Legal Committee (UNLegal)

Directed By: Amanda Sibello & Emma Best

About Amanda:

The Legal Committee's discussion of International Law in Disaster Relief explores how international legal frameworks guide global responses to emergencies and humanitarian crises. This topic is especially relevant at the University of Florida, where students are no strangers to the realities of hurricane preparedness and disaster response. As climate change contributes to stronger storms, rising sea levels, and more frequent extreme weather events, governments and international organizations face growing challenges in delivering aid, coordinating cross-border assistance, and protecting affected populations. Delegates will examine the role of international law in disaster response, analyzing existing treaties, customary legal principles, and soft-law frameworks to determine whether they adequately address the realities of modern disasters.

Throughout the committee, delegates will grapple with complex legal questions that arise during disaster relief operations. What obligations do states have to protect and assist populations displaced by disasters? Under what circumstances should the international community intervene when a government is unable or unwilling to provide adequate relief? How can humanitarian assistance be delivered efficiently while respecting state sovereignty? What legal protections should exist for relief workers, vulnerable populations, and communities facing long-term recovery efforts? These questions are particularly significant in regions like Florida, where hurricanes can cause widespread displacement, infrastructure damage, and long-term economic consequences. By approaching these issues through a legal lens, delegates will evaluate the strengths and shortcomings of current international frameworks and work to develop innovative policy solutions.

As communities across Florida and around the world continue to face increasingly severe natural disasters, the need for effective legal mechanisms governing disaster relief has never been greater. The Legal Committee offers delegates the opportunity to explore the intersection of international law, humanitarian action, and global governance while debating one of the most pressing challenges facing the international community. By the end of the conference, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how legal institutions and international cooperation can shape effective, equitable, and lawful disaster relief efforts in an increasingly disaster-prone world.

About Emma:

Amanda Sibello (She/Her) is a Sophomore at the University of Miami from Miami, Florida, pursuing a double major in Psychology and Criminology with a minor in Political Science on the Pre-Law track. She has been a part of the UM Model United Nations team for almost two years and can confidently say it has become one of her favorite communities on campus as a commuter student. During her time on the team, she has staffed several conferences, competed across the circuit, and currently serves as the Secretary-General of MICSUN XIV as well as the USG of General Assemblies for 305MUN IV.

Outside of MUN, Amanda serves as a Senator at the University of Miami, Chair of the Commuter Council, and a member of the Homecoming Executive Board. Whether she is planning events, advocating for students, or working on a new project, she loves finding ways to connect people and make campus feel a little more like home.

In her free time, Amanda can usually be found sleeping, watching Off-Campus for the 7th time, spending time with friends and family, or embarking on a carefully planned adventure somewhere around Miami. Despite her love for spontaneity in theory, her color-coded calendars and detailed itineraries would tell you she is very much a Type A personality. She loves meeting new people, talking their ears off, and firmly believes that almost anything can be fun if you really try.

Amanda is excited to attend GatorMUN this year as a Chair and looks forward to meeting delegates and staff from across the circuit. She cannot wait to see the creativity, diplomacy, and lively debate that delegates bring to committee.

Committee Description:

Emma Best (She/Her) is a Junior at the University of Miami from Ithaca, New York, double-majoring in International Studies and Global Health Studies, with a minor in Business Law, on the Pre-Law Track. She has been a part of the MUN team at UM for 3 years and has competed, run, and staffed numerous conferences across both the high school and collegiate circuit. Last year, Emma served as the Director-General for 305 MUN, the team’s collegiate conference, learning everything there is to know about conference logistics. Emma is also serving as one of the Head Delegates for Miami Model UN for the 2026-2027 School Year.

Outside of MUN, Emma is on the Executive Board for multiple clubs around campus, her favorite being Habitat for Humanity and the United Human Rights Foundation. Anytime she has more than two seconds away from MUN, she is always down for a spontaneous side quest, finding a beautiful hidden gem of a coffee shop, or a hiking trip to the nearest National Park.

Emma is super excited to be attending GatorMUN for the first time this year and is looking forward to meeting so many new people, and (hopefully) recruiting them to come to UM and join our MUN team :)) She is eager to see all the creative approaches delegates will collaborate on to bring solutions to life!