‘Nothing can be done without the US'
The American delegation wants to remind everyone they are UNHCR’s biggest donor
4 febrero 2022
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In the X Edition of URJCmun the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees end the week stronger than ever. During these four days their primary purpose was to safeguard the rights and well-being of all refugees.
After passing a resolution to ensure the equal treatment and reception of LGBTQ+ refugees, the presence of new delegations is changing the committee’s dynamic. With more presence of Middle East and African countries, France and Germany remain the only representatives of the European Union. Several accusations were made during today’s final sessions: Russia claims that Ukraine wants to illegally regain the region of Crimea. Any Ukrainian intent to try to retrieve that territory is going to meet Russia’s full force. Also, the delegation of Libya is accusing the European countries of sending a disingenuous message of open migrant policies, when in fact they refuse to provide asylum to 70% of Libyan immigrants. This increases human trafficking efforts and migrant smuggling criminal networks. The representatives from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela are condemning the United States of America’s intervention in other countries national affairs, for example Syria. They also stress that poverty within their territory is rooted in American interventions in the last two decades. Finally, Venezuelan delegates state that the US is in no position to assert their opinion during this debate because they are already struggling to contain a migrant crisis within their borders. The American delegation uses their right to reply to state that “Nothing can’t be done in this committee without us” and reminds every member of the agency that there is the biggest donor of the organization. India lowers the tension between the other nations by telling everyone that no one can move forward if they don’t work together. And with this reflection in mind, the committee reach an agreement that increasing border control, working alongside law enforcement, and facilitating the migration process should be implemented to decrease migrant smuggling and human trafficking. The day ended bittersweet, with sadness as an incredible experience comes to an end, but at the same time with happiness and hope for more successful models like URJCmun X Edition. |
Mariana López
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As UNHCR members come to an agreement another issue concerning refugees arise
New delegations arrive to discuss human trafficking and migrant smuggling
3 febrero 2022
The United Nations Refugee Agency is actively working toward the equal treatment of LGBTQ+ refugees, asylum seekers, stateless and internally displaced people.
The representatives are working in two separate blocs, and both are urging the international community to unite and cooperate to achieve concrete results. And to arrive to a satisfactory outcome each bloc is proposing a draft resolution focusing on founding, infrastructure, and protection of this community. As alliances are forming in the committee, the delegations of India and Brazil remain neutral, participating as signatories in both drafts. It appears that they want to maintain their options open and discuss the proposals before making up their minds.
The debate starts with ‘Resolution A’, with the Democratic People´s Republic of Korea, United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Singapore acting as sponsors. These delegations encourage countries to stablish LGBTQ+ exclusive camps to protect and ensure a successful transition and reintegration into society. They also acknowledge and agree that countries should contribute with financial resources in accordance with their national policies to fund UNHCR sponsored programs. Lastly, they reaffirm that the basis of international cooperation is respecting other Estate’s sovereignty.
On the other hand, Denmark’s and Portugal’s resolution proposes a ESII Framework (Education, Security, Integration, and Infrastructure) aimed at the protection of LGBTQ+ refugees. These representations highlight the importance of working alongside with LGBTQ+ non-governmental organizations to create networking opportunities between migrants and locals. Finally, they emphasize the need of a yearly report to assess each country`s progress and implementation of these measures.
After proposing several amendments, the UNHCR committee proceeds to a vote and with a simple majority Resolution B passes. Shortly after reaching the agreement, several delegations leave the Agency and new ones arrive to confer about advanced techniques to dismantle human trafficking and migrant smuggling criminal networks. Representatives from Turkey, Syria, Lybia, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Colombia, Russia, South Sudan, and Colombia are joining France, India, Ukraine, and the US to address border security and financial aid.
As the day comes to an end, the countries continue to walk a fine line to address an increment border security without violating any Estate’s sovereignty. Let´s hope that tomorrows final sessions allows them to reach an satisfactory outcome.
The representatives are working in two separate blocs, and both are urging the international community to unite and cooperate to achieve concrete results. And to arrive to a satisfactory outcome each bloc is proposing a draft resolution focusing on founding, infrastructure, and protection of this community. As alliances are forming in the committee, the delegations of India and Brazil remain neutral, participating as signatories in both drafts. It appears that they want to maintain their options open and discuss the proposals before making up their minds.
The debate starts with ‘Resolution A’, with the Democratic People´s Republic of Korea, United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Singapore acting as sponsors. These delegations encourage countries to stablish LGBTQ+ exclusive camps to protect and ensure a successful transition and reintegration into society. They also acknowledge and agree that countries should contribute with financial resources in accordance with their national policies to fund UNHCR sponsored programs. Lastly, they reaffirm that the basis of international cooperation is respecting other Estate’s sovereignty.
On the other hand, Denmark’s and Portugal’s resolution proposes a ESII Framework (Education, Security, Integration, and Infrastructure) aimed at the protection of LGBTQ+ refugees. These representations highlight the importance of working alongside with LGBTQ+ non-governmental organizations to create networking opportunities between migrants and locals. Finally, they emphasize the need of a yearly report to assess each country`s progress and implementation of these measures.
After proposing several amendments, the UNHCR committee proceeds to a vote and with a simple majority Resolution B passes. Shortly after reaching the agreement, several delegations leave the Agency and new ones arrive to confer about advanced techniques to dismantle human trafficking and migrant smuggling criminal networks. Representatives from Turkey, Syria, Lybia, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Colombia, Russia, South Sudan, and Colombia are joining France, India, Ukraine, and the US to address border security and financial aid.
As the day comes to an end, the countries continue to walk a fine line to address an increment border security without violating any Estate’s sovereignty. Let´s hope that tomorrows final sessions allows them to reach an satisfactory outcome.
Britney Spears’ fans are seeking asylum in Europe
Several European States are stopping them at the border after passing a law that regulates migration overflow
2 febrero 2022
The session started with a powerful message from the delegation of India, encouraging a more fruitful discussion that shifts the spotlight to issues of overflowing and insufficient capacity in refugee camps. Brazil echoes this sentiment and is asking for rapid solutions for this problematic before addressing concerns about LGBTQ+ migrants. These delegations claim to be underfunded and are lacking the infrastructure to receive all the asylum seekers that are crossing their borders.
The delegation of China is proposing the creation of LGBTQ+ exclusive camps to minimize the discrimination these group of refugees are currently facing. But this proposal doesn´t contribute a solution to the overflowing problematic affecting India and Brazil. In fact, it would create a bigger crisis in these countries. The representatives of the United Kingdom and Germany suggest, as an alternative, to improve the interview process that are in place in the current camps. They want to eliminate sexual specific questions to avoid targeting LGBTQ+ migrants and consequently reduce discrimination. Portugal affirms that to be able to reach a resolution, it is necessary that western and eastern countries cooperate to ensure the equal treatment and reception for LGBTQ+ refugees.
Despite this statement, the delegations are not making significant progress and are focusing too much on LGBTQ+ rights in their countries instead of the topic of the committee. Instead, the representatives are working in two separate blocks to reach an agreement. North Korea, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, and Ukraine propose to allocate additional funding to Brazil and India and improve situations in refugee camps. Meanwhile, the United States, Denmark, Portugal, and their allies want to make education, security, and integration the basic pillars of the resolution.
In the middle of the debate, a crisis involving Europe becomes the focus of the committee. Thousands of refugees are fleeing their countries to escape persecution since the passing of a law that established that all Britney Spears fans are gay. Nevertheless, several European States are detaining them at the border and returning them to their home country. That contradicts directly with their allegations of support of the LGBTQ+ migrants.
Brazil and India, that maintain a separate alliance from the other two blocks, released an official statement to the press that expressed their disappointment with their European counterparts and welcome these refugees in their territory. Now, they are demanding -not asking- for additional funding for infrastructure. The European representatives publicly recognized their contribution to this crisis but insist that there must exist equality in the reception of migrants because they can´t be the only parties with the duty of receiving asylum seekers. Maybe tomorrow the delegations will achieve a resolution that will benefit all asylum seekers, and specially those that identify as LGBTQ+.
The delegation of China is proposing the creation of LGBTQ+ exclusive camps to minimize the discrimination these group of refugees are currently facing. But this proposal doesn´t contribute a solution to the overflowing problematic affecting India and Brazil. In fact, it would create a bigger crisis in these countries. The representatives of the United Kingdom and Germany suggest, as an alternative, to improve the interview process that are in place in the current camps. They want to eliminate sexual specific questions to avoid targeting LGBTQ+ migrants and consequently reduce discrimination. Portugal affirms that to be able to reach a resolution, it is necessary that western and eastern countries cooperate to ensure the equal treatment and reception for LGBTQ+ refugees.
Despite this statement, the delegations are not making significant progress and are focusing too much on LGBTQ+ rights in their countries instead of the topic of the committee. Instead, the representatives are working in two separate blocks to reach an agreement. North Korea, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, and Ukraine propose to allocate additional funding to Brazil and India and improve situations in refugee camps. Meanwhile, the United States, Denmark, Portugal, and their allies want to make education, security, and integration the basic pillars of the resolution.
In the middle of the debate, a crisis involving Europe becomes the focus of the committee. Thousands of refugees are fleeing their countries to escape persecution since the passing of a law that established that all Britney Spears fans are gay. Nevertheless, several European States are detaining them at the border and returning them to their home country. That contradicts directly with their allegations of support of the LGBTQ+ migrants.
Brazil and India, that maintain a separate alliance from the other two blocks, released an official statement to the press that expressed their disappointment with their European counterparts and welcome these refugees in their territory. Now, they are demanding -not asking- for additional funding for infrastructure. The European representatives publicly recognized their contribution to this crisis but insist that there must exist equality in the reception of migrants because they can´t be the only parties with the duty of receiving asylum seekers. Maybe tomorrow the delegations will achieve a resolution that will benefit all asylum seekers, and specially those that identify as LGBTQ+.
A new migrant crisis: the LGBTQ+ Refugee
The UNHCR strives to ensure equal rights for migrants facing persecution because of their sexual orientation
1 febrero 2022
The United Nations Refugee Agency’s primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. And this statement includes the LGBTQ+ community that seeks asylum to escape persecution in their home country because of their sexual orientation or identity.
UNHCR strives to ensure that everyone can exercise their right to find safe refuge in another state, and to return home voluntarily and this should include LGBTQ+ refugees.
This topic sparks a debate with multiple point of views and conflicting opinions. Several delegations presented progressive views regarding the changes they want to implement to improve the assistance provided to the LGBTQ+ migrants. Specifically, Portugal, the United Kingdom, France, the United States of America, and Denmark are proposing to allocate financial resources to educate the population and spread awareness of the struggles that face these minorities. North Korea accuses these delegations of trying to impose their “wester values” to the rest of the world. The delegation also affirms that people in their territory do not face any type of discrimination and are ensured equal rights if they comply with the country’s communist ideology.
The delegation of Singapore agrees with the need of ensure equal treatment of LGBTQ+ refugees and offers monetary assistance and other resources to the States willing to receive them but refuses to accept these migrants in their territory. The United Arab Emirates also does not recognize same sex relationships but respects every country’s sovereignty and their decision of providing asylum for this community. On the other hand, the delegation of South Korea sustains that every country possesses different historical and cultural backgrounds, so the delegations should not expect to implement the global policies. The delegation calls for individual changes and improvements according to the needs of their citizens.
The debate didn´t provide many viable solutions to ensure the equal treatment and reception conditions for LGBTQ+ refugees. Many delegations agreed that improving education and raising awareness to mitigate the sources of discrimination against this community, as well as increasing the training of officials so they can improve the assistance given to these migrants are important programs for which they need to allocate financial resources.
Brazil, the only representation of the Latin American region on the committee, explains that these programs won’t be able to reach their target audience because there isn’t enough capacity in the current refugee camps to provide asylum to every person in need of assistance. India agrees and highlights the importance of increasing their capacity before employing resources for a minority of the refugees. The United States of America explains that fighting discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community will decrease the number of migrants citing persecution for their sexual orientation in their country of origin. All the delegations are actively trying to reach a solution for this new migrant crisis but first is necessary to address the concerns of capacity, so that any new measures that will be implemented in the future will help the LGBTQ+ refugees that are in dire need of assistance.
UNHCR strives to ensure that everyone can exercise their right to find safe refuge in another state, and to return home voluntarily and this should include LGBTQ+ refugees.
This topic sparks a debate with multiple point of views and conflicting opinions. Several delegations presented progressive views regarding the changes they want to implement to improve the assistance provided to the LGBTQ+ migrants. Specifically, Portugal, the United Kingdom, France, the United States of America, and Denmark are proposing to allocate financial resources to educate the population and spread awareness of the struggles that face these minorities. North Korea accuses these delegations of trying to impose their “wester values” to the rest of the world. The delegation also affirms that people in their territory do not face any type of discrimination and are ensured equal rights if they comply with the country’s communist ideology.
The delegation of Singapore agrees with the need of ensure equal treatment of LGBTQ+ refugees and offers monetary assistance and other resources to the States willing to receive them but refuses to accept these migrants in their territory. The United Arab Emirates also does not recognize same sex relationships but respects every country’s sovereignty and their decision of providing asylum for this community. On the other hand, the delegation of South Korea sustains that every country possesses different historical and cultural backgrounds, so the delegations should not expect to implement the global policies. The delegation calls for individual changes and improvements according to the needs of their citizens.
The debate didn´t provide many viable solutions to ensure the equal treatment and reception conditions for LGBTQ+ refugees. Many delegations agreed that improving education and raising awareness to mitigate the sources of discrimination against this community, as well as increasing the training of officials so they can improve the assistance given to these migrants are important programs for which they need to allocate financial resources.
Brazil, the only representation of the Latin American region on the committee, explains that these programs won’t be able to reach their target audience because there isn’t enough capacity in the current refugee camps to provide asylum to every person in need of assistance. India agrees and highlights the importance of increasing their capacity before employing resources for a minority of the refugees. The United States of America explains that fighting discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community will decrease the number of migrants citing persecution for their sexual orientation in their country of origin. All the delegations are actively trying to reach a solution for this new migrant crisis but first is necessary to address the concerns of capacity, so that any new measures that will be implemented in the future will help the LGBTQ+ refugees that are in dire need of assistance.
