“No-Body Said It Was Easy”
As the committee seeks for greater accountability, Tulica Bhattacharya reporting from the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ), interviews the Delegate of the Russian Federation with regard to the creation of an investigative body.
During the course of the committee, the delegate had mentioned the creation of a body of experts aimed at countering terrorism. Could the delegate elucidate on the same?
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) consists of various 'open ended inter-governmental working groups’. Essentially, these bodies are formed by the CCPCJ in order to submit reports on various issues. The Delegate recommended the creation of a similar group, known as the Counter Terrorism Committee (CTC). The primary aim of the group would be to report to the commission with regard to strategies to counter financing of terrorism.
How does the Delegate aim at distinguishing this body from the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism?
The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism was created by the General Assembly for the purpose of providing technical assistance in order to combat and counter terrorism. The CTC, on the other hand, is a working group which collects data and relevant information.
On a similar note, how does the CTC differ from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)?
There are two aspects that set the CTC apart from the FATF. First, the FATF was formed under the G20. The Delegate wishes for the CTC to be an integral part of the United Nations. Second, the FATF primarily focuses on accumulation of data regarding financing of terrorism. The CTC, on the other hand, would not be restricted solely to the financial aspect of combating terrorism.
The Delegate mentioned empowering this body with investigative authority. What did the Delegate imply by the same?
State sponsored terrorism is a complex issue. It is difficult to ensure preventive measures since determination of the budget of a country is its sovereign right. Thus, the delegate proposed that the CTC would function under the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). While acting under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, the UNSC can directly use its investigative powers which would in turn be implemented by the CTC.
What are the proposed jurisdictions of the CTC in terms of the investigative authority?
The jurisdiction of this body is to be determined by the UNSC. However, it would essentially revolve around countries consenting to CTC’s jurisdiction.
The delegate had also mentioned about catering for a budget for the body. How does the delegate plan on funding this body?
The delegate planned on increasing the funding of the commission in order to increase ground-level technical assistance. This can be possible by voluntarily contribution of resources to the UNODC and consequently, the CTC.
(Edited by Shruthi Subramanian.)
In Conversation
Manasi Gupta, reporting from the Commission on Science and Development (UNCSTD), interviewed the the Delegate of the People's Republic of China (China); the following is the report.
The achievement of which sustainable development goal or goals (SDGs) would be the most important task for the People’s Republic of China?
We believe that all SDGs are equal and important as they are not mutually exclusive. The achievement of one SDG affects the achievement of the other. By implementing Agenda 2030 into our National Development Plan, China itself is eradicating poverty 10 years ahead of schedule. We are not prioritising certain SDGs over the rest simply because as certain progressions in the technology industry would affect the other SDGs as well. This includes the education and telecommunications technology.
What are the technological advancements made by China in order to achieve the above mentioned goals?
China has been achieving these goals through strict implementation and regulation of private actors. Private actors are important contributing factors to this field and we are controlling their actions in the country. Through their Corporate Responsibility, we’ve been supplementing our SDG technologies. Also, China has always been the hub for technologies including the Internet of Things (IoT) technology and this is how we are building smart cities for the future. Most of our production plans use the IoT technology to carefully monitor and maximise output.
How can China work towards the goals, while also confronting transformative challenges, such as the international trade war which it is facing with the United States of America (USA)?
The international ‘trade war’ is basically the due to the western giants or hegemons which includes the USA. These nations are afraid of a liberalising economy or an opening economy towards the East. They want to retain the power within their block and in essence, try to monopolise, and force the market to follow their trends through a pattern of sanctions. So, the trend pattern is that China provides better labour conditions and cheaper alternatives to trade. This has affected USA’s economy and has led to a drop in the employment rates since these sanctions were imposed.
What steps has the Chinese government taken to tackle environmental issues present in the country which have been caused by rapid industrialisation?
We realised the strong need for reduction of emissions and pollutants in our country. In the last two years, Beijing has dropped its emissions by 30% thereby becoming a much cleaner and a more sustainable city. Our Carbon System is highly regulated and this ensures that the emissions are within limits. They are subjected to National Sanctions if these limits are exceeded.
Is China willing to provide financial aid to the countries which are unable to achieve the goals and objectives set up by the United Nations?
China has been the forerunner in providing alternative loan options to particular countries especially if they are not able to receive assistance from the World Bank or the International Monetary Fund. These loans come with inherent requirements for liberalisation of economy or privatisation of their economy. Loans are provided by the ADBI (Asian Development Bank Institute) or the AIIB (Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank) on the basis of collateral and can be repaid.
Do you believe that any fundamental change in the way ideas are implemented is needed in order to move towards sustainability? What would those first steps look like?
China has also been an advocate for strict control of private actions within the government. We believe this is what lacks in most of the western or developing countries. These corporates exploit particular opportunities for their own profit which inherently leads them to violate or neglect their plan to achieve sustainable development goals.
(Edited by Shruthi Subramanian.)
A World Devoid of Boundaries
Nikita Rebecca, reporting from the Commission for Science and Technology Development (CSTD), interviews the Chairperson of the committee who speaks of the stark reality of the present world and the committee.
How does you feel about the rapid technological advancements and the impact it has on developing economies?
The rapid technological advancements occurring today have a huge impact on the economies of the developing nations. The committee has been discussing about cheaper and better alternatives to replace the expensive technologies with more cost effective and environmentally friendly ones. I strongly feel that technology can be used for the upliftment of downtrodden areas and contribute towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The cooperation of the well-developed nations that are considered to be the hubs of technology and development is of utmost importance. Instead of exploiting the economically backward countries for their natural resources and wealth, the developed nations must aid in the eradication of poverty, hunger, famine etc., which are some of the 17 SDGs which form the basis of the Agenda 2030 and its fulfilment. For sustainable development to take place, the country must be able to analyse whether it is ready for a particular technology to be implemented or not. This has to be done by the respective governments through survey, analysis, or by collaborations with otherdeveloped nations.
Suggest some legal measures that can be implemented so that the developed nations do not exploit the developing nations natural resources.
The world we live in, unfortunately, has boundaries and is controlled by various other parameters. It is far from being idealistic and perfect. There is only a certain amount of control that can be exercised by the United Nations bodies over the government of another country. The exploitation of resources by developed nations has been taking place for quite some time now, and there has been a lack of accountability. This is mainly because of the loopholes that exist in international law which makes it easier for these criminals to get away with exploitation.
How can technology be used to achieve the first Sustainability Development Goals (SDG) which aims at eradicating Poverty?
The cycle of poverty and economic ruin is a cycle, and all the SDGs need to be looked at as an interlinked web of events, as mostly one leads to another. Poverty has been deeply rooted, and thus it can leave anyone wondering if we are indeed at a point with the possibility of no return. This calls for better economic policies and their implementation as well as better funding by the governments. The lack of political instability which results in conflict also leads to poverty and it must be dealt with effectively. The implementation of the first SDG can be made successful only if the governments comply and there is some effective solution.
(Edited by Shruthi Subramanian.)
The Superpower’s Nuclear Safari
Anirudh Bhagavatula, reporting from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), interviews the Delegate of the United States of America (USA) to get a gist of the observations made by the nuclear superpower.
How would you react to the comments made by Mr. Vladimir Putin pinpointing the failure of the USA as the reason for testing the underwater Poseidon Nuclear Missile?
The delegate feels that the Russian Federation should not be concerned by the activities performed by the USA in any regard considering the recent withdrawal of the USA from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INFT) as Russia did not honour the aforementioned treaty. The delegate feels that President Donald Trump’s decision to pull out was the result of Russia not abiding by the norms of the treaty. The delegate does not respect Russia for commenting on the activities of the USA.
Federal and State Records show that over three-fourths of the commercial nuclear plants in the USA are at the end of their lifespans, according to an investigation by the Associated Press. How does the federal government ensure that the plants shut down?
The United States of America (USA) is looking into ways to revamp the aforementioned nuclear plants. One of the major projects undertaken by the Federal Government is the High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) program, in which the USA is looking into improved reactor technology and better ways of implementation in order to improve the existing commercial nuclear facilities in order for better and more responsible power generation. The existing nuclear reactors will be in a running state until their lifespan draws to a close, following which they will be open to a revamp, thanks to the HALEU program. This program focusses on commercial power generation exclusively.
In the state of Illinois itself, there have been 35 reported leaks, spills, or other accidental releases of radioactive waste from Exelon's nuclear plants: all disclosed to the government, yet there were no fines issued to the company involved. Why were they not fined or reprimanded for the particular chain of incidents?
The government takes note of such spills and ensures that these companies comply with the safety and regulatory norms. As far as this incident goes, the company has taken active interest in ensuring that adequate measures have been taken to curb unwanted nuclear activity in the region. The safety measures have been exercised accordingly. Till the time Exelon complies with the regulatory commission, the company will be allowed to function without any undulations.
Russia's recent nuclear activities suggest that the Threshold Ban Treaty is being grossly violated. The reasoning behind such activity is that Russia holds the USA culpable of the same. Can you elucidate on these happenings and how they will affect the USA?
It does not affect the USA in any form as to what Russia thinks about the policy of the USA with regard to nuclear activities. The delegate feels it is futile to pay heed to a country in violation of a number of treaties and agreements in the past.
(Edited by Shruthi Subramanian.)
Show of Strength
The successors of one of the greatest nuclear powers stands in a palisade. Gargee Singh Bhadoria, reporting from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), interviews the enigmatic and sharp Delegate of Russian Federation (Russia).
Russia has pointedly declared itself to be exempt from the Article 17, Paragraph 2 of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials (CPPNM). Would you elaborate why Russia has taken this stance?
The Article 17.2 asks state parties to seek the help of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for the appointment of the arbitrator when they are not able to resolve a conflict of their own, as the CPPNM ICJ to be a intrinsically fair organisation. However, Russia considers the ICJ to be a body unworthy of its stature: highly biased and unfair. Russia does not wish such a body to make any decisions concerning its interests.
Although there has been no official dialogue on this for a long time, Russian Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) and nuclear submarines are known to have gone missing. What has Russia done to recover these and to prevent this from happening again?
The reports of WMDs and armed nuclear submarines going missing are false. The statement made by Russian General Alexander Lebed in 1996 about ‘suitcase weapons’ going missing was rescinded because the General was given wrong information. All these false reports sully the name of Russia and the work we constantly do to prevent such things from happening.
Russia is one of the many countries that reprocesses low-grade nuclear fuel to reuse it. This process leads to manufacture of fissile materials at plants that are not adequately protected. Do you believe that Russia should follow in the footsteps of the United States of America (USA) and ban this practice to make it harder for nuclear terrorists to get their hands on fissile material?
We are aware that reprocessed fuel may be potent enough to make WMDs which is why Russia takes strong steps from preventing any nuclear theft from happening. We strive for our best in nuclear security with state-of-the-art cybersecurity measures as well as physical security. It is our belief that Russia needs to use reprocessed fuel to fulfil its energy demands.
The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty between USA and Russia has been suspended. While we gather here to talk of protection and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), President Putin threatens to retaliate against USA with new, more potent missile and warheads. What are your comments on this?
The remarks made by President Vladimir Putin are a simple reply to the statements made by the President of USA Donald Trump. USA threatens Russia with revenge for some crime that we never committed. They are the ones who pulled out of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty and accused Russia of false actions. If the USA threatens us, we need them to know that we will not back down easy.
(Edited by Shruthi Subramanian.)
Amidst the Crisis
Rahul Dit reporting from Joint Crisis Committee (JCC): North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), tries to figure out Spain’s point of view of the current crisis.
Why did you join the NATO?
Spain joined the NATO because it felt threatened by the current rising sphere of communism. Having been under a Dictator for so long, Spain understands how it feels to be under an unjust ruler whom the common people do not approve of. So, by joining the NATO, the delegate feels that Spain can help other countries who are facing similar problems due to Spain’s previous experience in dealing with situations like these.
What do you feel about the crisis?
The delegate feels that it is necessary to retaliate against the rise of communism. Spain has gone through the transition period from a communist government to a capitalist one and we feel that communism degrades the quality of life and restricts the freedom of humans. If we talk about a nuclear crisis, Spain feels that it is necessary for the NATO to find possible solutions to this crisis and to resolve the situation because the current nuclear crisis leads to annihilation of the entire world order.
How is Abel Archer going to resolve the current nuclear crisis?
Since we all follow the policy of Nuclear Deterrence, Abel Archer as an exercise would help in instilling fear and paranoia in the hearts and minds of our enemies. If the mysterious nature of this exercise is maintained, it would be productive on two fronts. Firstly, the joint forces of NATO would have a better co-ordination after the exercise and would be easily be able to defend themselves, under the DEFCON-1 situation and at same time, our enemies would become paranoid due to the given scenario.
Do you not think that amidst such tensions, conducting such an exercise a gamble? What if Soviets consider this threat and decide to disrupt the simulation?
While conducting any military operation, every step taken is a gamble, since it is very hard to predict the reaction of the enemy. It is a huge gamble on our side, but the Soviets attacking our fleets would be a gamble for them because our committee has launched a military training exercise. So, the basic purpose was always to exercise and never to attack anyone. In the situation that the Soviets attack us, it would be counterproductive and they would be risking going into open war with the NATO.
The United States of America (USA) was the first nuclear power country, and when they nuked Hiroshima and Nagasaki, they pretty much showed that nuclear power can be used to create weapons. So, according to you, if the United States had not bombed Hiroshima or Nagasaki, would the world be at the current situation of crisis?
Humans have been evolving rapidly and no matter what the case, we have always been able to step ahead of where we were before and advance into a new arena of discovery. So, even if the USA had not introduced the concept of an Atomic Bomb into the limelight, someone somewhere would have been able to figure that out eventually. Considering the second part of the question, being associated with the military, I would consider acting on the current crisis rather than focussing on exactly how we got to this situation.
From the way the committee is proceeding, will the Abel Archer be executed properly or will it not be executed at all?
Time is of essence when we are proceeding with military plans and hence the committee has been going very slowly in that respect. A lot of ideas have been thrown on the floor, but at the end of the day, a complete analysis of the ideas and preparation of the plan of actions might get delayed. Unanimously, all the countries want to carry forward with the Abel Archer exercise
(Edited by Harsha Sista.)
Cappuccino or Espresso?
Sankalpa Sarkar, reporting from the Joint Crisis Committee (JCC): North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), reclines his chair and pops the question of the hour to the Vice-Chairperson of the NATO: “Would you prefer a dead horse over a live donkey?”
As the Vice-Chairperson of the Joint Crisis Committee (JCC): North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), do you think that the signatories to the Warsaw Pact would violate the Doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) and hence disrupt the attempts at nuclear deterrence?
Given the current geopolitical dynamics, it is highly improbable that the Soviets would resort to an interruption in détente. From past experience, the Soviets are well aware of the repercussions of disrupting nuclear deterrence and given the range of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and submarine-based ballistic missiles (SBMs) in the NATO arsenal, the Politburo would never take a hasty decision which could affect its allies in Eastern Europe.
If the delegates at the Joint Crisis Committee (JCC): Warsaw Pact deliberate and decide on violating the terms of the no-first-use policy, which contributed to deterrence, what do you believe would be an adequate response by the members of the NATO?
Firstly, as I mentioned earlier, it is highly improbable that they would disrupt détente and violate the MAD without any provocation. Moreover, if the NATO or any member states to the NATO conduct a military or espionage operation which can be viewed by the Warsaw Pact as an act of violation of the MAD, it will retaliate with full nuclear capability. The NATO, as expected, would strike back with their arsenals, leading to a fully-fledged nuclear war. However, it is highly unlikely that the NATO would react in any way that could lead to such an action given the volatile nature of events leading to the Able Archer exercises.
As the delegate of the French Republic (France) mentioned in committee, it is more important to secure the porous borders of the nations of the NATO where Soviet airbases are abundant than focussing on the Able Archer military exercises. Do you concur with the delegate and agree that the primary need of the hour is to secure the internal security of the NATO nations rather than assert military domination over the Soviet Union?
I would both agree and disagree. As the plan of action for the Able Archer exercise passed in committee subsequently stated, a compromise works best. It is never more important to secure borders and reinforce NATO allies than focus on Able Archer exercises. Both are equally important and fundamentally mutually dependent. While conducting the Able Archer exercises, the troops can be deployed along the borders of West Germany and other European allies of the NATO. The purpose of the Able Archer exercise must not be lost in an attempt to secure the NATO allies. The Able Archer was meant to intimidate the Soviets about their nuclear arsenal and military capability, that is, to demonstrate NATO prowess. Internal security and reinforcement of the Berlin Wall is nothing that has to be done at the cost of the exercise.
While the psychological operations (PSYOP) conducted by the NATO forces against the Soviet Union gained momentum, do you believe that the shooting of the Korean Airlines (KAL 007) by the Soviet Union was a direct consequence of the NATO’s flirting with Soviet airspace and asserting military domination?
We have to understand the significance of the NATO’s intentions here at this point. The NATO focussed all its energy on intimidating the Soviets. The purpose here was three-fold: firstly, they would test Soviet radar capabilities and reaction-testing capabilities as a pre-emptive measure for prospective offensives. Secondly, they would intimidate the Warsaw Pact about their military and nuclear capabilities in order to aid deterrence. Thirdly, it would help in assuring the citizens of the NATO nations that the governments were prepared in case of a Soviet attack at this point. The Soviet shooting of the flight was a retaliatory response to this string of operations by NATO.
(Edited by Harsha Sista.)
Back to the Basics
Pondering over the debate of the Joint Crisis Committee (JCC): Warsaw Pact, Animesh Ranjan interviews the Vice-Chairperson.
How do you think the Middle East ties back to the issue at hand and why has it not been addressed in the committee?
The Middle East has always been a very tricky situation. A lot of things depend on two reasons: its vast oil reserves and its location, because the Middle East has direct access to Asia and Europe. This makes it a very potent region for all the regions in the world. The thing is, everything can be traced back to the Middle East. If you consider Operation Able Archer 83, you can trace it back to the Middle East to some extent. For example, the Iran-Iraq war can be tied to this. This means that if there is a hostage situation between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and the United States of America (USA). This is a very strategic defense tool used by various nations.
Do you think an Emergency Special Session can lead to a possible solution to the current crisis at hand?
ESS does not have any mandate or special power to do anything. It can convene, it can commend, it can condemn, but it cannot do something realistically. Security Council still has a major difference. It has power, but because of the veto, it cannot do anything. So the ESS does not have the power but it tries to achieve its task. SC has power but it cannot do anything. The reason is that the P5 countries are usually on the opposite ends of the spectrum.
The world has seen a regular trend of intervention in order to bring capitalism or socialism to a state. Why do you think that trend has emerged?
It is a classic struggle between capitalist and socialist states. The concepts are very opposing in nature. Socialism is one market, state-oriented, public-based structure. Capitalism is a private market-based structure. Those are very opposing forces in nature. One talks about social welfare and the other talks about private welfare, which leads to social welfare. The struggle takes on a cyclic pattern. There is no definite answer to which is better.
(Edited by Harsha Sista.)
The Big Picture
Reporting from the Lok Sabha, Ananya Haraprasad engages in a candid conversation with the Director, Mr. Pathikrit Pal, to get a better understanding of the committee’s agenda.
Sir, how far do you think the Women's reservation bill will lead to women empowerment?
The Women's Reservation Bill (WRB), when introduced in the year 1996, aimed at empowering women, by seeking to increase their representation in the Union and State Legislatures. We have seen the benefits of this reservation at the local grassroots level. However, the WRB in its current form might not have a significant impact on women empowerment. Firstly, it has been reduced to a political gimmick with the political parties accusing each other of stalling proceedings. Secondly, many women ministers have not taken the concerns pertaining to women and instead chose to sideline with party policies. For example, M J Akbar, a Union minister, was accused of sexual offences by several women. Instead of condemning him, the women ministers declined to comment against the minister. When women in power are unwilling to take stands on issues important to them, I am not sure as to how a WRB will help with regard to women empowerment.
Today, the committee laid down a revised version of the Women's reservation bill for discussion. As the director of the Lok Sabha, do you feel that it fits into the Indian political scenario?
The version of the WRB that was introduced today had a few visible changes and specifically, a different mathematical formula for the reservation and rotation of seats. Personally, I think any WRB that gets passed and becomes a law will empower women to a certain extent, where in they can seek to become Members of Parliament. However, the current Indian scenario demands much more than just reservation. A WRB does help in framing appropriate laws for the well being of women, but the real issue lies beyond the scope of the bill.
Despite the section 377 getting decriminalized, India still has a long way to go towards acceptance, given that the stigma surrounding homosexuality has not been shattered yet. What do you think can be done regarding this?
A: Section 377 getting decriminalised might have felt like the end of a long battle, but we should realise that it was just the starting point. There is not much awareness regarding the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer ( LGBTQ+ ) community and the best way to counter this is through sex education in schools. Instilling a sense of awareness and responsibility in students is a safe guarantee for a better future. But as of now, unless the concerns of the LGBTQ+ community are given the required importance in the mainstream Indian politics, I believe that the status quo will remain as such.
Sir, What measures do you think can be taken, for better inclusivity in the employment sector and further, making the workspace a safe zone for individuals belonging to the LGBTQ+ community?
A: The LGBTQ+ community members have often faced awkward encounters, discrimination, intimidation and/or harassment throughout their lifetime. When people are not given the space to express themselves, there grows a sense of resentment which in turn affects their ability to work. Hence, companies should work towards providing them a positive work environment where people can be open about their sexuality. Microsoft, which has several employees from the LGBTQ+ community has been a pioneer in this regard. Additionally, the company provides them with same-sex partnership benefits and was one of the first to include sexual orientation in the company's non-discrimination policy. These are some practices that other employers can follow, to initiate a global movement for creating safe and inclusive workspaces.
(Edited by Harsha Sista.)
Will the Real Speaker Please Stand Up?
Vaibhav Joshi, reporting from Lok Sabha, discusses the committee proceedings with the Speaker of the house.
The committee has just passed the historic Women Reservation Bill. At any point during the sessions, did the Speaker feel that the bill might not even be introduced in the committee? Why?
No, the Government looked really motivated to pass the bill in this session. The Speaker was in full support of the government in order to pass such a substantial bill in the Parliament.
Does the Speaker feel that the absolute lack of interest to review the state of banking and financial services in India within the committee, showcases subtle hints of vote-bank politics?
That is not true. The government has its priorities set. It wants to take the reforms first to the people and then to the macro-economic structures. The central focus of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has always been the people of this nation. There is no vote bank politics, it is just the citizen-centred approach of the Government.
What are the Speaker’s views on Indian National President (INC) President Rahul Gandhi raising a motion of ‘No Confidence’ against Prime Minister Narendra Modi while the agendas at hand took a back seat?
It is very disruptive. Even though it makes the legislative work very disruptive for the Speaker, every party has some constitutional rights in Lok Sabha, so we have to follow the procedure.
What does a Member of Parliament (MP) raising the motion to discuss ‘Do not build the Ram Mandir’ without actually being aware of where the Ram Mandir is, in the Speaker’s opinion, convey about the state of the Indian political scenario?
That is one more reason to build the ‘Ram Mandir’; in order to make the citizens of this nation aware of where the ‘Ram Janmabhoomi’ is. There will always be people who come to parliament to spread their propaganda. It was a shameful incident. At the same time, it is okay. Who are we to comment on someone’s personal knowledge?
(Edited by Harsha Sista.)
The committee has just passed the historic Women Reservation Bill. At any point during the sessions, did the Speaker feel that the bill might not even be introduced in the committee? Why?
No, the Government looked really motivated to pass the bill in this session. The Speaker was in full support of the government in order to pass such a substantial bill in the Parliament.
Does the Speaker feel that the absolute lack of interest to review the state of banking and financial services in India within the committee, showcases subtle hints of vote-bank politics?
That is not true. The government has its priorities set. It wants to take the reforms first to the people and then to the macro-economic structures. The central focus of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has always been the people of this nation. There is no vote bank politics, it is just the citizen-centred approach of the Government.
What are the Speaker’s views on Indian National President (INC) President Rahul Gandhi raising a motion of ‘No Confidence’ against Prime Minister Narendra Modi while the agendas at hand took a back seat?
It is very disruptive. Even though it makes the legislative work very disruptive for the Speaker, every party has some constitutional rights in Lok Sabha, so we have to follow the procedure.
What does a Member of Parliament (MP) raising the motion to discuss ‘Do not build the Ram Mandir’ without actually being aware of where the Ram Mandir is, in the Speaker’s opinion, convey about the state of the Indian political scenario?
That is one more reason to build the ‘Ram Mandir’; in order to make the citizens of this nation aware of where the ‘Ram Janmabhoomi’ is. There will always be people who come to parliament to spread their propaganda. It was a shameful incident. At the same time, it is okay. Who are we to comment on someone’s personal knowledge?
(Edited by Harsha Sista.)
A Dialogue with the Hellenic Republic
Nivedan Vishwanath, reporting from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), discusses present problems and future prospects with the delegate of the Hellenic Republic (Greece).
The 2001 swap deal between Greece and Investment banking firm Goldman Sachs was restructured in 2005. This led to an 81% increase in Greek debt in 2005. What changes were made during this restructuring process and what was the motive behind it?
Greece, since long, has been accumulating fiscal debt and the government in the past had ignored the debt in a very judicious manner. The main intention behind this restructuring was to protect the economy from future insolvency or bankruptcy. The restructuring took place in the form of two different settlements. The first settlement involved repayment of a certain portion of the funds as a percentage of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The loan amount that had to be paid back to the creditors was paid as nearly two percent of the country’s GDP. The second settlement was the out of court settlements under which several bad loans that were taken by the Greek government were settled.
How does Greece ensure confident returns amidst high fiscal imbalances in the past and forecasts of negative growth in the coming few years (2010-2012)?
The delegate attributes the irresponsible conduct of the governments in the past as the major cause for the situation the country is in now. Government reforms are the only way that Greece can regain credibility on a long-term basis. The first and foremost avenue where government expenditure would be cut down is the pension plan where efforts to increase the pension availing age are being made. Also, in order to ensure that the investment that was pulled out of Greece comes back, corporate taxes would be reduced to a near zero for a period of five years. This would facilitate the flow of Foreign Institutional Investments (FII) and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the country. Efforts are being made to revamp the tourism industry in order to boost the economy.
With a gradual decline in systemic trust (trust of citizens in governmental institutions), what would be the impact of expenditure cuts, (imposed by Troika*, a part of the financing package) on the citizens?
The €110 billion financial package came at the right time. With the required funds in place, the government would ensure that unemployment is brought down. There exist reasonable doubts of protests against these austerity measures but over time, the government would ensure that the unemployed get a place to work.
How does the delegate plan to contain the situation and ensure that the crisis in Greece does not have dire implications over southern European countries, especially those with shaky economies?
In order to contain the situation, measures to decrease expenditure and to boost revenue must be implemented. Cuts on pensions and civil servant payments along with a robust tax collection system would help bring down expenditure and also fill government coffers. In order to repay the debt, certain creditors were also granted control over public assets for a period of 99 years. These, along with an increase in employment would ensure that the situation gets better over time.
Unlike other bailouts, a separate lending round (in the form of the Troika financing package) was proposed as a solution to the Greek debt crisis. Does the delegate think that the country could handle another round of borrowing?
In the past, loans were taken for fulfilling cynical agendas. This time around, the government has a clear-cut perspective and a structure to use funds for proper economic reform. The present government, unlike the past, would ensure that the funds are not misused by political parties to fulfil their interests. A well laid out system would ensure that reforms are carried out in a systematic manner and the funds are utilized properly. This makes the government confident that Greece could handle another round of borrowing.
(Edited by Harsha Sista.)
Greece, since long, has been accumulating fiscal debt and the government in the past had ignored the debt in a very judicious manner. The main intention behind this restructuring was to protect the economy from future insolvency or bankruptcy. The restructuring took place in the form of two different settlements. The first settlement involved repayment of a certain portion of the funds as a percentage of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The loan amount that had to be paid back to the creditors was paid as nearly two percent of the country’s GDP. The second settlement was the out of court settlements under which several bad loans that were taken by the Greek government were settled.
How does Greece ensure confident returns amidst high fiscal imbalances in the past and forecasts of negative growth in the coming few years (2010-2012)?
The delegate attributes the irresponsible conduct of the governments in the past as the major cause for the situation the country is in now. Government reforms are the only way that Greece can regain credibility on a long-term basis. The first and foremost avenue where government expenditure would be cut down is the pension plan where efforts to increase the pension availing age are being made. Also, in order to ensure that the investment that was pulled out of Greece comes back, corporate taxes would be reduced to a near zero for a period of five years. This would facilitate the flow of Foreign Institutional Investments (FII) and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the country. Efforts are being made to revamp the tourism industry in order to boost the economy.
With a gradual decline in systemic trust (trust of citizens in governmental institutions), what would be the impact of expenditure cuts, (imposed by Troika*, a part of the financing package) on the citizens?
The €110 billion financial package came at the right time. With the required funds in place, the government would ensure that unemployment is brought down. There exist reasonable doubts of protests against these austerity measures but over time, the government would ensure that the unemployed get a place to work.
How does the delegate plan to contain the situation and ensure that the crisis in Greece does not have dire implications over southern European countries, especially those with shaky economies?
In order to contain the situation, measures to decrease expenditure and to boost revenue must be implemented. Cuts on pensions and civil servant payments along with a robust tax collection system would help bring down expenditure and also fill government coffers. In order to repay the debt, certain creditors were also granted control over public assets for a period of 99 years. These, along with an increase in employment would ensure that the situation gets better over time.
Unlike other bailouts, a separate lending round (in the form of the Troika financing package) was proposed as a solution to the Greek debt crisis. Does the delegate think that the country could handle another round of borrowing?
In the past, loans were taken for fulfilling cynical agendas. This time around, the government has a clear-cut perspective and a structure to use funds for proper economic reform. The present government, unlike the past, would ensure that the funds are not misused by political parties to fulfil their interests. A well laid out system would ensure that reforms are carried out in a systematic manner and the funds are utilized properly. This makes the government confident that Greece could handle another round of borrowing.
(Edited by Harsha Sista.)
Slipping Through Our Fingers
Reshma Raghunadharao, reporting from the United Nations General Assembly–Disarmament and International Security (UNGA–DISEC), interviews the Director, Niresh Swamy.
With foreign intervention being considered inevitable in many cases of conflict, do you think the intervention is warranted in the case of civil wars?
Intervention can be considered legal only when it is done with consent. That is, intervention by invitation. Any other type of intervention is illegal. Responsibility to Protect (R2P) by itself stands as a doctrine because the principles it stands for remains non-codifiable. That is because it favours intervention based on protection of nationals and the concept of nationals is in itself subject to interpretation. This is due to the fact that a country’s nationals can be outside its own sovereign territory; case in point being the Russian Nationals in Crimea. Hence intervention invoking R2P cannot be deemed legal. Also, R2P cannot be invoked disregarding Responsibility to Rebuild and Responsibility to Not Protect.
With Brexit being termed as the greatest contributor to political instability, what are your views on the same?
Brexit is one of the most unstable phenomena the world has faced since the Great Depression. It had given every individual the chance to have their own opinion on the decision. In my opinion, Brexit was a result of misinformation. There were two referendums that initiated Brexit. These two referendums were competing against each other for the same cause. This by itself shows the amount of internal politics that happened in UK. The Brexit referendums were initiated by a series of misinformation that was forced onto the public. They claimed that the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) was spending up to 36 million every week for the European Union (EU), which was a blatant lie that was concocted by the opposition. The EU countries are governed by soft borders. Now Brexit ends up converting the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland into a hard border. This might soon end up creating a political crisis between Ireland and Northern Ireland. It also leads to financial duress upon the EU countries.
(Edited by Keerthisree Raghu.)
Intervention can be considered legal only when it is done with consent. That is, intervention by invitation. Any other type of intervention is illegal. Responsibility to Protect (R2P) by itself stands as a doctrine because the principles it stands for remains non-codifiable. That is because it favours intervention based on protection of nationals and the concept of nationals is in itself subject to interpretation. This is due to the fact that a country’s nationals can be outside its own sovereign territory; case in point being the Russian Nationals in Crimea. Hence intervention invoking R2P cannot be deemed legal. Also, R2P cannot be invoked disregarding Responsibility to Rebuild and Responsibility to Not Protect.
With Brexit being termed as the greatest contributor to political instability, what are your views on the same?
Brexit is one of the most unstable phenomena the world has faced since the Great Depression. It had given every individual the chance to have their own opinion on the decision. In my opinion, Brexit was a result of misinformation. There were two referendums that initiated Brexit. These two referendums were competing against each other for the same cause. This by itself shows the amount of internal politics that happened in UK. The Brexit referendums were initiated by a series of misinformation that was forced onto the public. They claimed that the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) was spending up to 36 million every week for the European Union (EU), which was a blatant lie that was concocted by the opposition. The EU countries are governed by soft borders. Now Brexit ends up converting the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland into a hard border. This might soon end up creating a political crisis between Ireland and Northern Ireland. It also leads to financial duress upon the EU countries.
(Edited by Keerthisree Raghu.)
Incessant Misfortunes
“The power to question is the basis of all human progress.” Aditi Das, reporting from the United Nations General Assembly–Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee (SOCHUM), interviews the Director of the committee.
Sir, how do you think the discrimination against minority communities makes them resort to criminal activities? Please explain some instances when this has happened.
Minority communities face harsh realities in every sphere of their lives because, in most cases, the legislation does not favour them. This makes it difficult for them to find jobs or social security, leading them to look for alternative sources to make a living; the simplest of which, is theft. An example of this would be South Africa, where the minority community is discriminated against on the basis of skin colour, thus making it extremely difficult for them to find employment. Because of such conditions, these people tend to recourse towards criminal activities. Another case is that of the minority Muslim community in Greece who face similar discrimination.
How do you think the condition of indigenous people can be improved? Please elucidate a few ways in which societal security can be provided to them.
There has been a good supply of funds for the indigenous people from the World Bank as well as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), but what it lacks is proper channelisation. If that can be done, most of the problems pertaining to their financial condition can be improved. These people should be provided with jobs and a protected area for them to reside in. This would protect them from the various forms of social harassment. An integrated community group focusing on their culture can be set up, which would increase the bonding between them. Financial stability is the foremost area of focus, because it is a significant way to ensure that they rise above the poverty index.
Lastly, please talk about some solutions that are being brought about to improve the Rohingya crisis.
The Rohingya are the most displaced minority community in the world. These people are not just refugees, but stateless or Internally Displaced People (IDPs). The term ‘refugee’ quoted in the 1951 Refugee Convention is not universally adopted, which leads to confusion in most occasions. It is important to note that the aid provided to the refugees is better than that provided to the IDPs, thus worsening the situation. We know that countries like Bangladesh, Singapore, and Malaysia have been accommodating a significant number of these refugees in their refugee camps, ensuring that they get adequate food, sanitation, and healthcare, but recently, the Myanmar government has also been trying to provide aid to the people. Furthermore, they are allowing the aid from other countries to reach those who require it. Finally, the government is trying to introduce small-scale jobs to ensure that they earn some living and sustain themselves, instead of looking for alternative or criminal sources of income.
(Edited by Keerthisree Raghu.)
Another Baseless Allegation
Samiksha, reporting from the United Nations General Assembly-Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee (UNGA-SOCHUM), interviews the Delegate of People’s Republic of China.
What is your country’s stance on the secondary agenda? Can you please tell us some steps taken by your country to protect worker’s rights?
China has signed four fundamental conventions with regard to the International Labour Organisation for the protection of worker’s rights. Regarding any problem, China always follows the four cardinal principles and puts our own Constitution before the international law. According to Article 46 of the Vienna Convention on Laws of Treaties, when a conflict arises between international law and internal law, internal law prevails. We have taken all the measures required to provide protection for workers in our country itself.
Would you compromise human rights for economic development?
Human rights cannot be seen as an issue on its own. Poverty and human rights are linked just as poverty and economic development are connected. These issues cannot possibly be singled out, and only when one issue is resolved, can the other be resolved as well. However, if the sovereignty of our nation is in jeopardy, human rights can hardly be protected. This question cannot be answered with a ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
Keeping in mind that human rights cannot be protected in times of national jeopardy, what do you have to say about the South East part of China which acts as a free zone where companies are given more leeway in terms of human rights exploitation in order to increase production?
These are baseless and blatant accusations placed upon the country of China. The Chinese Constitution puts down the same set of rules for every citizen, and there is no way we would not adhere to our Constitution. These accusations are merely false propaganda being spread by the misguided media.
What are your views on the Tibetan Sovereignty conflict?
We firmly believe that the people of Tibet are the people of China as well. Anything and everything that applies to a citizen of China also applies to the Tibetans. Our Constitution itself protects their fundamental rights and no separate provisions are required for them.
Why not give them the land that they want?
This is a mere retaliation by the few people who have been brainwashed and misguided by the Western powers. We believe that Tibetans want to be a part of the community that is already present for them here in China. Their leader is just misguiding them.
The Falun Gong practitioners have been detained in camps with inhumane conditions and killed for organ harvesting. What are your views on this?
I can substantiate on this accusation being completely false and baseless with the recent Periodical Review that took place in 2018. 150 questions were taken from 120 countries and not one country spoke about violations of any sorts of human rights. More than 50 Muslim countries were present as well, which can only mean the accusations regarding the Uyghur Muslims were also completely false; the only exception to this being, of course, the misguided Western power.
It is obvious that the Chinese Communist Party does not support the Falun Gong practitioners. Keeping in mind your previous answer, how do you account for the extrajudicial detention of all the Falun Gong practitioners and those who went missing?
Our Constitution protects all religions but we do know that no individual can force his or her religion upon anyone else. If any actions taken in the name of religion harm the government, the government will not encourage these.
(Edited by Keerthisree Raghu.)
China has signed four fundamental conventions with regard to the International Labour Organisation for the protection of worker’s rights. Regarding any problem, China always follows the four cardinal principles and puts our own Constitution before the international law. According to Article 46 of the Vienna Convention on Laws of Treaties, when a conflict arises between international law and internal law, internal law prevails. We have taken all the measures required to provide protection for workers in our country itself.
Would you compromise human rights for economic development?
Human rights cannot be seen as an issue on its own. Poverty and human rights are linked just as poverty and economic development are connected. These issues cannot possibly be singled out, and only when one issue is resolved, can the other be resolved as well. However, if the sovereignty of our nation is in jeopardy, human rights can hardly be protected. This question cannot be answered with a ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
Keeping in mind that human rights cannot be protected in times of national jeopardy, what do you have to say about the South East part of China which acts as a free zone where companies are given more leeway in terms of human rights exploitation in order to increase production?
These are baseless and blatant accusations placed upon the country of China. The Chinese Constitution puts down the same set of rules for every citizen, and there is no way we would not adhere to our Constitution. These accusations are merely false propaganda being spread by the misguided media.
What are your views on the Tibetan Sovereignty conflict?
We firmly believe that the people of Tibet are the people of China as well. Anything and everything that applies to a citizen of China also applies to the Tibetans. Our Constitution itself protects their fundamental rights and no separate provisions are required for them.
Why not give them the land that they want?
This is a mere retaliation by the few people who have been brainwashed and misguided by the Western powers. We believe that Tibetans want to be a part of the community that is already present for them here in China. Their leader is just misguiding them.
The Falun Gong practitioners have been detained in camps with inhumane conditions and killed for organ harvesting. What are your views on this?
I can substantiate on this accusation being completely false and baseless with the recent Periodical Review that took place in 2018. 150 questions were taken from 120 countries and not one country spoke about violations of any sorts of human rights. More than 50 Muslim countries were present as well, which can only mean the accusations regarding the Uyghur Muslims were also completely false; the only exception to this being, of course, the misguided Western power.
It is obvious that the Chinese Communist Party does not support the Falun Gong practitioners. Keeping in mind your previous answer, how do you account for the extrajudicial detention of all the Falun Gong practitioners and those who went missing?
Our Constitution protects all religions but we do know that no individual can force his or her religion upon anyone else. If any actions taken in the name of religion harm the government, the government will not encourage these.
(Edited by Keerthisree Raghu.)
Expert Opinion
Suhas R Vaidya, reporting from the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission (UNPBC), culminates the thoughts of the Chairperson of the UNPBC about the Sahelian stretch.
Colonial rapacity for power led them to leech on many parts of the world and most of the host nations were left in shambles after their departure. Do you think the Sahel is a classic case of colonial ruins?
Not at all. The Sahel countries are those that are facing their current problems due to geographical, climate driven, or natural situations. Civil riots and strife are breaking out as a result of a lack of proper utilisation of resources and infrastructure.
In the last few years, a very intricate network of terror outfits has crept into the Sahelian expanse and the affiliations that they have been making create a perilous threat to an already debilitated region. Do you think the Sahelian nations ought to use the foreign aid and assistance more effectively to tackle this menace?
The countries of the Sahel suffer from poverty because of a lack of infrastructure for utilisation of the abundant resources, primarily owing to the absence of technological advancement of global standards. Thus, aid for the same is definitely warranted, but governments of the Sahel should be empowered and made more politically accountable such that the aid is used just for technological advancements.
Do you think fierce competition rather than coordination exists between regional and international agencies in terms of alleviating the concerns of the Sahel?
With respect to regional competition in the Sahel expanse, not at all. But the enormous impact of neighbouring nations which might have the ability to acquire the resources in the Sahel could come off as ambitious and contentious.
What strategic significance and profundity do you think the Sahel holds in a global panorama?
In a very simple outline, the Sahel acts as the exodus of the Middle-East—a vital responsibility to hold in today’s global political dynamic.
(Edited by Keerthisree Raghu.)
Having a Dialogue
Venkatesh Eleswarapu, reporting from the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission (UNPBC), interviews the Delegate of the United States of America (USA) and attempts to understand his stance on the lesser discussed topics pertaining to the agenda.
The Delegate was asked about his opinions on the peace versus accountability debate. The Delegate remarked about the flaws in the international humanitarian law regarding the topic of the debate. According to the Delegate, the suggestion that blanket non-prosecution is a legitimate policy option (peace trumping accountability) runs in contrast to the direct imperative in the Conventions to repress grave breaches. He claimed that formal amnesty for grave breaches would therefore be unlawful, however attractively presented as a necessary part of an overall peace package. He also stated that parallel arguments apply in relation to the most serious violations of international human rights law.
The Sahel region is constantly targeted by the non-state actors. On being asked about how the Government should look into the matters related to non-state actors, the Delegate was quite sceptical, and stressed on the point regarding the importance of truth commissions which might be described more accurately as acknowledging the truth rather than finding the truth. The Government should first start listening to what the common people have to say, according to the Delegate. He added that ignorance is not always bliss.
The countries in the Sahel region have seen little progress in terms of development. Republic of the Niger (NIger), Burkina Faso and the Republic of Chad (Chad) are at the bottom of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Index, with low scores on health, education and living standards. How can the United Nations (UN) help improve this condition? The Delegate talked about the initiative taken up by the UN which includes programmes that send trained officials to the Sahel regions to tell people about recent technological and agricultural developments and practically apply them in use.
Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram remains one of the Sahel region’s deadliest conflicts despite a major military offensive approach to contain the African Islamist militant group and support from international partners. The shifting of the Boko Haram to Niger and Chad could not be prevented and the Jihadis are still an active militant organisation. The Delegate was asked about tackling this Jihadist militant organisation. The Delegate answered by just naming the regional and non-UN organisations formed for handling militants. He was silent when asked about the effectiveness of these anti-terrorism organisations.
(Edited by Keerthisree Raghu.)
A Substantial Exchange
Shruthi Sundar, reporting from the 1988 Sanctions Committee of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), provides the stance of the Delegate of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea as presented in an interview with the delegate.
Sanctions are in place to prevent the supply, sale, and transfer of arms to the Taliban, or entities and individuals associated with the Taliban. However, owing to recent attacks, it is clear that the Taliban still has a formidable arsenal of weapons. Is this an instance of ineffective implementation of the sanctions as outlined by the UNSC resolutions?
As far as implementation of sanctions is concerned, there is no specific body that can ensure and enforce the implementation of sanctions and take punitive measures upon failure to do so. Even if there were a body, it would compromise the sovereignty of the state or states involved, which is a bit of a paradox. Therefore, the committee imposes sanctions with faith in the respective parties and countries involved, and cannot rely on covert strikes or intelligence of any sort.
Is curbing the illicit drug trade in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (Afghanistan) within the capacity of the UNSC?
Whether it is within the capacity or not, we must work towards it since drugs are practically a second currency for terrorist organisations as well as other insurgent groups. Illicit drug trade (much like hawala transactions) is completely off the official records and are based on payments in cash or cryptocurrency. So, even if we decide to take proactive measures, they may not be very effective when tackling such covert practices.
Is the delegate optimistic about adequate security being provided for the voters during the upcoming 2019 presidential elections?
Voter security must be provided, but its extent and strength during the upcoming elections is very difficult to predict currently. Certain bodies that are capable of providing security, like the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), are perceived to be under the influence of the United States of America (USA). So, there may be individuals or entities who prefer not to use the ISAF for this purpose. Perhaps other bodies, like the UN Police or the UN Peacekeeping Forces could ensure voter security, if we can invoke Chapter VII of the UN Charter.
A significant portion of the Afghan population has lost faith in the democratic process. How can it be restored?
The general Afghan mindset accepts a tradition of concentrating decision-making power in a single village head or a council of elders. This system is based on mutual trust, good faith, and respect for elders. Democracy, considered to be a Western approach and a number game, seems to be too confrontational for the ordinary Afghan citizen. We should start by understanding the social fabric of Afghanistan, which is comprised of several tribes and ethnicities.
Given the fact that the Taliban has adamantly refused to accept the existence of the Afghan government, does the delegate believe that peace between the two entities will be successfully negotiated in the near future?
If the Taliban negotiates with only a single country, I believe it is unlikely. As far as progress of peace negotiations is concerned, I believe the UNSC and the Sanctions Committee need to take a unified approach. Regional players like the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan could work towards helping to build a better Afghanistan.
(Edited by Shruthi Subramanian.)
Women in Agriculture
Ashwini Rajanikanth, reporting from United Nations Women (UN Women), interviewed the Delegate of United States of America (USA) on his viewpoints regarding women empowerment in the agriculture sector.
What is the position of women in the agriculture index and what does it mean for the U.S. Government’s ‘Feed the Future’ initiative?
The agricultural index, with respect to women, measures the empowerment, agency, and inclusion of women in the agriculture sector to identify ways to overcome obstacles and constraints that hinder women’s engagement and equality. The index could be an important innovation in its field and aims to extend understanding of the connections between women’s direction, food security, and agricultural growth. It measures the roles and extent of women’s engagement within the agriculture sector in 5 domains: choices regarding agricultural production, access to and decision-making power over productive resources, management of financial gain and its use, leadership within the community, and utilization of time. The Western Economic Association International (WEAI) was developed to track the change in women’s empowerment levels that occurs as a direct or indirect result of interventions under the Feed the Future initiative. The government of the United States of America (USA) sees the inclusion of females in the agricultural sector as a key element of growth in the long run. We are paying attention to gender integration at the country, program, and project levels, and trying to get it right at every stage of the initiative. We would like to still study, assess, and monitor how our approaches impact women and men as well as their engagement in overall agricultural sector growth.
What makes the WEAI so innovative?
The WEAI is the first index to directly capture women’s empowerment in agriculture and provides invaluable tools for empowering women and improving gender equality. The WEAI reveals the areas like time burdens, community leadership, and control over income and resources, where women are most disempowered. It additionally shows whether or not empowerment gaps exist between both genders. It also transforms our understanding of who is empowered. The WEAI gives a more precise picture of women empowerment. Pilot results from Central American nations, for example, show that 76% of the sample region’s wealthiest women are disempowered in agricultural empowerment.
If we’re seeing that wealth and education don’t essentially mean empowerment, then what does empowerment mean with respect to agricultural development?
It suggests that a woman is ready to form choices, access the tools she needs, obtain a loan if she needs to buy inputs to expand production, join a women’s group, and take leadership roles to advance agricultural production, and tackle shared issues within the community. It means she will be able to manage her financial gain, manage her time, remain healthy, and be productive while undertaking multiple roles. These factors help women fully utilise economic process opportunities. All of this will increase the woman’s power inside her family and her ability to have financial gain. Our work with the International Food Policy Research Institue (IFPRI) has shown that women seemingly to pay more on their children’s health, nutrition, and education, as well as on other investments that ultimately result in dividends that advance the broader community. We know that empowering females isn't solely the proper issue tackle—it’s the sensible issue to tackle. It helps advance families, helps strengthen communities, and works towards the broader global good.
(Edited by Keerthisree Raghu.)
The Interview
Kaavya Ganesh, reporting from the United Nations Women, asks the Delegate of India some questions pertaining to the agenda at hand.
Complications arising from pregnancy and unsafe abortions are a leading cause of death among women aged 15–19 years. The risk of maternal mortality among adolescent mothers is twice as high as that of mothers aged 25–39 years. What social protection schemes can be implemented to reduce this?
In India, abortion laws come under the Ministry of Women and Child Development. In India, abortion is legal, but only within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. Moving on to the social protection schemes, we have something called the Indian Abortion Law which has implemented a lot of programs in rural areas to promote abortion campaigns.
However, even though abortion is legal in India, a lot of women are unaware of this, leading to more than half of all abortions continuing to be unsafe.
Yes. Most of this is due to social stigma that places abortion in a negative light. The only way to combat this by spreading awareness using the combined powers of media and technology.
Female employment rate in India has fallen from an already low 35% to just 26%. However, unpaid work by women forms 3.1% of the GDP. What are the schemes being implemented to improve these dismal statistics?
This comes under the Central Social Welfare Board of India. In India, a lot of people still do domestic work which is not taken into account in the economy. As the Delegate had suggested yesterday, every government must start looking into the unorganised sectors of their country. According to global statistics, only a small portion of women in India are shown to be working, when in reality, this is not true. A lot of women are employed in unorganised sectors like domestic services which do not make it into any statistical numeration. That is something India is focusing on right now. We have to start taking into account as to what is happening in these unorganised sectors so that we get to know the exact number of working women to better help them. The Delegate believes it will be far greater than what it looks like in the international community.
The Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 are not legally binding. Why is this so?
When the SDGs came out, a lot of countries were on board with the goals. But later on, they came to understand that these SDGs actually are not on par with the country’s economic policies or what the country is undergoing. The SDGs are something that is common to all countries, but the amount of development or the issues that are faced by, say, the United States of America are not the same as the issues that are faced by an African country. This is where the countries started diverting from the whole process of SDGs.
Accountability was originally emphasised in the drafting process of the SDGs which was later replaced with a weaker follow up and review process. What impacts do you think this will have in the fulfilment of the goals?
When SDGs were established, it was under the main United Nations body where transparency and accountability were two simple yet important things that had to be followed by countries. The whole problem with not having transparency is because countries are deviating from the fact that they have to achieve SDGs. This is because they are mainly concerned with only their country, rather than the global scenario. The Delegate thinks that governments should be made aware that the goals are for their country’s greater good. Not trying to achieve these goals will only put the countries in a bad state in 20–30 years, as is the case with Syria or Iraq. If Syria or Iraq had abided by the decisions taken in the United Nations 15 or 20 years ago, they would not be facing such major problems right now.
(Edited by Keerthisree Raghu.)
Reaching Out
Reporting from the World Health Organisation (WHO), Meghna Muralidharan engages in conversation with the Delegate of French Republic (France).
There is a lot of mental stress in the workplace which leads to anxiety disorders in many employees. How do you propose to help them?
Mental stress in workplace can be reduced by providing measures to support the individuals while having progressive mental facilities with proper distribution of salaries. There must be effective implementation of regulations that incorporate anti-discrimination policies in workplaces; the countries must adhere to these like they do in the case of gender discrimination. There must also be proper and equal employment opportunities for the employees. Additionally, wellness programs could help in providing them with a break from a monotonous lifestyle.
France has a high depression rate; what do you think is the biggest factor that contributes to this? How can this be tackled?
Depression rates have come down in France. It is prevalent to some extent due to the tight work culture. Since the horrors of World War, there have been political differences, but France has come a long way, and today we have good backing systems in the government followed by a stable health policy where citizens enjoy good access to care. We are working to bring in more reforms to provide equitable opportunities in the work sphere.
What according to you is a factor to focus on to help improve mental healthcare in poor European countries?
Since poor European countries already face the problems of budget allocation; there has to be proper channelisation of healthcare resources, so that mentally-ill people in the country are able to access medicines and treatment. These countries must be aided in order to adequately equip them to cater to the needs of the people.
Mental illness often leads to drug abuse; what do you propose to solve this issue?
Drug-abuse can only be solved with proper counselling sessions and by spreading more awareness about the side-effects of such use. We also need to create more rehabilitation centres to help the ones suffering.
What other aspects do you wish to discuss in the committee?
The Delegate of France would like to discuss about using the help of technology to treat mentally-ill people with mental health mobile applications. Further, the lack of essential medicines needs to be discussed.
(Edited by Shruthi Subramanian.)
Dearly Beloved
Reporting from the World Health Organisation (WHO), Rajnandini Singh jots down the thoughts of the Delegates of The Republic of Iraq (Iraq) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the issue of addressing mental health disorders in their countries.
The lack of trained personnel capable of treating mental health disorders in your countries is a major problem in tackling mental illness. How do you propose the education for medical students in your countries be modified in this regard?
Iraq: Iraq has faced several wars throughout the history which has shaped a major part of life in Iraq as we see today. We believe that education is an important factor in shaping the future. Proper training to our medical students is extremely necessary to ensure that Iraq of the future has better facilities available. We strive to encourage young students to expand their knowledge in the area along with the benefits that may follow. We hope we can interest more students to take up psychology as their majors.
UAE: The Government of UAE is determined to invest in the field of medicine to facilitate further research on the mental disorders along with incentivising education for the interested youth. A national organisation is also in the making to provide better assistance to the people diagnosed with mental disorders.
How do you propose the views of the general audience can be changed regarding mental illnesses? How can the citizens be empowered to address mental health issues more freely?
Iraq: There is not a lot of stigma around mental health in Iraq, because of the harrowing events of the past. Our citizens are quite aware of the mental health disorders and their effects on the individual as well as their families. But proper awareness for the ones that are still in the dark is important to rally acceptance and inclusion of the patients in the society as equals. We also have 24-hour helplines for patients in crisis in cases where immediate professional help cannot be provided.
UAE: Mental health is a taboo all over the world. People are reluctant to accept their diagnosis and talk about their issues due to the fear of being isolated. We believe initiatives by the government such as counselling sessions for the patients, public demonstrations, and organising events like TED talks can help de-stigmatise mental disorders, so we can focus on the treatment and rehabilitation of the patients.
What, in your opinion, can be done to make mental healthcare cheaper and more accessible to people?
Iraq: Iraq believes that setting up counselling camps could help bring down the cost of treatment considerably along with making treatment more accessible to the common citizens. As the Delegate mentioned before the 24-hour helplines would also help patients seek immediate, low-cost attention without putting any major financial pressure on them.
UAE: Even though there are certain mental conditions that cannot be cured, we still believe better facilities can be set up to care for the patients. We are willing to dedicate the necessary amounts of funds in this direction, along with generation of funds through taxation of alcohol and custom duties, etc. This would take a major part of the burden off the patient and their families and they can avail healthcare easily.
(Edited by Shruthi Subramanian.)