Edlin School Model United Nations Club had their first conference on Saturday, March 4 at the Virginia Invitational Model UN Conference at Langley High School in McLean. Our delegates represented the nations of France and Australia in the General Assembly Committees of Social, Cultural and Humanitarian (SOCHUM) and United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). The SOCHUM committee discussed the issue of Prisoners’ rights. In a moderated caucus (mod) they discussed global issues in corrections, including malnutrition, sanitation, overcrowding, disease outbreaks, and the effect on physical and mental health. During unmoderated caucuses, they worked to draft resolutions on these issues in smaller groups called blocs. Our students focused on the issue of overcrowded prisons, making suggestions for alternative sentencing options to mass incarceration. The UNEP committee worked on the issue of emissions related to the production, use and disposal of electronic devices such as cell phones. Since these complex machines utilize rare metals, often the extraction process has an environmental cost. The UNEP committee explored options such as direct engagement with technology firms, but unfortunately the votes were deadlocked and no resolution was reached.
