3rd 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: Macau Legislative Assembly
Agenda: Discussion on amendments to Law No. 4/2016, the ‘Animal Protection Law’
Academic Adviser: Dr U Wai CHAN, President of the Macau Society of Social Sciences
Seats: 30 seats, totalling 60 members; dual-representation system
Working language: Traditional Chinese (Cantonese)
‘Treating animals well won't leave man a single morsel less’ — Peter Singer
On 1 September 2016, Australia's Animal Protection Act came into force. This legislation regulates the protection of animals in terms of their keeping, management and sale, marking an important step forward for animal rights protection in Australia. But after years of this law being in force, is there a need to amend it?
That said, the Animal Protection Law has been in force for nearly eight years, society is constantly changing, and there are differing opinions about the legislation. The penalties under the law have always been controversial, as cases of animal abuse have not been completely eradicated, prompting people to debate its effectiveness and to consider the importance of animals' status within human society. This idea brings to mind the impact of animals and the natural ecosystem on humanity, and these moral and philosophical considerations need to be enshrined in real, binding law to determine the legal status of animals and to ensure effective protection for them by individuals, the government and the community.
At the same time, the Animal Protection Law establishes regulations for racing animals, but with greyhound and horse racing having ceased in Macau, we must continue to ask whether the associated licensing regime should be abolished, effectively bringing an end to animal racing and betting on animals in Macau. Furthermore, there are no legal regulations for the disposal of stray animals. Although the Municipal Affairs Bureau has collaborated with local animal welfare organisations, for example by promoting and implementing TNA and TNR, there is no comprehensive legislation in place to protect and manage stray animals. All of the above issues affect the community planning and design for human-animal coexistence in Macau, and they also test people's thinking on the status and rights of animals.
‘All arguments purporting to prove human superiority cannot change the fact that animals, like humans, are capable of feeling pain.’ How much do Macau people care for animals? How well does this community protect them? How much of a place do animals hold in our hearts? It is all in the hands of our elected representatives.
Committee: World Health Organization (WHO)
Topic: Promoting Mental Health and Improving Access to Care
Academic Advisor: Fellow of the College of Internal Medicine (Psychiatry) of the Macao Academy of Medicine, Dr. Lusita Lao, Psychiatrist
Seats: 60 seats, single delegation
Working Language: British English
Mental health refers to a state of well-being that enables individuals to effectively cope with life’s challenges, unlock their full potential, and make meaningful contributions to their communities. As defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948, health encompasses not only physical well-being but also mental and social well-being, emphasising that it is more than just the absence of disease.
The significance of mental health intertwines with public health, human rights, and socioeconomic progress. Regrettably, approximately one billion people worldwide suffer from mental disorders, with statistics from the United Nations Statistics Division revealing that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men experience major depression during their lives. This tragic reality is further exacerbated by the alarming fact that only a small fraction of those in need have access to effective, affordable, and quality mental healthcare. Specifically, 71% of individuals with psychosis receive no treatment, while only 12% in low-income countries receive care for psychosis.
Established in 1948, the WHO is a health agency of the United Nations committed to promoting the highest attainable standard of health for all individuals, irrespective of their race, gender, religion, political status, or economic and social conditions. This organisation strives for equitable access to healthcare, including the expansion of global health coverage, effective coordination during health emergencies, and the promotion of lifelong care across all age groups. With 194 member states, the WHO serves as a platform for global collaboration among governments, international organisations, researchers, and healthcare workers to enhance global health and security.
In early 2019, the WHO launched the WHO Special Initiative for Mental Health (2019-2023): Universal Health Coverage for Mental Health. The initiative aims to ensure access to quality and affordable mental healthcare for an additional 100 million people in 12 priority countries. It recognizes that a diverse range of individual, family, community, and structural factors can either protect or undermine mental health. However, numerous obstacles arise in achieving this goal, particularly for individuals exposed to adverse circumstances such as poverty, violence, disabilities, and inequality, as they face a higher risk of developing mental health conditions.
This Conference aims to foster an understanding and facilitate in-depth dialogue on the complexities surrounding mental health, underscoring the importance of improving access to quality care. As mental health has emerged as a significant global concern that we shall not overlook, the Chairs eagerly anticipate delegates actively engaging in the Conference by presenting innovative interventions and exchanging insights with fellow participants to build consensus on critical issues.
Committee: House of Commons of the United Kingdom
Topic: On the Eve of War: The House of Commons in 1914
Academic Adviser: Professor Weiwen YIN (Assistant Professor, Department of Government and Public Administration, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau)
Seats: 40–50; single-member constituency system
Working language: Traditional Chinese (Mandarin)
‘When academic standards had fallen, he restored them; when education had declined, he revived it; when the authority of the law had been lost, he re-established it; when the prestige of religion had vanished, he rebuilt it. He reclaimed occupied lands from the hands of a mighty foe. As long as mankind remembers its history, his name shall live on for ever.’ —Epitaph of Alfred the Great
In the year 1066 AD, a island, isolated in the North Sea, witnessed a man who had crossed the sea being crowned king on the plains of Hastings. Thus was born a new kingdom, known as England, and a new chapter in the history of Britannia began.
Here, the Norman dynasty carried out its magnificent conquest; the Plantagenet monarchs wielded their iron sceptre; King John issued the Magna Carta; the Tudor monarchs asserted the supremacy of the Crown; it endured a brutal and protracted civil war; it witnessed the head of Charles I’s severed head, and witnessed the hurried figure of James II; Over the course of hundreds of years, the nation’s power has shifted repeatedly—from God to the King, and from the King to Parliament. Looking back, one sees not only bloodshed and warfare, but also negotiations and compromises between the two sides, as well as a succession of constitutional acts that will go down in history. This is Britannia.
It has long been said that ‘England is the mother of parliaments’. Without delving into the accuracy of this statement, in terms of its meaning, tracing back to the Bill of Rights and even the Magna Carta, Britain’s constitutional history is indeed a particularly significant chapter in world history.
By the 20th century, Britain had become renowned far and wide for its distinctive democratic system and constitutional traditions. Parliamentary supremacy, a responsible cabinet, a two-party system, ‘united but not governed’… this tiny island nation in the Atlantic has contributed countless constitutional terms and innumerable constitutional conventions to the world. Through repeated constitutional crises, successive waves of reform, and progress and tribulations that have seen it undergo transformation whilst constantly looking back, the British Parliament has emerged from the thick mists of history, yet remains as fresh and relevant as ever, continuing to fulfil its purpose.
There was a time when half the continent and all the world’s oceans acknowledged Britain as sovereign; our island has weathered mighty waves and fierce winds, sailing upon the abyss of time, for rugged virtue has made it its home. Now, the gunshot in Sarajevo has shaken Europe’s fragile harmony; we must choose our allies and enemies with care, lest we suffer the fate of Nineveh as described in the Book of Nahum.
At this momentous juncture in history, the people of Great Britain have chosen you, my honourable Members. You will determine the future of this ancient and mighty vessel, guiding its course and setting its pace; Great Britain looks to each of you to fulfil your duties.