[GA - FAILED] Self-Defence Education Compact

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Aware that people who are both above and below the age of majority can and do fall victim to violent crime, and

Believing that the ability to defend oneself from such horrors as and when they happen is a skill that ought to be endowed not just on those of us alive today, but also upon the next generation, and the one after that, and the one after that, and the one after that, and...

The General Assembly hereby:

1. defines a "school," for the purposes of this resolution, as a primary or secondary educational establishment in a member state which does not specialise in any subject,
2. requires all schools to educate all of their students, in theory and in practice, on the importance of remaining physically fit, active, and able to participate in team and individual sports, henceforth "physical education,"
3. mandates that schools, as part of their physical education curriculum, deliver practical lessons to all of their students on the importance and safe execution of basic unarmed self-defence, de-escalating and preventing small-scale conflict situations, and escape from life-threatening situations, and
4. suggests that those being taught self-defence under Article c also receive similar instruction about more advanced forms of self-defence.

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Note: Only votes from TNP WA nations and NPA personnel will be counted. If you do not meet these requirements, please add (non-WA) or something of that effect to your vote.

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Voting Instructions:

• Vote For if you want the Delegate to vote For the resolution.
• Vote Against if you want the Delegate to vote Against the resolution.
• Vote Abstain if you want the Delegate to abstain from voting on this resolution.
• Vote Present if you are personally abstaining from this vote.

Detailed opinions with your vote are appreciated and encouraged!

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"Self-Defense Education Compact" has failed 4,878 votes (32.3%) to 10,214 (67.7%).

IFV

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Overview
This proposal requires all primary or secondary educational institutions to provide a physical education curriculum that stresses and has students engage in various sport and general physical fitness activities. It also requires that they deliver "practical lessons" on "basic unarmed self-defence", conflict de-escalation, preventing "small-scale" conflict situations, and escaping life-threatening situations. Lastly, it suggests delivering "practical lessons" on "more advanced" forms of self-defence.

Recommendation
The proposal seems derived from good intentions and a desire to stop individuals from being victimised if they are unaware of proper self-defence techniques. Yet, the proposal attempts to impose a one-size fits all policy on all the many cultures in member nations: cultures that differ greatly in what is considered acceptable self-defence.

It also fails to account for the fact that using force, even defensively, may not be compatible with everyone: many people are unwilling or unable to use force, even defensively. Forcing them to participate in self-defence classes would be counterproductive and would not help them in threatening situations.

The last clause of the proposal also seems to want member nations to teach school children how to use arms. In places without robust mental health programmes, providing the means for violence is unwise. The harms are compounded with children, who are unable to fully understand the long-term impacts of using force or the specific situations in which using force is allowed.

For the above reasons, the Ministry of World Assembly Affairs recommends a vote against "Self-Defence Education Compact".

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Our Voting Recommendation Dispatch--Please Upvote!

For

Still the author, still willing to answer questions

Against

For

Against. Impractical for schools to implement such policy when physically impaired students are integrated into the mainstream schools, as the physical education and self-defence training will be vastly different from able bodied ones. Also, lack of clarity in what constitutes a school "which does not specialise in any subject", as well as because my small brain is unable to comprehend the need for the distinction.

Fregerson:

Against. Impractical for schools to implement such policy when physically impaired students are integrated into the mainstream schools, as the physical education and self-defence training will be vastly different from able bodied ones.

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Different, yes, but I am thankful that you (at least implicitly?) acknowledge that it is possible. Everybody should be able to defend themselves from attack, and anybody can - somehow - learn how to do so; there is no single right way, never mind a universal way, of such education.

Freg:

Also, lack of clarity in what constitutes a school "which does not specialise in any subject", as well as because my small brain is unable to comprehend the need for the distinction.

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A school which does not specialise in any subject! Your local comprehensive school is covered; your local conservatoire or technical college is not.

For

This proposal has received the necessary approvals to enter the formal queue. Barring it being withdrawn or marked illegal, it will proceed to a vote at Major Update on Wednesday, December 8.

Present.

Tinhampton:

Still the author, still willing to answer questions

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(1) can't you just give them gun training instead? I mean where the right to bear arms is permitted; (2) what about the disabled or blind kids or other kids with special needs?

Tinhampton:

Different, yes, but I am thankful that you (at least implicitly?) acknowledge that it is possible. Everybody should be able to defend themselves from attack, and anybody can - somehow - learn how to do so; there is no single right way, never mind a universal way, of such education.


A school which does not specialise in any subject! Your local comprehensive school is covered; your local conservatoire or technical college is not.

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The last definition also seems to ignore countries with vocational training that start at a younger age such as Germany, unless that is your deliberate intention.

@simone_republic :

1. See Article d.
2. See the last post I made in this thread.
3. "Countries with [earlier] vocational training" can still ensure that (i.e.) their primary and middle schools discharge Article a.

Against

Against

Tinhampton:

Different, yes, but I am thankful that you (at least implicitly?) acknowledge that it is possible. Everybody should be able to defend themselves from attack, and anybody can - somehow - learn how to do so; there is no single right way, never mind a universal way, of such education.


A school which does not specialise in any subject! Your local comprehensive school is covered; your local conservatoire or technical college is not.

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Your local comprehensive school in Britain trains people to become middle class and working class whereas your local public school and grammar school trains people to potentially become part of the upper class. OK I get your point.

For.

Against

Against

Against.