Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

Towards the end of session on Sunday, the Member States of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific submitted multiple draft resolutions and deliberations for topic I. As the dais is reviewing and editing the drafts, the body has begun discussion of Topic II: Building resilience to cross-border disasters. 

According to multiple representatives, including Representative Aidan Checkett of Kazakhstan,  the main point of contention during debate was the logistics/agenda/organization of the debate and the drafts themselves. The body divided itself into four groups–in accordance with the Mongolia Plan–with two additional working groups to address funding and data collection. Representative Maggie Kleck of Mongolia explained that the body was able to communicate and brought ideas and policies to the table that they were already implementing in their own countries. Representative Kleck was able to successfully integrate policy that has been helpful in Mongolia, such as supplying job training for employees and requiring training for employers to help ensure that companies are inclusive in nature, not just in name. 

Earlier in the day, several representatives expressed concerns about Western Member States using their funding as leverage to influence other States’ domestic policies, encroaching on their sovereignty. While the representatives were able to reach agreement, these concerns are still somewhat present in members of the body. Representative Kleck noted that smaller States could be susceptible to manipulation because they want resources for their citizens, but cannot provide the resources themselves. As an example, during discussions of the agenda, smaller countries had to compromise on the organization of the document with the more obstinate United States and United Kingdom in order to reach their shared goal. While smaller countries do not want to have to sacrifice their sovereignty, they are incentivized to capitulate to the desires of larger, wealthier countries in order to meet the basic needs of the citizens. This brings into question the reality of shared goals of inclusivity.