General Assembly VI - Legal (GA VI - LEGAL)
The UN General Assembly has an express mandate to promote the progressive development of public international law. Article 13 of the UN Charter establishes, in particular, that the “General Assembly shall initiate studies and make recommendations for the purpose of: encouraging the
progressive development of international law and its codification."
Topics
Topic 1: The question of the scope and application of universal jurisdiction in carrying out antiterrorist operations.
This topic relates to the legality of carrying out anti-terrorist operations within the territorial borders of another state (e.g. US air-strikes against the Taliban in Pakistan). Questions to consider include the necessity of universal jurisdiction, which countries would benefit or lose from
it, how to retain territorial integrity despite universal jurisdiction, and the definition of anti-terrorist operations.
Topic 2: The question of criminal accountability and immunity of UN personnel.
As diplomatic staff, UN personnel enjoy immunity from prosecution in foreign countries. While this may be necessary to protect them from arbitrary politicized prosecution, this has at times provided UN staff with impunity in carrying out criminal activity. Issues to examine include the
costs and benefits of immunity, ways to balance it with criminal accountability, and which countries which lose and benefit from this policy.
Research Materials
Background Paper: The question of the scope and application of universal jurisdiction in carrying out antiterrorist operations.
Background Paper: The question of criminal accountability and immunity of UN personnel.
Background Papers are only available in .pdf format. If you do not have a pdf reader, you can download a free reader from Adobe.
NOTE: Background papers are written by members of the dais, intervention, and secretariat and are designed as an introduction to the topic, not as a replacement for more in-depth research related to national positions.
Please see the main HSMUN blog for ongoing topical news updates and research tips.
Dais Staff
Chair: Kristi Meier
Director: Salma Elmallah
Attaché: Elzbieta Tymon