Topic 1: Balancing the “Machinery of Death”: The Effectiveness, Legality, & Ethics of Capital Punishment

In 2024 alone, 28,085 individuals were sentenced to death worldwide. Capital punishment, the process in which someone is killed as punishment for a crime, dates back to the Eighteenth Century BCE in the Code of Hammurabi (Babylon). Since then, societies have administered the death penalty through methods including hanging, boiling, and beheading, with more modern methods including firing squads, electrocution, and lethal injection. While some argue that the death penalty is necessary to punish those who commit the most heinous crimes, capital punishment remains a nuanced debate revolving around three main factors: its effectiveness as a means of deterrence and retribution, its legality at a national and international scale, and the ethics surrounding the taking of a life, regardless of whose it is. The culmination of these forces ultimately begs the consideration of whether or not capital punishment serves justice at all.

Topic 2: Life or Theft: Tackling Organ Trafficking and the Illicit Transplant Trade

In 2017, organ trafficking — the illegal trade of human organs outside authorized medical systems — was named amongst the five most lucrative international crimes in the world. With only around 10% of the global need for transplants officially met, patients turn to the black market for aid, fueling the existence of criminal networks that sniff out both willing and unwilling donors from many marginalized communities. Consequently, a number of victims risk facing the complications of unsafe surgeries, from infections to even death. Today, organ trafficking annually generates an estimated annual profit of around 840 million to 1.7 billion dollars, and from health tourism to human trafficking to find donor matches, this committee will discuss the complexities of the organ market — its relationship with weak governance and societal inequalities, and the core ethics of its trade.

Directors: Pia Sitaca (pia.sitaca@yale.edu) and Ivan Sun (ivan.sun@yale.edu)

Topic 1: Revising Supply Chains in East Asia and the Pacific to Reduce Food Waste

Food is not only a fundamental necessity for human flourishing, but an expression of culture at the center of communal gatherings, religious traditions, and family life. 62% of residents in the East Asia and Pacific region are involved in the agricultural industry, entangling their economic wellbeing with food production. Despite the growing prevalence of food insecurity in the region, significant portions of crop harvests are lost along the journey from the field to the plate, and even more edible food is disposed of post-purchase, especially in urban and wealthy areas. This topic asks delegates to consider amendments to the current lifecycle of foodstuff to minimize the amount that ends up thrown away unnecessarily. If the products exist, how can we ensure they make it to those who need them most?

Topic 2:

Clashing Asian Economies: Navigating an Equitable Transition to Clean Energy

Countries today have faced increasing pressure to shift towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly energy sources. However, there has been a clear disparity in access to clean energy for developing countries, creating tradeoffs between desires to reduce emissions, safeguard energy sovereignty, and combat existing energy poverty. Specifically in the East Asia and Pacific region, smaller economies often face geopolitical clashes with their larger neighbors as mutual desires to protect the environment clash with self-interests in the energy market, particularly for nations still economically reliant on fossil fuels–all exacerbated by how developing nations are often more vulnerable to the consequences of nonrenewable energy. This topic asks delegates to consider the delicate balance between the urgency of the environmental crisis in Asia and the need for a careful transition to lasting, sustainable, yet accessible energy sources.

Directors: Wilson Jang (wilson.jang@yale.edu) and Elspeth Yeh (elspeth.yeh@yale.edu)

Topic 1: Preserving the Autonomy of Religious and Ethnic Minorities in Conflict Zones

In 2022 alone, the harassment of religious minorities by governments and social actors occurred in 192 out of the world’s 198 countries. Religious and ethnic minorities continue to be targeted by severe human rights violations in regions of armed conflict. Among these are Hazaras in Afghanistan, Kurds in Syria, and Tigrayans in Ethiopia, who endure extrajudicial killings, socio-economic marginalization, and torture over their right to self-determination. For these populations facing regional instability, it is challenging to maintain their rights to freedom of expression, religion, and political participation. Although UN experts have demanded that states uphold the economic, social, and cultural rights of minorities, there are minimal legal provisions to support them. In this committee, delegates will grapple with questions of self-determination, cultural preservation, and political self-rule for religious and ethnic minorities in conflict zones. They will consider potential frameworks and methods to preserve the territorial and cultural autonomy of minorities in conflict zones.

Topic 2: Advancing Education Access for Ethnic Minorities

Education is crucial for shaping the intellectual development of the younger generation and fostering a progressive society with equality and upward social mobility. Yet, thousands of racial and ethnic minorities across the globe experience disparities in their educational experience that affect their long-term success and learning. Factors contributing to these disparities include systemic poverty, segregation, inadequate language resources, and bullying. In the United States alone, a long history of slavery and colonialism created intergenerational inequities that prevented African-American students from enjoying the same educational privileges as their White counterparts. These communities are then left struggling to perform well academically and obtain a high-quality education. This committee aims to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goal of quality education, ensuring inclusive and equitable education for all ethnic minorities. Delegates will discuss how to combat racial inequalities in education and close the educational attainment gap between minorities and other racial groups.

Director: Sahra Wahedi (sahra.wahedi@yale.edu)

Topic 1: Legal Frontiers for Earth’s New Power Grid 

The AI revolution promises intelligence without limits, but demands energy without restraint. Semiconductor plants already consume up to 8% of national electricity in major chipmaking hubs, and data centers now draw on power and water at scales comparable to small nations. For island nations with finite land and renewables, the choice is stark: constrain growth, burn more fossil fuels, or divert scarce resources from healthcare, agriculture, and traditional industries. Unlike the Industrial Revolution, when factories dispersed globally over decades and could relocate to cheaper energy sources, AI infrastructure must concentrate near advanced chipmaking hubs, compressing a century of energy transition into years. The facilities require nearly 100% uptime and constant cooling, and compute power for AI doubles every 3-4 months. How should governments balance digital infrastructure ambitions with environmental sustainability and energy sovereignty, and what new forms of global cooperation will this demand?   

Topic 2: Governing Education in the AI Century

Artificial Intelligence is reshaping classrooms worldwide. AI tutors personalize lessons in real time and offer 24/7 access to instruction, breaking down barriers of geography and wealth. For developing nations and indigenous communities, AI presents a historic chance to leapfrog into the knowledge economy, address teacher shortages, and support language preservation. Yet access remains limited––reliable internet, devices, and electricity infrastructure are often not available in rural areas. If opportunity allows, then, should developing nations rapidly adopt AI education tools despite risks of dependency on foreign technology? If most educational AI systems are built and trained by a few major powers, adoption could entrench global inequality through new forms of digital colonialism. Finally, as AI systems increasingly perform acts like problem-solving, writing, and data analysis, cognitive skills once central to learning, what skills should education prioritize? Delegates must weigh immediate benefits against infrastructure costs, long-term sovereignty, and determine who truly benefits from this transformation.

Director: Serina Wang (serina.wang@yale.edu)

Specialized committees feature a heightened level of debate that requires delegates to think critically under pressure, respond swiftly to evolving circumstances, and be active leaders in the committee room. Typically, delegates in these committees are seeking to challenge themselves with an exciting and dynamic committee environment. 

Topic 1: Alliance in the Fray of the Final Frontier: Constructing Legal Frameworks for International Cooperation in Outer Space

Of our roughly 300,000 year history, humans have spent 0.00021% of it in space. As such, an underdeveloped history has informed a catalog of treaties that include broad values but not specific international law. Furthermore, the ongoing transition from primarily federal to private organizations means the opening of discretionary floodgates, and an increased need for law with informed foresight. The incoming decades and the space projects they store will set a precedent for the millennia that follow. Thus this committee has the unique opportunity to direct the future of private and national space exploration towards collaborative operations and mutually beneficial outcomes. This topic will have delegates address problems in the regulation of space militarization, propertization, scientific research, surveillance, colonization, and commodification of space by private and national operators with the goal of facilitating collaboration and alliance through such endeavours as a species.

Topic 2: Arrival: Rapid Response to the Discovery of Incoming Alien Life in 2042

While monitoring planetary bodies in the Alpha Centauri system, the James Webb Space Telescope has recognized the first signs of extraterrestrial life. Just 4.37 light years away, an alien spacecraft is headed for the Earth. The information was brought to the committee by the United States and National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and has been verified by the European Space Agency, the China National Space Agency, the Taiwan Space Agency and other major space agencies. There is still uncertainty as to how far these aliens have traveled, how we haven’t seen them until now, how quickly they could get to Earth, their intentions, and their destructive power. As acting members of COPUOUS, delegates must decide a course of preparatory action to ensure global safety and security as these visitors approach, and protocol for their arrival.

Director: Devin Grooms-Lee (devin.grooms-lee@yale.edu)

Topic 1: Regulation of Humanitarian Aid in War Zones

As conflicts grow more complex, humanitarian aid is increasingly getting caught in the crossfire. Attacks on convoys, blockades of supplies, and the politicization of relief operations have made the distribution of aid a dangerous and even incriminating act. Although international frameworks such as the Geneva Conventions and the UN Security Council Resolutions 2286 and 2417, which condemn attacks on aid workers and reaffirm the neutrality of humanitarian operations, violations remain widespread. From the targeting of medical facilities in Syria to restrictions on food delivery in Gaza and Sudan, the erosion of space for humanitarian aid has become a defining feature of contemporary warfare. These challenges expose the limits of existing international law and the difficulty of enforcing accountability in conflicts. This topic challenges delegates to consider how the Security Council can uphold international humanitarian law, ensure safe access for aid workers, and depoliticize assistance efforts. Delegates will also be asked to consider how emerging frameworks could reinforce impartiality and rebuild global trust in humanitarian action amid war. 

Topic 2: Accountability for War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity 

In a world marked by ongoing conflicts and widespread civilian suffering, the issue of accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity has never been more pressing. UN data indicates that tens of thousands of civilians are killed each year in major conflicts, with at least 48,000 civilian deaths recorded in 2024–a 40% increase from the previous year. Countless others have endured torture, displacement, and sexual violence without justice. Despite decades of humanitarian law and institutions such as the International Criminal Court and ad hoc tribunals, justice often falters in the face of political realities. Some states fear that prosecuting leaders during or after conflict could disrupt fragile peace negotiations or threaten their national and economic interests, while others believe that holding perpetrators accountable is the only path to lasting peace and stability. This topic challenges delegates to examine how the Security Council can uphold accountability and consider whether current mechanisms suffice, or if deeper reform is needed to prevent future atrocities. 

Director: Aurelia Philmore (aurelia.philmore@yale.edu)

Topic 1: Gender Inequality Within Medicine Testing

Gender inequality within medical testing has been gaining traction as a topic of discussion in recent years, though there is a clear history of this issue. With women making up about 40% of participants within medical testing, with lower statistics depending on the area of study, their lack of representation has led to a data gap. Examining historical examples, as well as the current implications, the data gap can be contested as an issue. Should this discrepancy in medical testing be a priority, and if so, what are the steps that countries should take to reconcile this problem? Should countries bear different burdens within this reform, and if so, why and how? This topic asks delegates to consider the proposed issue, determining the gravity of it and the individual responsibilities of each country in addressing it.

Topic 2: Medical Resource Allocation

Healthcare resources are often scarce or limited, leaving leaders with the question of how to best allocate them. Historically, countries have had discrepancies between themselves in regards to medicine, staff, and education. In those moments, do some countries have a responsibility to assist others, or is there a hierarchy of priority? Is it ethical for countries to prioritize their own citizens, and to what extent should they be able to? With COVID-19 recently illustrating this issue, the ethical concerns of medical allocation have become a topic of discussion. Collaborative conversations surrounding a possible ethical framework for how medical resources are allocated, especially in moments of scarcity, are in need at the moment. What qualifications, if any, should be used to determine who or what gets priority of resources? Delegates will be asked to consider these questions, looking out for the interest of their country and the world.

Director: Michelle Jimenez (michelle.jimenez@yale.edu)

Specialized committees feature a heightened level of debate that requires delegates to think critically under pressure, respond swiftly to evolving circumstances, and be active leaders in the committee room. Typically, delegates in these committees are seeking to challenge themselves with an exciting and dynamic committee environment. 

Topic 1: The Bandung Spirit: Defining Self-determination, Decolonization, and Imperialism in the Era of the Cold War

The post-war wave of decolonization is in full force, but its proponents must align their anti-colonial morals with Cold War realities. Though many newly independent nations feel anti-colonial affinity towards the East, others feel threatened by the Soviet Union or are allied with the West. Many others would prefer neutrality in this global arms race, but that is looking increasingly impossible. Every month of every year is a new crisis, teaching the world that World War II was just the beginning of global conflict, and both Washington and Moscow seem to think there are only two sides. Delegates are tasked with discussing if and how they should take sides in the Cold War, especially with increasing conflicts in areas such as West New Guinea and Algeria. With decolonization on the rise and considering how countries involved themselves developed due to decolonization efforts, countries must band together to discuss if decolonization is a left-wing movement that creates isolation between various political agendas, or if unity can be achieved. Most importantly, the consequences will be inter-generational, and ones that Bandung’s participants must be willing to accept.

Topic 2: From Bandung and Beyond: Can the Global South Forge a New Global Economic Order In A Divided World?

Colonialism left entrenched systems of dependency that prioritized the interests of leading industrialized nations over those of newly independent states. Many participating nations have recently gained independence, emerging from colonial rule. During a time of global ideological tensions, the Bandung Conference symbolized hope for creating a new path and united future amidst division due to Cold War rivalries. Delegates are tasked with determining solutions that foster economic and cultural cooperation between participating countries. Considering each country’s individual national interests, the struggle to balance self-interest with transnational unity will play a big role in the future landscape of the Global South. With many countries still heavily relying on Western powers, countries must find a way to collaborate while still focusing on their domestic economic development on an individual scale. Not all will agree on how to collaborate between themselves and with outside powers, and members will have to determine what their collective priorities are.

Directors: Anping Zhu (anping.zhu@yale.edu) and Hannah Yang (hannah.s.yang@yale.edu)

Specialized committees feature a heightened level of debate that requires delegates to think critically under pressure, respond swiftly to evolving circumstances, and be active leaders in the committee room. Typically, delegates in these committees are seeking to challenge themselves with an exciting and dynamic committee environment. 

Topic 1: Military Occupation and Conflict over Borders

When a stray dog accidentally crosses the border between Greece and Bulgaria, firing and tensions soon follow. Macedonian borderlands have been a flashpoint in the past, having been redrawn after the 1912 Balkan Wars and then again with the First World War. The 1919 Treaty of Neuilly stripped land from Bulgaria and imposed reparations, leaving resentment amongst the populace. Delegates must consider how the borderlands can be preserved in the context of the region’s history and the current crisis. Troop movement is concentrated near Petrich, with it being a strategically important location; therefore, it is essential to determine if a ceasefire is feasible, and if not, how the League can work to make it feasible and prevent warfare. In addition, members must also weigh in the risk of paramilitary groups like the International Macedonian Revolutionary Organisation (IMRO), which may try to exploit weaker state control and volatile perimeters.

Topic 2: Macedonian Nationalist Propaganda and Ethnic Tensions

After the First World War and the many treaties that followed, Macedonia found itself divided into multiple states: Greece, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia (including Serbia, Slovenia and Croatia), each with an independent history and culture. The population near Petrich is ethnically mixed, with people tracing their origins to multiple regions and Greek, Bulgarian and Slavic identities all being commonplace. The Treaty of Neuilly exacerbated the mixing; as people moved around, many Bulgarians would find themselves under Greek or Serbian rule and vice versa, birthing nationalistic resentment. At the time of the Incident at Petrich, agitation is building up amongst the populace in multiple ways: from soft influence like false news reports and misinformation to the direct enlistment of volunteers and veterans by the IMRO and countries’ militaries. Delegates must interpret the sentiment in the region and suggest how to navigate it, considering the impact of not just this incident in isolation but also the effect of partition, previous wars and peace settlements.

Director: Parth Jain (parth.jain@yale.edu)