Special Political and Decolonization COMMITTEE (SPECPOL) — Double delegation
Director: ABIGAIL v. MACK
Topic A: MITIGATINg the Unintended Consequences of UN Peacekeeping Operations
After its establishment in 1948, United Nations Peacekeeping has had over 70 peacekeeping operations deployed. Although the intent of UN Peacekeeping is to use “soldiers as a catalyst for peace rather than as instruments of war,” (Secretary General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar), its forces are not without the capacity to cause harm. Good intentions may not always yield the desired effects, as evidenced by the October 2010 Peacekeeping operation to Haiti during which residents were inadvertently exposed to cholera, causing a massive outbreak. Over 10,000 Haitians died from the disease with hundreds of thousands more falling ill. If delegates choose to select Topic A, the debate will center around the viability of UN Peacekeeping Operations, as environmental impacts, abuse inflicted by personnel, attacks against peacekeepers, barriers of entry for female peacekeepers, and unintended consequences of peacekeeping missions are all issues that must be confronted. How can we address, prevent, and respond to the unintended consequences of UN Peacekeeping Operations as a committee?
TOPIC B: Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
Since the beginning of the Space Age in 1957 when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, one question has lingered: will space be used for war, or for peace? The Outer Space Treaty in 1967 states that nations “shall not place nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction in orbit or on celestial bodies or station them in outer space in any other manner,” and restricts the moon and other “celestial bodies” to peaceful uses. However, there is still a long road ahead with regard to the peaceful uses of space, especially as technology advances. With the expansion of the space tourism industry, and the rapid accumulation of space debris threatening satellites’ orbits, the amount of new issues in space are rising at a rate faster than treaties and legislation can be passed. Space technology, while it has a potential for harm, can also play a role in agriculture, combating desertification, and promoting development in rural areas. The ability for information-sharing worldwide is growing at an unprecedented rate. If this topic is chosen for debate, it is of the utmost importance that SPECPOL delegates cooperate to create comprehensive solutions that improve the efficacy of previous treaties and work toward solidifying the peaceful use of space.
Abigail V. Mack
Abigail Mack is a rising senior at Harvard studying Government and Philosophy. Residing in Leverett House, Abigail can often be found going on runs or walks along the river, or reading in the large bay windows of her dorm by the Charles. Abigail’s Model UN career at Harvard has been extensive. She is honored to have served as the Secretary-General for the first dual conference edition of HMUN India. Previously, Abigail has been the Under-Secretary-General of Committees for HMUN India, HMUN Dubai, and HMUN Boston (General Assembly), and directed at HNMUN-LA, HMUN India, HMUN Australia, HMUN Boston, and HNMUN Boston. On campus, Abigail danced for the Harvard Crimson Dance Team and wrote for the Harvard Crimson Newspaper’s Editorial Board. She also served as the Communications Liaison for Washington Post Reporter, Jason Rezaian. Her professional work experience includes the press team in the U.S. Senate for Massachusetts’ Senator, Ed Markey (Washington, D.C.), consulting for Scale Strategy (New York City), and interning for Impactual LLC., Political Consulting (Washington, D.C.). In her spare time, Abigail enjoys reading, writing, and documenting her experience at Harvard on social media.