ICPO BMUN LXVII

Is there a solution to counterfeit medicine? One of the issues that has exacerbated the proliferation of pharmaceutical crime has been the wide availability of counterfeit medicine in both developed and developing countries. As mentioned by the two case studies on Kenya and Nigeria in our topic synopsis, counterfeit medicine is a corruptive force in the medical industry and continues to prevent vulnerable populations from acquiring necessary medication to combat things like HIV/AIDS. Just this past week, German-based software company SAP SE announced the availability of new blockchain technology that will allow consumers to verify medication through product codes, lot numbers, expiration dates, and distinct serial numbers. This topic is extremely interesting and pertinent to our topic of pharmaceutical crime, so I encourage you all to read more about it  here  before committee! When reading this article, think about the following and how it could help guide your research on soluti

Hi all! I wanted to share some advice I have from my years as a delegate on working well with your partner during conference. During speeches, try splitting content between people! Instead of having to memorize the contents of a 1 minute speech, you can each understand half a minute and focus more on delivery. During unmoderated caucuses, it may be helpful to stick together, to ensure that you are proposing the same policies and solutions! Nothing is as irritating as an unmod spent working on a resolution, only to find that your partner has been working with a competing bloc. Lastly, remember that your partner is your strongest ally in debate! No one else has exactly the same policy as you, and collaborating with them will really help you to reach out to more people and to come up with more solutions.

The structure of Interpol can be quite confusing, especially considering how many committees and bodies operate under it as a whole. We want to ensure that you are all as prepped as possible in understanding the way in which Interpol functions, which you can learn about  here ! This article touches upon Interpol's abilities, specifically in regards to coordinating investigations and making arrests. Pay specific attention to the case study mentioned about Meng Hongwei, and how his disappearance showcases the strengths and weaknesses that lie within Interpol as a body. Also, consider how Interpol's budget has either facilitated or hindered the Meng Hongwei case process, and how this can be tied to the issue of Red Notices.

Pharmaceutical Crime in the US In our topic synopsis we discuss case studies of pharmaceutical crime occurring on foreign soil such as in Kenya, but it is important to note that it is rampant everywhere, and is a major issue in the United States as well. This  article  explores how Big Pharma in America may have taken advantage over their monopoly over certain generic drugs by increasing prices to astronomical values to the benefit of their profit. As stated in the article, this claim is simply an allegation which is currently being investigated and is yet to be proved. However, if it is found to be true, many antitrust laws have been broken at the expense of the consumer. Let us know your thoughts on the investigation and allegations and what possible solutions can combat this issue!

Hello Delegates! I wanted to write a quick post on this committee's technology policy. We will be an "unmod-technology" committee, which means that use of technology will be unrestricted during unmoderated caucuses. However, we do ask that you refrain from using laptops, tablets, cellphones, and all other types of technology during the rest of committee session. It's important to engage with others during moderated debate, and we feel that a room full of laptop screens would be destructive for the environment we're trying to create. Please let us know if you have any questions!

Red Notice Abuse is still rampant today, particularly in the nation of Turkey. Run by an authoritarian regime under President Erdogan, INTERPOL reported that more than 6,000 Red Notice requests were issued by the country in just this past year. Many Red Notice abuses from this time period have been cited as politically motivated, although this has not been confirmed by the Turkish government. Now, Turkey's use of the Red Notice system has begun to extend towards higher profile individuals, like Enes Kanter of the New York Knicks. Reasoning that he is a 'terrorist' to the Erdogan government, Kanter has been stopped for arrest in multiple countries, namely in Indonesia and Romania. Similarly, many Turkish journalists who have voiced their dissidents about the Erdogan government have undergone similar experiences, which you can read about  here . After reading this article, think about how Red Notices are utilized by authoritarian regimes and similarly-natured countr