During the Easter holidays this year, we participated in the 3-day activity Hong Kong Secondary School Model United Nations Conference. "What is Model United Nations?" you may ask. The MUN is actually a simulation of the actual procedural process of the United Nations. All the participants have to be in a committee of the UN and be a delegation of a country to debate on different global issues. We had all chosen to be the delegation of Japan. Janice and I were in the SOCHUM, the Social, Humanitarian and cultural Committee while Michael and Dave belonged to the ECOSOC, the Economic and Social Council.

During the 6 conference sections, we needed to discuss on 2 topic areas. The 2 topic areas in SOCHUM were human trafficking and Freedom of the Press. Human trafficking, by its definition, is the recruitment, transportation, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Freedom of the Press is the freedom that should be guaranteed to journalists. Any government censorship or even physical violence such as beating or murdering journalists because of their refusal to be influenced, bought or intimidated would diminish freedom of the press. As different countries have different views on these issues, we have to defend our country according to its position.

We had several tasks to do during the conference. First, before the conference started, we had to prepare a position paper to state our country's stance. During the debate, we also had to draft 2 documents: the working paper and the resolution. A working paper lists out ideas that delegates use as a starting point in caucus and formal debate. A resolution is formed when some consensus has been reached by different countries. This is the final outcome of our debate if it is passed in a procedural vote.

This activity is surely a very good opportunity for us to brush up our English. During the debate, other delegations often attacked our country Japan's policy. As a result, we have to make immediate response. We just stood up and spoke out our ideas for defense. This was quite challenging but our English proficiency as well as public speaking skills have certainly improved.

Another important thing to us is that by discussing these global issues, we are more aware of what is happening all around the globe. The topics we discussed are not just topics; these are the problems some millions of people are facing every single day. As a citizen in this global village, we need a more caring society. Therefore we should develop a global vision and pay more attention to people who live in the less developed countries in which the living conditions are inconceivably bad.

The 3-day conference was not just about all these serious things. We also had fun in the social event held on the second day of the conference. We were acquainted with students from some schools in Kowloon and on Hong Kong Island. Even though they are also secondary school students, their cultures are a bit different from what we have. This was a very good chance for us to know more and communicate with other students outside Tai Po.

I must say that the Hong Kong Secondary School Model United Nations Conference is definitely an enjoyable learning experience. As the slogan of this program says, it is all about to LEARN, LIVE and LEAD!

"Unmoderated Caucus", "Point of Order", "General Speakers' List", "Yielding"… These words may raise a lot of questions inside your head ─ before taking part in the Hong Kong Secondary School Model United Nations Conference 2009 (HKSSMUNC) in the past Easter holidays, I also had no idea in coming up with these technical terms. Yet after the three-day conference held from 11th to 13th April, I am gladsome to write a few on my feelings towards this meaningful participation.

There were in total 3 committees in this conference. The one my partner and I partaken was namely the Social, Humanitarian & Cultural Committee (SOCHUM), together with the World Health Organization (WHO) and Economic & Social Council (ECOSOC), delegates of different countries would focus on two particular topics related to the committee they belonged to. Thinking back to the week before the conference, as the delegates of Japan, we indeed had to do several researches on the situations and governmental measures taken by our country for reference, so to prepare a position paper for further parliamentary discussions. When the first day of conference came, the whole team of us was dressed up all in black suit, headed off to HKPolyU, where we launched our memorable event.

Concerning the details of conference sections, our committee SOCHUM had very efficient and constructive debates on the issues of human trafficking and freedom of the press. Through exchanging ideas with other delegates formally in the general speakers' list (GSL) or informally during the unmoderated caucus, I was not only able to be trained with skills of critical thinking, but also gained a deeper insight into the global situations of human trafficking, the commonly banned and illicit trade of human beings which vastly violates basic human rights. For instance, delegates of Russian Federation and China would as everyone's expectation, form alliance to support the legalization of human trafficking in the world; and the more developed countries (MDCs) like Switzerland, Norway and Japan ourselves, which are of higher rankings in the Press Freedom Index over many years, would of course support the maintenance of freedom of the press in every member state, or vote for turning down the proposal on shifting large majority of burden to MDCs on setting up a database for information of human traffickers! From the above illustrations, I guess you now can figure out what I was experiencing in these three days; it's just like the United Nations Conference in reality, and we were all councilors who fought for our own states' benefits.

Apart from the conference sections, all our fellow delegates were given a little chill-out with social event and farewell dinner in the last day. So the whole event ended up with harmony and bulk of memories. On the whole, this would be a fruitful and genuinely rewarding experience to me. "Learn, Live, Lead." motto of Global ClassroomsR, the organizer of HKSSMUNC 2009, would be the most concise sum-up of goals and gifts for every delegate in this year's conference, leaving me the best bit of precious moment in mind.

'Delegate of Japan…….'
'Present!'

I remember the time when I was still a delegate of Japan, every acknowledgement of 'present' during the roll call was full of pride, honour and certainty. As the representative of our school, I, Michael, Janice and Wesley attended the Hong Kong Secondary School Model United Nations Conference 2009 (HKSSMUNC) on 11, 12 and 13 April. This programme contained a series of training, social events and, above all, the conferences. During the whole period, we appeared as the delegates of Japan, which, interestingly, became the nickname that delegates called each other after the programme.

You may wonder what we do during the conferences. Frankly, I even hadn't heard of the term ‘Model United Nations' before I attended this programme. So, what did we do? After the roll call, the delegates debate on a specific topic. For Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in which I and Michael participated, the topic was child labour. I was very glad that they chose this topic which I was very interested in, for I had visited India (which has serious child labour problem) several times and had some emotional connection with the topic. Although I had seen child labour before, I didn’t know it in depth. However, after a long preparation before the programme started, we were well-prepared for the discussion.

So we just did a lot of discussion and negotiation during the conferences to publish the working paper and the resolution paper on the topic of Child Labour. In short, it took time and effort to reach a compromise. It was a very great pleasure contributing to the publication, to see my point appear publicly. And the working paper almost, just almost, reached the UN with the suggestions considered. However, as there was a limitation of votes, the paper was turned down.

Although it was a pity that no resolution paper was published, I think I had already got more than what I expected. The friends that I made, the style of thinking that I learnt from them, the skills of negotiation, the insight into the international body and the fun that I had are all treasures in my life.

Finally, I would like to say a few words to my fellow schoolmates. Take every chance that you reach to join different programmes, do contribute whatever the best in it and learn from whoever you think is worth-learning. This will surely make you different, unique, outstanding and passionate. And I think this is what the HKSSMUNC made me become.

Although the Model United Nations Conference is over, the images of preparing, working and playing in those days are always appearing in my mind. I am still thinking of how my teammates and I were discussing the issues related to the topics, Accessibility of Medicine and Child Labor or Freedom of the Press and Human Trafficking, and then we were doing research and catching the main points of the issues. Although we were tired, when we finished our work there were still smiles on our faces. We knew that this was something challenging but we also knew that this would change our learning attitude, enhance our critical thinking and broaden our horizons. Actually, it does.

This is an excellent experience as you would have a chance to act as government officials discussing in a formal conference. Honestly speaking, once we met the students from other schools we were a little bit frightened as they all came from prestigious schools in Hong Kong, but later on we realized that in fact they were friendly and communicative. During these three days, we had learned how to communicate with each other effectively and how to interact with other delegates. I think it is worth my while to take part in this event. I would also like to recommend this activity to my fellow schoolmates.

I remember the time when I was still a delegate of Japan, every acknowledgement of 'present' during the roll call was full of pride, honour and certainty. As the representative of our school, I, Michael, Janice and Wesley attended the Hong Kong Secondary School Model United Nations Conference 2009 (HKSSMUNC) on 11, 12 and 13 April. This programme contained a series of training, social events and, above all, the conferences. During the whole period, we appeared as the delegates of Japan, which, interestingly, became the nickname that delegates called each other after the programme.

I would like to thank my school for giving me the opportunity to take part in this event. Without the support of our school, we would never get this precious chance for learning.

Child Labour
Prepared by: Lam Wai Leong and Law Wai Cheong (Best Position Paper Awardees)

Committee: ECOSOC
Topic: Child Labour
Country: Japan
School Name: Wong Shiu Chi Secondary School

I. General Statement

Japan has a comprehensive jurisdictional system against child labour. The Constitution provides that children shall not be exploited. The Labor Standards Law has provisions to protect child workers. The Labor Standards Law prohibits employers from employing children until 31st March immediately following the child becoming fifteen years old. There were no reports of under 18s in the armed forces. Fifteen year olds may become cadets but are never deployed. In 1999, Japan enacted the Law on Punishing Acts related to Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, and on Protecting Children. Moreover, the 2004 amendments to the Law on Punishing Acts related to Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, and on Protecting Children has had a significant deterrent effect. The Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism was launched in Japan in 2005.

Japan ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1994, ILO Convention No. 138, the Minimum Age Convention on 5 June 2000 and ILO Convention No. 182, the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention on 18 June 2001. Japan adopted Stockholm Declaration and Agenda for Action in 1996. Japan signed the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (Trafficking Protocol) in 2002. Japan ratified the Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography (Optional Protocol) in 2005 and signed the Convention on Cybercrime 2008.

Japan has supported IPEC financially since 1998. Supported by Japan, Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific under ESCAP and ILO has held training courses in Japan in collection of statistics of child labour. Japan hosted the Second World Congress in Yokohama in 2001. Through the Trust Fund for Human Security, Japan supports projects to address child labour and trafficking in persons in sending countries such as Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Lao PDR.

II. Particulars

Japan proposes an immense support to Education for all (EFA) of UNESCO to fulfill the need of education. The goal is to establish universal and compulsory education up to the minimum age for employment by 2015. By means of debt cancellation, additional education funds for countries without universal education can be mobilized. Thus, to relieve poverty in LDCs, financial support to UNCDF should be increased.

Accessibility of Medicine
Prepared by: Lam Wai Leong and Law Wai Cheong (Best Position Paper Awardees)

Committee: Economic and Social Council
Topic: Accessibility of Medicine
Country: Japan
School Name: Wong Shiu Chi Secondary School

I. General Statement

The importance of accessibility of medicine is indeed concerned by Japan government. It is made sure that the comprehensive medical accesses are always provided by Japan government, but the cost of providing medicines and medical treatment is relatively high. In the view of Japan government, it is touch-and-go situation on account of high expenditure of medical issues. It is shown that Japan government takes the public health serious.

Adopting medical insurance is provided for people in Japan. It is done to make sure patients could have comprehensive medical treatment and in the way government could get a less pressure on the medical issue. In addition, it is encouraged to develop the planting natural medicines in order to producing medicines, which is more inexpensive, fitting lower-cost purpose, high accessibility of medicine. As a result, relieve the expenditure of medicine that Japan government and citizens have to cope with. Moreover, Japan government encourages on the development of researching new medicines and improving medicines, as it could help the high accessibility of medicine come to achieve easily. In spite of the fact that the capital is limited, Japan government invests on all inclusive medical industry and research.

Japan has signed "The International covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights". It is adopted by the General Assembly in 1976. It is said that access to essential medicines is one of human rights and help the developing countries get affordable and essential drugs and vaccines. There is the number accounts for 30% of the global population still could not get the regular access to essential drugs.

II. Particulars

Japan would like to ensure proper supply of essential medicines, for instances, to make new types of medicines continue for pharmaceutical companies, raising the speed of the development of new medicines, the Government subsidizes the factories that produce essential medicines and to set up a remarkable inspection of making drugs, reporting the status of the invention of essential medicines per month. Besides, to make laws to fight against the illegal selling of medicines is also important. Japan would like to inspect the quality of medicines in the pharmaceutical market and have more powerful researches, by influential universities, in order to enhance the confidence of public and raise the awareness of importance of essential medicines and vaccines. Therefore people can easily get what they need like medical care.

Human Trafficking
Prepared by: Kwan Lok Tin and Kwok Wen Kei

Committee: Social and Humanitarian Committee
Topic: Human Trafficking
Country: Japan
School Name: Wong Shiu Chi Secondary School

I. General Statement

Human trafficking is modern-day slavery, involving recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining persons within or across national borders through forcing, defrauding or coercing, for the purpose of prostitution, labor, servitude and etc. As the fastest growing criminal industry in the world, it has reached epidemic proportions over the past decade, with no country is immunized. Trafficked victims from different source countries may be “employed” with little or even no pay. The situation not only violates basic human rights, but also threatens many innocent lives and worsens international image of states committed.

Japan always shows her greatest solicitude for the high-standing trend of human trafficking throughout the world and tries the very best in combating and eradicating this problem. Each year, there are approximately 600,000 to 800,000 people from different source countries such as Russia, Columbia, Philippine and Thailand being trafficked in a transnational manner. Difficulties are often found on identification of victims and accessibility of reliable statistics, which results in low law conviction rate. The driving forces for continuous appearing of new victims of human trafficking can be financial deficit of their families or even poverty. Not only women are commonly utilized as sex slaves, but also terribly children are trafficked to perform labor abroad. Some victims may die of suffocation or starvation during early smuggling process.

With goal to ratify the UN Convention against transnational organized crime and the supplementing Palermo protocol as soon as possible, preventive measures and enforcements have been effectively taken by Japanese government in making human trafficking a less profitable venture to large ruling local criminal organizations. These include revision of criminal law to stipulate human trafficking as a crime, and introduce punishments of up to 10 years in prison. Entertainment visas requirements are as well tightened to restrict the issues. Since 2004, about 525,000 copies of brochure in many languages have been disseminated that are about trafficked victims seeking help and description of link between prostitution and sex trafficking, public awareness is widely raised. On the other hand, Japan has set up an anti-trafficking plan to provide trafficked victims with psychological counseling and reintegration programs. Various shelters are provided by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) such as “HELP” and “SAALAA the House for Women” in Tokyo. The complete elimination of human trafficking in Japan still requires constant effort by both government and NGOs.

II. Particulars

Japan wholeheartedly suggests that an advanced data storage system of related statistics, for instance the personal profiles of human traffickers, should be established in order to give a more thorough and concrete picture on the international situation of human trafficking. In this aspect, UN can take an active role to be the bond linking different member countries, so that immigration department of different countries can exchange useful information and decide specific actions. Moreover, with respect to the world financial crisis which may induce more new victims, Japan highly recommends allocating suitable individual subsidies by governments. In this way, their people can receive betterment in livings without being plagued by human trafficking anymore.

Freedom of Press
Prepared by: Kwan Lok Tin and Kwok Wen Kei

Committee: Social and Humanitarian Committee
Topic: Freedom of Press
Country: Japan
School Name: Wong Shiu Chi Secondary School

I. General Statement

Freedom of the Press is the freedom that should be guaranteed to the journalists to report the genuine situation of what is happening all over the globe. However, censorship is imposed on the press by some authoritarian regimes or even democracies. The ultimate form of censorship is the physical violence against journalists. Some journalists are eliminated due to their refusal to be influenced, bought or intimidated.

Japan always deeply emphasizes the significance of the freedom of Press, which is constitutionally guaranteed and generally respected among the country. There are rare physical attacks against the media. The Japanese government makes every effort in diminishing the threats to the media. An extreme-right militant, Motohide Hiraoka, aged 42, was arrested in April, 2007 for throwing a petrol bomb at the head office of the economic daily Nikkei in Tokyo overnight on 20th July 2006. The system of Kisha Kurabu, or journalist clubs, is under reform and more and more independent journalists are developing their power to act as the watchdog of the government.

Japan also raises concerns to the safety of international journalists. In September, 2008 a Japanese reporter was shot dead in Burma by a soldier. There are also restrictions for reporters in neighbouring undemocratic countries. It is the responsibility for Japanese government to ensure the basic human rights of the journalists across the world. Japan is one of the countries who have signed and ratified The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and always fulfills the treaties to prevent any persecution to the press.

II. Particulars

Japan genuinely suggests taking a thorough review on the degree of freedom of press in countries all over the world. A supervision mechanism should be established and delegations should report any prosecutions to the journalists internationally. It is of vital significance to prevent government censorship for the sake of safeguarding the basic human rights of journalists as well as citizens. In a bid to increase the power to monitor the situations in different countries, an international law could be enforced. The United Nations should give support to the NGOs (non-governmental organizations) such as Reporters Without Borders to supervise the rights of reporters all around the world in an independent approach.