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Topic 1: Overcoming Barriers to Human Mobility

The 2009 Human Development Report commissioned by the United Nations Development Programme centered on migration within and across country borders. This has become an important issue due to factors such as the advancement of transportation technology (therefore making it more convenient and cheaper to travel), natural disasters and conflicts displacing people, age disparity between urban and rural areas, the recent economic crisis, etc. However, there are many obstacles inhibiting these possible mutual benefits due to fear of the negative effects migrants might cause to both places. The ultimate goal is to not consider migration as reallocating resources but as contribution to society and a means to improve human development in both areas.

There are about 740 million internal migrants and 200 million international migrants in the world today. Migrants contribute to development in both developed and developing countries; there isn’t a country that does not harbor migrants. Benefits of open immigration policies include spread of ideas and knowledge, social and cultural diversity, and high labor supply, etc. Migration has become a more important issue than ever due to the recent global economic crisis, as migrants are considered an easily disposable population by host areas and are often exploited and abused. During the High Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development in September 2006, the United Nations General Assembly recognized the intertwined connections between migration, development and human rights, which later led to the adoption of a resolution on International Migration and Development three months later.

It is the role of the UNDP to encourage governments to draft smoother and more efficient migration policies that will stabilize governments, reduce poverty, protect human rights and overall, enhance human development. Migration can only maximize its positive benefits through the right policies. It will be tricky to balance the participation of both destination and origin communities, since the destination areas will have a bigger say, but I anticipate great debate between these two blocs.

Topic 2: Finding Alternative Livelihoods for Drug Farmers

This topic will focus on the production side of illegal substantice trade, which concerns a demographic often overlooked in anti-drug efforts: the farmers producing them. Four million farmers live in poverty and fear, leading them to no other choice but to grow opium poppies and coca leaves under the reign of drug lords. To stop the farmer’s dependence on drug cultivation, there needs to be “legal alternatives” that provide security, well-being, and income for these farmers. This has been successful in the past – Turkey was one of the first countries to introduce economic, sustainable alternatives to drug farming, and has been free of illegal opium cultivation since 1974 (legal production continues for medical use). We must note that switching to other crops has proven to be ineffective in the past — the alternative development approach is necessary.

This is a serious issue for the UNDP, as the illicit drug trade and drug use challenges the freedom, choices, and development of citizens (especially young people), farmers, communities, and governments. Because production in one country can affect millions outside of its borders due to the international drug trade, it is crucial that the source itself is eliminated, rather than concerning ourselves only on the health effects of drug use. The committee will be focusing specifically on promoting social and economic development for these drug farmers.