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Articles by CIC students:

“Do You Want To Dance Under the Moonlight?”

Resolutions in the General Assembly: Of Human Organs and Natural Resources:

Resolutions in the Security Council: Of Nuclear Power in North Korea

The first resolution of the day came from the Human Rights Committee, and it had to do with the question of the eradication of illegal marketing of human organs. The countries that submitted this first resolution were Switzerland and the Republic of Congo. The resolution spoke about the illegal marketing of human organs and about the means by which the traffickers get the organs. According to the resolution, traffickers come into possession of the organs by means of force, a means which leaves both physical and psychological consequences on those from whom the organs are taken. Switzerland and the Republic of Congo called all nations to try to find a solution to the problem of illegal marketing of human organs by solving the problems where the demand for organs originates. They called on MEDC to donate organs and to help the LEDC because people in poor countries often need transplants but can not afford to pay for the needed operation.

Pointing out the injustice of the situation, The Republic of Congo said that a better life is offered to some people who have the money to pay, while others, because they do not have adequate health insurance, do not have the hope of a better life if their health is threatened. The resolution proposed that those who get the benefits of organ transplants and who have the money to do so, should help the poorer countries, where people die every day because they can not get the organ they need in time, or because they can not afford to pay for one.

One of the countries that participated in the debate had a very good point against this resolution. Poverty is one of the main causes of organ donations,, a crucial fact that was not mentioned in the resolution. Another country stated that the resolution was vague, and it tended to focus on the bright side of organ transplants and does not, in the end, mention or explain the illegal transplant. The country said that prisoners in China are having their organs taken illegally after they are given the death penalty.

The resolution failed for because of its vagueness and its failure to articulate real solutions to the problem.

In contrast to the failure of the first resolution to pass, others made it through. The third resolution, for instance, passed. It dealt with the question of the prevention of uncontrolled exploitation of marine resources. It was submitted by France and South Africa and called on all the nations to protect the marine ecosystem and thus the resources that humankind uses from the ocean.

During the General Assembly, the eighth clause of the third resolution was amended: so that the part that read “certain endangered species,” was changed to “capture of endangered species.” According to those who made the proposal, the resolution would be clearer if this change was made.

In the end the third resolution received twenty-seven votes in its favor and only ten  against it. Rwanda, one of the dissenting countries, said that the resolution was vague, did not offer useful solutions, and made the error of speaking about controlling natural disasters, which by their natural disasters cannot be controlled.

But the countries in favor of the resolution said that solution were present in the articulation of the resolution. In conclusion, the resolution has passed.

The fourth resolution originated in the Disarmament Committee, where “the question of reducing the role of natural resources in fueling conflict: oil, diamonds, and columbite-tantalite” was discussed. The submitters, Switzerland and Canada, encouraged all nations to make a unified effort to solve the conflict of the illicit trade of natural resources. They also went on to encourage governments to create campaigns that would raise awareness of the conflict. The delegation from Canada believed a unified effort would bring a solution to this problem.