BMUN LXIX OAS

   Happy Friday Delegates!  This week we would like you to consider COVID-19s effect on drug use to further your research for topic A, the War on Drugs.  According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, from 2000-2018, drug use increased exponentially greater in developing countries compared to developed countries. Although COVID-19’s effect on illegal drug supply is not certain, rising unemployment and a decrease in opportunities has had serious consequences. Developing countries, and consequently the poorest individuals have been disproportionately affected throughout the pandemic, increasing their vulnerability to drug use, growing and trafficking.  Moreover, normally drug users are already susceptible to extreme risk, yet accompanied by COVID-19, the unsafety of drug use has skyrocketed. Due to COVID-19 regulations, access to drugs have changed and traffickers must now think of other ways to provide them. Additionally, the pandemic has caused a shortage of hig...

  Hello delegates! While doing research for topic two, it is important to think about the ways in which COVID-19 has affected the migration policies within your country. Migrants within the Americas have faced unprecedented challenges due to the border closures and lack of available services during the pandemic. Border closures, which often occurred with little warning, forced many migrants out of their country of refuge. Additionally, the withdrawal of NGOs has led to a sharp decline in the amount of humanitarian aid assisting migrant populations. With fewer and fewer resources available, migrants have become even more vulnerable to the dangers of human trafficking, sexual abuse, and extreme poverty. As detailed in the New York Times’ expose on rising inequality in Latin America during the pandemic, many Venezuelan refugees in Colombia had no choice but “returning to a nation where they were almost certain that disaster awaited.” A joint UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency) and IOM (Internat...

 Hello, delegates! We hope you are excited as we are about conference. So, without further ado, this is a reminder that deadlines for position papers are fast approaching.  February 2nd if you wish to be considered for a research award February 9th if you wish to be considered for ANY committee awards (best delegate, outstanding, commendation) Note: your position paper on the second topic should be in Spanish given the nature of our committee. Grammar or spelling mistakes will not negatively affect your score in any way. We understand everyone has a different skill set in the language and we appreciate your effort. Therefore, we will only grading for  content for Topic B.  If you have any questions or concerns regarding position papers including if you need an extension, please do not hesitate to contact us at oasbmunlxix@bmun.org. All pertinent requirements for position papers can be found in the learn.bmun.org site linked here . As always, the most important part...

Hello all! My name is Claire Black and I am extremely excited to be your vice-chair for OAS. I am a senior majoring in Political Science and minoring in Data Science and Public Policy. I am passionate about environmental justice and finding data driven solutions to international policy problems. I have some experience working in a legal self help center, working in the California government’s Natural Resources Agency, and conducting research at Berkeley Law’s Center for Comparative Equality and Anti-Discrimination Law. Also, I have been a college admissions advisor for high achieving, low income students, so feel free to reach out with any questions about the scary college admissions process! I love spending time outdoors, reading poetry, listening to indie rock music, and playing with my beautiful beagle-husky mix (pictured). In high school, MUN taught me invaluable lessons in leadership, public speaking, and empathy. I feel so grateful to continue the wonderful tradition of BMUN in t...

 Hola! My name is Jazmine Colon and I'll be one of your OAS vice-chairs this year. I am a first-year student double majoring in Chicano/a Studies and Political Science with a concentration in International Relations.  Alongside BMUN, I currently serve on Vice Chancellor Sutton's Student Advisory Committee and the Academic and Professional Development of Minorities team under ASUC Senator Sahvannah Rodriguez. Additionally, I hold the position of California Policy Director for the national organization Generation Ratify where I advocate for social justice and the Equal Rights Amendment.  Outside of my academic and professional interest I enjoy reading, listening to, and making music! Finally, I am an animal enthusiast and love spending time with my dog, Coco. I'm extremely excited to hear from you all this year!  Kind regards,  Jazmine Colon

  ¡ Hola a todxs! My name is Matthew Villa and I am your vice-chair for this year's OAS committee. I am currently a second-year at UC Berkeley double majoring in Political Science and Global Studies with a focus in Latin American politics. This is my second time as a vice-chair for OAS and I am very excited to virtually-meet and hear your ideas for this year's topics.  In my free time, I enjoy spending time outdoors (going on hikes or just spending time in nature), reading Spanish historical fiction (I am currently reading Gabriel García Márquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude ), as well as crocheting! Outside of my involvement in BMUN, I am the Vice-President of External Affairs for the Anti-Trafficking Coalition at Berkeley, which focuses on the awareness, education, and involvement within the anti-human trafficking field in the Bay Area. This semester, we are curating and hosting (virtually, of course) a workshop for tattoo artists to educate them on the intersection of ...