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  • This House Supports the use of La Mano Dura policies in areas with high crime rates in Latin America.

    Infoslide

    La Mano Dura refers to tough-on-crime policies aimed at combating gang violence and organised crime. This approach is characterised by increased police operations and military involvement, harsher penalties for gang-related activities, and lowering the barriers for arrests.

    Panama World Universities Debating Championships 2025 · Round 8 · 2024-12-27

  • In response to high levels of cartel and gang violence in Latin America, This house prefers for politicians' campaigning to prioritize paz total policies over mano dura policies.

    Infoslide

    Paz total (total peace) is a crimefighting policy focused on negotiating with as many criminal groups as possible to achieve their disarmament and reintegration into society. Mano dura (iron fist) is a crimefighting policy focused on aggressively suppressing criminal groups through increased police and military presence and harsh criminal penalties.

    Cambridge Mini 2024 · Gold Final · 2024-12-14

  • This house supports the agreement between the US and Panama

    Infoslide

    The Darién Gap is a 60-mile stretch of dense rainforest on the border of Colombia and Panama. It's the only land route connecting Central and South America. It’s made up of mountainous terrain, swamps and rivers. Migrants crossing face threats of physical and sexual violence from criminal groups. In July this year, The United States and Panama made a deal to reduce the number of migrants crossing the Darién gap on their way to the United States. This includes an agreement that the US will pay for the repatriation of migrants who enter Panama illegally, US training of Panamanian personal to screen and deport migrants, and barbed wire fencing throughout the jungle to discourage crossing.

    SSE Riga IV 2024 · Round 2 · 2024-12-14

  • This house believes that that France should send a military peace-keeping force to Haiti

    Infoslide

    Haiti was a French colony from 1697 until 1804 where France profited massively from slave labour on plantations. Following Haiti's independence, France forced Haiti to reimburse France for its lost revenue. This debt was ony fully paid off in 1947. Currently, Haiti suffers from severe violence by criminal gangs which have occupied the entire capital with the exception of a few central neighborhoods. Following various government collapses, Haiti has an interim government which has been unable to deal with the gangs. The gangs' control of roads and attacks on harbors and airports, have led to food shortages.

    Amsterdam Open 2024 · Quarter Finals · 2024-11-30

  • This house believes that it is in the interest of the Zapatista movement to prioritise integration within Mexico over maintaining autonomous caracoles

    Infoslide

    The Zapatista movement is an Indigenous political and militant group based in Chiapas, the south of Mexico. The group advocates for Indigenous land rights, representation, and strong liberal policies, such as anti-capitalism and environmental protection. They maintain autonomous regions called caracoles that struggle from government pressure, resource and infrastructure constraints, and security risks from local paramilitary groups.

    Amsterdam Open 2024 · Round 2 · 2024-11-30

  • This house supports the UN deploying major military engagement in Haiti

    Infoslide

    Since the assassination of the Haitian prime minister in 2021, the Haitian government has collapsed to gang violence with its prime minister recently resigning. In 2021, the Haitian police force (HNP) suffered over 100 casualties and mass declines down to less than 9000 officers for a country with over 11 million citizens. For scale, the city of New York has over 36,000 officers for around 8 million citizens. The Haitian capital, Port-au–Prince, is estimated to be 90% in full gang control with over 2000 civilians dying each year in gang violence. In response, the UN has launched the MSS (the Multinational Security Support Mission) in Haiti, led by Kenya. For 2 years that this mission has been active, there’s been little to marginal change in any aspect. The UN has the Responsibility to Protect doctrine (R2P), giving them the power to infringe a country’s national sovereignty with military involvement and political influence to try to gain peace. Preserving Haiti’s autonomy is a top priority. Past peacekeeping missions in similar states have had some success, however not guaranteed.

    Tri City Cup Fall 2024 · Grand Final · 2024-11-23

  • This house believes that it is in the interest of Canada to advocate for the inclusion of Mexico in any new North American Free Trade Agreement

    Infoslide

    Donald Trump has expressed a desire to renegotiate the US/Mexico/Canada Agreement (USMCA, formerly NAFTA) during his second term as President. He has indicated that he would like to exclude Mexico from any new North American Free Trade Agreement.

    Canadian Universities Debating Championship 2024 · Round 5 · 2024-11-22

  • This house believes that the US and Canadian government should financially facilitate the buyout of Cobre Panama to transfer ownership of the mine to the Panamanian government (e.g. by providing a loan)

    Infoslide

    Cobre Panama is a copper mine that, while functioning, was responsible for 5% of Panama's GDP. Copper is Panama's biggest export, and the primary purchaser of Panamanian copper is China. In 2023 the mine was shuttered for two reasons: 1) A protracted disagreement between the Canadian mining company (First Quantum) and the Panamanian government over the mine's operations (e.g. revenue sharing, tax conditions, worker wages), which led to the government reneging on the agreement. 2) SUNTRACs, one of Panamas leading trade unions was excluded from labor involving the mine's construction which prompted them to engage in the blocking of ports and disrupting the mines' operations. Eventually, the government and First Quantum settled on an agreement, but the Panama Supreme Court ruled that the revenue-sharing agreement between First Quantum and Panama was "unconstitutional". First Quantum is now seeking $20B in international arbitration and has asked for US and Canadian government involvement in the arbitration.

    Yale Intervarsity 2024 · Open Semifinals · 2024-11-02

  • This House supports China's increasing influence in Panama

    Infoslide

    Since establishing diplomatic relations in 2017, China has expanded its presence in Panama through various initiatives. These include, investments in infrastructure projects, such as building a fourth bridge over the Panama Canal; increasing its presence in free trade zones, with special tax treatment and flexible labour laws; and expanding capital investments, with the Bank of China already conducting commercial operations in the country and other majors Chinese banks being licensed to conduct international operations from Panama.

    KNUST Debate Open 2024 · Round 3 · 2024-10-19

  • This house believes that the U.S should pay Panama significant per-capita subsidies for detaining and repatriating migrants within the Darién Gap

    Infoslide

    The Darién Gap is a 60-mile stretch of dense rainforest that connects Central and South America. It constitutes a crossing that takes days to traverse across challenging terrain, and is used by migrants who are seeking to travel to the U.S from Colombia and other South American states. Over the last five years, the Darién Gap has gone from a little-used crossing considered impossible, to one used by over 500K migrants annually.

    Hart House Inter-Varsity 2024 · Semifinals · 2024-10-18

  • This house opposes Morena’s proposal to elect all judges in Mexico

    Infoslide

    Recently, Morena, a left-wing Mexican party which won a strong senate majority because of promising liberal policies like supporting indigenous groups, banning fracking and banning mining, proposed electing all judges at all levels instead of appointing them. The reform, supported by a successful referendum among Mexicans, faces significant opposition from the USA and Western countries.

    Bhaavarth Pre-WUDC fundraiser 2024 · Open Semi Finals · 2024-10-15

  • This house opposes Morena’s proposal to elect all judges in Mexico

    Infoslide

    Recently, Morena, a left-wing Mexican party which won a strong senate majority because of promising liberal policies like supporting indigenous groups, banning fracking and banning mining, proposed electing all judges at all levels instead of appointing them. The reform, supported by a successful referendum among Mexicans, faces significant opposition from the USA and Western countries.

    Bhaavarth Pre-WUDC fundraiser 2024 · Novice Finals · 2024-10-15

  • This house regrets the centrality of colonial determinism in third world academia

    Infoslide

    Determinism is the view where all events/situations at a given point in time are determined completely by previously existing causes. Colonial determinism refers to the notion that conditions within postcolonial countries are entirely determined by their colonial past.

    LUMS Asians 2024 · U-19 Finals · 2024-10-12

  • This house believes that that modern BLM movements should seek assistance from modern socialist governments (China, Cuba, Vietnam)

    Infoslide

    In the 60s Huey Newton (Leader of The Black Panther Party) met with Chairman Mao and travelled China with Mao, as Newton was interested in the model of Chinese socialism Mao had created. After their meeting Newton was allowed to print copies of the Quotations to increase education of socialism among the people and raise money for the party. Castro in Cuba regularly offered political asylum to Black Panthers who were prosecuted by the US government

    LUMS Asians 2024 · Quarterfinals · 2024-10-12

  • This house regrets the centrality of colonial determinism in third world academia

    Infoslide

    Determinism is the view where all events/situations at a given point in time are determined completely by previously existing causes. Colonial determinism refers to the notion that conditions within postcolonial countries are entirely determined by their colonial past.

    LUMS Asians 2024 · Semifinals · 2024-10-12