United Nations Commission on International Trade Law
About the Committee
Agenda Statement : Discussing the Implications on the Economy Post-9/11 and the 2003 Iraq War Concerning International Trade and Commercial Laws
Welcome to UNCITRAL: where trade meets turmoil, and law rewrites history. The towers have fallen. Baghdad burns. The global economy holds its breath. Contracts are collapsing, sanctions are shifting, and oil is now a political weapon rather than a commodity.
Freeze your calendars at May 22, 2003: a turning point where the fallout of 9/11 and the Iraq War challenges the very foundations of international trade – testing commercial law and rewriting oil diplomacy. This committee isn’t about who dropped the first bomb, it’s about who drafts the first solution. Eyes up, minds sharp- because in UNCITRAL, we don’t rewrite history. We re-legislate it.
Letter from Chairperson
Dear Delegates,
With immense honour and gratitude, I, Fizza Arif, welcome you all to the 10th iteration of the Shishukunj Model United Nations as the Chairperson of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).
Shishukunj MUNs have always been my favourite chapter, not just for the speeches, accolades or debates, but for the person they have shaped me into. Each committee I sat in, each resolution I drafted, and each conversation I had made me bolder, more aware and more passionate. And now, as a chairperson, my goal is to give back what these conferences have given me.
I don’t want you to leave the committee room with certificates alone. I want you to walk away with experiences you’ll hold onto, with bonds that might outlast the conference, and a memory you will be proud of. I am here not just to guide you but to grow alongside you.
Established in 1966, the UNCITRAL develops fair and modern rules for international trade. This time, we take a step back to May 22, 2003, a world recovering from the 9/11 attacks and the Iraq War. International trade was interrupted, oil markets were volatile, and faith in international law had been shaken. In this committee, you’ll investigate how these events transformed global commerce and the ways legal systems can respond. From oil diplomacy and sanctions to trade barriers and reform, your role is to rethink the rules that govern the global economy. This isn’t just another war story. This is a legal thriller—written in dollars, black gold, and trust. And, we are the editors.
I’m just an email away for any doubts you may have, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Wishing you the very best for the conference!
Warm regards,
Fizza Arif
Chairperson, UNCITRAL
