Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Friday and Saturday

The first two sessions at ECOSOC seem to have teed up the debate nicely for the weekend. On the Friday evening a broad debate about how to distribute aid encapsulated issues such as who should receive aid in Somalia - the government, the people, or the neighbouring states to which refugees flee. This did, however, create something of a minefield for some of the delegates for whom English was not the first language, with slips such as "Giving AIDS to vulnerable citizens" rife. After the motion to adjourn to the global village was passed by a large majority at the end of Friday's session, the Namibian delegate objected vociferously, albeit with tongue stuck firmly in cheek, that "people are dying, man!".

This morning's session covered working papers on Somalia, with a core group lead by Australia and India urging training of police forces and greater communication between relevant parties. Despite the wide support for the paper, reservations were expressed by nations such as Venezuela and Niger over encroachment on Somalia's sovereignty, advocating greater inclusion of the Somalian government in the measures proposed.

UNITED NATIONS OFFICE ON DRUGS AND CRIME (UNODC)

Concerns were initially raised over Afghanistan’s role in the international drug trade. As the world’s largest supplier of raw Opium, delegates from both Switzerland and Italy concurred that more needed to be done to stem the flow of illicit material from the area currently under British and American Intervention. Delegates from Britain and America rejected this analysis, rather they implored a realpolitik reading of the situation on the ground and emphasised the need for a long-term approach.

On the trans-migration of organised crime incisive points were raised by both American and Russian delegates. Both made the case compellingly that whilst tougher security at airports and ports were cumbersome, the United Nations collective security rested on stopping international cartels and traffickers. Striking a more Libertarian note, the delegate from Venezuela rejected claims from the U.S government that it had harboured known organised criminals. In response the representatives of the Caracas based government set-out numerous contentious points which asked for a re-evaluation of International Justice.

By Calum Young