The 12th Iteration of the

Ateneo Model United Nations

AMUNXII

Redefining the Role of Global Governance in pursuit of Reforming Institutions Catered to

Cohering a Fragmented 21st Century Multipolar Order

SITUATIONER
The legitimacy of the United Nations (UN) as an “international organization” of global
governance has diminished in light of the rise of multipolarity in the 21st century (Heywood,
2011). Its outmoded system is designed to keep reminding the world to “take action,” yet it fails
to respond to conflicts in those afflicted countries. Consequently, the world is fragmented.
Countries may act alone or bind themselves in strict alliances, which then compete for
dominance of the international system (Glaser, 2013).

The lack of implementation of SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions is to
blame. This is firstly blatant in the function of the UNSC P5. They should work together to
address high-politics issues such as the Russo-Ukrainian War, Zimbabwes’ 2008 hyperinflation
crisis, and most recently, climate security. However, they used the UNSC’s mandate to veto each
other’s resolutions; thus, stalling progress (United Nations, 2019). Furthermore, as the UNSC
tried to address the Syrian conflict, it proved counterproductive as the Russian Federation vetoed
resolutions addressing the conflict twelve times; thus, entrapping the entire committee in a
deadlock. Given how the UN system keeps the countries divided and obstructs progress towards
cooperation, it is imperative to reform this in line with SDG 16. In that way, cohesion among
countries can be restored.

COMMITTEES
Beginner
● The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

UNEP adopts climate change and environmental destruction as frameworks to establish

connections to other SDGs they afflict. They expose how social conflict triggers those two
issues, which then trigger people to aggravate the conflict just so that they can survive. Climate
change is one of the chief obstacles that stands in the way of sustainable socio-economic
development. This is because of various factors. On one hand, newer and less predictable shifts
in weather patterns and phenomena make it more difficult for various sectors to anticipate and
prepare for property losses and damages, risks to financial stability, and increases threats to the
integrity of infrastructures, especially those that are important to the public. On the other hand,
its increasingly irreversible effects on the environment over time mean that less-developed
nations that have not fully attained industrialization (which account for most nations on the
planet) are forced into a position where they need to do so while transitioning over to cleaner and
more sustainable forms of production under a far shorter time frame than wealthier and more
industrialized countries have had to. Put simply, climate change has imposed a much shorter
deadline for the world’s countries to adopt more sustainable forms of production and
development if it is their intention to have a liveable planet in the decades to come.

As the global climate crisis continues to deeply permeate various sectors of society,
member states are collectively facing one of the greatest threats to world peace and security in
indirect yet serious ways. The lack of public awareness among its constituents could potentially
impede crisis-affected countries from mandating the necessary laws and policies as they seek to
achieve sustainable development on a national and global scale. The ever increasing demand for
natural resources such as but not limited to arable land, potable water, extractive resources, and
food supply may lead to economic instability and violent protests by which dispute resolution
mechanisms and institutions for conflict management would be later on rendered ineffective.
Rising human insecurity for local resource competition can induce marginalized individuals to
migrate or even worse, resort to illegal forms of livelihood; thereby, aggrandizing conflict and
crime rates on a national level. Efforts to shift into sustainable approaches and a low-carbon
society might also increase fragility risks as this could create new power dynamics within
politically-sensitive energy sectors. If member states would abruptly disentangle their mutual
dependence as a consequence of geopolitical tension, this would then cause major changes in
global supply chains and economic engagement as they seek to establish diplomatic relationships
with key resource trade partners; thence, redefining security in an era of rapid climate change.
Thus, continued indifference to environmental concerns would not only exacerbate pre-existing
conditions but aggravate the fragmentation of countries and eventually, the alienation of various
sectors.

AGENDA 1:
Adopting Climate-Smart Agriculture In Conflict Zones In Offsetting The Ramifications Of
Climate Change

UNFCCC / Paris Agreement; As Davila (2018) reports, large-scale farming and fishing
approaches have been implemented to maximize the number of consumers fed and producers'
profit. However, their pollutants risk destroying the environment, thus, leaving no room for
sustainable food production (SDG 2). They emit greenhouse gasses that deplete our ozone layer
and accelerate global warming. This precipitates the formation of typhoons and other natural
disasters, which, as Barrer (2022) discusses, leads to the "...decrease of our consumption of
grains and fruits & vegetables by 24% and 13% respectively, in 2050. This leaves 2.5 million
Filipinos at risk of hunger," thus, undermining the very purpose of SDG 2. The challenge is how
food systems can satisfy people's demands while still abiding by the SDG 13 targets. To this,
interconnecting SDGs 2 and 13 helps food systems adopt climate-smart solutions. Meaning they
can still expand food access to consumers at grassroots levels, not just middle-upper echelons
(Anderson & Rivera-Ferre, 2020); consequently addressing the Philippines' regression at Target
2.1 (Strengthening food security) (PSA, 2022). However, food security need not jeopardize the
farming & fishing sectors to natural crises. After all, a climate-smart approach helps them
prepare for disasters and quickly recover (Target 13.1) while demanding accountability for the
role of the national government in capacitating such sectors (Target 13.4). This is manifest in the
Department of Agriculture Communications Group's (2022) establishment of AMIA villages in
rural areas. By providing climate-proof facilities and maps of safe & vulnerable areas,
communities can decrease potential damages while distributing food to their consumers. If
sustained, our food systems no longer need to compromise our safety from disasters to eliminate
hunger (Anderson & Rivera-Ferre, 2020).

AGENDA 2:
Overcoming the Emerging Issues for Small Island Developing States brought by Climate Change

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have been considered as a special case by the
international community as a situation whose demands and difficulties must be met. Despite
being among the least accountable for climate change, these nations are most likely to experience
its adverse implications, and it is most likely that these nations may end up uninhabitable if such
issues are not addressed–this is a call for immediate action. The United Nations Environmental
Programme outlined numerous emerging issues for SIDS which are as follows:
1. Environmental Issues
a. Cross-cutting Issues
i. Beyond GDP: Developing Appropriate Indicators for SIDS
Sustainable Development.
ii. Unique Human Capacities for Island Sustainability.
iii. Synergizing Indigenous and Local Knowledge and Modern
Science as a basis for Sustainable Island Development.
b. Rehabilitating Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
i. The Continued Threat of Invasive Alien Species
ii. Averting the Loss of Tropical Montane Cloud Forests
iii. Breakdown of Sand and Sediment Budget due to Biodiversity Loss
iv. Decline of Agrobiodiversity and Ecosystem Functions Affecting
Food and Livelihood Security
v. Overfishing and Potential Collapse of Inshore Marine Ecosystems.
c. Sustainable Use of Natural Resources
i. Degradation and Scarcity of Freshwater Resources.
ii. Coastal Squeeze and Loss of Associated Ecosystem Services
 iii.Reaching the Limit of Land Capacity
iv. Harnessing Renewable Energy Opportunities
v. Balancing the Opportunities and Risks of Exploring SIDS’
Unexploited Natural Resource
vi. Developing an Ocean-based Green Economy
d. Managing Threats from Chemicals and Waste
i. Globally-emitted Contaminants Affecting SIDS
ii. Indiscriminate and Increasing Use of Pesticides
iii. Greening the Waste Sector: Turning Waste to Opportunities in
SIDS
e. Addressing Climate Change and its Impacts
i. Disproportionate Impact of Climate Change and Sea Level Rise in
SIDS
ii. Intensification of Extreme Events; External Shocks; and Increasing
Vulnerability of SIDS
iii. Climate and Environmental Change Driving Population
Displacements.

In line with such issues outlined by the organization, a few initiatives have been
implemented, including 1) The USD 515 million Implementing Sustainable Low and
Non-chemical Development in Small Island Developing States (ISLANDS) programme, 2) the
Regional Plan of Action for SIDS in the African and South East Asian Regions, 3) the Least
Developed Countries (LDC) Fund and the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) – were
established, and an Adaptation Fund was set up under the Kyoto Protocol, 4) Caribbean Planning
for Adaptation to Climate Change (CPACC) programme. Acknowledging the different funding
allocations, delegates are faced with the question: what happens next? As AMUNXII calls on
more proactive measures from the institution, the council is expected to draft resolutions
addressing the larger area of the issue, which includes the following but are not limited to: (as
outlined in the UNEP/ UN DESA report): 1) Innovative approaches to debt relief, 2) Reinforcing
Social Cohesion, 3) Rediscovering Opportunities for Youth, 4) Climate and Economic Drivers of
Migration, 5) Need for Enhanced Disaster Preparedness, 6) Freshwater Management for the 21st
Century, 7) Diminishing Resources for Development Financing. The UNEP Programme Of
Action For The Sustainable Development Of Small Island Developing States, The High Seas
Treaty Dialogues, and the UNCLOS should be utilized as guiding frameworks for debates,
reforming environmental policies, and resolutions.

Aside from the aforementioned frameworks, delegates are encouraged to consult and find
inspiration from the sustainable ecological paradigms of indigenous peoples, who are among
those immediately affected by climate change. One of these is the concept of Sumak kawsay,
originating from the cultures of the Andean Region, which translates to "living in harmony with
nature." This recognizes the inherent right of nature to exist and be protected and its unique
ability to sustain posterity so long as given the time and space to recuperate and restore its
exhausted resources. By being governed by such, it is believed that the collective well-being of
the community, including the environment and its biotic entities, is ensured. It also offers
traditional practices based on sustainability to counter the detrimental impacts of climate change
on their habitat's biodiversity, delicate ecosystems, and cultures. Some of these are through
adaptation techniques of migration, water conservation, modifications in plant cultivation, and
reduction of resource consumption while being guided by their detailed and long-term
knowledge of their ancestral lands and belief in interconnectedness. Although this has been
incorporated into the constitutions of nations such as Ecuador and Bolivia as well as considered
in the United Nations' policy through the Community Based Monitoring Information Systems
(CBMIS), barriers remain in harnessing the full potential of such paradigms. Hence, members of
the UNEP are urged to remove these barriers so that indigenous knowledge may be fully
integrated into modern science, providing an alternative to the western-centric form of
development that advances commodification and infinite growth at the cost of nature.
Intermediate

● The United Nations Human Rights Council

The UNHRC stands for equal treatment, promotion, and uplifting all human life. The
UNHRC would be able to reassert its presence in the international scene, especially in AMUN
XII, by tackling the issue of institutions within the religious and governmental while having a
much-needed discussion on the rights of indigenous people. The current living conditions in the
world defy the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights as it deprives the people
opportunities to grow and develop their dignity as humans. The key issue that the UNHRC will
be tackling is the question of inequality and social rights that impair the human rights order that
the UN is anchored on. Thus, the AMUNXII team recognizes this issue as a call for immediate
action to the Human Rights Council to discern and debate amongst the council resolutions that
will benefit the international community in pursuit of achieving a more humane environment.

AGENDA 1:towards the LGBTQIA+ community which led to cancellation of different national
events like the LGBTQIA+ film festival and Lady Gaga’s concert. Indonesian scholar, Jajang
Jahroni, who has studied the vigilante movements for years warned people by saying: “And they
will shout, ‘This is against Sharia! People who do not comply with Sharia, God will punish
you!...They’re into street justice, dark justice.”

Delegates must tackle the topic following their foreign policy to the fullest extent.
Critical thinking would be necessary as they would need to first define discriminatory actions,
different instances, and actions to take, or, if the opposition, defend the religious texts in the
modern context. The topic allows delegates to engage different stakeholders and institutions,
searching for the line between religion being involved within the politics of a system while
strengthening, uplifting, or destroying institutions.

AGENDA 2:
Preserving the right to the self-sufficiency of indigenous peoples amid
terrorism/urbanization

AMUN plans to include in its second topic preserving the self-sufficiency of indigenous
people amid terrorism or urbanization. Indigenous people in this day and age have become
second thoughts due to our constant urbanization and advancements. However, with our
advancements, there becomes a mindset that the indigenous people must advance within us. The
UN fully supports the culture and traditions of the indigenous people, although some countries
attempt to disregard their right to land, humanistic cultures, and traditions in the hopes of
utilizing their manpower and resources. This topic could utilize SDG 16 with its main focus on
peace and justice towards respecting their boundaries, relating it to the need to strengthen ties
between the indigenous, and providing justice towards their recognized rights.

● The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

UNCTAD focuses on international investment, trade, and the development of enterprises.

Much recently, the world's trade flow has been distributed due to many different calamities and
atrocities. The committee would have to utilize their existing institutions, influence, and
communities to tackle the possibility of a recession and Crimea's utilization because it is an
annexed state.

AGENDA #1:
Re-examining and re-assessing the over-reliance on the US dollar (Bretton Woods; Beijing
& Washington Consensus)
●
As the currency of other countries begins to decline, investors have become increasingly
weary and have decided to place the majority of their investments into the US dollar. Although,
with the world relying on the US dollar, any slight changes would drastically place the world into
a recession. The committee must be able to implement measures relating to price ceilings,
investments, and recommendations toward other bodies. Free trade also comes into question
when producing goods and services with some advantage, however, developing countries and
local producers will be hurt in this process as they produce low-value adding goods with low
competitiveness. The Washington Consensus now is a trade tool for re-establishing Western
hegemony and subject to neocolonialism (Yao, 2011). The member states would be highly
encouraged to tap institutions, businesses, and enterprises to appeal to other currencies that seem
better, or if in the latter half, be someone who utilizes the committee in their own personal
agenda (Decreasing the value of certain currencies, increasing their own, destroying certain
monopolies, etc).

AGENDA #2:
Legitimacy and usage of Crimea

In light of the recent Russian-Ukraine war, the legitimacy and utilization of Crimea have
been placed into question. In 2014, Russia annexed or forcibly took Crimea, a strategic location
for trade routes. With the ongoing conflict, the committee would be expected to consider the
situation while recommending other UN bodies to partake. The topic rides on the ongoing war
while looking at the logistical commerce aspect. Incentives, collateral, and other aspects would
have to be considered due to, if not all, institutions being affected based on the committee's
actions. Delegates would have the opportunity to state the place’s legitimacy, support the annex,
or even find benefit in utilizing their trade by forming alliances with others.

Advanced

● The United Nations Security Council (Double Delegate)

AGENDA:
The Potential Reform of the UNSC.

As stated in the rationale, the outmoded system has failed to answer the world’s most
pressing conflicts. Richard Gowan, the UN director at the International Crisis Group, mentioned
that the creation of the UNSC in the UN is “an extension of the powers that defeated Hitler and
Japan,” and a way to “lock in place the Soviets, the British, and the U.S., along with France and
China, as the world’s policemen.” The council was designed to make these war allies permanent
members and give them the authority to veto proposals made to the body. However, as time has
shifted in the 21st-century world, the once-regarded veto power to maintain the international
system as the price for “securing the buy-in of the great power” is doing more harm than good.
The textbook definition of the role of the UNSC is that it has the primary responsibility for
maintaining international peace and security. However, it has failed to respond to global crises in
a timely and effective manner. As the organ that deals with security, hypocritically so, the council
has not established its role and importance in response to recent issues that pose significant risks
to human security as a whole–taking such a long time to pass resolutions and countering the Veto
power.

The price to pay for waiting for the right time to talk about international matters may be
the entirety of humanity.
 Therefore, in response to the great deal of urgency that the UN’s most important body
entails, the UNSC, in the 12th iteration of AMUN, will convene for intense debates, discussions,
and charter change to better meet the challenges of the 21st century multipolar order and meet
the needs and expectations of humanity.

● Following the reform discussions from the previous years, AMUNXII will encompass
topics such as, but not limited to:
○ Categories of membership;
○ Regional representation;
○ Veto powers;
○ The council working method.

UNSC Delegates are expected to draft and propose changes to the UN's charter for the
entirety of the AMUN timeline. For example: “there is no mechanism to remove a permanent
member of the Security Council written into the UN Charter”, as such delegates will have the
freedom to propose a new chapter corresponding to the aforementioned. Taking into account the
repercussions of the Russia-Ukraine war as a basis for the possibility of removing Russia as
P5–the same idea goes with other countries depending on the issue they wish to debate on. Fully
aware of the fact that any reform of the Security Council would require the agreement of at least
two-thirds of UN member states in a vote in the General Assembly and must be ratified by
two-thirds of Member States. As AMUNXII will not conduct a GA council, the plenary session
shall be utilized in exchange for this manner with for and against speeches. Furthermore, all of
the permanent members of the UNSC (which have veto rights) must also agree for such change
to push through. Notably, this is difficult yet feasible to overcome through the skills, knowledge,
and diplomatic negotiation of the UNSC delegates, thus having it categorized as an advanced
double-delegate council.

UNSC CRISES:
Update 1: Violence engulfs the Middle East Anew
● After almost two years of relative stability and moderate tensions since Egypt's mediation
on the Israeli-Palestinian Crisis of 2021, an unprecedented level of violence is engulfing
the region anew. Tensions brewed after supporters of the Likud party, upon the incitement
of one high-ranking party member, synchronically stormed the Golan Heights and East
Jerusalem while chanting, "Arabs annihilators, Palestinians Israeli-pretenders. Expel
now!" This erupted into mayhem after the Israeli police detained Arabs and Palestinians,
who were merely pleading for their intervention in the vandalisms and destruction
committed to their properties, and accidentally shot a seven-year-old girl. A spokesperson
of Hamas, the militant group governing Gaza, responded to this with, "We turned a blind
 eye on the murder of Shireen Abu Akleh by the occupiers. But this? It would definitely
earn the burning ire of Allah. An eye for an eye. A child for a child," which was
consequently followed by barrages of missile strikes directed onto Tel Aviv. Although
most of the missiles were neutralized by Israel's Iron Dome, one was able to evade their
air defense system and hit a preschool, killing three children and injuring four. The leader
of the shaky government coalition, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, promised to retaliate
with the IAF already conducting surgical strikes on key Hamas infrastructures and their
mechanized infantry division amassing in the Gaza border.

Update 2: North Korean Ballistic Missile Fell in Northern Japan

● A North Korean Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile fell on the forest of the Aomori
Prefecture of Northern Japan. The resulting ball of fire triggered panic and trauma among
the residents of the nearby village of Hokkaido, with them also fearing the wildfire it had
sparked. The Japan Ministry of Defense has mobilized their Air Self-Defense Force's
squadrons of F-15Js and F-35As to secure the nearby air space and sent four battalions of
Marines to prepare for any amphibious invasion. However, sources inside the ministry
believe that the missile, which was launched from Mupyong-ri near North Korea's border
with China as part of their tests, fell because of technical factors and was not deliberately
directed to mainland Japan. Secretary Lloyd Austin of the United States has assured that
the state can rely on its ironclad commitment and will come to its aid upon any deliberate
military attack on its forces and citizenry. Hence, due to the sensitivity of the situation, no
further statements were released, even from Pyongyang.

Update 3:
● As the delegates to the United Nations Security Council near the conclusion of their
controversial yet pressing move to propose changes to the UN Charter, the country, the
man believed to be the target of such, has broken his silence. In an undisclosed nuclear
facility, Russian President Vladimir Putin made the following statement to selected
members of state media: "I know that these so-called amendments to the charter, led by
the West, have only one aim–that is to rid Russia of the place it rightfully earned. Ever
since, they have attempted to strip our Mother of its territories, resources and prestige,
but we have continued to persevere, and persevere we did. But it has now reached its
summit through the weaponization of the UNSC. And though I believe that the
safeguards its founding members and our country agreed upon will hold, let it be known
that any political circumvention to alter the core obligations and privileges of this
contract would nullify its very existence. Therefore, we would be forced to return to the
dark times that preceded it." Upon ending his statement, the beleaguered leader made a
veiled warning, "We did not have this yet at that time," while pointing at a missile silo.
"But if we did, things would have been worse for those who attempted to subjugate us.
 And unlike Chairman Kim's, not only does it unleash wildfires, but I assure you if it falls,
it is because we want them to rain upon you."

European Council (EC)

The leaders of state and government from every member state of the EU convene in the
European Council. This is where decisions regarding the EU's political direction are made, its
main role is to define the general political objectives and priorities of the European Union. As
such delegates will be representing people and not countries. There will be a total of five
members in the executive board of dais, the head-chair will be named as the President of the
European Council (Charles Michel), the co-chair will be named as the President of the European
Commission (Ursula von der Leyen), one rapporteur and two European crisis managers. The
entire council is expected to host 27 delegates, five EBD and one DND deputy.

This council’s main purpose is to set political priorities and the overall direction of the
EU. But it cannot create laws, however it can recommend to the European Commission to
propose laws. Most decisions made by the European Council are reached by consensus. This
indicates that no one is opposed to the choice. Although, decisions and voting are mandated by
the technicalities that are outlined in the EU treaties. The presidents of the European Council and
the Commission refrain from participating in any vote. The main functions of the EU council are
as follows:
➢ It decides on the political and policy direction of the EU
➢ It sets the EU’s foreign and security policies
➢ It nominates and appoints important EU roles
➢ It has a formal role in the EU’s European semester process

The EU council also has a formal role during the European Semesters, once the budget
and economic plans of EU member states have been laid out, the EU council in its annual
meeting during March will review both the state of the EU's economy and progress towards
targets. A series of policies for fiscal, economic, and structural improvements are then proposed.
The European Council endorses the final country-specific conclusions, which outline each
member state's priorities for the upcoming 12 to 18 months, at its meeting in June.

As AMUNXII aims to create a committee with utmost accuracy, the EU council will not
follow the AMUN-Harvard ROP but instead will draft a new one based on the aforementioned.
This is the reason why there is no agenda proposed because it is the council’s job to do so.
However, the dais and delegate committee and the executive board of dais of AMUNXII in the
EC shall provide a comprehensive study guide for the council prior to committee sessions. As
stated in the mandate, the council can set directions and agendas on the following issues
concerning Europe like: environment, agriculture, transport, social security, taxation, or foreign
affairs, defense and so forth. Once these have been debated and discussed, the council is
expected to pass a “conclusion”, the document equivalent to a draft resolution. The AMUNXII
core team expects a long conclusion outlining numerous problems surrounding Europe given that
this is a 3-day conference.

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