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Frozen Conflicts and Emerging States: Special Political and Decolonization Committee
A General Assembly
Background Guide Coming Soon!
The United Nations Special Political and Decolonization Committee was commissioned in 1990 as the United Nations’ fourth committee with the goal of advancing decolonization, oversee key political and peacekeeping issues and manage UN responsibilities relating to outer space and conflict prone areas. Topic A, “Statecraft and Democracy in Volatile Regions,” debates how the UN can best facilitate and promote statecraft and democracy in regions that are prone to conflict, instability and democratic backsliding. Delegates must examine how war, terrorism, geopolitical and trade disturbances, ethnic cleavages and resource availability undermine peaceful statecraft and cause economic, political and humanitarian consequences. Topic B, “Donetsk, Luhansk and the Legitimacy of Secessionist Movements,” explores whether the self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk republics can be considered legitimate secessionist movements under international law and the broader implications of secessionist movements as a whole. Delegates must analyze how factors like Russian involvement, local support and contested sovereignty shape their claims and what standards of statehood and law apply.
About the Committee
About the Director
Karina Torres Figueroa (she/her/hers) is a 2nd year Geography and Russian major as well as an International Studies in Agriculture and Life Sciences minor. She is currently serving as University of Florida Model UN’s Director of General Assembly Member Development and as a Director for both of UF’s conferences, GatorMUN and SunMUN. Karina has competed in Model UN for 5 years as a GA delegate and has previously co-chaired and staffed many conferences including GatorMUN, SunMUN and FlagMUN. Aside from Model UN, Karina is an intern at UF’s Center for European Studies and is a National Security Language Initiative for Youth and Critical Language Scholarship recipient, having studied Russian abroad in Daugavpils, Latvia and Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. In her free time, Karina loves to travel, listen to music (ask her about Car Seat Headrest, Ziferblat, or any rock music), reading, rollerskating and side questing with her friends. She is so excited to direct this SPECPOL and cannot wait to meet all of you!