Approaching the Topic

 Hi delegates!


As we prepare for Conference next weekend (yay!), I wanted to get on here and briefly talk about how you all should approach this topic.


We’ve been grading the position papers that have been submitted thus far, and wanted to first and foremost clarify what our topic actually is. 


Our debate is centered around the current/ongoing ICJ case titled: Allegations of Genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Ukraine v. Russian Federation).


To firmly clarify here, our committee is NOT about Bosnia-Herzegovina v. Serbia & Montenegro. The Position Paper guide utilized the Bosnian Genocide as an example when discussing how to write an ICJ-style position paper, but our topic has been clearly expressed multiple times (on the BMUN website, in our Newsletter emails, and in your committee assignments) as regarding the ICJ case on Russia-Ukraine.   


Please make sure you are prepared to discuss the ICJ case on Russia-Ukraine when you enter committee next weekend. 


Now that I’ve said my piece, I would like to offer 3 pieces of advice on how to approach this topic:


  1. Make sure you understand what is being ruled in this case. To put it simply, the question being asked in this case is whether or not Russia’s claims of genocide against Ukraine are justified or not. And, if they are deemed to be falsified claims, then what repercussions should Russia face for using claims of genocide as justification for their invasion of Ukraine? 

  2. Make sure you have a clear and thorough understanding of both the powers and limitations of the ICJ. The ICJ, for example, is not able to enact war against Russia or commit any real, aggressive action. However, there are certain actions the ICJ can take, which is what you must focus on in your rulings.

  3. Make sure you have a strong understanding of the international law and documents surrounding this case and generally surrounding questions of war and genocide. It might even be worth looking into past precedents of cases that intersect territorial disputes, ethnic divides, and war (think: Bosnia/Serbia, Israel/Palestine, Rwanda, Myanmar, etc.). 


With this, it is vital that you enter committee with your initial rulings AND strong evidence to back up your rulings. The level of evidence you have is what will make you stand out to us.


Looking forward to meeting you all in-person next weekend and please email us at icjbmunlxxi@bmun.org if you have any questions!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Recent updates to the case

 Hey Delegates! I hope everyone's doing well! As you guys prepare for BMUN this march, I wanted to make a quick post on some of the recent updates to this case: The latest press release from the ICJ details the declaration of intervention filed by the nation of Liechtenstein, following the declarations of other nations as well. Most notable of these is the United States , a nation that previously has remained on the sidelines of most other ICJ cases.  While member states may submit a declaration of intervention, the admissibility of the declaration must first be decided upon by the ICJ, with the parties to the case (Russia and Ukraine) being allowed to submit written observations on a declaration for the court to consider when judging.  In its submission of a declaration of intervention, the US has also answered two questions regarding both the jurisdiction and merits of this case. The US, generally cautious to cede jurisdiction to international bodies, has encouraged broader juri
Read more

Procedure Guide + Committee Flow

 Hi delegates! As we gear up for Conference, I thought I would get on here and briefly describe how our committee will run next month. We will go over this in more detail at the beginning of Committee Session 1, so feel free to ask any questions when we go over this day of. I'm open to suggestions on the flow of committee as well, so if there's anything you'd like to see/do during committee, make sure to let me, Deepak, and Sophia know when we get to committee! You can find the Procedure Guide here , which describes how we will open debate, how we will address witnesses, and how we will issue verdicts/rulings. Keep in mind that the Procedure Guide uses the Bosnian Genocide as an example, but our topic is regarding the Russia-Ukraine ICJ case.  As for committee flow, you can expect to enter committee and  1. Be given a run down of the committee structure and flow  2. Be introduced to the ICJ case by your dais  3. Open debate with a mandatory Speaker’s List organized by count
Read more

Tips for Rulings

 TIPS FOR ISSUING YOUR RULINGS Hi delegates! I wanted to offer a few tips on how to frame your rulings during our committee sessions, so without further adieu...  1. I encourage you all to begin acquiring evidence (international laws and documents, past precedents, theories that can explain the case, case facts, etc.) to back any and all of your rulings. 2. Be rational and realistic in your rulings. Recognize the limitations of the ICJ and the international community in addressing a conflict of this magnitude.  3. Think about the possibility of reconciliation!!! Although it does seem like a long-shot right now that Ukraine and Russia could be reconciled in the future, it is vital that we as Justices begin brainstorming solutions to the conflict that could enable reconciliation between the two states. I would encourage you to look into past cases of a similar nature and note how reconciliation efforts succeeded and failed in the past, then adapt your approach as such. Very excited for C
Read more