Seriousness in UNICEF´s third day. Well, at least during the formal sessions, because there was also plenty of time for music, gossip box and fun. International delegates could not leave Spain without knowing “Amaia of Spain”.
​
The sessions started with two different proposals for a final resolution, which were sponsored by France and Colombia. That annoyed Brazilian delegate, who blamed on Colombia for refusing to talk with France for a resolution for a problem which affected everyone. Colombia affirmed that France wanted the two papers to be presented separately, but France´s delegate replied saying that she sent a message to her Colombia´s partner asking to work together, but she refused.

The afternoon session started with polemic. A rumour affirming that some members of the comitee had given positive in an alcohol control appeared. One of the involved persons was the delegate from Egypt, who abandoned the room to show his disapproval with this accusation. Finally, he returned to the session.

With the delegate back, the session started with a positive surprise. The French and Colombian delegate had resolved their differences during lunch break and presented together a unique resolution to eradicate and prevent school and domestic violence.

Among the strategies included, it includes the introduction of a security system consisting in pressing nine times the mobile phone´s main number to alert the police in case of violence against underage. It also recommends ECOSOC creating financial funds for the implementation of schools in collaboration with the World Bank.

After the introduction of the proposal and the questions and amendments presented by the committee’s members, voting took place and the results were clear. The resolution was approved with 24 votes in favour and only the vote from North Korea against. Maybe one day the Asian country will agree with the rest of the world, but today is not that day.

There was still some time for starting debates focused on the next topic: measures to protect underage from illicit trafficking in conflict areas. After today´s opening of this topic, there will only be one day left to reach an agreement. But there is still some faith, as the delegates have shown today that no ideologic barrier is unbreakable for them. Will they achieve it? The answer, tomorrow.

If first day in UNICEF promised, the second couldn´t be less. With the ice broken, the meetings were full of discussions, agreements and decisions since the first hour of the morning. Eradication and prevention of school and domestic violence remains as the main topic of the debate.​

Same topic, but new faces from delegates who were absent on Tuesday. Maybe they didn´t arrive to the meeting because they didn´t remember to put the Spanish hour on their watch, or maybe they found some problems with the flights… The important point is that they are ready to improve the diversity of the comitee.

One of these new faces was Colombia´s delegate, who seems to play a key role this year, as she doesn´t stop receiving calls from other delegations. “Education is not preparation for life. Education is life on itself”, said the Colombian representor to start her first speech.

There were some tense moments, like when Brazil reminded the USA the problems created by their policies in matter of two very different topics: arms and abortion. The American delegate reminded that the USA is a very catholic country and, with Donald Trump as president, changing things is not that easy. Maybe he loses his job after these words…

However, there is a said that affirms that those who fight are wishing each other, and there was a great complicity between the delegations from Brazil and the United States, at least in political issues. On the other hand, the USA´s delegate had some disputes with their partners from Russia and Chile.

There were also some attacks to Egypt, but it seems like the Egyptian delegate did not even notice. Some people think he fell asleep, but actually he was too busy sending messages to other delegates.  

Another main character on Wednesday was France´s delegate, who showed a more diplomatic attitude and became the leader of the first work paper of this UNICEF´s edition, which counted with the collaboration of the UK and Norway. The project collects various ideas and strategies such as the use of shelters or after-school activities.

The other work paper of the day was elaborated by the delegates from Saudi Arabia and Colombia. It suggests using money from the World Bank for the implementation of schools or setting organisations under UNICEF to let complains in countries of low liberty.

The session was so productive that it seemed that some solutions could be found on the second day, but the Guiness World Records weren´t available to register this record. So, the chairs decided to stop there and organized a spontaneous ludic session which lasted enough to enjoy the French version of “La Macarena” and the gossip anonymous notes. Well, a half of them anonymous and the other half from Egypt.

A lot of progress, but also a lot of fun, on the second day at UNICEF. Tomorrow, more and better.

Delegates soon abandoned the “shyness” of the first day and started passionate debates about the best ways to eradicate violence among children
​
The countdown is over and URJCmun is back on its sixth edition. And of course, the International Children´s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) remains one more year in the agenda of many countries. The first topic to be debated was the eradication and prevention of school and domestic violence.


On the first interventions of the day it seemed that the delegates were still a bit “frozen”, maybe due to the snow fallen in Madrid in the last 2 days. Even North Korea´s delegates seemed to be calm when they realized that their name was not on the list of the committee. But, as soon as the first moderate caucus came up, moderation disappeared, and each delegation defended energically its country´s position.


The first proposal for a moderate caucus was from the United States, but, as every single proposal made by its delegate, it was hugely rejected. Maybe he should ask himself it it´s a matter of politics or even something personal…   


Better luck for the United Kingdom´s proposal for a moderate caucus on ways to prevent children from abuse. Delegations seemed to have a similar point of view, but North Korea pointed out that the key point is not on the strategies or the laws but on the system. Some countries, like Brazil, showed their disapproval.


Moderate caucus continued and things started to get hotter. Hearing France´s delegate say that she agreed with any of her partners started to become an impossible dream. And it did not seem that the USA and North Korea would become friends this afternoon. However, it is not a surprise, as the Korean representors made the word “communism” become trending topic of the opening session. And everybody knows that the United States and communism are not very good friends…


Of course, there were also lots of points of agreement. Peru, for example, was grateful with Egypt for creating a moderate caucus for talking about the importance of press and social media on the fight against violence.


Out of fights and agreements, first day in UNICEF was a productive one. Delegates are very aware of the great drama of violence against underage and, by their attitude, children can be sure that they will do as much as it´s on their hand to make this problem become history.