Councils Overview
NTUMUN 2026 is proud to showcase its 14 councils, 5 of which are designed specifically for beginners.
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Beginner Councils: Suitable for delegates who have little or no experience in MUN. The Academics team has prepared an introductory training programme tailored to each council. This will cover the basics of MUN such as Rules of Procedure and Resolution writing. The topics are also fairly straightforward, making it the perfect stage for you to put what you have learned from the training programme to action and adapt to the MUN environment.
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United Nations Women (UNW)
Council type: Beginner - Physical
TOPIC: The Question of Advancing Humanitarian Safeguards for Refugee Women
In the multipolar and volatile world of the 20th Century, the prevalence of international protracted conflicts has left refugee women more vulnerable than ever. Out of an estimated 19.6 million refugees worldwide, women and girls make up half of the demographic. These female refugees face grave and complex challenges in social, economic and legal domains. In refugee camps, female refugees often face poor living conditions, discrimination in their process of seeking asylum, and gender-based assault. While there are numerous targeted programs such as the UNW’s cash-for-work programme, the Multi-purpose Women’s Centre (MPWC), and mental health initiatives, they are plagued by gaps in enforcement mechanisms across various host countries and inadequate funding.
Delegates of the UNW, time is of the essence. As a council, it is imperative to address the unique demands of refugee women to advance their humanitarian rights, so that the lives of millions of refugee women across the world can be improved.
Act now, to ensure women refugees can get the protection they truly deserve.
Founded in 2010, United Nations Women (UNW) views gender equality as a basic right for women and girls across the globe. It is the UN body in charge of promoting gender equality and assisting women to achieve their fullest potential. Over the years, the UNW has partnered with governments, nonprofit organisations, and women’s movements to significantly advance its mission of promoting leadership, economic empowerment, freedom from violence, and humanitarian action for women.
Arctic Council (AC)
Council type: Beginner - Physical
The Arctic Council, established in 1996 as part of the Ottawa Declaration, is a non-UN council consisting of six permanent member states, more than 30 observer states, and indigenous peoples' groups. The council has played a pivotal role in promoting research towards sustainable development in the Arctic region, including issues such as climate change, pollution, and shipping. The council prides itself on its strong recognition of indigenous peoples as a part of its objective to include Indigenous leadership and viewpoints. However, not all is peaceful in this ‘cool’ council. There remain conflicting views on the issues of commercialisation and trade routes amongst different members. Delegates, the fate of the Arctic region depends on you.
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TOPIC: The Question of the Commodification of Deep-Sea Resources and Emerging Trade Routes
“What you put out in the world is what will come back to you.”
This Inuit core belief is an apt reflection of the interconnectedness between mankind and nature.
Long considered a perennial sanctuary of pristine wilderness, the Arctic is home to a wealth of natural resources safeguarded within its ancient cryosphere. However, the advent of climate change has exacerbated melting ice caps, opening previously inaccessible frontiers that provide new economic prospects in the region. This has also resulted in the emergence of potential alternative trade routes through the Arctic region that bear the promise of expedited shipping times and reduced costs.
Naturally, the limitless potential of the Arctic region is not devoid of trade-offs. Such resources pose the threat of the commercialisation of the region, tilting the fragile ecosystem and disrupting the lives of indigenous people that reside in the Arctic. With human activity in the Arctic region set to increase in the coming years, the responsibility falls on the Arctic Council to maintain a calibrated approach to the matter. Will the principle of environmental preservation still stand? Or will it fall to the commercialisation of the region? The fate of the Arctic tundra lies in your hands…
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
Council type: Beginner - Physical
Established in 1945, the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, serving as the central forum for debating on internationally relevant economic and social issues. It works closely with institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to shape and implement strategies for sustainable economic and social development. With a rotating list of 54 nations and over 1600 NGOs involved in discussions within ECOSOC, this council is at the helm of resolving some of the most pressing issues plaguing us.​
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TOPIC: The Question of Enhancing Access to Sustainable Development Financing for the Global South
“Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity, it is an act of justice.” – Nelson Mandela
The Global South stands at a crossroads. Countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and Oceania are confronted by a staggering financial gap annually of nearly $4 trillion - an abysmal shortfall that threatens to derail the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS). Instead of investing in infrastructure development, education, or even healthcare, governments across these struggling countries are forced to channel their scarce resources into servicing their mounting debts. Through all this, it is none other than the civilians who suffer, continuing to live in poverty, clinging to the promise of a better life that seems like a distant dream. This is not simply an economic challenge - it is a question of fairness, equity and responsibility. Without urgent reforms to the international financial system, the financial gap will only widen further, pushing out of reach the promise of sustainable development for billions, and the world will have no choice but to forfeit global prosperity.
Closing this gap is not an option but an imperative – an immediate and urgent investment in a fairer, safer and sustainable future for everyone that needs to be done, right now.
Special Political and Decolonization Committee (SPECPOL)
Council type: Beginner - Physical
NOTE: SPECPOL is a Double Delegation Council. Refer to the registration form for details on double delegation councils.
Formed in 1993, the Special Political and Decolonisation Committee (SPECPOL) is the Fourth Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, overseeing matters of the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories, whilst addressing emerging political threats. As part of its core mandate, SPECPOL’s scope spans issues pertaining to decolonisation efforts, atomic radiation, public information, review of peacekeeping operations and special political missions, as well as peaceful use of outer space — some of the UN’s most pressing challenges. Delegate, what you decide here echoes far beyond this conference. Your resolutions determine whether peace prevails or violence escalates. Step into SPECPOL, and help shape the course of global peace and progress
TOPIC: The Question of Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
“True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
As a city lay in ruins, bruised by the hostilities that preceded it, the uncertainty of the future lingers persistently in one’s mind. In such instances, the UN deploys peacekeeping missions to enforce the cessation of belligerent actions. From rebuilding entire systems to re-establishing various policies, the issue of Post-Conflict Peacekeeping and Nation Rebuilding is one with much to unpack. After all, at its core, it transcends beyond the fundamental purpose of maintaining peace and preventing regression into hostilities, but also to stabilise and strengthen a nation’s social, political and economic landscapes. Peacekeeping missions play an imperative role in laying the foundations for sustainable peace and development, taking on a multidimensional lens, where they facilitate political processes, ensure societal well being and the restoration of the rule of law.
Our world’s security does not just depend on ending conflicts, but more importantly, what we do after the guns fall silent. Delegates, the course of humanity’s future is in your hands. Delegates, it’s time.
House of Commons (HOC)
Council type: Physical
The House of Commons of the United Kingdom traces its origins to the English Parliament of the 13th century, when knights and burgesses were summoned to advise the Crown on matters of taxation and law. Through struggle, compromise, and reform, what used to be a royal advisory chamber has now evolved into the sovereign legislature that commands the confidence of the people.
To put it simply, The Commons is the government. Being the beating heart of British diplomacy, it alone grants and withholds supply; it is from its benches that governments are made and unmade, all circling around the principle of representation; that the power of the state flows from the will of its citizens.
The Mother of Parliaments stands before you. How her story continues is yours to write.
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TOPIC 1: The Question of Reforming the National Health Service
“The NHS will last as long as there are folk left with faith to fight for it”. – Nye Bevan, founder of the National Health Services (NHS).
In response to increasing health concerns within the UK, the National Health Service was first established in 1948 with the aim of providing free healthcare to the British and has remained as one of the most sacrosanct institutions for the country. However, with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the NHS sees herself staring into a deep abyss of complications. Overflowing emergency departments, staff shortages, financial distress, egregious political complacencies… the cliff never reaches the end. In an uncanny paradox, the NHS now sees itself suffering from an incurable cancer that slowly metastasises into something more ominous, poised to disrupt not only the British way of life, but also undermines an enshrined status quo much further beyond the four walls of the house.
As the NHS bleeds, the country watches closely as her once-glorious healthcare system falters, remembering that every second delayed shall be equivalent to every brother lost to disease.
Therefore, will you folks fight, with all faith, for the system to last, or choose to see it crumble?
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TOPIC 2: The Question of Addressing the Housing Crisis
In the aftermath of the Second World War, the UK responded to bombed out streets and festering slums with sweeping clearances and a massive state-led housebuilding drive. Today’s crisis is less visible, yet just as dire. Homeownership has been rendered a distant dream for much of the working and middle class, while social housing stocks have withered away due to decades of neglect. However, the rot runs deeper than what appears on the surface. Speculation has warped housing from a social necessity to a financial commodity, turning vibrant communities into hollow husks for investment and graveyards of belonging. The perennial question before this house is not simply one of bricks and mortar, but of what kind of society this country dares to build. After all, homes are not mere structures – they are anchors against the tempests of life. Will this land be a marketplace of walls, or a home to its people?
The plight of the British has been made clear, but will the wait be over?
Members, the floor is yours.
Rajya Sabha (RS)
Council type: Physical
The Rajya Sabha stands at the steadfast heartbeat of Indian democracy - a chamber where the nation’s collective wisdom tempers the passion of politics, and where the echoes of every state and every citizen converge to safeguard the republic’s enduring soul. Constituted since 1952, it has become known for being the chamber where the wisdom of the states steadies the will of the majority, it has preserved the federal spirit of India, defended constitutional rights in moments of crisis and sharpened historic laws such as the Goods and Services Tax, and Right to Information. Protecting justice, unity and democracy through every storm, the Rajya Sabha is the place where impact begins and the nation’s resolve shines. Will you carry the Rajya Sabha’s legacy forward?
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TOPIC 1: The Question of the Revitalisation of Kashmir
“Like all other problems in India, it was the fault of the British.” ~ Shashi Tharoor
In the wake of India’s 1947 partition, Jammu and Kashmir was left uncontested. With the princely state split between India and Pakistan, the lack of a proper election left the region’s political status in an unending limbo over the next few years. In recent years, the revocation of Article 370 and the reorganisation of the region’s borders have illuminated the discussion over governance, representation, and civil liberties in India’s outlying states.
The conflict in Kashmir isn’t merely a facsimile of the brotherly feud between two nations. Rather, it has become the breeding ground for systemic human rights abuses. From incidents of mass rape, to allegations of ethnic cleansing, both sides have been accused (by each other) of committing various atrocities to the Kashmiri People. MPs of the Rajya Sabha, must debate divergent approaches to strengthen the people’s trust in the government, while at the same time, pursue the goals of democratisation.
The state of Kashmir is at a crossroads, and it is up to you, to craft a path forward, to restore peace, and restore Kashmir to its former glory.
Jai Hind. Jai Kashmir.
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TOPIC 2: The Question of the Rural Urban Divide
As India keeps up its breakneck pace of development, the urban populace is being left in the dust. From literacy rates to employment and nutrition, rural Indians still face systemic inequalities as compared to their urban counterparts. Rapid development in richer states such as Mumbai and Delhi has eclipsed that of rural areas, while the rural-urban gap widens.
For many, having access to quality education and employment is contingent upon whether they live in cities. The effects of this are plainly obvious. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) found in 2023 that the rural migration rate made up 26.5% of the total 28.9% migration rate in India. These migrants move to city centers out of economic necessity, flocking to populated cities in search of employment and better lives. As a result, the rural-urban gap is now a double burden on India: both crippling rural economies due to the exodus of working-age individuals while the influx of migrants strains urban infrastructure. This problem threatens to unravel the Indian economic miracle.
The rural populace, left with little opportunity for upward mobility, agitate for
change. They will not be underserved by their nation. The Rajya Sabha must act fast.
United Nations Commission On International Trade Law (UNCITRAL)
Council type: Physical
The UNCITRAL is the core legal body of the UN, established by the UNGA in 1966, to harmonise and unify international trade law. However, one must not confuse it with bodies such as the WTO, which has a judicial-like appellate function. Nor is it an absolutely independent organisation like the OECD. The UNCITRAL, thus, has two key differences: one, it cannot exercise authority to publicise a framework, or model law, without being approved by the 6th GA Committee and the GA to which it directly reports; two, its recommendations set the foundation for the international trade law regime it subsequently causes through its model laws and conventions. Hence, it is up to the nations themselves to ratify and adhere to those or not, while the UNCITRAL does not interfere or enforce its application, as this commission is a non-binding body by nature, despite its description.
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​TOPIC 1: Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS)
Base Erosion and Profit Shifting refers to a strategy utilised by Multinational Corporations to move profits from a high tax jurisdiction to a low tax jurisdiction, thereby disproportionately benefiting some states more than others. While the issue does not fall within UNCITRAL’s oversight conventionally, it is still of concern, as it is a commercial dispute, and UNCITRAL can set the foundations for a regime to assist states in addressing the issue of BEPS. Furthermore, there are debates on whether or not the UNCITRAL should have greater involvement in the settlement of commercial disputes, wherein concerns mainly surround the overreach of such a system to the sovereignty of states – mirroring the WTO appellate controversy. Therefore, the issue needs to be addressed in an unconventional and contestational manner. This shall present a unique challenge for delegates to address the issue while staying within the boundaries of the Commission’s mandate, jurisdiction, and limitations..
TOPIC 2: Stablecoins
Stablecoins, situated within the broader category of Tokenised-Digital-Assets (TDAs), constitute a distinctive class of instruments often used in transactions by leveraging their blockchain qualities for enhanced privacy and untraceability. While stablecoins manifest in four principal forms, it is fiat-backed stablecoins, constituting nearly the entirety of global circulation of stablecoins, that present the most acute challenges for UNCITRAL’s extant frameworks and model laws. Such rapid global circulation risks consolidating monetary dependence on issuing jurisdictions, amplifying concerns of sovereignty and geopolitical asymmetry, particularly for less digitally developed states, and that of contagion. This directly undermines past model laws on transactions, of which many have not accommodated TDA’s unique qualities. Consequently, integrating fiat-backed stablecoins into UNCITRAL’s corpus of frameworks and model laws will present a principal locus of contention for delegates, with rigorous scrutiny of current opaque contractual agreements governing collateral structures, reserve composition, and auditing standards becoming a necessity. These revised frameworks will also need to provide tangible technical benefits for less digitally developed states, reducing asymmetries in regulatory capacities. These harmonised standards will decrease the likelihood of liquidity crises originating from jurisdictions with looser oversight.
United Nations Security Council (UNSC)
Council type: Physical
NOTE: UNSC is a Double Delegation Council. Refer to the registration form for details on double delegation councils.
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“The United Nations has become a tool for colonial and imperialist powers to exercise their rule [over Asia and Africa.”
- Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta (former Prime Minister of Mali)
The United Nations Security Council is the only organ of the United Nations which can adopt legally-binding resolutions. It comprises the Permanent 5 Members as well as 10 rotational members, with the primary responsibility of upholding international peace and security. The Security Council and its ‘Blue Berets’ are the cornerstone of international peacekeeping, conflict intervention and resolution, as well as shielding civilians from harm’s way. However, not all is rosy in the Security Council Chambers. With intense discussions surrounding contentious issues in our world, the Security Council is often entangled in conflicts with no clear resolution. Delegates, the future of the world is quite literally in your hands. Welcome to the Security Council.
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TOPIC: The Viet-Nam War (1972)
“The UN was not created to take mankind to heaven, but to save humanity from hell.”
~ Dag Hammarskjöld (former United Nations Secretary-General)
It is the 1st of October 1972. Since the failure of the Geneva Accords in 1955, the communist-led North Viet-Nam, backed by the USSR and China, and U.S.-backed South Viet-Nam have engaged in combat, leaving millions dead across the battlefields of Viet-Nam. Not to mention the My Lai massacre that remains engraved in history as a permanent reminder of the insufferable harm that can be caused to civilians during wars like these. Neither side is content with the partition, instead seeking reunification with their respective regime in charge. Furthermore, the U.S. has intervened in supposedly “neutral” countries, such as Laos and Cambodia. Nevertheless, there is still hope for peace. The ball is now in the Security Council’s court – will it once again rise to the occasion as a bastion of peace and stability, or will fractures within the Council leave the peacekeeping dogma as a dream of the past? Can the Security Council finally save Viet-Nam from the depths of hell?
League of Nations (LON)
Council type: Physical
NOTE: LON is a Double Delegation Council. Refer to the registration form for details on double delegation councils.
“A general association of nations must be formed under specific covenants for the purpose of affording mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity to great and small states alike.”
- Woodrow Wilson
With that, the very first international organisation dedicated to achieving world peace was born. Founded by powers such as the United Kingdom and France, there was no doubt that this organisation was set for a great future.
However, under its glory lay crises brewing, sabotaging the League’s prestige inside and out. From the USA and USSR, the greatest superpowers of the time not being in the organisation, to unanimous approval for rulings, member states faced one challenge after another. Thus, this begs the questions: was the League truly a pathway to world peace; or was it a facade which served as a glimmer of hope for a world shrouded in darkness?
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TOPIC 1: The Abyssinian Crisis (1935)
Following the poor management of the Manchurian Crisis in 1931, the League’s fatal systemic weaknesses were revealed. Eager to jump on the opportunity to restore its former glory, Italy invaded Abyssinia under the assumption that the League would not intervene. Mussolini was right, but not completely. The unresolved shortcomings of the League set them back a second time, ultimately contributing to the successful annexation of Abyssinia. Yet another failure in delivering their promise of achieving international peace and security has thoroughly torn their reputation to bits, and sowed irreparable discord among countries.
Abyssinia falling into the hands of fascism was an obvious sign that countries were not committed to the cause of protecting collective security; domestic affairs were prioritised over international interests after all. The League was slowly but surely coming apart with its poorly built foundation, with small nations losing faith in the entity they once thought could offer them a voice, and bigger nations leaving to avoid accountability. Under such dire circumstances, could the League still be salvaged? Will Abyssinia be saved this time? Representatives, the fate of Abyssinia is in your hands.
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TOPIC 1: The Remilitarisation of the Rhineland (1935)
In 1919, it was decided that Germany was to hold less than one hundred thousand men, overseas territories were to be confiscated, the Rhineland was to become a demilitarised zone, among other clauses. At first, Germany’s signing the Rhineland Pact in 1925 marked her commitment to European stability, allowing Germany’s admittance to the League. However, with a demonstrably irate Chancellor coming to power in 1933, the political structure of Germany swung radically. By 1935, the Treaty of Versailles had been butchered, Germany moved into open rearmament, and reintroduced conscription. Despite French appeals to challenge this, the League offered no sanctions or military measures, and the British circumvented the League with the Anglo-German Naval Agreement, further undermining the League’s position. These served as foundational steps in Hitler’s foreign policy, which by 1936, emboldened him to order 20,000 Wehrmacht troops into the Rhineland, again violating the Treaty of Versailles and a 50 kilometer insurance policy. With the French now appealing to the League, the stage for the League’s response has been set.
The 8th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC)
Council type: Crisis - Physical
“History will record our role in starving so many, and the cannibalism that has taken place will be memorialised as well!”
- Liu Shaoqi to Mao Zedong
From its birth in the fires of revolution in 1921 to its victory in 1949, the Communist Party of China has always portrayed itself as the revolutionary vanguard leading the Chinese people to victory. The Great Leap Forward has shattered this image, with famine claiming the lives of tens of millions. In response, the Party has convened the Seven Thousand Cadres Conference and the West Tower Conference, to direct national recovery and potentially chart a new course.
Whether China continues down its current path or changes tack is up to party members. The future of seven hundred million hangs in the balance.
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TOPIC 1: The Seven Thousand Cadres Conference
“No party outside the Party – that is imperial thinking; no factions within the Party – that creates all manner of oddities.”- Mao Zedong
The Great Leap Forward has been a massive catastrophe, leaving tens of millions dead.
Amidst a severe nationwide crisis, the national policy work conference itself is unprecedented in scale and scope; besides usual attendees, this conference includes thousands of county-level officials, representatives of industrial enterprises and small military units. It represents a rare opportunity for junior officials across the country to witness and partake in discussions and debates between the top Party leadership.
At this critical juncture, the Party stands at a crossroads. It can either choose to acknowledge its errors and rectify them, even those of the top leadership and Mao Zedong himself, or it can choose to sidestep responsibility by blaming bad weather and incorrect implementation of the Maoist line. Caught up in sensitive admissions of responsibility are top-level power struggles, with pragmatists such as Liu Shaoqi and Deng Xiaoping seeking a greater political role, against the likes of Mao and Lin Biao, who seek to defend their more idealistic visions. How the Party responds to failure may prove to be its greatest test yet.
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TOPIC 2: The West Tower Conference
“China is so big; which dynasty has not seen death by starvation?” - Sichuan Party Secretary Li Jingquan
The Great Leap Forward has crippled China’s economy. Agriculture has been devastated by disastrous policies with survivors still barely able to feed themselves. To make matters worse, the Leap has failed to accelerate growth in heavy industry and light industry continues to lag in providing basic consumer goods.
To compound these problems, the government is out of money. Driven by Leap investments and construction, expenditures have far exceeded revenue, turning fiscal surplus into a 5 billion yuan deficit to accelerate “socialist construction”, an unrealised utopian ideal. Simultaneously, there is too much money circulating in the economy, causing rapid inflation and increasing the pressure on an already struggling populace.
One thing is clear: resolving basic problems of sustenance is the only way for the Party to legitimise its rule and deliver its promised liberation under the socialist New China to the masses. How this is achieved will be up to Party members.
Board of Directors: Fortunato Pharmaceuticals (Specialised Council)
Council type: Physical
“The Only Constant in Life Is Change.” - Heraclitus
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Set foot in the shoes of executives vying for corporate supremacy. Amidst the uncertain regulatory and economic situation of both the world and the companies that inhabit it, the only way forward is dialogue and cooperation — or is it?
The very foundations that underpin each company fall under threat. Each director faces an inevitable quagmire, either viciously exploiting innocents for the selfish pursuit of corporate expansion, or watching their market share inevitably erode.
Will you be able to make the decisions that are required of you, or will you fall victim to the corporate axe?
Technology has ignited a quintessential human pursuit – the creation (and monopolisation) of a deific intelligence.
TOPIC: The Question of the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Industries
Artificial Intelligence’s (AI) precipitous ascent has catalysed countless jurisdictional, industry, and ethical conundrums for industry leaders. One summit, twenty directors, all from preeminent, yet increasingly vulnerable global conglomerates shall converge at the [...] to define the contours of this burgeoning sector.
Beyond the glitz and glamour, underneath the seemingly thriving industry lies a flawed system. One by one, AI has managed to seamlessly replicate human tasks to perfection, heralding a new era of disruptive innovation. Amidst the raging chaos in the backdrop, conglomerates of the summit have to either cut their losses and restructure to keep up, or get left behind in the traces of the past.
Foremostly lies the existential imperative of protecting their individual subsidiaries’ parochial interests, as per the overarching spectre of corporate capitalism. But when push comes to shove, the situation is no longer a matter of thriving, but surviving. Conglomerates may brawl it out to come out on top, but there can only be one true winner. Behind closed doors, futures are forged.
Welcome, to high stakes and higher standards.
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
Council type: Beginner - Virtual
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) was established in 1997 through the merger of the UN Drug Control Programme and the Centre For International Crime prevention. The UNODC, with 150 Member States, stands as the UN’s primary agency to combat illicit drugs, transnational organized crime, corruption and terrorism.
The UNODC fosters transnational cooperation and bolsters global legislation, such as the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, while also providing technical assistance, research and training when necessary. By emphasising on capacity-building in national justice systems, the council is able to ensure effective coordination of global anti-crime efforts.
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TOPIC: The Question of Piracy and Armed Robbery at Sea
Piracy and armed robbery at sea continues to pose a threat to international trade and security. Though progress has been made in piracy hotspots in recent years (e.g. multinational naval patrols in the Gulf of Aden), the problem has all but disappeared. Rather, piracy has resurfaced along the Gulf of Guinea and the Strait of Malacca, rife with hijackings and looting of commercial vessels and oil tankers. This continues to undermine economic stability in the region, with cascading worldwide reverberations. Regional cooperation, for example, has often faltered because states fear losing control over their territorial waters or exposing weaknesses in governance.
Yet without trust and collaboration, criminal groups can exploit gaps and move freely across borders. Current security measures (e.g. naval patrols) may only provide short-term benefit but prove unsustainable over time when international coalitions withdraw. In regions plagued with corruption and limited opportunity, committing piracy may seem lucrative. Tackling piracy therefore requires building stronger institutions and offering real alternatives to vulnerable communities. In pursuit of this odyssey, delegates should consider both alternatives to the status quo and potential future capabilities.
ASEAN Regional Forum (ASEAN)
Council type: Virtual
NOTE: ARF is a Double Delegation Council. Refer to the registration form for details on double delegation councils.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) includes the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) — ASEAN’s premier multilateral platform for addressing political and security issues within the Asia-Pacific region. Established in 1994, it emerged three years after Cold War tensions de-escalated, amid an environment of uncertain regional security. The ARF serves as a platform for dialogue and consultation on political and security matters. As a consensus-based council, all substantive decisions require voting procedures and unanimous approval. While the resolutions passed are not legally binding, they provide essential guidelines and frameworks for member states when implementing policies responding to regional challenges. Delegates, the ARF plays a crucial role in building trust, preventative diplomacy and cooperation, placing Asia-Pacific’s stability directly in your hands. Guard it well.
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TOPIC 1: The Question of Re-Envisioning ASEAN's Policy on Non-Interference
“We are not against anything, not against anybody.” - S Rajaratnam
ASEAN was initially built under a foundation of peace, envisioning a strong tie with nations in the South East Asian Region. However, member states have long fallen into pressing challenges—crises’ knocking on the doors of ASEAN states, where such visions are yet to be amended. Numerous parties assert that certain policies have been an easy excuse for ASEAN states’ inaction, as the ASEAN charter stands as a basis, in which interference is prohibited, leading to many faced barriers. The policy puts forth an agreement for member states to respect the sovereignty of all members and to refrain from interfering within their domestic affairs where peace and regional stability is set forth. Delegates are encouraged to examine the intended outcomes of the Policy of Non-Interference, as well as relevant historical precedents and to examine the feasibility of retaining this policy in modern times, and to propose suitable amendments if required. Long live ASEAN!
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TOPIC 2: The Question of Digitalising ASEAN's Gig Economy
“We must find a way to finance a different world, one where climate resilience is strong, pandemics are manageable, food is abundant, and fragility and poverty are defeated.” - Ajay Banga, World Bank President
The gig economy has been an integral part of ASEAN states. In recent years, in light of various technological advancements within societies, the gig economy has changed rapidly, encompassing fleets of ride-hailing and food delivery workers. With the expansion of the gig economy, standard guidelines on the treatment of these workers has to be standardized in order to provide equity for them. Regulations must take into account the extent of responsibilities of different stakeholders, such as the government and private entities, in the protection of these workers. Such protections include ensuring job security for these workers across all ASEAN states, as well as evaluation of current workplace standards, status quo. Moreover, the inclusion of less technologically advanced areas in the expansion of the gig economy.
The future of ASEAN’s economy is in your hands.