Monday 15th: First day of Conference

I gotta feeling, that today is gonna be a good day! This is the first day at the Harvard World Modelisation of United Nations.

First I have to clarify what my job at the MUN is. As well as the entire german EBS team, I represent the Republic of South Africa. Knowing that last year, it was Sri Lanka, and that almost all the countries from the Falkland Islands to Swaziland are represented, we have a chance to play an important role.

Moreover, I am in the UNHRC: Human Rights Council. We are about 40 delegates in that council, and the topic we have prepared for weeks to put ourselves in the shoes of the people who drafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We want to state precisely what are the true rights that every human kind share.

This is a historical council, meant to happen in 1948. Therefore, we don’t represent our countries as they are now, but as there were in 1948. As a consequence, I don’t represent Nelson Mandela’s rainbow nations, but rather the Apartheid racist regime which was precisely established in 1948. This means I have very funny ideas about human rights. To conclude, I not the most enthusiastic about the UDHR.

After four days of debate, we will be voting for the document and reach a concensus. You can just vote for or abstain. From the beginning, I know I have good chances to abstain and that my objective is either to gather a big abstention or to have a limited document that would not put into danger my country.

Just before the beginning of the debates, I meet my 2 neighbours Lorenzo, an italian guy representing Poland, and Alex, a german representing Iran.

The MUN starts. I am the third to talk for 1 minute and unveil what I plan to do in the next 4 days. I say something that sounds like:

-“The Union of South Africa has shown great commitment to a declaration of Human rights in the past (the pre-apartheid president was one of the pioneers). Also, recent changes in the interior policy may change some of our positions. Now, South Africa is favorable to a UDHR, at the condition that it respects every countries personal choices and doesn’t jeopardize national stability. “

Until the next break I will be talking a lot, almost at every caucus. A caucus is a debate centered about a special topic, for example a caucus of 5 minutes on the definition of Human Rights.

It is interesting to notice from the starts the differences in ideas between the communists and western countries. The third-world countries also try to be heard.

During the afternoon session, we work on a definition of human rights. We spend the whole session on it, but we understand quickly that it is impossible to reach a consensus with 40 countries. Another point is whether the declaration should be binding or not. Some poor countries think the document won’t have any utility if it is not binding. Other like me think that we cannot apply this law on every country, and that it is the best way not to reach a consensus.

After the committee session, we go to eat in a taiwanese restaurant with the whole team. It is so great to debate during the day, to call people by a country name, to have formal debate and simply go party together at night as friends. This is called the MUN spirit.

PS: It is interesting to notice how chinese people eat at a restaurant. Different dishes are brought by the waitress as one goes on. Then every dish is brought at the middle of the table, and everybody is free to pick any food he wants, simply sharing it.