CheongShim International Academy
Model United Nations 2017
CHAIR REPORT
[UNDP]
Agenda
1. Reducing the widespread poverty and lack of education in
the Andean Community.
2. Promoting democratic and transparent governance in Central
Africa.
Committee: United Nations Development Program
Agenda: Reducing the widespread poverty and lack of education in the Andean Community
Chair: Hyun Seok JANG / Chae Min HWANG
1.Introduction
The Andean Community is a customs union and group of South American nations (Bolivia,
Columbia, Ecuador and Peru). Located at the crucial connecting point between North/Central America
and South America, it is home to approximately 98 million inhabitants. The region, as it is a central
meeting point for various cultures including those from Spain, Mexico, and the Middle East, is
populated by an eclectic mix of people. This fact is evident in local culture, where their diversity can
be seen in features like architecture and art, which take inspiration from the countless indigenous and
foreign sources. It is undeniable that the culture in the Andean Community is unlike any other on Earth,
but it is also undeniable that they are, and have been for some time, plagued by serious social and
economic problems. This agenda will deal with two of the most prominent problems, namely,
widespread poverty and the lack of education that has taken hold in the region.
Despite radical reforms and rapid economic development originating from their plentiful natural
resources, poverty in the Andean Community is still commonplace. In Peru, the most rapidly developing
and arguably most successful of the four Andean Community nations, an extreme difference in
development separates the rural population from the city population. Over 50 percent of the rural
population lives in poverty. Even in the cities, many people live in squalor. This trend is much the same
across all of the countries in the Andean Community, and poverty has taken root as a major social
problem that only continues to grow as development continues.
The social and economic issues will only worsen without new thinkers to tackle them, but in the
Andean Community, a lack of education in the population is commonplace. For example, one in seven
children in Bolivia do not even complete primary school, and there are over a million citizens older
than 15, who have little to no literary abilities. They are unable to read or write. This is no different in
neighboring Andean Community members. This lack of formal education for the youth means there
will be a smaller number of opportunities to get fresh, new solutions to problems and a society that will
eventually lose its vigor.
There are major issues in the Andean Community. New solutions are essential to bring about
significant change. With the aid of new economic partners and organizations such as the World Bank
and the United Nations, the Andean Community will inevitably change in the coming years.
2. Definition of Key Terms
 Andean Community
The Andean Community is a customs union made up of four South American nations (Bolivia,
Ecuador, Colombia and Peru). This group originally included Venezuela and Chile, but both nations
withdrew in 2006, and in 1976 respectively. The four member states have economies that have been
steadily growing, vast natural resources, and a considerable workforce. The world looks upon these
nations as nations with the potential to become leaders in the world economy and in politics. However,
problems like corruption, lack of education, and a widening gap between the rich and the poor plagues
these nations. These problems hamper the progress of the Andean Community.
 Poverty
Poverty is defined by the United Nations as “the inability of having choices and opportunities, a
violation of human dignity. It means lack of basic capacity to participate effectively in society. It means
not having enough to feed and clothe a family, not having a school or a clinic to go to, not having the
land on which to grow one’s food or a job to earn one’s living, or not having access to credit. It means
insecurity, powerlessness and exclusion of individuals, households and communities.” Poverty implies
that the person in question lacks civil help or facilities to which they are entitled.
 Education
Education used in the context of this agenda refers to the formal education of children and young
adults. This does not necessarily refer to government-run and funded facilities such as public schools
but also to education provided by organizations like UNICEF or Save the Children Education.
Education is essential in creating new talent to fill places in society and come up with new solutions to
current problems.
3. Background Information
Poverty and a lack of education have been plaguing the Andean Community for most of the
second half of the 20th century. However, citizens and the international community have largely
accepted these problems as a part of daily life. We can no longer ignore these issues. Change must
come to the Andean Community.
The Andean Community is in a very favorable position to become an influential bloc in the
world. Located at the center of the Americas, the area has risen as a potential economic and cultural
hotspot for the coming century. Out of the four nations that hold memberships to the community, two
are classified as megadiverse nations, which is a title given to countries who have ecologies and species
distributions so widely ranged that they effectively act as ‘snapshots’ of Earth and its life. Each member
nation is also rich in resources such as minerals, agriculture and cattle. Yet, as is the case for all nations
whose economies have developed ahead of their political and social infrastructures, the Andean
community has seen differing levels of progress in different regions, creating poverty and education
problems.
It is undeniable that much of the rural Andean population, as well as a sizeable number of city
dwellers, still live in poverty. This has been a problem in the past but is now developing into a major
issue, much in part due to the new nature of the Andean Community. Member nations are currently
going through crucial phases of development, that is not unlike what South Korea’s economy went
through in the 1960’s or the 1970’s. New businesses and startups crop up by the minute, and all efforts
are being concentrated to encouraging this economic boom. If we do not take action now to eradicate
these problems, they will take root and become essentially impossible to remove in later years. A
deepening of social and economic problems in this region would result in losses of economic and
political developments that took so many years to attain. The eradication of poverty is also essential to
integrate the rural population. People who live outside major cities represent a large portion of the
citizenry of the nations and of the potential workforce. Poverty is keeping down, unable to show their
true potential as the backbone of the Andean workforce. Without the economic and social integration
of these people, progress will be unlikely to continue steadily in the coming years.
Education is the most effective and important tool you can employ to fight against inequality
of all types but unfortunately, education does not seem to be a major focus point for the Andean
Community as of yet. As previously mentioned, Venezuela and the other member nations are
experiencing severe problems in the education of their young people. This is a serious issue because
the Andean Community is going through massive changes. Fresh ideas and innovative, modern startups
are the key to modernizing and effectively guiding the path of these changes. Without educated young
people, the Andean Community loses these essential components of development. Many young people
are already being forced into hard, manual labor, due to the rampant lack of education. Without proper
education programs and government support, the Andean community will be left with a population of
uneducated people in two or three decades.
4. Major Countries and Organizations Involved
 Peru
Peru, as the most developed of the Andean Community, has a significant role to play in alleviating
poverty and creating new opportunities for education in the area. It has several economic ties to other
nations that it could use to provide support. It is unfortunately hindered by problems such as corruption,
which needs to be dealt with.
 Ecuador
Ecuador, as a member of the Andean Community, must participate actively in installing new
education systems and plans to eliminate poverty. Though Ecuador is on the lower spectrum of growth
and development compared to other nations in the community, it is one of 17 megadiverse countries
and is home to a variety of fauna and flora. These features ensure its importance and the need to develop
the country to preserve these aspects.
 Venezuela
Venezuela is not as developed as Peru, its fellow Andean Community member, but it is extremely
rich in minerals, most prominently tin. This will be essential in forming trade partnerships and creating
new jobs in order to alleviate poverty and create more education opportunities.
 Colombia
Colombia is a member state of the Andean Community with a relatively stable economy and
good prospects for growth in the future. It is the fastest growing economy in Latin America. As a
megadiverse nation, much like Ecuador and as a regional powerful actor, it has an essential role to play
in boosting the standards of living within the Andean Community but infrequent civil war and other
features make it unstable.
 Andean Court of Justice
The Andean court of Justice settles major disputes between member states and power reserved to
it by all members of the community. Conflict and disagreement between members in the community
are inevitable. The Andean court of Justice will have to take the role of both the mediator and a fair
judge to such clashes.
 Andean Parliament
The Andean Parliament is the branch of the Andean Community that deals with legislative
matters in the community. Citizens from all member states hold seats and represents a supranational
democratic organization. This organization, much like the afore mentioned Court of Justice, will be
responsible for maintaining order but it will also be the path through which different ideals and goals
be expressed and discussed in a democratic environment. This particular role will make it invaluable in
times of conflict.
5.Timeline of Key Events
1969
Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru sign the Cartagena Agreement,
forming the basis for the Andean Community. At this point, the community
was known as the Andean Pact.
1973
Venezuela joins the pact as its sixth member.
1976
Chile withdraws from the community.
1979
The Andean Court of Justice and the Andean Parliament are created
1991
The leaders of each member nation approve an open skies policy, further
encouraging integration and support among the member nations.
1996
The Andean Pact is renamed the Andean Community.
2006
Venezuela withdraws from the community and Peru becomes fully
economically integrated, making the Andean free trade area fully operational.
2014
Colombia overtakes Peru as the fastest growing economy of Latin America.
6. Relevant UN Treaties, Resolutions and Events
Eradicating poverty and lack of education have been two of the main goals of United Nations
humanitarian work since they began helping people around the world. As such, The United Nations
have a variety of documents, resolutions and agendas which deal with our current agenda, even if they
are not specific to the Andean Community.
 A/52/232 (1997); Request for observer status for the Andean Community in the General Assembly.
 A/51/87 (1996); Text of Trujillo Act Establishing the Andean Community
 A/RES/69/268 (2015); Education for Democracy
 United Nations 2030 Agenda for sustainable development
7. Previous Attempts to Solve the Issue
As previously stated, the United Nations and in particular, the United Nations Development
Program have attempted many times in the past to provide a working solution to the problema of poverty
and lack of education in the Andean Community. Perhaps the most notable ongoing effort is the
international adoption of the 2030 Agenda, which aims to achieve 17 sustainable development goals,
two of which are the removal of poverty and an increase in quality education, by the year 2030. Though
this agenda is not region specific to the Andean Community, the Latin American branch of the United
Nations Development Program is working together with individual governments and the governing
body of the Andean Community as a whole to find solutions.
Individual attempts have also been made by member nations of the Andean Community to try
and solve this problem. South American nations and in particular, nations in the Andese area are known
for their fierce patriotism and pride for their culture. These factors work to make these nations seek
internal solutions which could be implemented without outside help. Member states such as Peru and
Columbia have worked to boost their economies and créate more income to spend on the people, while
Bolivia and Ecuador have been attempting to emulate the success of the formerly mentioned nations.
8. Possible Solutions
A suggestion that takes advantage of regional features and could provide a sustainable solution
to poverty problems is eco tourism. The nations of the Andese Community are known for their
breathtakingly beautiful nature and exotic animals and plants unlike any other found on earth, as
previously stated. However, these features are either not being used to their full potential or are being
maltreated, shortening the time that they can be used to gain economic benefits and reduce poverty.
Current forms of tourism are damaging to the environment and are also unattractive to new generations
of tourists. An ecotourism product, crafted to both conserve and be appealing to younger people could
potentially become a solution to poverty, especially if it is made in such a way as to provide job
opportunities and developments to rural regions.
A solution to the lack of education is a more delicate issue and one that has not quite been
tackled as of yet. While no concrete potential solutions exist, a key factor in considering these solutions
should be the development of digital technology. With entire libraries and thousands of hours of
education material now available at the press of a button, new technologies will make bringing
education to youths even easier. Technologies like virtual reality and augmented reality could
potentially solve the problems of lack of education materials, for now with just a set of goggles children
can be instantly transported into a virtual classroom where they will be free to learn anything they want.
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