Here is the link for the BERMUN Press Youtube page which will display the 2024 BERMUN2 Conference Opening Ceremony video:

https://www.youtube.com/@bermunpress276/featured

The conference art for the 2024 BERMUN2 was designed by Magdalena Mendelsöhn, 11th grade student at JFKS.

The Taiwan Question in Relation To International Institutions

The territorial dispute in the South China Sea is not solely a question of who may claim which region– rather it is an overarching conflict, constituted by other conflicts, such as the question of Taiwan’s independence. The People’s Republic of China still believes Taiwan to be its territory. Historically, the two nations “separated” when the PRC became the single UN representative of “China”; Taiwan had previously been the only “China” recognized by much of the West. 

At the 2024 Munich Security Conference, when asked about the “Taiwan Question”, Chinese representative Yi stated, “Taiwan has never been an independent country, nor will it be [...]. We must oppose Taiwan's independence and separatism and uphold the one-China principle” (Tagesschau). Yi indicates that an attempt to defy the so-called one-China policy would be a violation of its territorial sovereignty.

The threat of military escalation is not one merely concerning the East. In the event of a Russian victory over Ukraine, Putin will have exemplified triumph through military force. President Xi Jinping of China could adopt this approach in Taiwan, making it essential that European states reinforce Ukraine. An escalation of the Taiwan-China conflict would create a humanitarian crisis, a global economic disruption and destabilization of global order. International institutions and powerful nations can act as facilitators to resolve conflicts.

 As thematized by the BERMUN2 opening ceremony, the question of whether or not the Security Council (SC) is doing enough to ease tensions, frequently arises. In the past, the UN has encouraged diplomacy between China and Taiwan. Assistant President of the SC Yara Handschien believes, “the SC, as an organ of the UN, is still an institution that has to respect the individual sovereignty of nations– involving the SC more than previously would be counterproductive.” It is the Security Council’s responsibility to ensure international peace and security through diplomacy and the intervention of conflicts. How and to what extent they should involve themselves continues to be up for debate. 

As the burning debates start to fizzle down and BERMUN2 is coming to a close, our committed 12th graders are embarking on a life of their own. Although they will be missed at next year's conferences, we must commemorate some unforgettable memories and nostalgia.

Ophelia Reuter’s favorite memory from BERMUN was “meeting the US ambassador of Germany”, who later pronounced her name wrong. Similarly, Zarah-Lu Danziger enjoyed “meeting a bunch of new people who are always so sweet”. She had the same delegate on her committee for the past two years now, allowing her to make life-long friendships. In another full-circle moment, Solomon Iro during this year in BERMUN2 was debating the same committee topic from when he started in 2019. From the press team’s side, Maya Patt’s favorite memory was “gaslighting delegates for Instagram videos”, showing just how much work goes into BERMUN entertainment. Miuccia Kammerer aided the press team with “diss track press videos”. Although many delegates are seemingly camera and interview-shy, Yona Gagne loved encountering people who would “do something funny, sporadic, or in the moment”.

Many, including Paul Keppler-Gouras, prefer BERMUN because of its bigger space and more diverse attendants. As an admin, Julius Schmid enjoys BERMUN2 more because “the facility is smaller and [he] has less walking to do” in this smaller conference hall. During this conference, Lilly Good was amused by the “French ambassador’s speech and the demon metaphor that was used”.

As Press Editor-in-Chief, Zach Dye “gained confidence in leading a team”, guiding this year’s impeccable articles and photography. Before Paul Keppler-Gouras “improved in public speaking”, his 7th-grade self “didn’t say anything”. It took a long process for our now Secretary-General to become the amazing public speaker he is now. In comparison, Solomon Iro has not evolved in making “deadlines or anything related to paying forms” and is even “arguably worse” at these responsibilities. Due to this, Ophelia Reuter “learned to compensate for colleagues who don’t hit deadlines”.

With this, we wish our 12th graders all the best, as they grow from their BERMUN experience to discover the before-standing world. Good luck and we hope you are able to utilize your accumulated knowledge and experience from these conferences.

A total of 287,963 migrants arrived in Europe in 2023 alone. During this time 4,088 migrants died or went missing, which is the highest number since 2016 (International Organization of Migration). Both arrivals and deaths are skyrocketing making the solution to this devastating problem a legal reform.

The Refugee Convention of 1951, as well as The 1967 Protocol, define the rights of a refugee, which are applicable worldwide. However, this legal foundation has since become outdated and needs to be adjusted to combat modern crises. Eva Bakker, co-chair of the Legal Committee, states “that by ratifying it [The 1967 Protocol], countries acknowledge their global responsibility to provide refuge and uphold human dignity.”

Germany’s current ‘Asylrecht’ situation lends itself to a perfect example of why the 1967 Protocol needs to be reevaluated. The far-right political party AfD has recently been exposed for wanting to implement a ‘remigration’ process, where anyone with an immigration background will be moved “back to their home,” (AfD). This includes immigrants with German citizenship, making the AfD’s political campaign unconstitutional. Greta Zoll, chair of the Legal Committee, believes that “due to the current political conflicts” the definition of a refugee must be adjusted, narrowing it down to those who are “fleeing from armed conflict.” The frustration of current border crises will most likely be reflected in the upcoming European elections, empowering far-right parties all over the world. Through the reformation of the 1967 Protocol, a refugee’s human rights would be upheld, however would also be protected from being removed from where they derive their safety. Refugee limitations lead to problematic outcomes, where people in need are left without a helping hand.

The development the world has undergone must be reflected in the legal framework that protects those in need of help, safety, and security. It is the duty of those who are privileged to help those who are seeking their freedom.

art of BERMUN2's opening ceremony

Cartoon for Sophia’s Jr.MUN article

Cartoon for Nathalias GA6 article

Cartoon for Muriel’s ECOSOC Article

Cartoon for Alexandria’s ECOSOC Article

At this year's BERMUN2 conference, the ICTY is deliberating the case of the Prosecutor v Slobodan Milošević. During the Yugoslavian war, 700,000 citizens of former Yugoslavia fled to Germany. In the early 1990’s, they were given a temporary legal status called “Duldung,” which allowed them to stay and work for six months, according to the article "Migration and Post-Conflict Reconstruction" by Hillel Raport. While the war continued, these would be renewed, however, following the signing of the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreements, Germany did not renew the Duldung status and, instead,  reinforced the repatriation process. 

From 1992-1995, an ethnic cleansing mainly affecting Muslim Bosniaks and Catholic Croats in Yugoslavia took place, leading to a full-scale war. According to the article “Crossing Borders: An Introduction to Bosnian Migration to Germany” by Dženeta Karabegović, the most affected were Bosnians, with casualties and missing persons equating to 3.1% of their entire population. 1 million people were displaced and 1.2 million people fled as war refugees. Half of them fled to Western Europe, and a large group of Muslims fled to Germany. However, Germany was  not successful in trying to integrate these refugees at the time, as they gave no choice to convert the temporary status of refugees into permanent residency. Switzerland, in comparison, granted most Bosnians permanent residency, allowed unrestricted access to the labor market and Swedish education system, and offered integration measures such as language courses to refugees.

Second-generation Bosnians have had a more successful life in Germany. They are key contributors to the country’s economy and are also one of the most integrated migrant groups in the country. When asked about her experience in Germany, a second-generation Bosnian young woman responded that her parents have opened up about their experiences of fleeing their hometowns during the war in light of the ongoing conflicts around the world. She also said that this has “taught me to be more grateful for my life and my privileges of having grown up the way I have”. 

In summary, despite having to live through a horrible war that affected them and having to leave their homes, many Bosnians and their second-generation children have now learned to thrive in Western Europe. 

“Time is not on your side, corpses decompose,” Russian authorities told Alexei Navalny’s mother when she came for his body. Navalny was an anti-corruption activist and journalist who suddenly died in prison, and the Kremlin fear Navalny’s funeral could turn into a political demonstration. His imprisonment and sudden death have been widely attributed to Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, of whom Navalny was a fierce critic. 

The Russian Federation is not the only dangerous country for journalists. According to Al Jazeera, 72 of the 99 journalists killed in 2023 were Palestinians working in Gaza as Israel invaded and bombed Palestine. According to the Washington Post, Palestinian journalists continue to die, with eight killed as of January 2024. With international journalists mostly blocked from reporting, the world relies on brave people living in Palestine to document the war despite the risk of death. 

In response to the imprisonment and killing of journalists, the Political Committee aims to address concerns and find solutions. However, some countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan, prioritize government interests ahead of civil liberties. Polina Fisunovia, a Delegate of Saudi Arabia, asserts that “Free speech can be dangerous and harmful for nations and the international community. People are trying to sabotage other countries, and journalism can be a reason for terrorism and cyberterrorism.” 

Saudi Arabia, with a poor record regarding censorship, faces opposition from countries such as Norway that enshrine freedom of speech into law. Compromises will be difficult to reach, but Jay Baack, a Delegate of Chile, says, “We’re just trying to find collective solutions that fit everyone and not just democratic countries. That’s the sense of MUN and the UN in general.” With the collective in mind, the Political Committee works to preserve the institution of journalism with the delegates of this year’s conference.