DCHSMUNC I

Delegate Guide
Secretary General:
John Buterbaugh
Deputy Secretary General:
Madalin How
 Welcome to DCHSMUNC I
Purpose and Background
DCHSMUNC I is a small but professional simulation of the United Nations done by and
for the students of the DCHS Model UN Team set to take place on Saturday, September 23,
2017. The idea of hosting a conference has been in the club for a long time, so this will serve as a
sort of trial run for us to see how such a conference would operate on a larger level. The larger
purpose behind the conference, however, is to provide all members with a way to practice and
develop their MUN skills without the stress and pressure of a collegiate conference. The
conference will operate in a similar manner to a real collegiate conference and the daises will act
as daises at real conferences do. In this vein, all delegates must dress as though this were a
collegiate conferences, in wester-business style dress. This conference is all about providing the
members of our Model UN team the practice and feel of a real collegiate conference, so that
level of professionalism and courtesy is also expected of participating delegates.

Position Papers
In order to give our delegates a true Model UN experience, position papers are required
for this conference. Position papers are done prior to the conference as part of the research
section of Model UN. They express your knowledge and understanding of your member states
diplomatic leanings and positions. Position papers are an essential part of Model United Nations
and will be taken seriously at this conference. Position papers must use Times New Roman Font,
size 10-12, and use proper Chicago/Turabian style citations. Similarly, the position paper should
be between one to two pages long and cover both topics facing the committee. A sample position
paper as well as the position paper rubric will be posted on the DCHSMUN website to guide you
in this process. We will also hold meetings dedicated just to position paper writing. Position
papers are due on September 20th.

The Simulation
This simulation of the United Nations will focus around the actions and functions of the
United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The UNSC will be explained further in another
section, but in general, the UNSC is the most important, crucial, and active of all of the United
Nations bodies. In this simulation of the Security Council, two pertinent security issues of
international importance will be put forward to the Council. These two topics have been chosen
and dutifully researched by the Secretary General and the Deputy Secretary General of the
conference. These issues will provide the delegates with a sense of the sort of topics discusses
not only at collegiate Model UN conferences, but at the actual United Nations.
During this simulation, delegates will be expected to follow the rules of Model United
Nations during all aspects of debate and caucusing. The conference will follow the rules of
Harvard Model UN that can be found on the clubs website (dchsmun.weebly.com) under the
Member Resources page. Alongside the expectation of debate, we also expect our delegates to
draft and vote on resolutions in an attempt to solve the problems posed by the topics. A sample
resolution will be posted on the website as well and guidance will be provided before and during
the conference to all delegates.

Awards
The following awards will be given out at DCHSMUNC I:
Outstanding Delegate Award- To be awarded to the best in show, a delegate
who accurately portrayed their countrys positions and actively and effectively
participated in debate and resolution-making.
Distinguished Delegate Award- To be awarded to the delegate with the second
best overall performance at the conference based on the same criteria as the
Outstanding Delegate Award.
Outstanding Position Paper Award- To be awarded to the delegate with the best
position paper as judged by the daises.
Logistics
Hosting a Model United Nations conference is no small task, and as this is the first time
this school has attempted it, we would like to ask all delegates to be patient and understanding in
the face of any potential hiccups. With that said, however, we would like to request for all
delegates to bring $10 with them to the conference or to pay that amount to the club in advance.
This fee will cover overhead for the conference (making awards, printing placards, etc) as well
as provide for lunch. We are planning on serving pizza as well as chips and drinks during lunch.
If you have any dietary restrictions that we need to know about, please let us know as soon as
possible! We will make accommodations in whatever ways we can. The committee session is
planned to take place in Mr. Adamss room in the Steele (freshmen) building.

Schedule
The conference schedule is as follows:
9:00: Introduction in Committee, Review of Rules
9:15: Roll Call I
9:15-12:00: Major Session I
12:00-12:30: Lunch Break
12:45: Roll Call II
12:45-4:00: Major Session II
4:00-4:30: Closing Remarks and Awards Ceremony
 Intro to the Security Council
Background and Duties
The Security Council is the single most powerful body within the United Nations
apparatus. Under the United Nations Charter, the UNSC has the responsibility for the
maintenance of international peace and security. When critical situations of security happen
around the world, the Security Council leads the response. Unlike other bodies of the United
Nations, the Security Council has enforcement power, and that can, and has, extended to the use
of force. It is important for delegates to keep in mind the responsibilities as well as the
far-reaching powers of the Security Council as they approach this conference.
Composition
The Security Council is composed of fifteen members. The five permanent members of
the Security Council (referred to as the P5) are the United States of America, the Peoples
Republic of China (the Republic of China before 1971), the Russian Federation, the French
Republic, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. These countries were,
generally speaking the main coalition of the
Allied forces in World War II and thus were
selected as permanent members by the UN
Charter when it was drafted shortly after the war.
Besides holding permanent seats, these select
states also have the power to veto any resolution
that comes before the council. This power is used
rather sparingly (see figure to the right), as on
most resolutions the permanent members of the Security Council tend to agree.
Alongside the five permanent members, there are ten additional members of the Security
Council who are elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms. The current slate of
non-permanent members as well as their end of term date are as follows: Bolivia (2018), Egypt
(2017), Ethiopia (2018), Italy (2017), Japan (2017), Kazakhstan (2018), Senegal (2017), Sweden
(2018), Ukraine (2017), and Uruguay (2017).
Special Rules and Procedures
The United Nations Security Council functions very similarly to other UN bodies. For
any resolution to pass the Security Council, it must have nine votes in the affirmative (yea votes)
and it must not have a dissenting (nay) vote from any of the permanent members. Furthermore,
for the purposes of the Security Council, an abstention by a P5 member does not represent a
veto. Fittingly with their position as the most important body of the UN, the UNSC also has the
power to delegate and refer responsibilities and judgements to other bodies. The UNSC does not
handle these issues directly, they instead delegate and instruct other bodies, especially as it
relates to investigatory and regulatory actions. Delegates should keep in mind these special rules
and functions of the Security Council as they go forward at this conference.
 Topic I. Response to the reported persecution of LGBT
persons in Chechnya
Chechnya
Chechnya or The Chechen Republic is a federal subject of the Russian Federation.
Chechnya is situated in the North Caucasus region of Eastern Europe and is bordered by Georgia
and Russia. Chechnya has been under Russian
control since the 18th century, although the
region has been increasingly contested since
1991. In 1991, with the dissolution of the Soviet
Union, Chechen officials declared independence
from the USSR and its successor state, Russia.
In the First Chechen War (1994-1996), Russia
failed in reasserting control over the Chechen
region due to effective insurgency tactics on
behalf of the Chechens. Despite this success, Chechnya suffered many losses in the war and their
economy and infrastructure was devastated. Following a brief inter-war period, Russia was
finally successful in subjugating Chechnya in the Second Chechen War (1999-2000). Chechnya
is now a federal subject of the Russian Federation and enjoys limited autonomy under the larger
Russian structure.
Chechnya is comprised mostly of native Chechens (about 95% of the population) and the
predominant religion is Islam. Chechnya has had its difficulties with international human rights
watchdog groups in the past. Due to the unrest of the wars of the 1990s, theres been widespread
reports of rampant kidnapping, persecution of minorities, and violence.
The Current Situation
Beginning in February 2017, there have been accusations of the targeted persecution of
LGBT Chechens. Reports by human rights groups and media sources in the area indicate that
Chechens who are perceived to be homosexual have been abducted, held prisoner and tortured
by local authorities. Conditions in the facilities that imprison these persons have been compared
to concentration camps. Although human rights groups, such as Amnesty International, have
before warned of abuses against LGBT Chechens before, the current accusations of violence far
outpace previous reports of persecution in the region.
Amnesty International now reports that up to 100 men have been tortured based on their
perceived sexuality. Violence erupted earlier this year as efforts on behalf of LGBT activists to
organize a Pride parade in the region was met with stiff resistance and bitter backlash. It is
believed that these initial detentions came, at least in part, from those among that group of
activists. The Chechen authorities are the main perpetrators of the abuse. Local authorities have a
running list of suspects who are believed to be homosexual. In addition, police have been
conducting entrapment schemes, where suspected homosexuals are lured into what they believe
to be a date, but then subsequently humiliated, beaten, and arrested. Afterwards, captured men
are tortured and interrogated into revealing others for the police to add to their suspects list.
The government is not the only source of persecution for LGBT Chechens, however, as
Human Rights Watch reported in 2017 that "it is difficult to overstate just how vulnerable LGBT
people are in Chechnya, where homophobia is intense and rampant. LGBT people are in danger
not only of persecution by the authorities but also of falling victim to 'honour killings' by their
own relatives for tarnishing family honor. In total, there have been confirmed reports of at least
three deaths at the hands of the Chechen authorities. Furthermore, eyewitnesses have described
the conditions at the detainment camps as resembling concentration camps and have reported the
use of waterboarding and electro-shock torture.
Reactions
The reports from Chechnya has spurred widespread condemnation and international
horror, especially in western countries. Protests against the atrocities have appeared in cities
across the world and celebrities including Ellen DeGeneres have campaigned against it. Human
rights groups have made efforts to bring the issue to the attention of governments, and countries
such as the United Kingdom, France, the United States, and Germany, have released statements
expressing concern for activities in the region. On 13 April 2017, a panel of five experts that
advises the United Nations Human Rights Council called on Chechnya to "put an end to the
persecution of people perceived to be gay or bisexual in the Chechen Republic who are living in
a climate of fear fueled by homophobic speeches by local authorities". The United States
Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, also released a statement condemning the
violence and urging Russia to act on the issue. World leaders such as Angela Merkel of Germany
and Emmanuel Macron of France have also made personal overtures to Russian President
Vladimir Putin in an attempt to get his government to put an end to the violence in Chechnya.
Local Chechen authorities have denied any persecution of LGBT persons. The
Russian-backed Head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, has repeatedly denied the
allegations, as well as the mere existence of LGBT Chechens at all. Following earlier statements
by a government representative with the same themes, in a television interview slated for
broadcast on July 18, Kadyrov reiterated his earlier contention that there are no gay people in
Chechnya and denied that they had been arrested and tortured by his government. "We dont
have any gays," he said. "If there are any, take them to Canada. To purify our blood, if there are
any here, take them." In the interview, he called the men who stated they had been tortured as
"devils". He stated, "They made it up." adding, "They are for sale. They are subhuman. God
damn them for slandering us. They will have to answer to the Almighty for this." The Russian
government has also seemingly been inactive and uncaring in their response. After pressure from
foreign leaders and human rights groups, Putin launched an investigatory team on May 5th.
Despite these promises, Russian human rights groups have indicated that these efforts are
half-hearted and possibly non-existent and that the Chechen government has attempted to
cover-up any evidence pertaining to their activities. It would seem that there is no verifiable end
in sight for the crisis, seeing as there is a lack of will in both Chechnya and Russia to solve the
crisis. Reports from the Kremlin, however, remain steadfast in asserting that Russia is trying to
find more confirmation of the issue, and then solve it if one does exist.
Council Directive
The United Nations Security Council is entrusted to protect peace, ensure security, and
enforce the articles of the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Presented
with reports of such gross human rights violations, the UNSC must act. Possible ways forward
include, but are not limited to: a UN sponsored investigatory committee, UN sanctions on
Chechnya and/or Russia, or UN enforcement of the articles of the UDHR. It is unlikely that such
drastic actions would be taken at this time, but it is within the power of the UNSC to do so. The
most likely action will lie in an investigatory mission and possible condemnations. It is
important, however, that delegates remain open to new solution and are creative in their
solutions.
Some questions that the committee should keep in mind as they address this issue are:
1. How can the UN develop the facts of this issue with competing narratives from NGOs
and the Chechen and Russian governments?
2. How far can the UNSC go in protecting human rights without infringing upon national
sovereignty?
3. What are the short and long term to this issue as well as the prevailing issue of LGBT
protection internationally?
 Topic II. Combatting global, supranational terrorism
The Rise of Terror
The definition of terrorism has been molded into various forms, but it can be broadly
defined as the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the
pursuit of political aims. Splintered into many different meanings, the understanding of terror is
categorized into five main subgroups: State-Sponsored terrorism, Dissent terrorism, Terrorists
and the Left and Right, Religious terrorism, and Criminal Terrorism. Radical groups typically are
driven by a combination of these different motives and are spurred on by an avid group of
followers. Regrettably within the last three decades, terrorism has grown from its domestic
dysfunction into an expansive mass of violence that has been networked on supranational scale.
Since the world is more interconnected than ever, terroristic groups have been able to utilize
modern forms of communication, thus turning sovereign disputes into multi-national anarchy.
Although global terrorism has its roots within the late 1990s, the pertinence of this issue
emerged after the monumental September 11, 2001 attacks. For the first time in history, a
terrorist group had directly impacted a country thousands of miles away from its own base by
using intricate strategy to infiltrate a superpowers borders. The horrendous attacks demonstrated
the need for a fortified security, and stressed stricter policy to prevent events similar in nature.
American foreign policy took a sharp militarial turn, with a newfound disdain to softer
diplomatic approaches seen in previous years. As mentioned earlier, the ambiguity of terrorism
makes it a difficult issue to solve, and the after effects of 9/11 have highlighted the faults in both
methods of direct or diplomatic force.
Terror Today
Almost every corner of the world is currently being affected by a terrorist group, yet no
one is containing it effectively. The lack of control can be attributed to broad anti-terror
movements which do not focus on the ultimate goals of peace, security, and conflict resolution.
Internationally, terror-related deaths have increased, with the largest increases seen within the
western world. Looking at previous trends,
typically countries with large scale defense
such as nuclear weapons have been terror
free, yet in recent years these countries have
also come under attack. In Europe and the
United States, terrorist attacks have been
elaborately planned with a multitude of
attack methods, the most common being
home-made bombs and vehicular homicides.
These attacks are strategic due to the
coverage they receive, for terrorist groups
penetrate a false sense of safety and expose more people to their doctrine in the process. No one
can predict the next incident, so a shift towards preventing radicalization has taken place, but
more direct issues remain within the Middle East and African regions. The most prominent
groups include the Islamic State, Boko Haram, Al-Shabaab, Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and The
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. Unfortunately, 78% of all terror attacks occur in Iraq,
Afghanistan, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Syria, which make up the top five within the Global
Terrorism Index (GTI). Governments within these countries have been overrun by the violence ,
coerced by these groups, or in some cases, officials are current members of or have been in
alliance with these groups. Overall the human rights in these countries are seemingly
non-existent, and their condition heeds warning for the potential damage terror can cause if it
continues at its current rate.
Actions Taken
Global terrorism has been condemned by almost all member state, and national
governments alongside the United Nations continue to take action. As recently as January 15,
2017, the Office of Counter-Terrorism was created in order reduce terrorism through its five
main functions:
(a) provide leadership on the General Assembly counter-terrorism mandates entrusted to
the Secretary-General from across the United Nations system;
(b) enhance coordination and coherence across the 38 Counter-Terrorism Implementation
Task Force entities to ensure the balanced implementation of the four pillars of the UN
Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy;
(c) strengthen the delivery of United Nations counter-terrorism capacity-building
assistance to Member States;
(d) improve visibility, advocacy and resource mobilization for United Nations
counter-terrorism efforts; and
(e) ensure that due priority is given to counterterrorism across the United Nations system
and that the important work on preventing violent extremism is firmly rooted in the
Strategy.

The United Nations as a whole sees terrorism as a major hurdle to peace and believes that in
order to have complete security, terrorism must be eradicated. Branches such as the High
Commissioner of Human Rights and the High Commissioner of Refugees have worked tirelessly
in order to provide aid for those affected by terror and to accept those who have displaced.
Council Directive
The United Nations Security Council is entrusted with the tasks of protecting peace,
ensuring security, and enforcing the articles of the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights in the hopes of creating a better world for everyone to live in. Continuously
exposed to morbid human rights violations, it is the UNSCs responsibility to act immediately.
Possible ways forward include, but are not limited to: a UN sponsored investigatory committee,
UN sanctions on countries in turmoil, further enforcement of the articles of the UDHR, or quite
possibly direct military action. It is plausible that such drastic actions could be taken at this time,
and it is within the power of the UNSC to do as they see fit. Actions will be triggered by
agreements between member states of varying opinions. Additionally, it is of the utmost
importance that delegates remain open to new and creative solutions.
Some questions that the committee should keep in mind as they address this issue are:
1. How can the UN prevent further terrorist groups from originating while simultaneously
destroying those already in existence?
2. How far can the UNSC go in protecting human rights without infringing upon national
sovereignty of other member states, especially those affected directly ?
3. What are some compromises that can be made in order to help solve both short and long
term terrorism globally?
 Topic III. Preventative actions for the security threat of
climate change
Introduction
As the destruction of Hurricane Harvey and Irma have made clear in the United States,
climate change and its effects pose a grave threat to international security. Climate change is
multifaceted however, and so are its threats to international security. Among the most pressing
issues, however, are rising sea-levels, increased temperatures, and increasing frequency and
intensity of natural disasters. Furthermore, American generals have called climate change a
catalyst for conflict, as competition for resources (particularly water), can bring conflict to
regions around the world. Here, this guide will outline the major causes behind climate change,
their potential security threats, and present questions for the committee to consider as it
addresses this issue.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The main catalyst for climate change and global warming lies in the production of
greenhouse gases (primarily CO2 but also
gases like methane (CO4) and
hydrofluorocarbons). Greenhouse gases,
when found in large number in the outer
atmosphere, create the greenhouse effect.
Although the mechanics behind their
warming effects are different, the
atmosphere, much like a greenhouse, heats
up the area under it. As solar radiation
enters the atmosphere, most passes through
and is absorbed by the earths surface. A
significant portion, however, is reemitted in
the form of infrared radiation. This heat
then attempts to leave the atmosphere, where it is absorbed by greenhouse gas particles. These
particles then emit radiation in all directions, including back down to earth. These particles,
therefore, help the earth retain heat by trapping some of the infrared radiation that is attempting
to leave.
The greenhouse effect is necessary to create the temperatures to allow for life on earth,
but it also can be dangerous if the heat it traps is excessive. Since 1750, with the rise of industry
and the emission of CO2 from the combustion of fossil fuels (oil, coal, etc), the concentration of
CO2 in the atmosphere has increased by forty percent. This has caused a dramatic increase in
global average temperatures, particularly throughout the 20th century. The American National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has reported that this past year was anomalous
from the mean temperature by 1, and the general trend has shown that these temperature has
been increasing at an increasingly quicker pace worldwide. Climate model projections produced
by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in their Fifth Assessment Report
indicated that during the 21st century, the global surface temperature is likely to rise a further 0.3
to 1.7 C (0.5 to 3.1 F) in the lowest emissions scenario, and 2.6 to 4.8 C (4.7 to 8.6 F) in the
highest emissions scenario. The effects of climate change are immediate and devastating so it is
imperative that the global community be quick to act. Furthermore, that same report seemed to
cement the connection between global climate change and greenhouse gas emissions, concluding
that "It is extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed
warming since the mid-20th century.".
Rising Sea Levels
The average sea level, too, has risen sharply over the past century. National Geographic
reports that over the past century, sea levels have risen by approximately 10 to 20 centimeters (4
to 8 inches). Even more worrying, however, is their report that the rate of increase is also
shooting upwards. National Geographic reports that sea levels have risen twice as quickly in the
past twenty years than in the preceding eighty. The two main causes of the rising sea levels are
all attributed to man-made climate change: thermal expansion in water and the melting of
glaciers and polar icecaps. Both of these factors have their origins in global warming caused by
greenhouse gas emissions. Thermal expansion takes place when water is heated and makes the
water take up more space, whereas the melting of glaciers and ice is mostly attributable to
increasing temperatures worldwide.
The security threat posed by rising waters is clear. By 2010, more than 80% of all people
on earth lived within 62 kilometers (39 miles) of the coast. Rising sea levels pose grave threats to
low-lying coastal areas, islands, and deltas. If the current trends hold, major global cities such as
New York City and Hong Kong could be threatened by flooding.The Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change says we can expect the oceans to rise between 11 and 38 inches (28 to 98
centimeters) by 2100, enough to swamp many of the cities along the U.S. East Coast. More dire
estimates, including a complete meltdown of the Greenland ice sheet, place sea level rise to 23
feet (7 meters), enough to submerge London. Furthermore, the rising sea levels can threaten
environments and ecosystems in coastal areas, striking huge blows against global biodiversity.
Competition For Resources
Climate change can often have long-term destabilizing effects on regions. Scarce
resources and changing climates can prompt ecological refugee crises or even war as states
compete for limited resources. When it comes to competition for resources, it seems that these
factors will be the cause of destabilization in the long-term future. A US National Intelligence
Council assessment estimates that by 2030 demand for food will be up 25%, fresh water 40%
and energy 50%. Already, the UN estimates that 40% of countries are in water stress zones,
defined as using more than 20% of their fresh water supply each year. And many of these
countries are already among the most vulnerable to crisis. Inadequate government responses to
droughts or floods open the door for terrorist groups to provide assistanceas was seen in
Somalia in 2011-2012 and Pakistan in 2010. The changing face of the resource market as climate
change rages on has the possibility to topple governments and bring the security of the world
order into question.
Climate change refugees also pose a new risk to the global security community. As
Europe is reeling from the Syrian refugee crisis, a new one is emerging in the Sahel region of
Africa. As the desertification of that region continues, thousands of locals are forced to flee,
losing their lands and their way of life while also putting pressure on the surrounding regions.
Furthermore, these tense situations may be the perfect opportunity for terrorist organizations to
take hold. Desertification with attendant negative impacts on rural livelihoods in northern Mali
has been cited as a contributing factor to a jihadist uprising that has left Al Qaeda in the Islamic
Maghreb in control of part of the country. It is essential that these security issues which arise
from climate change be addressed.
Council Directive
With the threat of climate change to security made clear, it is now essential that the
Security Council must act. It is important for delegates to remember that although speaking of
rectifying climate change is relevant for this committee, the focus should stay clearly on the
security threats of climate change and working towards counteracting them. Do not forget the
UNSCs power to delegate to other bodies when facing this issue, as directions from the UNSC
can lead more specialized committees towards doing research, drafting resolutions, are
conducting operations that are complementary to the UNSCs goals. Research on the topic of
climate change is a possibility in this committee, but delegates should refer to past UN work on
that issue as a guide and be sure their proposals have not already been adopted by the UN. As
this topic is a security threat for all nations, an international task force of some kind may be a
possibility, although it is important that delegates remain respectful of state sovereignty. In all,
this is a tricky issue, one that the international community is still dealing with, and one that will
be difficult to solve.
Some questions for the council to consider, however, are:
1. What is the full extent of climate changes impact on international security specifically?
2. What UN frameworks could this body build upon in order to prevent future climate
change related security crises?
3. How can the UNSC balance state sovereignty over the environment with its duty to
protect both the environment and international security?
 Conclusion
The Secretary General is looking forward to constructive debate and thorough solutions
to all the crucial topics found here. This conference truly is a great opportunity for all of our
DCHS delegates to get some practice in and show their stripes as a Model UN delegate. Thanks
for your participation and dont forget to have fun!

If you have any questions feel free to contact your Secretary General in the following
ways:

Telephone (text only): 678-920-9349

Email: johnbuterbaugh39@gmail.com