Information Supplement Booklet |
Dear Delegates, It gives me immense pleasure to welcome you to yet another stimulating experience at EMUN 2006-07! We at the economic and social council aim to tackle problems of economic and social crisis. We in EMUN 2006 aim to achieve the same by simulating conditions as in the United Nations Headquarters. Along with a healthy and intimidating round of debate, we hope to reach a comprehensive resolution on the prescribed topic area of “integration of world economies into a single global currency” and “child sex trade in Asia”, that are in need of urgent attention. Delegates, you’ll also must be aware that I and my most honorable chair, share very good relations with the almighty press! Any strange behavior, funny remarks, or mismatched outfits shall take you right onto the editor’s desk! Besides the fun and entertainment, we hope to complete the topic areas chosen and work hard towards reaching our goal of economic and social stability. We at EMUN would like delegates to discipline themselves and think hard to solve issues having great international implications. For any further information, email us at emuninfo@ecolemondiale.org. Pooja Mehta,
|
Topic Area 1: Integration of the world economies into a single global currency.
The end of currency fluctuations would also stabilize international business. Manufacturers on both sides of the Atlantic, for example, would no longer have to adjust to huge changes, such as the slide in the value of the euro from $1.17 initially in 1999 to 83 US cents two years ago then back up to about 1.22 USD. The value of stocks and other assets in countries now subject to high currency risks and inflation would also soar hugely as investors became more reassured of values.The integration of currencies faces many hurdles. Countries generally want to retain the ability to control their interest rates in order to assist the national economies when required. Countries need to retain the ability to change the value of their currency. In some LDC’s the currency value will appreciate while the value of the three more dominant currencies like the Yen, Dollar, and Euro prices depreciate. This depreciation may not be acceptable to Japan, USA and the EU. One argument that a single global currency is not politically feasible is the Sovereignty Theory of money. His theory suggests that a country's money is an important symbol of nationalism. If all currencies are the same, countries may lose their symbol of nationalism.Monetary Union requires economic union. Monetary union for Europe may be feasible, but for the rest of the world, such political and economic unity is very difficult. As attractive as the idea may sound in the wake of the financial turmoil of recent years, a single global currency may, or may not be a viable alternative to the world's existing mix of fixed and floating exchange rates. Thus, the question of national exchange rate regime has erupted. We as the Economic and Social council hope to reach a feasible solution so as to improve the economic status in countries. |
|
Topic Area 2: Combating Child Sex Trade. Sex tourism is a lucrative industry that spans the globe. In 1998, the International Labor Organization reported its calculations that 2-14% of the gross domestic product of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand derives from sex tourism. In addition, while Asian countries, including Thailand, India, and the Philippines, have long been prime destinations for child-sex tourists, in recent years, tourists have increasingly traveled to Mexico and Central America for their sexual exploits as well. Child sex tourists are individuals that travel to foreign countries to engage in sexual activity with children. The non-profit organization End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography, and the Trafficking of Children (ECPAT) estimates that more than one million children worldwide are drawn into the sex trade each year. Activists hope to chip away at the child sex trade in Asia not only through tougher laws and police action, but by changing social factors and attitudes that have facilitated the boom in child sex tourism in the region. The response of destination countries to the epidemic of child sex tourism has been ineffective. Although many of these countries have passed legislation that criminalizes sexual exploitation of children, these laws often remain unenforced against tourists. Efforts to combat child sexual exploitation often run into conflict with foreign governments' efforts to promote the international tourism industry. Police corruption is common. In Thailand and the Philippines, police have been known to guard brothels and even to procure children for prostitution. Some police in destination countries directly exploit children themselves. Thus far, the international community has not been able to rely on destination countries to adequately protect the rights and well-being of child victims. ''The ultimate solution to the problem lies in changing human attitudes and human values,'' said Ron O'Grady, international coordinator of End Child Prostitution in Asian Tourism (ECPAT), an advocacy group formed in Bangkok in 1990. Anti-sex tourism campaigners are training their sights on educating and warning Asian families whose children are potential victims. They are also targeting potential sex tourists from Western countries -- where offenders largely come from -- and the children themselves. In recent years, many Western countries have passed laws to discourage sex tourism by making their nationals liable for sexual abuse of children overseas, but campaigners say this is not going to be enough. Other Efforts are under way to dampen demand for the child sex trade. Air travelers in Switzerland, France and Sweden get warning notes about sex tourism with their air tickets to Asia. Last year, German tour groups made agreements with their hotels in Asia to bar guests from bringing to their rooms girls below 18 years of age. Religious missions ranging from Christian to Buddhist groups are helping curb the child sex trade in Asia, discussing it in sermons, classes and pamphlets. But ECPAT found that many of pedophiles engaged in the child sex trade in Asia are listed as missionaries or church workers. We as the Economic and Social Council seek to reach a comprehensive resolution so as to bar further exploitation.
|