Key Terms and Takeaways

 Hello delegates!

As conference is approaching, we wanted to bring more clarity to the topic as we understand that research could be daunting and confusing at times (you got this tho <3) 

These are key terms that we think are crucial to the committee: 

- International Court of Justice: civil court that hears disputes between countries 

- Contentious cases: case submitted to the ICJ between two or more states due to an inability for the involved states to resolve the conflict, disagreement, or issue themselves (our topic falls under this category :O) 

- Jurisdiction: the extent of the power to make legal decisions and judgments (IMPORTANT to note that ICJ only holds jurisdiction when both parties agreed that they want to hear the court's decision) 

- Russo-Ukrainian War: conflict between Russia and Ukraine that was started in February of 2014 due to the ousting of Ukrainian president and Russian ally, Viktor Yanukovych, and resulting in the annexation of Crimea

- Ukraine v. Russian Federation: Ukraine saying that Russia's accusations that Ukrainians are enacting genocide against ethnic-Russians who are Ukrainian citizens in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions are false (the case we will be discussing throughout the committee) 

Three main takeaways in plain english: 

- The ICJ CANNOT enforce their rulings. It just gets pass down to the Security Council. 

- Ukraine was accused of genocide not Russia in this case. 

- Russia's main motive for kickstarting the war in Ukraine: expansion of NATO/ "westernification" of Ukraine, a strategic neighbor of Russia 


Good luck researching, and please do reach out if you have any questions or concerns regarding the topic. 


Best, 

Sophia Wang

Vice Chair 

ICJ, BMUN 71

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