Dear Delegates,
I am honored to serve as the Co-Chair of the Legal Committee at this year's BERMUN conference.
In light of this year’s conference theme, Fostering Global Citizenship among Identities and Responsibilities, it is imperative to recognize not only our differences but our similarities. Each and every one of us identifies with various groups, whether they are religious, national, ethnic, etc. A shared identity creates a sense of belonging and social cohesion throughout societies, but at the same time, these groups risk being exclusive. This can be detrimental seeing as we need international cooperation to work towards resolving global issues such as climate change, which cannot be solved by just one individual or Member State alone.
Throughout the conference, our committee will discuss two topics of utmost necessity: Bridging the Digital Divide and Regulating Migration and Integration. I personally will be focusing on the topic of migration and integration. A vital topic regarding rising migration has impacted every member state worldwide, bringing with it waves of xenophobia and nationalistic tendencies. This leads many nations to limit immigration, especially of unskilled immigrants. Simultaneously, many Western states and other states like Singapore and the UAE, see immigration to be the solution to an aging population and the shortage of skilled workers. There are many hardships in integration that come with migration, and to avoid these, it is the responsibility of all UN member states to respect international laws on migrants and work together to create an inclusive and safe space for them.
On a personal note, I’m 15 years old and currently attending the John F. Kennedy School in Berlin. In my free time, I like to fence, do horseback riding, ballroom dance, play the drums, and hang out with friends. This BERMUN will be my tenth conference and my fourth time chairing. I hope we can all learn and gain a positive impact from each other, create a respectful environment, and a productive debate.
Sincerely,
Ilian Bordet
