HUMAN RIGHTS

The human rights committee, packed with new delegates, didn't make much noise that first day of debates

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The human rights committee started its activities with an ice-breaker conversation and a dynamic, so that everyone got to know each other better. There are many new delegates. The freshmen were very excited and debated in a surprising way, taking the discussions forward. In the beginning, everyone was nervous about the need to adapt and the uncertainties of what a hybrid debate would be like. In any case, together, they managed to understand each other and reconcile online and face-to-face discussions. Everything went well before the lunch break, until things started to get more interesting.

 

After the delegates from each country took a stand, presented their position papers, there were information points and provocative questions, directed to countries that were more conservative in relation to police behavior. In the middle of setting the agenda and the working paper, there was an unmoderated caucus, in which the committee was divided into two blocks of different opinions: the block of countries that are more conservative regarding the police and support more military intervention, and those who want peaceful police and policies to improve police brutality.

 

Germany showed concern about Syria's position and demanded explanations, and said that countries should work together to promote peace. The first topic on the agenda was the causes of police brutality and how it is related to each country's historical past.

Brazil has taken a strong position, stating that in the country there are few cases of police brutality, only in cases where the criminal also acts aggressively.

 

During the debates about the possible causes for police brutality, it says that structural racism is not the only cause for brutality, and that there are many others. 

The United States, the European Union and Iraq wrote a working paper, which was approved by the committee. The other block of countries reached the conclusion that there should be an increase in the education of the population, so that they learn not to be aggressive and commit fewer crimes.

 

The debate went well, however, counterintuitively, the delegates voted in favor of a topic regarding the use of police brutality in some nations that find themselves in socially critical situations.

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Defending the right to life

The human rights committee has a tense and hectic day, surviving a severe crisis

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September 23, 2021, started quietly, with China presenting the working paper they had done the day before. The most in-depth topic at the beginning of the debate was the origins of police brutality. Because there were disagreements, there was a motion for a moderated caucus. During the debate, countries took positions regarding the improvement of police training.

The delegation of Brazil states that in cases of racism, cases of police brutality are not acceptable, so the training could be reevaluated. Besides that, he delegation of the United Kingdom says that only police officers that are psychologically tested should carry guns. Russia says that the problem is not the education of the police, it is the violence of the population, but the delegate of China insists that there is a problem with the structural training of the officers.

Moreover, all the delegations agree that some countries don’t have the appropriate structure to implement adequate trainings and psychological tests. In tat case, the delegation of Germany and the United Kingdom are willing to provide monetary support to countries that need the proper actions. Brazil refuses it, and insists that they don’t need tests, since the police already understand how to use their power. He argues that this money should be invested in education for the population, so that the use of brutality would not be necessary.

The delegation of Brazil believes that there should be a balance between the behavior of citizens and the police. He reinforces that if the civilians are aggressive, the police should correspond the behavior and use more power to control the population. Furthermore, Iraq believes that sometimes brutality is necessary, and it is used as a political strategy to control the population, which is often the reality of the country.

In the second session of the day, the United States of America, Germany, and France got together to make a writing paper. The other countries wrote another draft. That second group recommended creating communication channels between the population and the government, for example through social media, when it comes to procedures to regain trust in the police force. This way, people could raise their concerns and communicate them to the government. Among other measures, they suggest body cameras to show the procedures adopted by the police and justify officers’ actions.

The Brazilian delegation says that the country already trusts its police and government, which is refuted by China, but accepted and agreed upon by the Russian delegation.

In New York, there were cases of police violence during a protest for the rights of Syrian women, which resulted in the death of two Brazilian tourists who were not part of the demonstration.

China wanted to know the position of the United States. Brazil lamented the death of the tourists but did not want to take a side in the discussion, without positioning itself for or against the actions of the police.

China recognizes that minorities suffer a lot in the United States because of prejudice and police violence, because they take their personal prejudices into their profession. Russia, on the other hand, loses patience and says "people died, it's a shame, it's a pity, but it happens in demonstrations. If you don't want to be killed during a protest, just don't go”.

The Korean delegation believes that if the measures they decided on in the working papers today had been taken into consideration, none of this would have happened, and the police would not have abused their force.

China says it is absurd that Brazil has not taken a position in relation to the conflict and strongly disagrees with it, because it says that it is not representing its country correctly. It says: "We should not allow our citizens to be killed. This is a very severe case of police violence, it is not small, it is not simple. It is unacceptable that Brazil does not take part in this discussion. Police violence in demonstrations is a big problem for countries that have tourism as a source of income, and this is not only for the United States, but it also works for Brazil”.

China inhales her speech with the impactful question, "Will tourism simply die, just like these two poor Brazilian civilians?"

Meanwhile, the Iraq delegation said it would be important for them to consider the prejudice attacks against the minorities in question, i.e., women and foreigners (Syrians).

Syria does not take part in the discussion either, but only said that it is in a crisis situation because of its wars and will be able to improve the situation of its country after the war. Therefore, the definition of measures for the solution of the crisis strongly depended on the United Kingdom, the United States, China, and Iraq.

After the war, the mood in the committee became more peaceful again and the agenda was taken up, so that the last topics could be examined and discussed.

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The Human Rights Committee had a busy day, full of votes: both for the approval of the resolution paper and for the decision on the long awaited "deleawards"

The sessions started later this September 24th. At 8 o'clock in the morning, the first session was opened, with the discussion of another working paper.

China wants the conditions and situations of each country to be considered, in order to determine if countries should change their education system, teaching other cultures, and interacting with a wider variety of ideologies. This measure would have the purpose of guaranteeing a better education for the entire population, both the police officers and the entire population.

The Iraq delegate thinks that the suggestion is fitting, and that the countries should contact each other with differences, to avoid disagreements and police brutality triggered by prejudice. The Chinese delegation believes that it is not necessary to be prepared to deal with other ideologies, because understanding one's own culture and thinking is enough to respect and understand all people. The Russian delegation agrees and argues strongly that it is necessary to preserve its own ideology.

The delegate from China said that police brutality doesn't affect China, so she claims that the decision of the first topical of the working paper doesn't make much difference to the needs of her population. After many disagreements regarding the wording of the first clause of this last working paper, so that all delegations felt comfortable to accept it. 

After the coffee break, the doors were opened for the last session of POSMUN 2021. With a lot of heartache, chairs Isabela Meyer and Isabella Cunha made the last call of the attendance list, and the delegate from Nigeria raised her hand to finally start the session. The Iraq delegate presented the draft resolution made by the group and discussed in the unmoderated caucus.

After a huge effort, voting, misunderstandings, disagreements between European countries, China, and Brazil, the committee finally managed to reach a diplomatic resolution.

I realize that this may not be the most appropriate ending for a newspaper report, but on behalf of the press, I congratulate you, the delegates, for the simulation. I honestly did not imagine what a remarkable and wonderful experience it would be to accompany this Human Rights committee. Despite the hybrid situation, my special congratulations to the delegates who, even online, remained active in the debates, fought for their countries' positions, and debated bravely. 

Being part of POSMUN is not simply about learning to debate diplomatically, about doing research or about understanding and experiencing different worldviews. Being part of this simulation is about following the evolution of each one, as delegates, as people and as new friendships. It is about being in the same room, even virtually, with these people from 7 o'clock in the morning until 5 o'clock in the afternoon, trying to find solutions to some of the most important and profound questions of humanity. Being part of this simulation means uniting a world that could not be separated even by the harshest conflicts, wars or diseases. I am proud of you, Human Rights committee. You are the best council I could cover in my last year at this school. I hope that clapping is in order.

Goodbye, guys.