Organization of American States (OAS)
Single-Delegation General Assembly (GA)
Topic A: Asylum Policy in the Americas
Rising levels of displacement across the Americas have placed increasing pressure on national asylum systems and created uneven responsibilities among countries of origin, transit, and destination. Differences in asylum standards and processing capacity can affect access to protection, border management, and the treatment of asylum seekers. The Cartagena Declaration on Refugees has also expanded the regional understanding of refugee protection to include individuals fleeing generalized violence, internal conflict, and events seriously disturbing public order, adding further considerations for states managing cross-border displacement. The OAS will investigate how member states can coordinate asylum policy while balancing refugee protection, national security, and the capacity of individual states to manage cross-border movements.
Topic B: The War on Drugs (Shield of the Americas)
Drug trafficking across the Americas is sustained by transnational criminal networks involved in production, distribution, money laundering, and corruption. The modern War on Drugs, largely shaped by U.S.-led enforcement policies since the 1970s, has emphasized interdiction, eradication, and criminal penalties, with mandatory minimum sentences contributing to mass incarceration and placing a significant burden on criminal justice systems. These policies have also produced racial disparities in arrests and sentencing. This committee will delve into how member states can strengthen regional cooperation against drug trafficking while reassessing the balance between enforcement, public health, demand reduction, and criminal justice.
Secretariat Oversight:
Adrup Chatterjee, Under Secretary General of General Assemblies