Introductory Letter

Dear MUN Directors,
We cordially invite you to attend the nineteenth annual Berlin Model United Nations Conference to be held at the John F. Kennedy School.

This year's theme is devoted to

Combating Illicit Trade: A Civic Responsibility.

Last year, Illicit Trade – according to the data of Transparency International – amounted to 7 to 10 percent of the world economy. This is a tenfold increase since 1990! The overall worth of trade in, for example, human beings, firearms and military weapons, counterfeit products, narcotics, and endangered species exceeds the GNP of most G-8 economies. Repeatedly press reports remind us of the extent of the multi-faceted phenomenon. At a superficial, perfunctory glance, Illicit Trade might appear to be solely a domestic issue. Under closer examination, however, we soon discover that behind the phenomenon of Illegal Trade, whether it is smuggling migrants or laundering money, the forces of transnational organized crime operate. Consequently, Illicit Trade poses a threat to both national governments and the international community at large.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), “transnational organized crime is considered as one of the major threats to human security, impeding the social, economic, political and cultural development of societies worldwide.” Wealth in natural resources for some African countries has paradoxically proven to be a scourge. While the extraction of minerals such as diamonds and gold has made some rogue groups and segments of society in the Republic of Congo and Rwanda wealthy, it has left behind a trial of human hardship and environmental devastation. The lack of transparency in regards to all aspects related to extractive industries including oil and gas creates a vacuum open to be filled by transnational criminal elements. Ultimately, in states where good governmental practices are weak, ineffective or absent, where corruption is endemic, the indigenous population suffers and the environment deteriorates.

There is an urgent need to develop feasible strategies to eliminate all forms of illegal trade. While proposals such as legalizing the sale of certain narcotics so that they can be monitored and taxed or controlling international arms transfers through Arms Trade Treaties have been raised on the national and international levels, success depends on civic society. Eliminate the demand for ivory, rose wood, and red tuna, and the elephant, valuable ecosystems, and other endangered species will remain protected. Create an environment where all citizens enjoy a minimum degree of physical and economic security and the compulsion to migrate illegally are drastically reduced. It is again the task and the responsibility of the young generation to strive for a world in which integrity is promoted and corruption fought, in which the people benefit from their countries' resources and get a fair share of the wealth, in which the environment is protected, and sustainable development is paramount. In such a world, Illicit Trade could be eliminated because the need for it vanishes.

The specific issues for the individual Committees and Councils have not yet been formulated and we welcome your input. This is an opportunity for you and your students to play an active role in the preparations of the upcoming Conference. Consequently, we encourage you to submit topics that might be placed on the agendas of the Environmental, Human Rights, Disarmament, and Political Committees as well as ECOSOC, the Special Conference on Illicit Trade, and the Security Council. Broad areas that might be addressed include: identifying and eliminating the root cause(s) of such trafficking, steps governments and the international community can and must undertake in order to combat trafficking, and the responsibility that we as global citizens have to combat illicit trade.

This year's theme continues the BERMUN tradition of promoting meaningful debates and feasible solutions. In the deliberations of the Youth Assembly and the BERMUN International Court of Justice the broader questions of civic responsibility and promoting tolerance and respect for human dignity will be addressed. For students interested in journalism, the BERMUN Press Team is an ideal alternative. The conference newspaper BEARMUN provides informative articles covering the issues and sessions of the conference. Please note, however, that students must apply to the Youth Assembly, the International Court of Justice, and the Press Team. Participation in these forums is not automatic. Applications are provided. You and your students will be notified whether or not they have been accepted.

We look forward to greeting you and your students at the nineteenth annual Berlin Model United Nations Conference.

Yours truly,
Dr. Walter Peterson, BERMUN Director
Karin Hövermann, BERMUN Director