Organization of American States, 1997 OAS

The Organization of American States (OAS) is a body of North and South American countries which includes 35 member states. The OAS has four main pillars: democracy, human rights, security, and development. The body encourages member states to work together to attain these goals using political dialogue and cooperation, among other tools.
We’re transporting you to 1997, a pivotal year in the Americas. In this traditional committee with a single-session crisis, delegates will need to craft multi-faceted resolutions to address the pressing political and ecological disasters facing the region. Crisis experience is not required for success in this committee; instructions for crisis procedure will be explained in detail and reinforced throughout committee.

Topic A: The Situation in Colombia, 1997
The present political chaos enveloping Colombia stands as just the latest scene in a conflict spanning 150 years. Established left-wing paramilitary groups such as the FARC and the ELN engage in violent guerilla attacks and promote even international criminal activities. On the other end of the political spectrum, right-wing paramilitary groups, engaging in similar terrorizing initiatives to their left-wing parallels, have just united to form the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia. Decades of brutal warfare have engendered the loss of thousands of lives, the forced displacement of millions, as well as innumerable other tragedies. Delegates will be tasked with forming a broad perspective of the topic and engaging with comprehensive solutions to promote stability, justice, and prosperity in Colombia and to thus improve the region as a whole.

Topic B: El Niño Event, 1997-1998
El Niño events are marked by the presence of unusually warm waters in the Pacific Ocean which can have profound effects on the environment. These warming events are typically followed by a cooling period known as La Niña. The 1997-98 El Niño is believed to have been one of the most significant and devastating El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events in history, with widespread natural disasters resulting across the globe from this warming of the Pacific Ocean. In the Americas, these disasters primarily included droughts and hurricanes. Due to the widespread economic devastation often resulting from natural disasters, these events become highly politicized. In committee, delegates will need to address this complex problem through a consideration of climate change, economic devastation caused by natural disasters and the wipeout of the coldwater fish industry, as well as the political environment related to a climate emergency.

Documents