On 15 August 2021, the Taliban reached the Afghan capital of Kabul and thereby completed a rapid takeover of the country, which they had ruled before from the late 1990s to 2001. The Afghan Government as well as the Afghan Army and Security Forces collapsed; President Ashraf Ghani left the country. The takeover came amidst the withdrawal by NATO allies and other countries related to the 2020 United States-Taliban Accord, which former US-President Trump had negotiated with the Taliban. The international evacuation operation ended as the last US military and diplomatic personnel left Afghanistan on 30 August 2021. Since then, humanitarian and economic crises prevail in Afghanistan. The World Food Programme reported in December 2021 that 22.8 million Afghans – more than half the population – is facing acute, 8.7 million even emergency-level food insecurity. The economy is on the brink of collapse and essential services like the health sector are under considerable stress. The human rights situation is worsening daily, especially for women and girls. In his report on 28 January 2022, the Secretary-General notes that the UN has received more than 100 credible allegations of extrajudicial killings of former government employees, security forces or former staff members of international military forces.

We like to invite you to a simulated Special Session of the Security Council to discuss these and other issues involving the Situation in Afghanistan and the main organ responsible for international peace and security according to the Charter of the United Nations: the Security Council. Class sessions (Friday, 12.00 – 14.00 h) prior will give you an ample overview of the topic. With this class we hope to deepen your knowledge about the functioning of an international body, various aspects of international diplomacy, negotiation techniques, and also hopefully the roots and causes of the diverging opinions on the subject among UN-Member States.

You will be asked to represent one of the members of the Security Council or Afghanistan and take an active part in the class and negotiations. Participants are expected to research their respective countries position independently. Delegations are also asked to prepare a one-page Position Paper. Each Delegation will consist of 1-2 persons.

 

Please note that the seminar/conference language will be English. It is possible to receive 5 ECTS-credits (Schlüsselqualifikationsschein, FB Rechtswissenschaft). All faculties are invited to apply.

 

Applications are to be sent via email until 14 April 2022 to Peggy Wittke

 

Your application should include:

• Personal Details (Name, Phone, Email, Student ID Number)
• Short letter of motivation
• 3 country preferences

 

Members of the Security Council 2022: Albania, Brazil, China, France, Gabon, Ghana, India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Norway, Russian Federation, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States and Afghanistan (NOT Taliban-affiliated)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Should the COVID-19 Pandemic require it, this seminar will be held ONLINE.

 

 

 Schedule of the Model UN on Afghanistan

 

For further information please contact Dr. Peggy Wittke:

Faculty of Law
Chair Prof. Dr. Helmut Philipp Aust
Tel.: (030) 838 547 05
Email: peg@zedat.fu-berlin.de