On May 10, 2025, a number of middle school Model UN delegates came together for the special Honors Session. This program is a little different because it depends on students thinking quickly on their feet with a surprise resolution to formulate. This year’s topic was protecting freedom of expression around the world. Here are their ideas:
Protecting Freedom of Expression:
Group 1:
1. The UN will create a document called the Universal Guidelines of Freedom of Speech & Informational Rights. This document will state that everyone has the right to knowing all sides of political situations as long as they are factual. Book banning will have guidelines concerning age, religion, & culture.
Vote: Yes: 38 No: 6
2. The UN will create a Freedom of Speech & Informational Rights Committee with subcommittees that address news and book banning.
Vote: Yes: 43 No: 2
3. The book banning subcommittee will have 1 Irish rep. & representatives from the countries with the 10 lowest book banning worldwide. They will work with Irish Government to use the UGFSIR to reduce book banning in Ireland
Vote: Yes: 29 No: 16
Group 2:
- Define a peaceful protest: No physical harm, shouldn’t significantly interfere with daily life, no explicit threats to one’s person or possessions, conveys an opinion about an action or entity that’s negatively affects something.
Vote: Yes: 34 No: 10 - A UN program that enforces the above reasons or rules to decide if the protest is a peaceful one. There will be a board that is not directly affected with the opposing parties.
Vote: Yes: 18 No: 25
- A program that educates people about censored information.
Vote: Yes: 27 No: 17
Group 3:
- If a government finds suspicious activity from a citizen’s device, they will receive a warrant to search the device relevant to the situation and will act accordingly.
Vote: Yes: 14 No: 29 - Implement plan within countries that are not very censored within the 5-7 scale (according to their fact sheet); tracking the success through the government.
Vote: Yes: 11 No: 33
Group 4:
- The International Art Archives will be established to protect freedom of expression in exchange for trade benefits for participating nations.
Vote: Yes: 13 No: 30 - Create an International Art Curation Center. This will be a protective area within every country where art can be shown. Security will be provided by UN funded forces.
Vote: Yes: 21 22 No: 22 22
Activity #2: UN Priority Plan for 2025-2026
What are the top issues for the UN to focus on?
- Women’s Rights in Afghanistan (Afghanistan) 7
- Climate Change (Japan, Australia) 31
- Refugee Assistance (Norway) 5
- Green Energy/Sustainable Development (Monaco) 5
- AI (Egypt) 15
- Disease Prevention & Treatment (Sweden) 3
- Political Corruption (USA) 17
- Microplastics (Iceland) 4
