8:30 – 9 a.m.

Check-in and reception in the lobby of Neville

9 – 10 a.m.

Opening ceremony with a keynote speech by Dr. Lance in Kuhne Auditorium

10 a.m. – Noon

First session

Noon – 1 p.m.

Lunch in the Greenville Dining Hall (GDH)

1 – 3 p.m.

Second session

3 – 3:30 p.m.

Reception in the Cornelson Center

3:30 – 4 p.m.

Awards and closing ceremony

Dr. David Z. Liu is Associate Professor of Political Science at Presbyterian College (PC), who received his Ph.D. in Political Science from the State University of New York at Buffalo and his B.A. in International Relations from Foreign Affairs University in Beijing, China. He offers courses on East Asian Politics, International Relations and Political Economy.

Dr. Liu has been serving as the faculty advisor of the Model United Nations Club since its inception in spring 2017. Along with a group of PC students who share the passion for global learning and the desire to engage the global community for the betterment of the humanity, he endeavors to bring the global education to the larger community through the PCMUN and to encourage students at all levels to think about a world beyond their own and to become a responsible and contributive member of the global community.

Topic: Reforming the UN Security Council to Address the Security Needs of the 21st Century

The General Assembly is one of the six principal organs established under the United Nations (UN) Charter. The General Assembly is the main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the United Nations. Comprising all 193 Member States of the UN, it provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of international issues including peace and security.

The recent crisis spurred by the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022 sounded an alarm bell for the efficacy and viability of the UN Security Council as the main body to maintain international peace and security. While there have been various proposals to enhance the representation and accountability of the organ in the past, there has not been a more urgent need to do so for the credibility of the United Nations. According to the UN Charter, the General Assembly could initiate this discussion of an amendment to the Charter (chap. XVIII) as well as consider the expulsion of a Member State that persistently violates the principles of the Charter (chap. II). I look forward to hearing input from you to improve representation, accountability and efficacy of our Security Council for a peaceful and just world in the 21st century.

Topic: Humanizing the process of refugee resettlement

The Human Rights Council was established as an organ of the United Nations in 2006 by the General Assembly resolution 60/251. This committee is responsible for the strengthening, promotion, and protection of human rights across the globe.

The issue at hand is regarding the treatment of refugees, which is considered a basic right in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), where Article 14 guarantees a person’s right to seek and enjoy asylum from persecution. The UN Refugee Convention (1951) and the Protocol (1967) further obliges signatory states to treat asylum seekers with dignity and not to return them to harm and persecution through the principle of non-refoulement.

However, the recent process of refugee resettlement has left much to be desired, from the treatment of Syrian refugees in Europe to the “Remain in Mexico” policy in the United States. In this committee, we will discuss whether the Member States have fulfilled their legal obligations towards the refugees and what could be done to fully honor the human rights of the asylum seekers. Delegates are also encouraged to consider the root causes of the refugee crises and measures to rationalize and humanize the process of refugee resettlement.