NEWS

ICU students win first prize at 2023 Model UN Human Rights Council UPR

Update: September 8, 2023

Aya Osawa (Major/Minor: Law/Development Studies), Aoi Watanabe (Major: International Relations), and Yudai Akana (Major/Minor: International Relations/Business), all 4th-year students at International Christian University, participated in the 2023 Model United Nations Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review (UPR) held on August 25, 2023. Representing Japan as the State under Review, the team of three won the first prize of the Outstanding Delegation Awards.

The event, aiming at promoting "constructive dialogue," was co-organized by Human Asia, Korea University, International Christian University, City University of Hong Kong, and HSP UTokyo, and supported by the UN Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner. Associate Professor Hiromichi Matsuda served as a jury. About 50 students gathered from universities such as ICU, City University of Hong Kong, Korea University, Seinan Gakuin University, and the University of Tokyo. Students did a simulation of the UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review* regarding human rights issues in Japan, South Korea, North Korea, and China.

*UPR (Universal Periodic Review): It is a system established along with the creation of the Human Rights Council to universally review human rights situations in all the 193 UN member countries. Reference: https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/gaiko/jinken_r/upr_gai.html 

 

Students Comments:

Aya Osawa
Participating in the Model UN Human Rights Council UPR has allowed me to put into practice the knowledge I have accumulated during my four years as an undergraduate student at ICU. Human rights have consistently been a central point of interest for me, yet we rarely have the opportunity to translate that interest into practical, hands-on experience. This competition provided precisely that chance.

This year, my team and I were honoured to represent Japan as delegates, working on three vital themes: gender equality, children's rights, and the rights of persons with disabilities. Topics that are not only at the forefront of domestic parliamentary discussions but also critical issues on the international stage were discussed, and engaging in research and debates surrounding these subjects has broadened my perspective and deepened my understanding of Japan's pressing challenges.

On a personal note, this experience has prompted me to reflect on my aspirations for my future career path. It has been a valuable opportunity for self-assessment and consideration of my professional goals.

Finally, I am beyond grateful to have won first place in this competition and to have been able to conclude my university journey of Model United Nations and International Law Moot Courts. I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Professor Matsuda for his unwavering support throughout this journey.

 

Aoi Watanabe
In this competition, which parodied the UN Human Rights Council, participants were tasked with assuming the roles of diplomats representing various countries. Serving as Japan's representative, it proved to be both a challenging and exhilarating experience to present and respond to inquiries regarding Japan's human rights situation while also formulating a strategic approach for our presentation. While many teams predominantly showcased their research findings, I firmly believe that our victory stemmed from our adeptness at presenting ourselves as diplomats and our commitment to fostering constructive dialogues with our counterparts.

Simultaneously, this competition has shed light on the areas where Japan can enhance its efforts to safeguard the human rights of its citizens. I aim to carry the valuable lessons from this competition with me and aspire to be an individual who continually contemplates ways to contribute to our current society.

I extend my heartfelt appreciation to Professor Matsuda for providing me this valuable opportunity, as well as to my fellow teammates, who have consistently displayed excellence in their roles as diplomats alongside me.

 

Yudai Akana
Participating in this competition as a delegate from Japan has allowed me to gain in-depth knowledge about the progress Japan has been making and the ongoing issues Japan still faces in establishing human rights in certain conditions for minorities.

I believe that "Human rights," which the ICU has held as its core principle, is prominent. Yet, governments and policymakers often define "Human rights" in their own terms that decorate their actions, neglecting the current situation. Hence, through the competition, I've learned the importance of thinking in terms of others to gain the essential situations of the minority situations to bring awareness on a societal level that could eventually shape government policy, leading to increase Japan's presence in an international community.

Regarding the experience, our solid team-building culture and presenting our viewpoints in a robust, interactive, diplomatic manner with other delegates have helped our team win the competition. I learned the importance of understanding the position and viewpoints of other delegates in facilitating interactive dialogue. I would like to express my sincere gratitude towards Human Asia for providing this opportunity and towards my teammates for their excellency in diplomacy to fully represent Japan as a team.