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GVMUNC VII 2025 GV N

Background Guide
Un LEGAL Committee
 MU
GV N LETTER FROM THE CHAIR

Hi delegates,

I’m Meriam Stroock, a senior in high school and the Guest Chair of Legal at
GVMUNC VII. I’m very excited to be your chair for this committee as someone
STAFF extremely passionate about international relations, law, and ethics, which I will be
pursuing this upcoming fall at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
This is not my first time chairing, as I have co-chaired and chaired my local school
SECRETARY GENERAL
conference in the past. I’ve been involved in Model UN for the past four years,
- AYUSHMAAN
MUKHERJEE leading to my love for the activity and my plans to continue Model UN into college.
Over the years, I’ve won various awards, recently winning the Award of Merit as the
SECRETARY delegation of Cambodia at NHSMUN in New York City. Some other hobbies I have
GENERAL - KUSH
DAVE are debating, art, and dancing. Thank you for signing up to participate in LEGAL at
GVMUNC VII. I can’t wait to meet all of you!
UNDERSECRETARY Sincerely,
GENERAL - PARITOSH
BHOLE Meriam Stroock
Guest Chair of LEGAL at GVMUNC VII
JOURNALISM
DIRECTOR - BHARATH
SATHIAJITH

PUBLIC RELATIONS
MANAGER - AAYUSH
DHAR

GRAPHIC DESIGNER - COMMITTEE OVERVIEW

SIHAN SINGH
Legal Committee (Sixth Committee) is one of the six main committees of the United Nations General Assembly. It
CHAIRS OF LEGAL primarily focuses on promoting international law and legal cooperation among member states. The committee
MERIAM STROOCK provides a platform for member states to discuss and formulate resolutions on a wide range of legal issues,
including international treaties, the development of international law, legal aspects of peacekeeping operations,
and the accountability of states and individuals in international conflicts.

The Legal Committee traces its roots back to the establishment of the United Nations in 1945. It was formed within
the United Nations General Assembly with a fundamental mission: to address the global challenges related to
international law and ensure legal mechanisms for maintaining peace and security. Its creation was a direct
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response to the legal complexities emerging from World War II and the recognition of the urgent need for
BY THE HACK CLUB
international legal frameworks to govern state interactions and conflict resolution. One of the first landmark
BANK - THE TEAM IS
GRATEFUL FOR YOUR resolutions of the Legal Committee was the formulation of the International Law Commission (ILC). This
HELP commission was established to help develop and codify international law, ensuring that legal principles could
evolve in response to global challenges. Key aspects addressed by the ILC include the progressive development
of international law, the formulation of legal principles guiding diplomatic relations, the establishment of
frameworks for state responsibility, and the promotion of peaceful dispute resolution. Establishing the ILC has
been one of the biggest legal resolutions passed in the committee’s history.

As a primary committee of the United Nations, the Legal Committee is empowered to propose and draft

CONTACTS resolutions focused on international legal matters. Its resolutions are non-binding and rely on the willingness of
member states to implement them voluntarily. There are two main bodies affiliated with the Legal Committee: the
International Law Commission (ILC) and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).
While UNCITRAL is a subsidiary body of the General Assembly, it plays a critical role in harmonizing international
EMAIL trade law.

GVMUNSECRETARIAT
The Legal Committee can interact with other UN bodies, such as the International Court of Justice (ICJ), to
@[Link] address complex legal challenges comprehensively. While the Legal Committee focuses on developing
international legal frameworks within the General Assembly, it can collaborate with specialized agencies like the
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) or the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to address
INSTAGRAM
specific categorized legal issues. Additionally, the Legal Committee can refer matters to the Security Council for
further action if necessary.
@GVMUN_OFFICIAL
TOPIC A - ENSURING LEGAL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR
MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS

Overview equally severe. The Carbon Majors Report Some countries have enacted laws to
revealed that just 100 companies have been enforce corporate accountability.
Multinational corporations (MNCs)
responsible for 71% of industrial greenhouse Germany's Supply Chain Act, effective
currently account for over 30% of global
gas emissions since 1988, significantly from 2023, requires companies to identify
GDP and control vast supply chains that
contributing to climate change. Oil extraction and address human rights and
span across borders. However, their
by MNCs like Shell in the Niger Delta has led environmental risks in their supply chains.
operations often result in serious human
to decades of pollution, destroying local Companies must conduct risk analyses,
rights violations and environmental harm,
ecosystems and affecting the health and implement preventive measures, and
especially in developing countries where
livelihoods of surrounding communities. In establish grievance mechanisms. While
regulation and enforcement are weak.
the Amazon and Southeast Asia, corporate- this law marks progress, its enforcement is

Current Issues driven deforestation has led to the loss of limited to companies operating within
biodiversity, displacement of Indigenous Germany and does not extend to global
Their extensive supply chains, often based populations, and increased carbon operations. Even within it’s borders, it has
in low-regulation countries, contribute to emissions. proven to be unsufficient in some cases.
widespread labor exploitation. For
example, over 160 million children are Social and political consequences also arise. The European Union has taken steps to
engaged in child labor globally, many In some regions, MNCs have been linked to enhance corporate accountability through
producing goods for export by large the funding of armed conflict through legislative measures. The Corporate
corporations. Workers in garment resource extraction, as seen in parts of Sustainability Due Diligence Directive
factories, mines, and plantations Central Africa. Moreover, corporate lobbying (CSDDD), adopted in 2024, mandates
frequently face unsafe conditions, long and influence often undermine democratic large companies to identify, prevent, and
hours, and minimal pay. An additional 27.6 institutions, weaken regulatory bodies, and mitigate adverse human rights and
million people are in forced labor, erode public trust in governance. These environmental impacts in their operations
highlighting the systemic abuses in global impacts are disproportionately felt by and value chains. The directive applies to
operations. marginalized communities, who lack the EU companies with over 1,000 employees
resources to defend their rights or seek and significant turnover, as well as non-
Environmental harm caused by MNCs is justice. EU companies with substantial EU
operations. Companies are required to
Current Policies integrate due diligence into their corporate
​ ver the past few decades, various
O policies, establish grievance mechanisms,
initiatives have been undertaken to hold and report on their efforts. Non-
multinational corporations (MNCs) compliance can result in fines and
accountable for their human rights and reputational damage.
environmental impacts. However, many of
these efforts have faced challenges in Moving Forward
enforcement and scope.​In 2011, the
United Nations Human Rights Council Efforts like the Corporate Sustainability
endorsed the Guiding Principles on Due Diligence Directive in the European
Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), Union demonstrate progress, but broader
establishing a global standard for international adoption and enforcement
preventing and addressing human rights are crucial. To address the complexity of
abuses linked to business activity. The global supply chains, nations must work
UNGPs are built upon three pillars: the together to create consistent legal
state's duty to protect human rights, the frameworks that apply universally to
corporate responsibility to respect human corporate practices, ensuring that
rights, and access to remedy for victims of companies adhere to ethical and
business-related abuses. While widely sustainable standards. Strengthening
accepted, the UNGPs are non-binding and transparency, increasing corporate
rely on voluntary implementation, limiting responsibility, and enhancing access to
their effectiveness in ensuring corporate justice for affected communities should be
accountability.​ prioritized.

Microsoft, Apple, Google, Tesla, Dell hit with lawsuit over alleged
children cobalt mining in Congo (CNN News)
 TOPIC B - COMBATING CORRUPTION IN
INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENTAL BODIES

Corruption also creates inefficiency in accountable for systemic corruption.

Overview decision-making processes. Resources Despite these efforts, corruption remains
Corruption within international governmental may be allocated based on political or rampant within IGBs, partly due to a lack
personal connections rather than objective of political will, inadequate oversight
bodies (IGBs) is a pervasive issue that
need, delaying or hindering vital mechanisms, and resistance to reform
undermines trust, impedes development,
international initiatives such as disaster from entrenched bureaucracies and
and threatens the credibility of organizations
relief or peacekeeping missions. The lack powerful stakeholders.
meant to uphold global governance and
of accountability and transparency,
cooperation. Whether through bribery,
nepotism, or the misuse of power,
coupled with entrenched bureaucratic Current Policy
systems, means that corruption often goes
corruption erodes the effectiveness of Currently, international organizations have
unchecked, reinforcing cycles of impunity
international organizations such as the a variety of measures in place to combat
and contributing to inequality across global
United Nations, World Bank, and World corruption, though their effectiveness
communities.
Trade Organization. This not only hinders varies. For instance, the United Nations
continues to strengthen its oversight
the delivery of vital services but also
exacerbates global inequality, perpetuating
Actions mechanisms with the establishment of
independent ethics offices, such as the
cycles of poverty and instability. Numerous initiatives have been launched
Office of the UN Ethics Commissioner,
over the years to combat corruption in
which provides recommendations to
Current Impact international governmental bodies, yet
address ethical violations and misconduct.
significant challenges remain.
Additionally, the World Bank has set up
The effects of corruption within international
mechanisms like the Integrity Vice
governmental bodies are far-reaching and One of the most prominent attempts is the Presidency, which investigates allegations
detrimental to both the global economy and United Nations’ Office of Internal of corruption within its funded projects.
vulnerable populations. One of the most Oversight Services (OIOS), established to However, the enforcement of policies
high-profile cases of corruption within an monitor and investigate issues of fraud remains inconsistent, and many member
IGB was the Oil-for-Food scandal involving and misconduct within the UN system. states exert political pressure to protect
the United Nations. Between 1996 and Additionally, the World Bank implemented their interests, reducing the efficacy of
2003, the UN’s humanitarian program, a Global Governance and Anticorruption these measures.
intended to provide food and medicine to Strategy in 1997, aiming to reduce
Iraq under sanctions, was marred by corruption in lending practices by
widespread corruption. High-ranking encouraging transparency, good
officials, contractors, and companies were governance, and accountability. Despite
found to have been accepting bribes, these efforts, issues such as lack of
resulting in billions of dollars in illicit enforcement, political interference, and
payments. This scandal damaged the limited jurisdiction have undermined their
reputation of the UN and highlighted success.
significant gaps in the organization's
internal oversight mechanisms. The United Nations Convention Against
Corruption (UNCAC), adopted in 2003,
Another major instance of corruption represents a major international legal
occurred within the World Bank in the early instrument designed to curb corruption at
2000s, when the organization faced both national and international levels. It
allegations of awarding contracts to encourages member states to develop
companies with close ties to senior officials. comprehensive anti-corruption measures,
In one case, the bank funded a large but the lack of enforceability and
infrastructure project in Indonesia, where inconsistent implementation across
funds were misappropriated due to countries has limited its effectiveness.
kickbacks to government officials. These Similarly, the OECD Anti-Bribery
corrupt practices hindered the effective use Convention has been instrumental in
of development funds and delayed the curbing bribery in international business
completion of essential projects meant to dealings but faces difficulties in holding
support economic development individual governmental bodies

An UNCAC meeitng in Vienna (UN News)

 TOPIC A
Questions to Consider Country Stances
How do multinational corporations evade United States - Supports legal
accountability through jurisdictional accountability for multinational
loopholes? corporations through domestic legislation
How can consumer pressure and like the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
advocacy groups influence multinational (FCPA), which prohibits bribery of foreign
corporations’ compliance with ethical officials
standards? India - has taken steps to hold
How can we improve the coordination multinational corporations accountable,
between governments, international especially in areas of tax evasion and
organizations, and civil society to tackle environmental regulations. However,
corporate accountability? enforcement is often inconsistent
How can technology, such as AI
contribute to increasing corporate
transparency and accountability?

TOPIC B
Questions to Consider Country Stances
How can we ensure that anti-corruption United Kingdom - Supports a robust
initiatives within international framework for addressing corruption
governmental bodies are transparent and within international organizations, actively
accountable themselves? participating in anti-corruption initiatives
What impact does corruption within within the United Nations
international organizations have on global China - participates in international anti-
development, peace, and security? corruption efforts, but is cautious about
What are the barriers to reform within imposing external regulations that could
international organizations that allow undermine its sovereignty or the interests
corruption to thrive? of its state-owned enterprises
How can whistleblowing be encouraged
and protected within international
organizations to expose corruption?