Established in 1945, the United Nations Security Council is the body primarily responsible for ensuring international peace and security. Members of the UNSC work at the prevention and resolution of a myriad of international issues, using diplomacy, peacekeeping operations, sanctions, and, when necessary, authorization of force to resolve conflict. Five Permanent Members hold veto power, and there are another 10 members who are elected on a rotating basis. With this, the Council must navigate complex dynamics to pass resolutions without a veto from often diametrically opposed countries. Key priorities of the UNSC include conflict prevention, protecting civilians in war zones, disarmament, counter-terrorism, and supporting post-conflict reconstruction. The UNSC plays a vital role in shaping the international community’s response to global security challenges.

Topic 1 - The Paris Peace Agreements and the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC)

Cambodia has suffered through decades of war and genocide, and newfound peace hangs in the balance. Signed in October of 1991, the Paris Peace Agreements promised a new era of democratization and disarmament under the supervision of the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC). Almost immediately after its signature, cracks have appeared. The Khmer Rouge have not been disarmed or dislodged and still hold many key provinces and refuse cooperation or access for the UN. There are other factions who question the neutrality and authority of UNTAC, fearing it will take sides or is merely foreign influence in disguise. With national elections approaching and violence continuing in the countryside, UNTAC’s credibility and Cambodia’s fragile peace are on the line. How can the Security Council support UNTAC’s mandate while preserving impartiality, deterring renewed conflict, and reckoning with past crimes?

Topic 2 - Governance of the Supreme National Council of Cambodia (SNC) 

The formation of the Supreme National Council (SNC) was intended to symbolize Cambodia’s reunification, with one sovereign body representing all four factions following the Paris Peace Agreements. However, the Council is a microcosm of the country’s deep and enduring divisions. The inclusion of the Khmer Rouge has sparked outrage and dissent on the national and international stages. With no clear rules on voting, leadership, or accountability, the Council remains vulnerable to deadlock and external manipulation. At the same time, hundreds of thousands of Cambodian refugees remain stranded in camps, hoping to return to a country ridden with mines, destroyed infrastructure, and factional power struggles. The Security Council now faces two parallel challenges: ensuring that the SNC can govern without collapsing and that refugee repatriation can proceed without fueling further violence. Can a unified government be built while key actors remain unrepentant and armed?

Crisis Director: Wilson Wicelinski