In the discussions leading to the adoption of Security Council resolution S/Res/2794 (2025), students considered five key questions: First, how to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict which is in fourth year. Second, how to prevent the expansion of the conflict to neighboring states. Third, intervention by third states to assist the parties to the conflict to stop fighting and enter negotiation. Fourth, how to promote respect for International Humanitarian Law and to limit the unintended effects of the conflict to non-combatants and civilian areas. Fifth, how to avoid the use of weapons of mass destruction in the conflict.
As for the first question, the Security Council resolution calls upon the parties to the conflict to abide by their obligation under the UN Charter, end fighting immediately and settle their disputes by peaceful means.
Regarding the second issue, the negotiators were mindful of the danger of spilling over the conflict to neighboring states. They, therefore, cautioned all Member States and regional organizations to refrain from armed intervention in the conflict and to contribute to a sustainable resolution of the conflict by peaceful means.
Third, coordinators of the resolution were mindful of the fact that parties to the conflict are not going to halt fighting without intervention by major powers. Therefore, they urged and welcomed continued efforts by Member States and other international and regional organizations to support the de-escalation of the crisis, including ensuring that there is no expansion of the battlefield, no escalation of fighting, and no provocation or amplification of the situation.
Fourth, all members of the Council during the negotiation emphasized the necessity of respect for International Humanitarian Law. Consequently, the resolution contains several paragraphs to remind the parties of their obligations under IHL. They include:
- It demands all parties to fully comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law to spare the civilian population, and civilian objects, refraining from attacking, destroying, removing or rendering useless objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population, and respecting and protecting humanitarian personnel and consignments used for humanitarian relief operations.
- It emphasizes that civilians, including humanitarian personnel and persons in vulnerable situations, including women and children are fully protected.
- It calls upon all parties concerned to ensure respect for the protection of all medical personnel and humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in their medical duties, their means of transport and equipment, hospitals and other medical facilities.
Finally, the resolution contains a paragraph reminding states of their obligation with respect to non-use of weapons of mass-destruction (WMD). It demands all parties to exercise restraint and comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, including the prohibition of use of weapons of mass destruction to spare and protect civilian populations, including humanitarian personnel, persons in vulnerable situations, journalists, medical personnel, their means of transport and equipment, as well as hospitals and other medical facilities
In preparation for the simulative meeting, the students were trained for two months in the Law of International Organizations class to prepare draft resolutions and to negotiate. Each student was assigned to represent a member of the Security Council. All students prepared a draft resolution and negotiated their drafts in three groups: Western and Other States Group (WEOG), Developing States Group, China and the Russian Federation Group. Each group came up with a single draft resolution which was the subject of further negotiations in groups meetings leading to the preparation of a consolidated draft resolution which was adopted by 9 votes in favor.
This simulated meeting was the nineth event organized by Dr. Mirzaei Yengejeh in his seminar on the Law of International Organizations. Previous simulated meetings of the Security Council were organized in January 2018 (on the situation in North Korea), fall 2018 (on the situation in Yemen), fall 2019 (on the negotiation between Iran and p5+1 over Iranian nuclear energy program), fall 2020 (on COVID 19 Pandemic), fall 2021 (on the situation in Afghanistan), fall 2022 on the armed conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine, fall 2023 (climate change as a threat to international peace and security), and fall 2024 (threats posed by the outer space activities to international peace and security).