May 23, 2009 Whitney High School Cerritos, California Model United Nations Specialized Committee and International Gaming Conference VII
CONFERENCE POST-MORTEM NOVICE INTERNATONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
Co-Chair Shahnaz Khandoker		Co-Chair Jinting Wang			Legal Officer Cindy Ha
WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS COMMITTEE?
ICJ was an interesting committee, as several witty witnesses helped to stimulate debate on the topics of USA v. Iran and Georgia v. Russia. During the first session on USA v. Iran, the delegates debated whether the government of Iran was to blame for the hostage abuse during the Iran Contra Crisis of 1979, and they almost unanimously voted that Iran was not guilty. Some arguments presented included that the Iranian government was not responsible for the actions of the Iranian terrorists who took the American embassy workers hostage, while others rebutted that the government was at fault for not helping the hostages escape. In the second session on Georgia v. Russia, the delegates debated whether Russia was at fault for invading and attacking Georgia illegally, and most of the committee decided that Russia was indeed guilty for this case. Many delegates argued that Russia's invasion of Georgia was a breach of sovereignty, while others opposed by saying that Georgians had instigated that attack earlier. Although rounds of speeches and caucuses were tedious at first, the delegates became more enthusiastic as witnesses from different countries and backgrounds told their tales and spiced up the debate. The goal of this committee was to judge two historical cases from a modern perspective, and the committee achieved this by coming up with a variety of applicable suggestions and almost unanimous verdicts.
AWARDS
· Best Delegate o Pakistan—Northwood High School · Outstanding o Russia—Trabuco Hills High School o Slovakia—Trabuco Hills High School · Commendations o Netherlands—Walnut High School o Madagascar—Walnut High School
PHOTOS