Background

Inspired by the success of two previous programs, then in 2013 was Jakarta Model United Nations (MUN Jakarta) held back. Jakarta MUN is a simulation of the United Nations and others International conference. In Jakarta MUN, participants will act as a diplomat from particular country then discuss international issues like the process that occurs in a UN conference. The program is successful in bringing change for young people in Indonesia, especially in spreading the ideas and values ​​of diplomacy and developing knowledge of the issues and an international phenomenon.

Theme

“Youth Participation in Ending Crisis”

Considering the crisis being faced by the world today, Jakarta MUN took crisis as a big theme. Wide assortments of crises ranging from security issue, economic, social occur in different part of the world. Through this theme, Jakarta MUN 2013 is trying to take young people from different parts of the world to join and to think about the best solutions to solve existing problems.

Flasback

Jakarta MUN 2011

Be the first edition of the Jakarta MUN. Initiated by Indonesian Student Association for International Studies, an NGO engaged in international issues. More than 150 participants from all over Indonesia with a diverse background came to Jakarta and took part in the first edition of Jakarta MUN. Jakarta MUN had many programs which Social events of MUN Jakarta 2011 then become the benchmark for others in the organization of social MUN events.

Jakarta MUN 2012

It marked a new era for MUN in Indonesia. Jakarta MUN 2012 became the first international MUN. Jakarta MUN participants is not only from big cities in Indonesia alone but also from various countries like USA, UK, India, New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Laos, and other countries. Application even came from African countries such as Ghana.

The councils

Dear Delegates,

I’m so thrilled to welcome you in Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. My name is Florida Petresia Andriana and with all pleasure, I will be serving as the Director this July 2013. Along with Elda Claudia Sembiring and Amy Daradjati Utomo as my assistant directors, we will try to give you one unforgettable experience in JakartaMUN 2013.

I’m now on my third year studying International Relations at Universitas Indonesia. I’ve been involved in MUN since 2010. Last year, I served as Assistant Directors in United Nations on Framework of Climate Change (UNFCCC) JakartaMUN 2012. Beyond that, I’m also interested in debating, theater, and writing. During the free time, I like to read, be it Haruki Murakami’s pieces or Hai, Miiko.

2013 will be a momentum for APEC. More challenge and opportunities are faced by country members, which makes APEC need to enhance its cooperation and foster the economic growth of the member states. Focusing on energy, we will be having session to compose a economic cooperation framework which suits the best to engineer energy intensity. There will be challenging caucuses, for we will take brilliant ideas to create a comprehensive framework in improving economic growth while dealing with climate change issue. Not to mention on how nowadays most of Asia-Pacific countries have prominent role in world economy. With Indonesia as the chair of APEC 2013, I think this adds another reason why you shall be in our committee!

See you in JakartaMUN 2013!

Sincerely
Florida Petresia Andriana
Director of APEC Committee

Jakarta Model United Nations 2013

oryandriana@ymail.com

Council’s description

APEC

Established in 1989, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation is premier region economic forum. The primary goal is to support sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. This intergovernmental group works on the basis of non-binding commitments, open dialogue and equal respect for the views of all participants. Bear in mind, this trade body is different like another multilateral institution or WTO, since APEC has no treaty obligations required of its participants. Therefore, the decisions are reached by consensus and commitments that are taken on a voluntary basis.

APEC itself is consisted by 21 member economies. The word ‘economies’ is used to describe APEC members because the APEC cooperative process is predominantly concerned with trade and economic issues, therefore members are engaging with another as economic entities. The 21 members are Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong (China), Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, United States, and Vietnam.

There are three main pillars of activity, Trade and Investment Liberalization, Business Facilitation, and Economic and Technical Cooperation. These pillars helps driving the economic growth and improving employment opportunities standards of living for the citizens of the region. In order to achieve its vision, the key is listed under Bogor Goals of free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific by 2010 for industrialized economies and 2020 for developing economies.

Topic area: Energy Security

Economic sector will always relate to energy issues. This is why, APEC member economies deal on the surging consumption which leads to the need of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. Now APEC has to achieve its target of 45 percent improvement in energy efficiency by 2035. Up until now, over 80 percent of APEC’s primary energy demand in 2035 is likely to be met by fossil fuels. Due to region’s surging demand this could result in a 46 percent increase in carbon dioxide emissions from fuel combustion. Therefore, the challenges are to promote energy efficiency and also create an energy market that will support a strong economic condition for the member economies.

WTO (WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION)

Dear Delegates,

My name is Muhammad Ghazzian Afif. On daily basis, people call me ‘Ezi’. Assisted by Aditya Alta and Gabby Victoria, I will serve you as the Director of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

I am a student of the International Relations Undergraduate Program, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Indonesia. My first experience with the MUN happened in 2010. I attended the NTU-MUN as a Delegate of Portugal in the European Union. Then, in 2012, I participated in IndonesiaMUN as a Delegate of China in the Security Council, awarded with Honorable Mention. Well, outside my MUN experiences, I actually a ‘usual’ campus-hangout-home student. I do not participate in any particular club or organization, just enjoy my free time hanging out with friends, reading some good books, browsing the web, and watching good movies or TV series.

So, what I want to tell you from my experience is that the MUN is for everyone. You don’t have to be expert or honor student just to participate and be outstanding at the MUN. If you are interested with the committee or the issue, just apply and prepare yourself. If you don’t win anything, don’t worry. You will win unforgettable experience, and on most cases, many new friends.

Well, you can read further about the WTO and the topics below. I expect fruitful and interesting debates in the committee, since the topic were chosen to help you find the position of your country easily. If you have any question, I will be happy to answer it. Just send me (or one of my assistant directors) e-mail.

Wish you best of luck and see you at Jakarta!

Sincerely,
Muhammad Ghazian Afif
Director of WTO Committe

Jakarta Model United Nations 2013

ezighazzian@gmail.com

About the Committee

World Trade Organization (WTO) is one and only organization regulating international trade at global level. It is an inseparable part of the United Nations and a pillar of international economic regime, beside the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and The World Bank. The WTO currently has 157 members (including the European Union) and 27 observers. The head quarter of WTO is located in Geneva, Switzerland. It was established in 1995 by the Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization that was signed in Marrakech.

The aim of the WTO is to promote free and fair international trade. To reach this aim, the WTO and its members are guided by certain principles, such as: (1) Trading without discrimination; (2) Lowering trade barriers; (3) Maintaining a predictable trade system; (4) Promoting fair trade; (5) Committing to the economic reform and development. Those principles guide the WTO and its members on their decision-making process.

The decision making of the WTO, according to its agreement, is reached by consensus. However, the agreement also facilitates voting mechanism if the members cannot form a consensus.

What makes the WTO unique is its position as the sole institution that regulates international trade. Almost all countries in the world are members, or observers, in the WTO. Any decision in the WTO has impact to practically every people in the world, especially those whose activities are related to trade and economy as a whole. On its mandate, WTO also obliged to cooperate with the IMF and World Bank to promote international economic development. So, the delegates are expected not to consider only economic aspects in the decision-making, but also the social impacts as well.

About the Topic Areas

This year, there are two topics related to crisis to be discussed at the WTO. They are the problems of exchange rate systems and the future of free trade at the situation of global economic crisis.

The first topic is based on the fact that there are two exchange rate systems that are applied by the countries in the world: floating and fixed exchange rate systems. Despite its unstable and prone-to-crisis nature, floating rate system is applied by many countries in the world due to its function to sustain the stability of trade. A country that gain surplus from trade will gain the rise in their currency rate as well. So, the price of their products and services in international market will be less competitive, giving other countries opportunity to balance such country in trade. At some point, the exchange rate of the currency of such country will decrease, making the exports of that country competitive again. It makes a cycle between trade surplus, rising exchange rate, trade deficit, and reducing exchange rate, and so on. But, some countries do not believe on such mechanism, mainly developing countries. They applied another system, which is the fixed exchange rate system. By fixing their exchange rate, those countries can enjoy advantage over other countries in terms of trade. They can devalue their currency to make their exports more competitive (and make imported goods and services more expensive), or revalue their currency to hinder exports from their country. At some point, the practice of fixing exchange rate can be classified as new kind of trade barrier.

Is exchange rate system a kind of barrier of trade? Can the WTO decide which exchange rate system that suits the purpose of free and fair trade? What are the facilities that can bridge the differences between the two systems?

The second topic is based on the fact that, after the economic crisis that started in the middle of 2007, the future of the free trade is uncertain. Until this year, Doha Round, a major round of negotiations after the Uruguay Round, is stagnant. There is no consensus between member countries about what the free and fair trade in the future should be. One of many reasons behind this stagnancy is the economic crisis in the middle of the first decade of the twenty first century. Many countries are reluctant to form a consensus about free trade while their local economies are threatened by the economic crisis. At the same time, many countries try to seek ‘unfair’ gains in trade by using subsidies and other instruments to make foreign exports less competitive in their market, while at the same time make their exports more competitive in the international market. They need to protect their foreign reserves in order to maintain their financial stability in the mist of crisis. In summary, some countries feel that free trade should be limited – in certain measures – in the time of crisis in order to protect local economies, while others believe that free trade are the cure for the economic crisis.

Can the countries ask for protection in trade when they are threatened by economic crisis? If yes, what kind and in what measures the protection can be applied?

World Health Organization (WHO)
Changes in nature especially climate changes make the world faced with many new diseases. Many countries are victims of the changes in nature that are caused by global warming. In many countries, different kind of diseases emerges as the result of climate changes. Seeing the urgent situation, Jakarta MUN feel the need to raise the issue and put it in the special council, WHO. (read more)

United Nations International Children Education Fund (UNICEF)
Children are a precious asset owned by the state. A nation will be able to move forward if they have children who grow well. Unfortunately not everyone is aware of the matter. Many groups do not provide full access to children’s right for their children. In some countries, little children have been equipped with weapons to join battle in the war. This situation prompted Jakarta MUN insert UNICEF into the list in the conference council. (read more)

North Treaty Atlantic Organization (NATO)
In international relations, the issue of security is one of the most important issues that can’t be avoided. Security concerns the existence of a state. Security becomes the main national interest. In response, NATO becomes a part of Jakarta MUN 2013. The theme of this council is NATO in Afghanistan post-2014. (read more)

source : www.jakartamun.org

Well, itu sedikit informasi tentang JMUN 2013 yang akan diselenggarakan pada tanggal 17-21 juni 2013, wah saya harus mempersiapkannya dengan baik. Can't wait and i have to study harder about trading :) especially about WTO. Ganbarimasuuuu!!!!!