• The question of enhancing legal frameworks for the prevention & punishment of human trafficking

• The question of addressing the impacts of maritime conflicts

• The question of combating transnational drug trafficking in Southeast Asia through cross-border cooperation

As the head chair of ASEAN, I got a chance to meet a UNIS teacher in order to deepen my understanding of the MUN topics as well as how to manage a leadership role such as a chair. One of the people I got a chance to meet with was Ms. Adika Cremet, an early years teacher at UNIS Hanoi. 

Ms. Adika Cremet had been teaching internationally for 21 years. She taught internationally in countries such as New Zealand, China, Denmark, then finally decided to come to Vietnam. Prior to coming to UNIS Hanoi, she also worked (and still participates in) the UN Young Leaders Alumna where she trained multilateral diplomacy with UNITAR in Geneva in 2023. To this day, she visits Geneva twice a year due to her commitment. Additionally, she received her masters in Children’s Rights and Childhood studies. 

Given my opportunity to talk to Ms. Adika Cremet, I asked her about methods or tips on how to manage responsibilities as a chair in MUN as well as on how to build a community for the ASEAN community. She responded that communication skills are the most important in terms of community building. She said that being open and open-minded is a good way to get to know each other and to keep a fun and casual relationship outside of debate rather than a strictly formal relationship with others. Another question I asked was how to help others in situations such as MUN requiring formal internations. She started by saying that it would depend on the scenario of the group, however went on to say that regardless of the situation a 3rd party member would be a good solution to this issue. She suggested bringing another teacher to act as a mentor and mentioned that perhaps an English teacher could be helpful when figuring out issues with other’s work. She said the more experts in the group, the more that they are able to help each other and improve the group as a whole. 

Afterwards, I moved on to discuss the topics of ASEAN this year. I asked her if she had any thoughts on how to resolve issues or any opinions on the 3 topics presented this year (The question of enhancing legal frameworks for the prevention & punishment of human trafficking, the question of addressing the impacts of maritime conflicts, and the question of combating transnational drug trafficking in Southeast Asia through cross-border cooperation). From these three, she focused mostly on the second topic of human trafficking. She explained that it was closely connected to her as it was the main topic for her masters. She talked about how a lot of child trafficking is common in the Philippines and how they were being sold for financial gains. “It’s really heart breaking,” she said. “And the reality is, as much as there are a lot of law enforcement working on these issues, they’re more gangs and groups that are everywhere.”

She went on to say that the children mostly trafficked were from the countryside or of the rural areas where people don’t have the proper access to education needed to prevent or prepare them for the worst case scenario. She finally concluded that education was the best method to resolve an issue such as trafficking and that it’s what helps to fix cultural mindsets of those who may support human trafficking.

The last question I asked was what she believed were the values of MUN. She said that it was giving students a taste of the real world, preparing them for the real world issues and situations. Additionally, she talked about how it helped students develop critical life skills such as communication, being open minded, and learning how to become a peaceful advocate for the people. 

Thank you Ms. Adika Cremet, we look forward to seeing you at our conference.

As the head chair of ASEAN, I got a chance to meet a UNIS teacher in order to deepen my understanding of the MUN topics as well as how to manage a leadership role such as a chair. One of the people I got a chance to meet with was Ms. Dinh Thi Le, a middle and high school Vietnamese language and literature teacher at UNIS Hanoi. 

Ms. Dinh Thi Le has been a member of the UNIS community for 16 years and started her journey in teaching  as lecturer at the university in Hanoi. She stayed in the position for 10 years before looking for a job as a language teacher. When she saw a teaching opportunity in UNIS as a substitute teacher, she took it and ever since has moved on to teach high school students Vietnamese.

Additionally, through our meeting, I got to talk to her about how to manage responsibilities when building a community such as the "committee community” and how to manage responsibilities. Firstly, I started with questions regarding how to manage leadership roles. One of the questions I asked her is how to build a community of a wide range of people in a short amount of time. She responded with how the 7 norms of collaboration is a good ground to start with general rules for cooperation. Additionally, she stated that “We need to be clear and try to be open minded…respect all the voices and what we can do is to encourage participation from everyone.” 

Then, I went on to ask about our committee's specific issues. I asked her for her thoughts on any of the topics that we were discussing in ASEAN (The question of enhancing legal frameworks for the prevention & punishment of human trafficking, the question of addressing the impacts of maritime conflicts, and the question of combating transnational drug trafficking in Southeast Asia through cross-border cooperation) and asked her to link it to any recent events if possible. She responded about how the topics were important and very relevant. However, she focused mostly on the issue regarding human trafficking. She talked about relevant issues such as organizations of scammers in areas such as Cambodia and Myanmar. She also talked about a specific case where a 14 year old girl left her house in Hanoi to move to the Cambodian border and had gotten kidnapped. She mentioned that given Vietnam was an ASEAN member nation and given that it was the geographical location that she was from, it was both relevant to her as well as our committee. 

Lastly, I asked for any message she had for this conference’s MUN participants. She responded that it can be difficult to step out of comfort zones to speak in front of a large group of people about issues so serious such as these. She mentioned that they were demonstrating the IB learner profile as well as how valuable MUN was. She stated that MUN helps people “value all the voices and choices of people”. She wished everyone luck on this conference and looks forward to attending this when possible. 

Thank you Ms. Dinh Thi Le for this interview, UNISMUN looks forward to seeing you at the conference. 

Honorable chairs, distinguished delegates, and most esteemed guests,

My name is Joan Kim, a freshman at the United Nations International School of Hanoi. This conference will be my 9th conference and my 4th as chair. I am honored to serve as the head chair of ASEAN for the UNISMUN M26 conference.

The conference as a whole will revolve around the general theme, “Is our rules based international system able to adapt to contemporary challenges to security and sovereignty?”. This theme begs the question as to whether or not current international issues, such as those involving the United States president, Donald Trump, that are more into the gray zone in terms of legislation can be addressed with the international basis that still stands today. 

ASEAN, or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is a political and economic organization with a similar goal in mind to try and boost economic growth, foster political relations, and increase trade rates. In short, this is an organization formed to uphold cooperation across nations of a similar geographical location. This committee is a key part of our theme of this conference as an inter-continental organization, it helps us consider if even regional based systems are able to adapt to the challenges faced today.

The three topics up for debate at this conference are: “The question of enhancing legal frameworks for the prevention & punishment of human trafficking”, “The question of addressing the impacts of maritime conflicts”, and “The question of combating transnational drug trafficking in Southeast Asia through cross-border cooperation”. These topics all connect back to the overarching theme. The first topic brings attention to the possibility of a needed change in regulations. It helps to address a serious issue of human trafficking, one of the most prominent issues of Southeast Asia, with Southeast Asia being one of the most intense regions of this problem. While the second thinks through the lasting impacts of maritime conflicts, an important issue given the ongoing problems within the South China Sea, driven by sovereignty claims. Lastly, the third helps to reconsider an issue present in the past to fit today’s environment. It's a problematic issue with the “Golden triangle” being within the South Asian land. All these topics help to evaluate the current set security measures for international systems and debate on whether this is enough or if there needs to be adjustments to achieve an ideal society. 

I hope that with this conference, I myself will be able to grow as a chair, but also help guide delegates along the way to ensure lots of fruitful discussions in ASEAN as delegates reach for higher levels of debating skills and political knowledge. I look forward to this conference in March!

Best regards,

Joan Kim

Greetings honorable directors, fellow chairs, distinguished delegates, and esteemed guests, 

My name is Hyunsoo Cho, a sophomore attending St. Paul American School Hanoi. I am truly honored to serve as the Deputy Chair of ASEAN in the upcoming March 2026 UNISMUN Conference. This conference marks my seventh conference, and my first as a chair.

The theme of this March 2026 conference is “Is our rules-based international system able to adapt to contemporary challenges to security and sovereignty?” This question reminds us that modern security and sovereignty are deeply interconnected. As global challenges evolve in both scale and complexity, nations must examine whether our existing frameworks are flexible enough to uphold sovereign authority while also strengthening cooperative approaches to security. 

ASEAN—the Association of Southeast Asian Nations—addresses regional challenges and cooperation, focusing on security, economic coordination, and long-term development across Southeast Asia. By promoting dialogue, strengthening economic collaboration, and confronting mutual challenges, the committee aims to develop unified solutions that benefit all member states. 

In this conference, this committee will be debating these three topics: “The question of enhancing legal frameworks for the prevention & punishment of human trafficking”, “The question of addressing the impacts of maritime conflicts”, and “The question of combating transnational drug trafficking in Southeast Asia through cross-border cooperation.” These issues are of significant relevance to the ASEAN region, as they require delegates to balance legal responsibility, humanitarian considerations, and state sovereignty when formulating practical and regionally appropriate solutions.

The first topic, “The question of enhancing legal frameworks for the prevention & punishment of human trafficking,” examines the limitations of existing national and regional laws in addressing a rapidly evolving transnational crime. Delegates are expected to consider weaknesses in current laws, enforcement practices, and victim protection systems that limit effective prevention and prosecution. Through the debate, the committee will work to explore ways to strengthen legal coordination and accountability while respecting the different legal systems of ASEAN member states. 

“The question of addressing the impacts of maritime conflicts,” our second topic, centers on how disputes at sea affect regional stability and relations, commercial shipping, and the livelihoods of coastal communities. This topic focuses on the broader consequences of maritime tensions, including economic disruption and humanitarian concerns arising from contested waters. Delegates will work toward approaches that mitigate conflict, reduce escalation, and support adherence to international maritime laws. 

Lastly, “The question of combating transnational drug trafficking in Southeast Asia through cross-border cooperation” addresses the growing challenges posed by illicit drug networks that operate across national boundaries. This topic emphasizes the need for stronger information sharing, coordinated law enforcement efforts, and regional trust among ASEAN member states. Addressing this challenge requires a coordinated regional approach that moves beyond isolated national efforts and instead prioritizes sustained collaboration among countries. Greater coordination and mutual support can strengthen collective responses to transnational drug trafficking and help reduce its long-term impact on Southeast Asia. 

I believe that this conference will be a meaningful and memorable experience for all delegates as well as me as a chair. I look forward to productive discussions and the opportunity to see delegates engage thoughtfully with the topics throughout the conference. 

Thank you, and see you in March! 

Greetings honorable directors, distinguished delegates, and esteemed guests, 

My name is Sokna, a junior attending International School of Phnom Penh. I am truly honored to serve as the Procedural Chair of ASEAN in the upcoming March 2026 UNISMUN Conference. This conference marks my eigth conference, and my fourth as a chair. 

This year, our theme is: “Is our rules-based international system able to adapt to contemporary challenges to security and sovereignty?” This question is particularly relevant as we tackle the complexities of transnational drug trafficking. It brings attention to how current frameworks must evolve to meet the pressing challenges within our region. 

ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, plays an important role in promoting political and economic cooperation among its member states. Our committee focuses on collaborative approaches to regional challenges, including the pressing issue of drug trafficking that impacts public health and safety across Southeast Asia. 

During this conference, we will focus on three crucial topics: “Enhancing legal frameworks for the prevention and punishment of human trafficking,” “Addressing the impacts of maritime conflicts,” and “Combating transnational drug trafficking in Southeast Asia through cross-border cooperation.” Each topic emphasizes the importance of regional collaboration in tackling pressing issues. The first topic, “Enhancing legal frameworks for the prevention and punishment of human trafficking,” focuses on the need for stronger legal protections and mechanisms across ASEAN. Delegates will be expected analyze current gaps and explore ways to enhance victim protection and legal cooperation among member states. The second topic, “Addressing the impacts of maritime conflicts,” considers the implications of territorial disputes on regional stability and trade. Our discussions will focus on strategies to mitigate tensions and promote adherence to international maritime law. Whereas the third topic, “Combating transnational drug trafficking in Southeast Asia through cross-border cooperation” will underscore the urgency of a unified response to drug trafficking networks. Delegates will discuss the importance of intelligence sharing and collaborative law enforcement to strengthen our regional defense to combat this challenge. 

As we engage with these topics, I hope that everyone will be able to critically and creatively produce quality discussions for developing effective resolutions. I will also strive to aid and support delegates and chairs while making this an enjoyable and memorable experience for everyone. I look forward to seeing everyone in March and best of luck with your preparations!

Best regards, 

Sokna