2nd Macau Model United Nations Conference
It aims to provide an international platform for secondary school students from Macau and the region to develop their strengths, explore and analyse current affairs and international issues, broaden their international perspectives, develop their critical thinking skills, and enhance their leadership skills. It is also hoped that this event will enhance the academic and community involvement of the Model United Nations in Macao.
Committee Introduction
Committee: Legislative Assembly of Macao
Topic: Discussion of the Law on the Prevention and Combating of Domestic Violence
Academic Advisor: Professor Meng U IEONG (Assistant Professor, Department of Government and Public Administration, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macao; Academic Advisor of MMUNPA)
Seats: 33 seats, totalling 66 delegates; mixed representation system
Working language: Traditional Chinese (Cantonese)
Home is our warm harbour, but for some people, it is an endless prison.
For a long time, domestic violence was considered a private matter, not subject to government intervention. But as society has developed, many have come to realise that domestic violence is no longer a matter for behind closed doors, but one that urgently requires state intervention. In 1993, the United Nations General Assembly issued the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, expressing its determination to eliminate violence against women and domestic violence worldwide. Subsequently, the issue gained increasing attention from more countries and regions. For example, Taiwan passed the “Domestic Violence Prevention Act” as early as 1998, while Hong Kong enacted the civil law “Domestic Violence Ordinance” in 1986.
In Macau, domestic violence has always been a topic of public discussion. However, the definition of domestic violence, its scope, penalties, and even the groups to which it applies all require in-depth discussion to reach a consensus. The penalties prescribed by law will have long-term implications for how victims reintegrate into society, pursue custody and child maintenance, and even access welfare benefits. Although there is already a certain international consensus on domestic violence, how to enact domestic violence legislation that suits Macau's circumstances still requires the efforts of all parties.
Let us return to the 2016 timeline and consider how the parliamentary tug-of-war can be turned into a workable policy, making the domestic violence law more comprehensive and well-rounded to protect everyone from the hidden harms of intimate relationships.
Committee: United Nations Security Council
Topic: The threat to international peace and security posed by acts of terrorism
Academic Supervisor: Professor Weiwen YIN (Assistant Professor, Department of Government and Public Administration, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau)
Seats: 20 seats, totalling 35 delegates; mixed representation system
Working Language: Traditional Chinese (Mandarin)
‘I stand upon a high mountain and call out the name of Ali, Ali, the Lion of God. O Ali, Lion of God, King of Men, bring joy to our sorrowful hearts.’
— Khaled Hosseini, ‘The Kite Runner’
In distant and ancient memory, the Hindu Kush mountain range has always been one of the natural boundaries between the Arab world and Indian civilisation. Conquerors from Arabia, Persia and Turkic lands attempted time and again to cross this natural barrier to establish their own dynasties; yet this majestic mountain range has also bound together the peoples living on either side of its foothills. Whether Pashtuns, Tajiks or Hazaras, they have all lived together on this highland terrain, writing their own magnificent chapters of history; this is Afghanistan.
In 1992, the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan collapsed amid the tumultuous tide of the Cold War’s end, replaced by the fragile Interim Government of the Islamic State of Afghanistan. The tense political standoff between the major warlords provided the Taliban with an opportunity to grow rapidly. In 1996, the Taliban captured the capital, Kabul, and established their own regime—the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Tajik, Kazakh and Uzbek warlords formed an alliance in the north and continued their armed resistance against Taliban rule. In 2001, the intervention of a US-led coalition broke this deadlock; the Taliban were driven out of the capital by the Northern Alliance, which subsequently established the new Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
However, the situation in Afghanistan remained unstable; the US-led coalition failed to bring about order and security in the country, and war and chaos continued to be the norm in Afghanistan for some time. The Taliban made a resurgence, recapturing lost territory, whilst the multinational coalition gradually withdrew. The military and police forces of the Kabul government teetered on the brink of collapse, and young fighters took centre stage as victors. Internationally, the influence of the Islamic State continued to seep into the region amidst a wave of radicalism. Terrorism is stirring in this fertile ground of chaos, lying in wait for an opportunity to strike. At this critical juncture, will the United Nations Security Council seize the moment to curb the forces of international terrorism using Afghanistan as a springboard, and restore peace and stability to the region? The power to do so now rests in your hands; we hope you will make a historic decision.
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Committee: Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee (SOCHUM)
Topic: Addressing population ageing and cultivating ageing-friendly society
Academic Adviser: Dr. Dennis Tam (President of the Supervisory Council, Geography and
Education Research Association of Macau, Academic Adviser of MMUNPA)
Seats: 45 seats, Single Delegation
Working language: English (British English)
According to UN standards, population ageing is often referred to the increasing proportion of older adults, people who age over 60 in the population. This demographic shift is occurring worldwide and is possibly driven by declining fertility rates and increased life expectancy. The growing size of the old-age community has led to the snowballing need to facilitate the establishment of an ageing-friendly society.
Factors such as health, long-term care, transport, housing, labour, social protection, information and communication are crucial to building a supportive environment to empower healthy, active and independent living for the older adults, as stated by the UN. Some have also suggested that addressing ageism and promoting intergenerational connections could be feasible means to achieve the goal. Promoting an ageing-friendly society requires a concerted contribution from governments, organisations and individuals to address the upcoming challenges. The SOCHUM adopted the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing early in 2002, aiming to promote the well-being and rights of older persons through creating an enabling environment, and to provide a framework for action at national, regional, and international levels. Moreover, in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the World Health Organisation (WHO) has taken up a significant role in the ‘UN Decade of Healthy Ageing’, where the organisation called for four ‘enablers’, voice and meaningful engagement, leadership and capacity building, connecting stakeholders and strengthening data, research and innovation in order to shift the status quo. That said, the efforts made by the public vary from country to country and they often lack coordinance.
The Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee (SOCHUM), otherwise known as the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, is one of the six primary committees of the UN General Assembly. Founded in 1946, the Committee strives to uphold and safeguard fundamental human rights for all individuals, irrespective of their race, gender, religion, or nationality. In particular, the Committee has extensively discussed social, humanitarian, and cultural concerns related to older adults, with the aim of ensuring them being able to enjoy their human rights and live with dignity and respect. Delegates are expected to represent their respective countries with different socioeconomic and political backgrounds and craft an innovative plan for creating a society that is conducive and inclusive to ageing.
Committee: Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)
Topic: Protection of women’s rights, dressing freedom, and empowerment
Academic Adviser: Prof. Melody Chia- Wen Lu (Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, the
University of Macau, Academic Adviser of MMUNPA)
Seats: 25 seats, Single Delegation
Working language: English (British English)
Throughout history, women have always been treated unequally. In this modern era, several enhancements regarding the status of women have been achieved. Women’s suffrage is one of the remarkable developments. Although the situation has improved, some countries limit the voting rights of both males and females equally. In fact, having the legal right to vote does not necessarily guarantee a realistic opportunity to vote. The right of women to vote is more than political, which concerns the nature and structure of society. Every citizen shall have the right to participate in public affairs and voting rights.
Besides women’s suffrage, the right of receiving education is essential to women. Access to education is recognised as a fundamental right. However, barriers to women’s education such as poverty, child marriage and sexual abuse, lead to an imbalance in education in some countries. Such inequality is regarded as the major impediment within the course of the overall development of the education system, in which women are provided with fewer participation opportunities as compared to their male counterparts. The right to receive education is essential, making provision for equal rights and opportunities for women, not only within the course of the acquisition of education, but also in the pathway of gender equality.
Legal clothing restrictions on women have been a serious concern in the process of women’s rights enhancement. Dress codes are often based on gender roles and stereotypes about women. Sometimes, these dress codes are simply social expectations from others. However, dress codes can also be codified in the law. These laws dictate what women can wear to school, work, and sometimes in all public places. In different countries, these laws might force women to wear more or less clothing than they are comfortable wearing.
Women also have the freedom of giving birth, as known as reproductive rights, refers to the ability to choose the number of children they have, as well as the spacing between children’s birth. It includes prenatal services, safe childbirth, access to contraception, as well as abortion. Despite the ethics of abortion, it is still essential for females’ right of giving birth. In order to achieve the right of giving birth, sexual and reproductive health should be enhanced and the right to healthcare for females should also be improved along with the right of giving birth.
More and more women are dedicated to work nowadays. In the workplace, millions of female workers are compelled to work in degrading, hostile, or threatening settings where they frequently engage in inappropriate sexual behaviour. They are subjected to unwelcome physical contact, inappropriate jokes, insinuations, and statements that can be considered assault. Sexual harassment at work continues to go unreported despite its widespread prevalence for a variety of reasons, including fear of ridicule, blame, social or professional reprisals, and loss of legal residency.
Not only horrible conditions exist in the workplace for women, but there is also unfair treatment related to the company’s policy or salary. According to the United Nations, women only get paid 77 cents while men get paid one dollar for the same amount of work. Women’s work is often undervalued and remunerated less, causing them to retire into poverty. The so-called ‘motherhood penalty’, which forces women into the informal sector, casual employment, and part-time employment, is more prevalent in developing nations than it is in industrialised nations.
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