Topic A: Discussing the Impact of Forced Military Conscription on Societies
Military conscription, also known as ‘the draft’, is a strategy used by many countries to build a large military in times of war. It is considered to be a violation of basic human rights as it directly attacks one of the most important principles in any free society: that people are not based on the value of their labor. As of today, many nations impose forced military conscription. Countries like South Korea, Brazil, and Switzerland deploy their citizens in military or security related roles for a specific amount of time. Potential benefits from forced military conscription include: maintaining and building an active army, gaining vocational knowledge, promotion of equality, and the encouragement of national unity. Although forced military conscription may come to use for nations under the threat of wars and battles, there are several negatives that would affect society’s well being. As governments usually look for young citizens to draft, opportunities to fulfill higher education levels are taken away. The younger generation will be deprived of essential skills needed to boost any economy. Despite the fact that forced military conscription includes all citizens, hence promotes equality, not all individuals are fit to serve the role. Factors such as physical and mental health may lead to harm or even death. There is a potential risk of losing lives with this practice. Delegates must discuss the ethics behind applying this policy onto their corresponding nations by reviewing the positives and negatives of the policy. Sources: https://reason.com/2018/10/19/why-mandatory-national-service-is-both-u/ https://www.bbc.com/news/world-44646267 https://futureofworking.com/6-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-compulsory-military-service/
Topic B: Safeguarding the Rights of Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants
In our world today, there are many powerful and impactful voices that shift narratives on certain groups. One’s ethnicity, race, religion, income, native language, or any factor of “otherness” has lead to violence and persecution in various societies. Political and public attitudes towards refugees, immigrants, and migrants are deemed to be the root of such inequality.
A refugee is someone who is forced to leave his or her country due to war, persecution, or violence without any warning. They are unable to return until it is safe again.
An immigrant is an individual who makes the decision of leaving their homeland and move to a foreign country, with the intention of settling there. The main cause is to explore different opportunities. Immigrants are free to return home whenever they choose.
A migrant is an individual who moves within their home country in hopes of exploring economic opportunities. Migrants are usually grouped with refugees in the public eye.
Outsiders are typically seen as a threat to Western values, culture, religion, health systems, and any other public service. They are usually linked to terrorism or violence in any shape or form. These toxic narratives have derived from: hate speech, incitement, and social media. A report by the Royal Institute for International Affairs (RIIA) found that over half of those surveyed agreed with the statement: “Most foreigners who want to get into my country as a refugee really aren’t refugees. They just want to come here for economic reasons, or to take advantage of our welfare services.” An important detail to note is that audiences matter. Not all citizens feed onto the toxic narratives. In fact, many feel empathetic towards the groups but fear the loss of jobs, culture change, or terrorism, Delegates must curate resolutions that focus tackling toxic narratives, protecting the citizens, and safeguarding the rights of refugees, immigrants, and migrants.