into the context of the countrys socio-economic and political development. In terms of economic development the country has been, and still is, underdeveloped in comparison with many Asian countries. In the 1960s Cambodia was a significant food exporting country, particularly of rice. In the 1970s there were considerable shortfalls in food availability for the Cambodian population. Since 1981 national food availability has been gradually increasing, and in the late 1980s appears to have approached self sufficiency. This is not to say that every year the food supply has been adequate. Periodically, severe flooding and/or droughts have led to shortfalls in national and local food availability. One crucial aspect of Cambodian national food security since 1993 has been the two poor harvests of 1993/94 and 1994/95, and with many Cambodians returning from abroad, the national food production deficits have been estimated at the equivalent of between 200,000 and 300,000 tons of rice. This constitutes about 12.5-19 per cent of estimated annual requirements or 1.5-2.3 months consumption. The 1995/96 main rice harvest was the best of the decade to date, however, resulting in an estimated national surplus of milled rice of almost 140,000 tons (FAO/WFP, 1996). Thus currently, in a normal year the country can be almost self-sufficient in food supplies, but in some years agro-ecological difficulties can cause significant shortfalls in food availability of as much as one third. Establishing the comparative importance of different factors that currently contribute to food insecurity in Cambodia is difficult, partly because it is so hard to quantify with any reliability most of these factors. The major constraints in rural household food security appear to be: agro-ecological fluctuations; insecurity; inadequate land holdings and poorer quality land of most food insecure families; availability of and access to water for irrigation, or, conversely, risk of flooding; lack of animal draught power; lack of agricultural equipment; lack of male labor in some women-headed households; lack of alternative employment opportunities; exploitation by

richer families in the village and lack of social support; illness and inadequate hygiene and living conditions for adequate health, causing further illness and weakening the income-earning potential; some household indebtedness; weak asset bases; weak market provision, linked with low purchasing power; and nutritional ignorance The dramatic changes in ideology and rgime, as well as the current power sharing arrangements and the influx of international agencies, have resulted in a diverse, and sometimes contradictory, array of policy and programme approaches towards food security. While some favor rapid liberalization, others promote state-led interventions or targeting of vulnerable groups. Yet the poor knowledge base concerning the functioning of food markets, livelihood systems and local vulnerability may render such approaches ineffective in dealing with food insecurity. Therefore there is a need for foreign intervention or is there? Come; contemplate the issue with us at MUMBAI MUN 2013. Be there or Be square. Thank you For GA-iii SOCHUM Suraj Peri- Chairperson.

United Nations General Assembly Fourth Committee (SPECPOL) AGENDA 1: The Status of Taiwan. Hello Delegates, The 4th Committee of the General Assembly, the SPECPOL (Special Political and Decolonization) is dealing with two of the most interesting agendas that are challenging the geopolitics of the eastern hemisphere, however deeply involving international influence from all theatres. So let me address the Issue regarding the question of the Legality of Taiwan (aka Formosa, aka Republic of China (ROC)) as a State. While past sessions of the General Assembly, have addressed the question, the reality of the status quo clearly demonstrates the insufficiency of erstwhile resolutions. Cross-strait tension rises repeatedly regarding Taiwans de jure independence. The One China doctrine is inherently ambiguous and its instability will inevitably intensify under substantial scrutiny on the international stage. Thus its discussion is vital to the stability of the region. China is unequivocally a rising global power and its increasing military expenditure signals an attempt to annul Western influence in the region. Ignoring this question thus risks intensifying the political gulf between China and several other nations, inflating the chances of armed conflict. Delegates will be pushed to consider the entirety of this extremely complex question, thinking about the full range of forces that shape the positions of important stakeholders. They will be shouldered with significant responsibility. Any resolutions passed in this committee will have far-reaching consequences for the long-term stability in East Asia the fastest-growing commercial hub in the world. This topic will push delegates to consider the larger political forces and motives that drive international discourse on sensitive topics. Importantly, every stakeholder will need to balance the big picture stability of the region against the nominal right to national sovereignty. Many factors will play into this analysis, and delegates will need to think along historical, political and pragmatic lines. Above all, delegates should be prepared to craft nuanced resolutions and engage in vigorous debate. Delegates, I am looking forward to seeing you all geared up well researched for this committee. Shouryadipta Sarkar Chair, GA-IV SPECPOL, Mumbai MUN

AGENDA 2: The Status of Spartly and Paracel Islands Territorial spats over the waters and islands of the South China Sea have roiled relations between China and countries like Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei in recent years. The region is home to a wealth of natural resources, fisheries, trade routes, and military bases, these are the immediate source of conflict in the region. China's blanket claims to sovereignty across the region and its strong resistance to handling disputes in an international arena have mired attempts at resolving the crises and intensified nationalist postures in all countries involved, particularly Vietnam and the Philippines. According to the World Bank, the South China Sea holds proven oil reserves of at least seven billion barrels and an estimated 900 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, which offer tremendous economic opportunity for smaller nations like Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, and energy security for China's large, growing economy. Smaller-scale fishing incidents have instead become the hub of maritime confrontation as declining fish stocks have driven fishermen farther into disputed areas to search for supply, as well as highly profitable illegal species. As much as 50 percent of global oil tanker shipments pass through the South China Sea, which sees three times more tanker traffic than the Suez Canal and over five times that of the Panama Canal, making the waters one of the world's busiest international sea lanes. More than half of the world's top ten shipping ports are also located in and around the South China Sea, according to the International Association of Ports and Harbors. As of 2012, all of the Paracel Islands are under Chinese control. Eight of the Spratly Islands are under Chinese control; Vietnamese troops have seized the greatest number of Spratly islands, 29. Eight islands are controlled by the Philippines, five by Malaysia, two by Brunei and one by Taiwan. - Abbas Hyder Vice-Chairperson, SPECPOL SPECPOL

United Nation Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) AGENDA 1: Human Rights Violation in Myanmar Human rights violation due to the recent ethnic conflict and displacement in Myanmar is a global issue today. Violence between Buddhists and Muslims has spread across the western part of the state, resulting in the destruction of thousands of homes and the deaths of hundreds of people. The Burmese military force has violated the International Humanitarian Law by using landmines, physical torture, beatings, illegal take way of individuals property and sexual violence against women and girls. And the most unfortunate thing for the global community is that, defaulters are rarely brought to justice. Apart from these the Burmese military force continues to actively recruit and use child soldiers, even as the government cooperates with the International Labor Organization on demobilizing child soldiers. Thus activities of the Burmese government regarding the Rohingya issue to much extent are contradictory with the regulations of different international organizations. Approximately 500,000 people were internally displaced and more than 180,000 refugees were in camps in Bangladesh and Thailand. Many of the Rohingya refugees were caught by these countries government forces while they were trying to mix with the local communities in the border areas. This caused cultural assault and human rights violation in these countries too. Since 2006, right from the very beginning UNHRC has worked keenly on refugee issues and violation of rights. As this council has already been successful in resolving various global issues I sincerely hope UNHRC would again be successful in answering the questions raised on Myanmar and come up with a consensus.

Anika Binte Kasem, Chairperson, UNHRC

AGENDA 2: Repatriation of Tibetan refugees in India The picturesque, calming terrains of the Tibetan region belie the numerous instances of denial of basic privileges set out in the Universal declaration of Human Rights. What is alarming is the accelerated growth in the number of such incidents; in particular, cases of self immolation, and the refusal of the People's Republic of China to allow most forms of support from the global community. While the politico-religious nature of the issue makes any discussion most sensitive in nature, it would be a farce to expect inaction over the (alleged) instances of deprivation of life, disappearances, torture, poor prison conditions, arbitrary arrest and detention, denial of fair public trial, denial of freedom of speech and of press and Internet freedoms, political and religious repression, forced abortions, sterilisation, and even infanticide. While the Dalai Lama has been the most notable representative of the Tibetan struggle, the political nature of his leadership in addition to the religious, plays a significant role in the response of the Chinese government. Thus, the challenge which awaits the assembled at the UNHRC is to address these issues sufficiently, and win justice for the deserving people of Tibet. All this, while placating the Government of China about no infringement on their sovereign claim over their territory. In this endeavour, we wish them the best.

Shreyas Pai Vice Chairperson, UNHRC

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

AGENDA 1: Discussing Important Educational Programs To Further Educate The Girl Child All countries in South Asia are making serious efforts to work towards gender parity, equality and equity within the framework of the Millennium Development Goals and the Education for All targets. These efforts can help ensure that girls can realize their rights to education through improved access, and within education though quality teaching and enhanced learning outcomes. There is a growing sense of momentum around education in South Asia. Governments are engaged and a lot has been done. The Millennium Development Goals have added an additional spur to action, as indeed have greater awareness on gender disparity and the need for educated workers. There is though a long way to go if the rights of all children are to be realized. The current situation is as such that in parts of South Asia, only one girl in four attends primary school. Not all children finish and fewer than half learn effectively. Girls enrolments generally remain low and lower than boys. There are countries like Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan where enrolment of girls has remained problematic, indicating a clear disparity between girls and boys in terms of access to basic education. Afghanistan is one of those countries with educational issues and the major reason for this is the war and the Taliban that is persistent! The other major problem in most south Asian countries is poverty It is an issue of utmost importance and must be discussed. Various cultural beliefs and in a way even the government of a particular state plays a vital cog in the whole issue Strategically crafted initiatives and social mobilization programs are deemed necessary, particularly to tackle the deep-rooted socialcultural barriers. Opportunities should be provided to practice critical pedagogy through participation in literacy and non-formal education programs for non-literate adults. There is a need for state nations of the region to address the issues of fear and insecurity that girls are forced to face on a day-to-day basis, be they due to the culturally unfavorable perception against girls and women or due to war and conflict. Alternative forms of education, for example setting up satellite campuses and feeder schools, and recruitment of local female teachers could address the issue. Quality of education, however, must not be compromised. So a lot can be discussed over 3 days , delegates can come up with better options and much better programs, this just gives you a brief on the whole agenda. Hussain M Unjhawala Chairperson, UNESCO

AGENDA 2: Steps for Establishment of a Socially Cohesive Environment in the Diverse Countries of the Far East In the West, Asia is primarily seen as an arena of economic change. After all, for decades the continent has been one of the fastest growing economies worldwide. Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan are among the economically most developed societies in the world. Furthermore, over the past 15 years India has emerged as a new economic power. However, alongside the image of prospering Asia with its growth markets there is another perception of Asian developments. For many societies in the region are shaped by the outbreak of violent domestic conflicts. Specifically Southeast Asia, home to about a fifth of the worlds 1.2 billion Muslims, has gained a reputation as being a seedbed of religious violence. Some observers even discern an Asian zone of religious extremism, from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Xinjiang via Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh through to Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the South Philippines. There are good reasons for both views, for there are great political and economic differences between the individual countries in Asia. Democracies in some contrast with autocratic systems of ruler ship in others, and some of the worlds poorest developing countries exist alongside some of the worlds fastest growing economies. The region includes the worlds two largest countries in terms of population as well as various small countries that often feel threatened by their neighbours. Culturally speaking, the region is also decidedly heterogeneous. Hindu, Buddhist and Islamic factors have shaped South Asia both historically and culturally. In Southeast Asia, the cultural and historical influences of both regions mingle, with Continental Southeast Asia being more strongly defined by Buddhism whereas maritime Southeast Asia is more strongly melded by Islam and Catholicism (Philippines). Indeed, within the individual countries, different cultural and religious influences come to bear. Ethnically homogeneous countries such as Japan and Korea contrast with the linguistic and religious heterogeneity of South and Southeast Asian societies. Cultural conflicts are domestic, interstate or transnational political conflicts in which the actors involved focus in the conflict on issues relating to religion, language and/or historicity. The focus on cultural conflicts does not imply assumption of a simplifying perspective on conflict theory that understands culture or cultural phenomena such as religion, language or historical experience as the triggers or causes of conflicts within society or between societies. Four out of the ten Southeast Asian nations have the highest rate of violent cultural conflicts. Given the number of countries and the size of their populations, Southeast Asia is indeed encumbered to an above---average extent by cultural conflicts: 4 of 13 Asian regional nonviolent conflicts of identity and seven of the 33 medium---intensity cultural conflicts take place in Southeast Asia, with 29 of the 68 militant

cultural conflicts were fought in Southeast Asia. The adjective cultural does not refer here to the actors motives in a conflict, but to the issue of the conflict. When defining a conflict as cultural it is not relevant why there is a dispute, but what is in dispute. Shagun Shah, Chairperson, UNESCO

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) AGENDA 1: Co-operation between SAARC Member Nations to Eradicate Poverty and Unemployment The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (hereinafter referred to as SAARC) comprises of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. SAARC is a manifestation of the determination of the peoples of South Asia to work together towards finding solutions to their common problems in a spirit of friendship, trust and understanding and to create an order based on mutual respect, equity and shared benefits. The main goal of the Association is to accelerate the process of economic and social development in member states, through joint action in the agreed areas of cooperation. Emanating from the objective to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the SAARC region (hereinafter referred to as the region), the topic of alleviation of poverty in the region gained the highest priority in the Sixth SAARC Summit, 1991. An accord for the establishment of an Independent South Asian Commission on Poverty Alleviation (hereinafter referred to as ISACPA), consisting of eminent persons from member states to conduct an in-depth study of the diverse experiences of member states and report their recommendations on the alleviation of poverty to the Seventh Summit, was signed at the Sixth SAARC Summit. In furtherance to the above a consensus on poverty eradication was adopted at the Seventh SAARC Summit held in 1993. The Summit welcomed the ISACPA report and expressed its commitment to eradicate poverty from South Asia preferably by the Year 2002 through an agenda of action which would, inter-alia, include a strategy of social mobilization, policy of decentralised agricultural development and small-scale labour-intensive industrialisation and human development thus concentrating on eradicating unemployment by generating more employment opportunities for the people of the region. The Meeting of the second-tier, i.e. Finance and Planning Secretaries, endorsed the recommendation of the first-tier and emphasised that poverty eradication should be viewed in the overall context of accelerating economic growth resulting in resulting in employment generation in an environment of macro-economic stability with emphasis on overall human resource development. The meeting also put special emphasis on the need to improving the implementation of poverty eradication programmes through devolution of power and decentralisation.

SAARC Member States moving ahead in the direction to eradicate poverty came with the idea of having Decade on Poverty Alleviation from 2006 to 2015. The First Meeting of the Secretaries dealing with Poverty Alleviation held in 2006, underscored the need for policy prioritization for better utilization of the budgetary resources so as to have the desired impact on poverty reduction. The Second Meeting of Secretaries dealing with Poverty Alleviation held in 2008 agreed that there should be a Mid-Term Review on the attainment of the SAARC Development Goals by an inter-governmental mechanism in 2009. Third Meeting of Secretaries on Poverty Alleviation was held 2009. The Meeting recognized that the Member States have made significant progress despite facing formidable challenges posed by poverty, underdevelopment, unemployment, illiteracy, population growth, environmental degradation compounded by fluctuation in the fuel price and recent financial crisis. The Fourth Meeting of Secretaries of Poverty Alleviation was held in 2011. The Meeting discussed the progress made so far in SAARC Member States in implementing the SAARC Poverty Plan of Action on Poverty Alleviation and exchanged information on poverty reduction programmes, policies and strategies adopted by the Member States to improve the lot of the poor. The Meetings so far has touched the topic of poverty and its ancillary topic of unemployment. However, with so many collateral meetings and discussions, the steps taking by the Member States have not been very fruitful in eradicating poverty and unemployment to the fullest, nevertheless, these actions have helped in mitigating this menace. Arzin Ansari, Chairperson, SAARC

AGENDA 2: Collective Measures to be Taken to Resolve Long Standing Border Disputed Among SAARC Member Nations One of the greatest hurdles for the SAARC has been recurring inter-state conflicts between member states, which have posed significant challenges. Inter-state conflict have had a debilitating effect on regional co-operation, thus alienating the region from several benefits of regional co-operation like greater economic integration, frequent and easier people-to-people contact, sustainable peace and development at the regional level. Despite its stated intentions of establishing peace and stability in the region, SAARC as a regional body has for years grappled with inter-state, intra-state and regional conflicts without making any substantial headway on the aforementioned issues. The lack of trust among member states has often manifested itself in the ineffective administration of several of the initiatives taken by the SAARC. A prime example is that of the SAFTA. Constant rise in military expenditures has cultivated an unhealthy environment for human development and also for the peaceful interstate relationships It has now become critical for SAARC to rise above bilateral conflicts and to foster closer relationships with other regional and international organizations, in order to evolve into an effective regional organization. While moving swiftly in 2005 to set up the SAARC Arbitration Council in Pakistan to resolve commercial disputes, its record on conflict resolution has been shoddy. The goodwill generated from tremendous progress in economic cooperation and social cohesion must be channelled into evolving a sustainable and consensual resolution to the border dispute plaguing the region. Nisarg Kamdar, Vice Chairperson, SAARC