UNICEF “breaks the ice” on its first journey

Imagen | David Muñoz

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.