Hello! My name is Michael and I’m a junior at Shanghai American School. This conference marks the beginning of my third year at MUN, and throughout my high school life I have learned so much in the program, met so many amazing people, and developed a passion for problem-solving, politics, and negotiation. This year, Connor, Jason, and I look forward to leading you guys through the new conference format International Court of Justice (ICJ) to take on the hotly contested issue of the Israel-Palestine conflict. I anticipate a fruitful, exciting, and (hopefully) civil debate, and I can’t wait to see you all!

Welcome delegates!

I am Jason Kim, a junior at Shanghai American School Puxi campus. It is my honour to serve as your president in International Court of Justice (ICJ).

This is my third year in MUN, and this is my first time as a chair. I am very excited to start my chair experience in such a unique committee, ICJ. ICJ diverges from the traditional MUN format, following the process similar to mock trials and courts instead.

In the upcoming SHAMUN, our committee will be focusing on “Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel)” case. As an event involving complex national stances, all of us chairs in ICJ are looking forward to discussions on this case. Also, considering the controversy around the issue, we hope that our debate brings a respective and fruitful outcome. Thank You for reading and see you at SHAMUN!

Greetings, all delegates!

My name is Connor Johnson, and I am a senior at Suzhou Singapore International School. I have participated in MUN avidly for many years and am excited to try something new with a committee as interesting as the ICJ.

The topic of discussion is "Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip," which I find very relevant to present times. Given the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crises that ensue, the discussion of prevention and punishment is of paramount importance. The international community must remain vigilant, ensuring that actions violating this Convention are met with appropriate legal responses to uphold human rights and protect vulnerable populations. We all have a responsibility to remain informed on the conflict, mainly due to the complexity and divisiveness of this topic.

I hope to meet delegates who are as passionate and interested in this topic as I am in October for SHAMUN XXIV!