Special Session of the UN Security Council

FU Berlin und das Auswärtige Amt. Bewerbungsschluß: 26. Februar 2013
A Conference part of the Transformationpartnership of the Federal Foreign Office

Berlin, 27 March 2013

The situation in Libya stirred up the ongoing debate on the so called concept of Responsibility to Protect. The concept was introduced in 2001 by the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty and since then has found its way into major documents like the Report by former Secretary-General Kofi Annan "In Larger Freedom" and the 2005 World Summit Outcome Document. According to the latter, each State has the "responsibility to protect its populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity". Where States are unable or unwilling to assume this responsibility, it shifts to the international community to take collective actions through the UN Security Council to ensure the protection of the population. In the case of Libya, on 17 March 2011 the Security Council established a no-fly zone with Resolution 1973. Five Security Council Members abstained, among them China, the Russian Federation and Germany. The debate showed that around the concept of the Responsibility to Protect many questions arise: In which cases does it apply? Which are the appropriate measures to be taken? Under which circumstances is a military intervention authorized by the Security Council legitimate?

In order to deal with new developments especially in Syria, the Security Council has convened a Special Session on 27 March 2013 in Berlin. Together with Diplomats from Egypt students from all departments are invited to represent the current Members of the Council.

For your preparation, we will provide a comprehensive Background Guide. Additionally, there will be three mandatory preparation meetings (4 March, 15.00 - 16.30 h and 20 March, 16.00 - 18.00 h, the third tba in April) where all Delegations will meet and participants are introduced to the topic and the Rules of Procedure. Please note that Delegations are asked to prepare a one-page Position Paper. The Conference language will be

It is possible to receive 10 ECTS-credits (Schlüsselqualifikationsschein, FB Rechtswissenschaft) if you additionally write an essay.

Members of the UN Security Council in 2013: Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, China, France, Guatemala, Luxembourg, Morocco, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Togo, United Kingdom, United States.

Conference Fee: € 18,- (for preparation and conference material, as well as catering during the conference)

Applications are to be sent via email until 26 February 2013 to Peggy Wittke
Your application should include:

• Personal Details (Name, Address, Phone, Email)
• Short CV, including field of studies and number of semesters
• 3 country preferences
• Short letter of motivation

For further information please contact:
Peggy Wittke

Model United Nations / Model European Union

Freie Universität Berlin

Boltzmannstr. 3, 14195 Berlin

Phone: (030) 838 547 05

Email: peg@zedat.fu-berlin.de

Die Konferenz wird im Sommersemester 2013 fortgesezt.
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