CONFERENCE THEME
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The upcoming conference asks students to explore the theme: Equal Under the Law?
Delegates will be probing the crevices of our legal framework, the basis on which society and its public institutions function. We ask students to direct their attention to the subtleties in society, to grasp the finer details as what they reveal may come as a surprise to most. The theme allows us to pose greater questions, not just about interstate relations and international law, but also about the system in which we live—one which we have been taking for granted. A recent example can be drawn with the recent Federal Court ruling in the United States. Students in Detroit sued the state for failing to provide the adequate education necessary for attaining basic literacy. They contended that the public education system was poorly equipped to serve the needs of students. Indeed, basic literacy is integral to our ability of fully exercising the rights we are entitled to in both our respective constitutions and international law, including freedom of speech. Basic literacy is precisely how students are able to engage in profoundly meaningful discussions about international affairs and social issues in a platform such as Model UN. Yet, the Federal court ruled that the U.S. Constitution did not include the provision for the right to basic literacy. When the decisions of public institutions clash with fundamental principles of law and international norm, it reveals the limitations of the status quo in-- limitations which current youths and future generations will transcend. |