DAY 1: GA 1

   General Assembly 1 debated on agenda A, on the lines of monitoring and combating terrorist financing. With almost 70 delegates present in the committee, the first speaker’s list was listed up to over 10 delegates. Even throughout entire first session proceedings, the speaker’s list never elapsed as delegates was eager to make their voices on the podium by adding up their names in the list through notes.

   An element of controversy emerged not so soon after the declaration of the committee about the definition of terrorism. A consensus was made that the vague concept of terrorism should be first set before imposing combating measures to the determined targets. In the moderated caucus set to discuss this definition, the delegate of Ecuador brought up the point that both subjective and objective standards should be taken into account when defining terrorism. Some delegates argued against this argument, saying that intentions of terrorists are, inevitably set off by subjective means, which in hand, can never be incorporated in setting an international standard. Nonetheless, the fact that such violence is inflicting casualties among civilians is a significant point. Another point of controversy is concerned with the flaw in the membership of the FATF(Financial Action Task Force). The delegates discharged a heated debate on whether countries without membership in FATF should be obligated to join, and whether it is their reluctance or incapability that is hindering their membership. Penalties on these nations discomforted several delegates as many felt that it is an infringement of countries’ sovereignty.

   Despite the fact that majority of the delegates were newcomers to model united nations, the atmosphere of the debate room was extremely heated.