http://www.cultureinexternalrelations.eu/LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR
Welcome to YMGE!
My name is Annie Cheng and I'm a sophomore in Ezra Stiles college majoring in Ethnicity, Race and Migration. Hailing from sunny central Florida, I have always loved roller coasters and the beach. On campus, I compete with the Model UN team, chaired for YMUN and SCSY, and am a secretariat member of YMUN. Having personally engaged in exciting IR debate, I understand how important the chair is in shaping a great committee experience and hope to witness phenomenal debate.
Outside of class and YIRA involvement, I'm also on the board of the Yale Hunger and Homelessness Action Project and founded/currently coordinate a food rescue project in New Haven. I'm also a managing editor for the the Yale Globalist magazine, and enjoy concerts and art museums in addition to good dim-sum.
I am looking forward to debating important issues that prevail in the European continent. As a range of political, economic, and sociocultural change sweeps across the world, many European countries are finding themselves at a crossroads, and Portugal is no different. It is my hope that your participation in the Cultural and Social Affairs committee will remind you of the humanity underlying world tensions. I look forward to your insightful ideas, solutions, and analyses of the modern world, and am excited to meet you soon as well.
If you have any questions, comments, clarifications, or gastronomical suggestions, please email me anytime at annie.cheng@yale.edu.
Best,
Annie Cheng
COUNCIL OF MINISTERS: CULTURE AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS
Background
The Cultural and Social Affairs Council was established in 1950 as a branch of the European Union. It deals primarily with the short and long term causes and ramifications of crises. The policy goals include frameworks for inter-member state cooperation and long term plans for growth in the cultural and social sectors. This scope encompasses but is not limited to education, minority rights, cultural preservation, youth and gender empowerment and equality of opportunity and mobility.
Most importantly, this council pays close attention to the quality of life for the citizen populations, as well as regarding the special needs for those outside of citizenship — whether that be as an internal or externally displaced refugee. The platform for growth is centered on inclusive policymaking and enforcement, assuring safety of expression and life as referred to in the United Nations: Social Justice in an Open World document.
Priorities of the CSA Committee
In an increasingly diverse world, the Cultural and Social Affairs Committee reinforces the idea of social and economic equity, working towards securing human rights in all environments. The Committee will strive for poverty reduction, efficient and dignified crisis management, and ultimately economic and social mobility.
In the consideration of basic needs of all humans including food and shelter, the CSA committee goes beyond that to ensure collective growth and protection of human dignity as a priority. With this goal in mind, the CSA Committee reminds delegates to establish solutions that are not only effective, but that also consider problematic existing social frameworks that may predicate international hierarchies. Solutions should be challenged to consider long-term ramification and prioritize both immediacy and future outcomes.
Delegates are understood to consider their own state's interests, but are urged to regard collective global progress as a vitally important end-goal.
Jurisdiction
The Cultural and Social Affairs Committee oversees the interstate preventative and retroactive actions of all European Union member states.
All other states are technically observer states, but in this committee will have sponsorship and voting rights. All international matters occurring within the boundaries of the European Union will result in the convention of CSA member states — domestic matters will instead be considered within the responsibility of each respective member state.
Powers
Generally speaking, the Cultural and Social Affairs Council has the ability to recommend and change European Union policies as related to international affairs. The committee members can sponsor, debate, and support resolutions that make recommendations for individual states as well. The Council can also create organizations within the larger body such as temporary task forces or permanent branches to help regulate, update and enforce policy. In addition, the Council can report information to the public as well as the larger European Union body, bringing matters to the United Nations or the International Court of Justice on a needed basis.
Through legal and social interactions, delegates can influence both the public and political spheres on both domestic and international levels.
In addition to making policy recommendations and enforcement mechanisms, the Council also has limited power to recommend forceful intervention in necessary, with the ultimate goal of peacekeeping. Through membership with the European Union battlegroups, militaristic actions can be organized and enforced. Ministers of the council must individually decide to commit their own forces to this group, and ministers may not require or force the allocation of other states’ military services.
Structure of European Union Battle Group
Relevant Committee Past Actions
Charlie Hebdo attack: January 7 2015
After a terrorist killed 12 individuals in a lunchtime massacre, the CSA released a statement decrying the attack on freedom of the press. The organization reaffirmed the importance of journalistic integrity and protection through fiscal and legislative action. Budgetary funds were channeled towards the families of the victims and the European Federation of Journalists. The Committee also collaborated with domestic governments to reinstate and strengthen laws on the protection of journalists.
The committee established workshops in local schools focused on the increase of interfaith and intercultural connections and understandings, aiming to clarify the context of terrorist events to children in primary and secondary school. Along with educational outreach, representatives of the committee also worked with local mosques to prevent random acts of retaliation from the broader French community by providing resources for protection.
Manchester terror attack: May 22 2017
Immediately following the bombing at pop starlet Ariana Grande’s concert in Manchester, CSA acted quickly to provide emergency humanitarian aid by organizing shelters for those affected and connecting children with their parents. Later, CSA released a statement denouncing the attack on innocent concertgoers and instituted a series of legislations focused on improving arena safety.
Flowers are placed at a vigil following the Mancester bombing
Another spike in anti-Muslim sentiment occurred afterwards, and CSA reacted through legislation enforcing police bias training. Police departments were required to discuss religious freedom as part of their training, address their own biases, and implement body camera equipment. In addition, the CSA also installed a feedback system in refugee camps allowing for residents to directly contact CSA if issues over discrimination were to arise for any reason. All requests deemed relevant are sent to higher level officials or the bias prevention trainers themselves for examination of the officer or official performing inadequately and negligently. The feedback system is private, secure, and inclusive of all officials in camps, including CSA officials, UN Peacekeepers and domestic police officers.
Syrian Crisis: March 2011-Ongoing
The Syrian crisis results from decades of upheaval in the Middle East, caused through both localized and Western interference, violence and political instability. The resulting burgeoning of refugees from this region is of primary importance to CSA. While CSA has limited control over political and militaristic actions in this region, it prioritizes stability and opportunity for those refugees already in Europe.
The CSA operates an international schooling system in all member states, focused on educating refugee children who often have limited to no education. CSA schools are multilingual, offering courses in both Arabic and the host country’s predominantly spoken language. Curriculums are interdisciplinary, teaching arithmetic, language and science alongside social development and trade skills. The school is free, and prepares children to enter higher education with scholarships and application assistance. The budget is funded by both the CSA and private donors.
Each child is also provided with basic educational materials in language and math to bring home to their parents, if the family is also interested in education.
To alleviate the stress of families in desperate poverty, CSA also provides breakfast, lunch and monetary stipends to replace potential wages sacrificed for education.
Further Research
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/council-eu/preparatory-bodies/cultural-affairs-committee/
