Organization of American States
Topic 1: Ensuring Safety for Intercontinental Migrants Across the Darien Gap
Topic 2: The Involvement of Children in Organized Crime and Cartels in Latin America
Type: Intermediate, Single Delegate
The Organization of American States (OAS) is the world’s oldest regional institution, founded with the Charter of the OAS in 1948. This framework is designed to unite leaders from nations across the American and deliberate the issues and opportunities that arise. In other words, with a mission to provide “an order of peace and justice, to promote their solidarity, to strengthen their collaboration, and to defend their sovereignty, their territorial integrity, and their independence.” In this conference, the OAS will gather to address the sources of violence that threaten the Latin American region: children involved in organized crime and migrants crossing the Darien Gap. Children stripped of a safe and healthy development and recruited into organized crime must be protected through coordinated efforts that prioritize their safety, rehabilitation, and access to essential services. On the other hand, the Darién Gap presents a pressing humanitarian and security challenge, demanding regional cooperation to safeguard migrants, uphold human rights, and strengthen mechanisms for safe and legal migration. Through the integration of the Organization’s four pillars (democracy, human rights, security, and development) delegates will be challenged to propose comprehensive responses to ongoing threats, with a focus on violence de-escalation and ensuring the safety and dignity of affected populations.
Meet Your Chairs
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Dear Delegates,
My name is Adi (he/him), and I am SO incredibly excited to be your Co-Chair for BearMUN 2025’s Organization of American States! Whether we end up discussing strategies to address the involvement of children in organized crime or the safety of intercontinental migrants, I’m eager to see you collaborate and create solutions that count.
As you prepare for committee, remember to avoid examining these issues in a vacuum—we hope you appreciate the multifaceted nature of both issues and the nuances that they hold. We’ll be looking for thoughtful, holistic, and evidence-based suggestions that can protect communities without stifling sovereignty. From a behavioral standpoint, we’ll watch for delegates who can effectively negotiate with parties that may have opposing viewpoints–”power delegates” that yell over committee or disregard others will be highly frowned upon.
A little about myself: I’ve lived in Palo Alto since moving from Gurgaon, India when I was six, but I go back every year (I’m currently writing this just after landing in Delhi). I was never a part of Model United Nations at my high school (go Gunn!), but I’m so happy that I joined UC Berkeley’s MUN team in my freshman spring semester—the creativity, talent, and friendliness of everyone on the team is incredible. I was also the Secretary-General for our collegiate conference in San Francisco last February, so I know how hard Patrick, Amara, and the rest of your wonderful BEARMUN secretariat worked to make this conference rock.
Outside of Model UN, I’m a member of one of Berkeley’s premed fraternities, volunteer at a local elementary school, and help out with the Fighting Cancer at Berkeley club. Otherwise, I’m probably walking through Berkeley’s dinosaur exhibits, reading in a library, or sleeping under the sun on Memorial Glade. Feel free to email me at adinathlane@berkeley.edu with questions–we can’t wait to meet you!
See you soon,
Adinath Paul Wayne Lane, Chair
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Dear delegates,
My name is Paloma Corona (she/her), and I am beyond excited to be one of your chairs for this year’s Organization of American States committee!
I’m currently a fourth-year at UC Berkeley majoring in Cognitive Science. Though I was born in Boston, I’m originally from Mexico and have lived in several countries—including the U.S., Croatia, Poland, Peru, South Africa, and Mexico. Growing up around the world sparked my interest in global affairs, and I first joined Model UN in middle school as a way to dive into those conversations while collaborating with others in fast-paced environments.
Since then, I’ve served as both a delegate and a chair, especially in General Assembly-style committees, where I’ve developed a love for diplomacy, strategy, and creative problem-solving. I’m particularly drawn to the intensity of large-scale negotiations, and Adi and I hope to capture that same energy in our committee. Expect a format that will push you to think outside the box and adapt on the fly.
Outside of MUN, I work at UCSF Oakland Hospital, write for a medical journal on campus, and help train our club members for upcoming conferences. When I’m not deep in prep or research, you’ll probably find me binge-watching comedies, running or hiking, or grabbing coffee with friends.
This committee will test your ability to respond to unexpected challenges, build coalitions, and propose realistic, thoughtful solutions. Adi and I have crafted something we hope will surprise and excite you, so come prepared to think critically, debate passionately, and collaborate meaningfully.
We can’t wait to meet you and watch this committee come to life!
Warmly,
Paloma Corona, Chair