Fun times in Model UN

Intro speech on illicit trafficking of weapons

“Poverty is the worst form of violence”. The Republic of Sudan feels that the issue of illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons is becoming an increasing issue because poverty is motivating civilians to do illegal activities to get the resources they need. This motivation has risen to a point where it is becoming easier for civilians to obtain these weapons. And what do we as the international community do to help this issue? We produce more small arms and light weapons than necessary. Millions of innocent civilians are being harmed and we, Sudan, a developing nation with only 160 hospitals can’t treat everyone. Therefore, this issue has become a work in progress that needs to be solved now before things get worst than what they already are.

Currently Sudan is adhering to the Nairobi Protocol by trying to get civilians to easily surrender their weapons so that we don’t have to take action. However, with poverty being a force driving civilians to take what little resources we have just so that they can survive for who knows when, it makes it rather difficult on our hands. We Sudan ask you the international community to work with us and end this issue so that millions of lives can be saved from the misuse of light weapons and small arms. No more we’re going to do this or planning to do that. We must act now and come up with a clear understanding of how this issue will be regulated and cause no more harm. Sudan would like to hear ideas on how to best regulate boarder trafficking and limit the production of light weapons. We want all nations to comply with the terms of the Nairobi Protocol and strengthen it. One good, initial step is to guarantee that weapons won’t be trafficked through neighboring boarders or any other nation by having stronger boarder enforcers is a start.
The heart of the problem is poverty. According to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, "Competition between Arab and African tribal groups over the scarce primary resources in Darfur—arable land and water—has been exacerbated by advancing desertification throughout the Sahel region." Obviously not every nation is facing poverty issue but their the ones making these harmful weapons and the civilians living in a nation going through poverty buy them in hopes that, with these weapons they can intimidate or kill others for resources. It creates a battle of survival out there and according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights everyone is titled to simple simplicities such as equal rights, food, and a roof under their heads. Yet they are tons of people living in countries without this. We all signed on to this declaration and we aren’t upholding to it. Therefore, other issues such as trafficking of weapons have increased tremendously. No more pin-pointing nations problems, is time for a change. By the end of this conference the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons should be no more!

We look forward to working with you, thank you honorable chair

resolution on freedom of

Philadelphia Model United Nations 2009


United Nations Human Rights Council


Resolution 1-2

The UN Human Rights Council

Acknowledging the importance of freedoms of speech and press,

Reminding all nations of the implications of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

Reaffirming that freedom and democracy is essential to all civilized nations,

Stressing the right of national sovereignty and a nations right to sacrifice some freedoms to protect the greater good,

1. Recognizes the need for censorship in areas of:
a.) Political unrest- relating to radical groups, revolts, and warring fractions including but not limited to disputes between nations;
b.) Times of war- considering the effect of negative propaganda on morale and a nation’s success,
c.) Countries transitioning political regimes, and,
d.) Nations declaring a state religion;
2. Suggests guidelines for appropriate censorship, which include:
a.) No blasphemous statements that would result in any type of aggression against minorities,
b.) Allowing selective transparency so that governments can disclose information to civilians without compromising domestic security,
c.) No disrespectful or distasteful propaganda on cultural ideas,
d.) Refrain from fallacy;
3. Supports the utilization of the World Bank for fiscal purposes in order to empower media expression in a proper fashion and offer incentives to nations who abide by this document;
4. Urges nations to strengthen the powers of UNESCO, whose goal is to:
a.) Provide technical and material assistance to local/international medias
b.) Promote the international standards for safety training and expression of access to risk-awareness training for journalists in order to promote a positive image of journalism as well as protect these individuals;\
5. Encourages nations to uphold the UDHR and defend the rights of journalist who have experienced hostilities through trials in the International Court of Law;
6. Calls upon journalist to abide by laws of the nation they are reporting in;
7. Offers monetary incentives to media outlets such as newspapers and broadcasing stations that are making significant movements toward proper censorship through loans with prerequisites provided by privatized loans;
8. Considers the use of trade sanctions and embargoes as a final measure in nations whose freedoms of speech and presses digress from progress and violations increase;
9. Designates the need for nations that have stabilized to move away from more oppressive forms of censorship
10. Encourages inviting the Human Rights watch into consenting countries to provide media coverage on human rights and freedoms of speech and press with in the nation

postion paper

Committee: General Assembly 1st Committee (Disarmament and Security)

Topic: Illicit Trafficking of Small Arms

Country: The Republic of Sudan

Delegate: Jeffrey Mena & Manuela Martinez High School for International Business and Finance



“Poverty is the worst form of violence” once said by Mohandas Gandhi during his non-violent independence movement in India . To allow poverty to exist makes those poor people feel vindictive towards those who have more. Therefore they are more willing to conduct violent actions such as killing others because they have nothing to loose; might as well die trying to gain something. In some cases people would use small arms to threaten people and get what they want. Ever since World War I, the number of deaths from trafficked arms has increased dramatically. Partly because countries all over the World have superfluously made an abundance of light weapons and arms than is needed for national security. This allows people to get a hold of these weapons easier through trade and cause havoc in their country. Sudan feels that if poverty wasn’t such a big issue, than people wouldn’t tend to resort to violence to get what they want. It’s a matter of fighting for resources and who ever has the weapons, sure enough gets the resources. Countries with limited resources are too poor to provide for themselves so they resort to violence.



Thousands of people have been killed in Sudan from trafficked arms. Civilians’ fighting for resources and tribes against other tribes’ violence makes it difficult to ensure safety in Sudan . Central to this human catastrophe is the legacy of combat: landmines, unexploded ordnance, and caches of munitions and weapons. If security were guaranteed, people would see no point in acquiring guns and would be willing to negotiate to surrender such guns to the state. With people fighting for resources and others protecting themselves with small arms it would be a difficult task to stop this issue.



The Nairobi Protocol was created by African regions in order to reduce the circulation of small arms and light weapons. Sudan has signed as a signatory in this protocol taking full responsibility towards the conflict. Article 12 of this protocol promotes to voluntarily surrender light weapons and small arms so that they can be destroyed and cause no more harm. Article 13 in this protocol promotes education and awareness programs and states that these programs should promote a culture of peace and be involved as well as cooperate with all sectors of society. By signing this protocol Sudan is vowing to adhere to it and reduce the trafficking of arms and the deaths caused by it.



In 2001, the UN formed the Program of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons, with the goals of making illicit gun production and possessions a crime, destroying surplus small arms, tracking existing arms, and better enforcing arms embargos. This program clearly was ineffective therefore Sudan would like to call the international community together to strengthen this program so that in could be effective. Sudan feels that is poverty were diminished than the trafficking of arms would be as well because civilians would see no need in fighting for resources when it’s in an abundant amount. Sudan also feels that one country can’t get all the blame for every country is culprit of this crime.

Reflection about Model U.N.

My first experience at a Model U.N. conference came with absolutely no experience. My global and economics teacher advised me to take part of this experience because they thought I had the perseverance to overcome adversity and rise up to become an outstanding Model U.N. delegate (they were a student short and asked me to fill up the spot). I didn’t become one, and I was bummed about it; but, I gain a new personal hobby and a life changing experience.
I remember I was partnered up with Nadira, a girl from my class who also didn’t have experience. Though she didn’t have experience, she did have an open personality. Meaning that she isn’t afraid to say what she feels; with a little push of course. We were representing Liechtenstein, a western European country who’s famous for conducting tax havens. For the time, that’s pretty much all we knew and still to this day that’s still pretty much all I know. Throughout the train ride to the hotel in which I was participating at this conference I kept pondering how in the world will I debate on the rights of indigenous people? Next thing I know me and Nadira were left alone in a humongous room fluttered with intellectuals who by far knew what they were doing compared to us. Ms. Pollio told us to at least try to speak once and she’ll be proud of us. We spoke at least 5 times, and were signatories to a resolution that passed. When I was called up to speak I was so nervous and apprehensive. As I walked up to the front to speak I just kept thinking about how mad I was at Nadira for raising our placard and adding ourselves to the speakers list. Honestly, I don’t remember exactly what I said but I’m sure it was a bunch of gibberish. Mostly, about how we’re a rich country who are willing to pay for any resolution.
The memory that stands out the most at this conference was the memory I had with the people I was sitting next to. I remember that they were three Italian boys and a girl actually from Italy. Those three boys constantly kept going to the back of the room to get water. One time they invited me with them and I went to the back and drank a cup of water. Next thing I know one of them said to me “So what you think about the girl in the yellow?” I laughed and nodded my head. I was flabbergasted but amazed at how two different people from two different cultures could have many things in common. I responded “yeah she’s cute” and a friendship was made amongst us. We talked about our lives, culture, hobbies, etc. I learned from them, as they learned from me. But what was most symbolic about this memory was that I as a person grew because I now have the ability and knowledge to communicate and start friendships with people whom live a different life than me.
This all happened during my freshman year of High School. By sophomore year I wasn’t really sure if I wanted to participate in this invent. I guess over the summer the inspirational feelings I had for Model U.N. sort of went away. Also, I wanted to try new things around the school and was caught up in many other activities. Then, one of my best friends Jose Asiatico influenced me to join the class for the second semester. With limited time I was told to work with Manuela Martinez on freedom of speech and reintegration of refugees. The conference was nearly two weeks away and I needed to research everything possible about this topic related to Pakistan. On the day of the conference I was so excited because we were going to Philadelphia to sleep over for a weekend! I was ready to show off everything I learned. Such as, writing a resolution, showing diplomacy when I speak, and actively being involved by motioning or pointing for something. During conference session one my mindset was to come in be aggressive and let my point of view be heard and understood. Quiet didn’t happen like that. But my partner and I spoke a couple of times. What I loved about my partner was that she was determined just like me; we ended up spending that night researching more and adjusting our game plan for the next session. Of course it was only up until curfew (12 o’clock). The next day we quickly sent a note to the chair telling them to add us to the speakers list. When we went up to speak we told the delegates that Pakistan would like to see a resolution in which freedom of speech is limited so that people won’t be able to show the blasphemous caricatures of the prophet Muhammad through the media.
My favorite and most epic moment ever in Model U.N came at the next session. It was pretty clear that Argentina and Indonesia were doing the best, so my bloc decided to go get some research on Argentina and we find out that they had genocide during the 60’s. Argentina was advocating that we have freedom of speech without any restrictions but during this time they imposed a domestic law of media censorship and their was no freedom of speech. It was a pretty dirty move on the count that every country has some dirty laundry hidden throughout history. After transitioning from an unmoderated caucus to a moderated caucus my time came. I would always write what I wanted to say briefly on paper so that I get out all my points and know what to say in my limited time. I don’t know what got to me but for those 10 minutes I felt like if I were actually from Pakistan. I stood and said that most of the world in particular the Western side of the World doesn’t understand our culture. I forgot exactly what I said but I just went off on a joke spree pointed directly towards Argentina and I had the whole committee laughing for 10 minutes. Though what I was saying was funny, it was still true and accurate and allowed what Pakistan wanted to see in a resolution for freedom of speech be put it. I had fun that night and I got respected.
Also, another funny memory I had in this country was the male delegate of the country Indonesia. He was talking with this bootleg cowboy-Texas accent that sounded like he had like a gallon of saliva in his mouth. It made an irritating gargling sound accommodated with the accent he made. I constantly laughed every time he spoke. I remember telling all my friends about how weird this guy was. The irony about it was that on the last conference he spoke and his accent was completely gone! He had fooled us all; I was shocked. I was motivated to do this at my next conference in the U.N. but unfortunately I wasn’t able to attend because I was going to my sister’s graduation up in Buffalo.
Overall, Model U.N. has been a fun experience that will stay with me forever. I sometimes still say point of personal inquiry when I want to ask or comment something. I will always remember those wonderful people I met. One whom includes the U.N general secretary Ban Ki-Moon.

Welcome viewers!!

Welcome everyone!! My name is Jeffrey mena and i'm 16 years old. I'm currently attending Goerge Washington Educatinal Campus High School for International Business & Finance and I'm in the 10th grade. My subject is mathematics and my favorite color is blue. as for hobbies, i enjoy participating in swimming and basketball activities. Hope you enjoy my blog!!!