World Schools Competition Resolutions

These are the resolutions used at the World Schools Debating Championships over the years.

2017 motions

Preliminary Rounds

This House would make labour union membership compulsory in large industries

This House would deny tax-exempt status to religious institutions that refuse to appoint female leaders

This House believes that the NATO Enhanced Forward Presence in Eastern Europe does more harm than good

This House would ban for-profit universities and colleges

Governments should guarantee the universal basic income to all citizens.

Round 3  We support mandatory quotas for women in corporate boards.

Round 4  and  Semifinals  Voting in European Parliament elections should be mandatory.“ Round 6  and Finals

Grand Final Motion:  This House supports restrictions on free speech to combat the rise of right-wing populism

2016

GF: THBT states should be allowed to pay other states to relocate and settle refugees.

ISF: THBT versions of history taught by states through the education system should not be designed to promote national pride.

IQF: THBT governments should ban their citizens from joining overseas groups fighting against terrorism which are not official military forces.

IOF: THBT large tech companies should refuse to provide data on their customers to governments, even if it involves refusing to comply with a law which compels them to do so.

IPDO: THW abolish religious primary and secondary schools.

IR8: THW require individuals to pass a political general knowledge test in order to vote.

R7: THBT Obama’s administration has done more harm than good.

IR6: THBT it should be a criminal offence to make comments which could promote hatred against people of particular races, religions, disabilities, sexualities or gender identities.

R5: THBT technology companies with significant market shares should not be eligible for patent protection.

IR4: THW televise criminal trials.

R3: THW require democratic states to hold a national referendum to ratify free trade agreements.

IR2: THBT major film and television awards shows should abolish awards categories separated by gender.

R1: THBT, after meeting their basic needs, individuals have a moral responsibility to donate their wealth towards poverty alleviation.

2015

Preliminary Round 1: This House would ban the use of zero-hour contracts

Preliminary Round 2: This House would require defendants in criminal trials to be represented exclusively by public defenders

Preliminary Round 3: This House supports academic tracking in primary and secondary education

Preliminary Round 4: THW not consume art created by people who have committed deeply immoral acts

Preliminary Round 5: This House believes that cities with significant immigrant populations should actively break up ethnic enclaves

Preliminary Round 6. This house would ban political opinion polls

Preliminary Round 7: This house supports a right to die

Preliminary Round 8: This house would forgive Greece’s debt

Octa finals: This house would require members of the clergy to report all crimes to authorities including those made in confession.

SEMI FINAL 1: This house believes that the military struggle against ISIS should be conducted solely by Middle East nations

SEMI FINAL 2: This house regrets the media focus on the personal lives of politicians

Grand final motion: This house believes that governments should provide a guaranteed universal basic income

2014

Round 0: THW Ban Children From Becoming Professional Models

Round 1: This house believes that post-revolution states should delegate trials of former rulers and high-ranking officials to the International Criminal Court.

Round 3: This house would allow prisoners to volunteer for drug trials in exchange for lighter sentences.

Round 4 (impromptu): This house would require companies to pay their interns.

Round 5: This house believes that slum tourism does more harm than good.

Round 6 (impromptu): THW not allow unvaccinated children to attend public schools.

Round 7: This house would lift tax exemptions from religious institutions that refuse to recognize marriage equality.

Octo finals: This House Would not Prosecute Defamation

Grand Finals: THBT Asean political union is an impossible dream.

2013

Grand Final - This house believes that Turkey is better off outside the European Union

Round 1 - This house believes that important decisions about children's health should be made by medical professionals and not by their parents

Round 2 - This house believes that the media should be prevented by law from intruding into the private lives of public figures

Round 3 - This house supports greater US military presence in East Asia

Round 4 - This house would allow prisoners to choose death over life imprisonment

Round 5 - This house would cease the exploitation of resources in the Arctic region

Round 6 - This house would require government schools to teach religious studies

Round 7 - This house supports sovereign debt default as a legitimate economic strategy for countries

Round 0 - This house would ban the publication of opinion polls during election campaigns. 

Round 8 -

Octo's - This House would cut welfare payments to compulsive gamblers

Quarters - THBT social movements in democratic countries should drive social change through the courts rather than the legislature

Semis - THBT the government should pay housewives and househusbands for their work.

2013 – Turkey

R1: THBT important decisions about children’s health should be made by medical professionals and not by their parents

R2: (Impromptu) THBT the media should be prevented by law from intruding the lives of public figures

R3: THS greater US military presence in East Asia

R4: (I) THW allow prisoners to choose death over life sentence

R5: THW cease the exploitation of resources in the Arctic Region

R6: (I) THW require government schools to teach religious studies

R7: THS sovereign debt default as a legitimate economic strategy for countries

R8: (I) THW require university students to work in their country of origin for a number of years after graduation

OF: (I) THW cut welfare support on compulsive gamblers

QF: (I) THBT social movements in democratic countries should drive social change through the courts rather than the legislature

SF: (I) THBT the government should pay house wives and house husbands for their work

GF: THBT Turkey is better off outside the EU

2012 – Cape Town

This House would ban alcohol

This house believes that newly democratised Arab nations should not allow religious parties to participate in elections

This house believes that the feminist movement should seek a ban on pornography

This house believes that developing nations should place limits on internal urban-rural migration

This house believes that states should enshrine legally actionable socio-economic rights

This house believes that developing countries should allow child labour

This house believes that the police should use racial profiling to fight crime

This house would allow single parents in prison to raise their children behind bars

This House believes that the gay right movement should “out” gay public figures

This House believes that governments should create schools that teach in endangered indigenous languages.

This House supports a 100% tax on inherited wealth

This house regrets South Africa's decision to use the Truth and Reconciliation Commission rather than prosecuting perpetrators of crimes committed under Apartheid

2011 – Dundee

That we should support military intervention in Somalia

This House would offer dictators immunity in return for leaving power

This House would allow free distribution of music on the Internet

This House believes that Universal Primary Education is a misallocation of resources for the developing world

This House would make voting in national elections mandatory

This House would legalize the sale of human organs

This House would stop sending humans into space

This House believes that women can only achieve equality under a secular system of government

This House would penalize sporting teams for the poor behaviour of their fans

This House would abandon nuclear energy

This House believes that every region should have the right to independent statehood if a majority of its members wish

This House supports free immigration

This House believes that autocracy is doomed in the age of Facebook

2010 – Qatar

That we should support military intervention in Somalia

That we should make physical education compulsory in schools

That every country should have the right to possess nuclear weapons

That we should support quotas for women in high government positions

That doctors should report evidence of marital abuse to the police

That developing nations should have the right to give priority to development ahead of the environment

That terrorist suspects should have the right to a trial in civilian courts

That we should legalize performance-enhancing drugs in sport

That we should have no law restricting freedom of speech

That the United States should withdraw from the Middle East

That compensation should be paid for the injustices committed by past generations

That governments should never bail out big companies

2009 – Athens

This House believes that cultural treasures should be returned to their areas of origin

This House would encourage the expanded use of civilian nuclear energy

This House would legalize current technologies for choosing human embryos on the basis of their genetic characteristics

This House believes that public services are best run by private companies

This House believes that dictatorships should not receive international aid

This House believes that all illegal immigrants should receive amnesty

THW lower the voting age

This house would require people to work in return for welfare payments

THW pursue minor crimes with the same vigour as major crimes

THW ban the physical punishment of children by their parents

THW ban smoking in public places

TH believes that terrorism can never be justified

TH would not eat meat

2008 – USA

This House would expand the number of permanent members of the UN security council

This House would admit Georgia into NATO

This House would drop all US sanctions on Cuba

This House regrets holding the 2008 Olympics in Beijing

THBT heads of government should be required to have a parliamentary majority in order to govern

This house would ban the use of unethically obtained data in scientific research

This house believes that humanities courses should be part of every undergraduate program

This House would ban government funding from being given to faith based initiatives

This house supports military intervention to deliver emergency aid in humanitarian crises

This house would make the directors of multinational companies personally liable for environmental abuses committed by their companies in the developing world

This house believes that governments have a duty to bail out failing financial institutions

2007 – Seoul, South Korea

This House would make the development of clean industry a condition for receiving non-emergency aid 

This House believes that Holocaust denial should be a crime

This House believes that the United States should withdraw from its military bases in Asia

This House believes that free trade harms the developing world

This House believes that governments should not limit the areas that scientists may research

This House would ban the use of models who are under a healthy weight

This House would execute war criminals 

This House would limit media reporting of terrorist atrocities  

This House would force organizations to place more women in senior positions

This House would abolish the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty 

This House would privatize public utilities companies  

This House would partition Iraq

2006 – Cardiff, Wales

This House supports the international trading of pollution quotas

This House believes that captured terrorists should be treated as prisoners of war

This House believes that Internet search engines should boycott China until it allows its citizens unrestricted access to the Web

This House would ban abortion except in cases where the mother’s health is at risk

This House would place a worldwide ban on the use of civil nuclear energy

This House believes that first-time offenders who commit non-violent crimes should not be sent to jail

This House believes that full-time students should take part in compulsory charity work

This House would place a worldwide ban on tobacco advertising

This House believes that governments should subsidize the traditional arts of minority cultures

This House would punish sports teams whose fans misbehave

This House believes that the War on Terror has been counter-productive

This House believes that democracy is the best system of government for every nation

2005 – Calgary Alberta

This House believes that the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council should not have veto power

This House believes that regional trading blocs are preferable to global free trade

This House believes that the first priority of criminal justice is rehabilitation, not retribution

This House believes that education policy should be the responsibility of local authorities

This House would use affirmative action to compensate for historical injustices

This House believes that censorship does more harm than good

This House would ban the use of human embryos in scientific research

This House believes that political parties should be funded by the state

This House believes that the costs of space exploration outweighs the benefit

2004- Stuggart, Germany

This House believes that Turkey should join the European Union

This House would make use of GM crops to feed the world

This House believes that trade unions impede progress

This House believes that religion has no place in state schools

This House would do away with the Olympic Games

This House believes that fast food companies should pay people compensation for damaging their health

This House would prosecute teenagers as adults for criminal offences

This House believes that governments should protect their native languages

This House condemns the influence of the music industry on youth

This House believes that the welfare state should be scrapped

This House believes that political parties have too much influence on democratic election

This House believes that globalization perpetuates social iniquities

This House believes that the world is facing a clash of civilizations

2002 – Singapore

This House believes that professionalism has ruined the Olympic Games

This House would maintain United States military bases in Asia

This House believes that free trade is the way forward

This House supports missile defence

This House believes that politicians should only be allowed to serve in office for a limited period of time

This House believes that low taxes are preferable to extensive government services

This House believes that gambling of all forms should be illegal

This House would make tobacco companies pay compensation to the individual

This House would ban genetic screening

This House supports the international trading of pollution permits

This House would compromise civil liberties in the interests of security

This House believes that the media has become too powerful

2001: Johannesburg, South Africa

 This House would waive patent rights for AIDS drugs for underdeveloped nations

 This House believes that gay couples should be allowed to adopt children

 This House believes that affluent nations should accept more refugees

 This House would cancel third world debt

 This House believes that all handguns should be banned

 This House disapproves of cloning

 This House believes that the death penalty can be justified

 This House believes that it is the duty of government to fund the arts

 This House would impose democracy

 This House refuses to negotiate with terrorists

 This House would give parents the final say in medical treatment of their children

 This House believes that compensation should be paid for the injustices committed by previous generations

2000: Pittsburgh, United States

This House believes that the strict punishment of juveniles is the best way to decrease juvenile crime

This House believes that the United Nations should take a stronger stand against human rights abuses

This House believes that multinational corporations have done more harm than good

This House believes that science and technology are advancing at a rate too last for the good of society

This House believes that professional athletes are paid more than they deserve

This House believes that striking is an appropriate form of industrial action

This House believes that school uniforms should be required in all primary and secondary schools

This House believes that the media has the most influence on today's youth

This House believes that the new millennium will be better than the last

This House believes that we should further regulate the internet

This House believes that it doesn't matter whether you win or lose but how you play the game

This House believes that the costs of capitalism outweigh the benefits

This House believes that national security concerns justify the restriction of civil liberties

1999: London, England

 This House would legalize performance‑enhancing drugs in sport

 This House believes that the International Criminal Court won't work

 This House would break the law to protect the rights of animals

 This House believes that the Kyoto summit didn't go far enough

 This House believes that governments should never restrict freedom of speech

 This House regrets the importance of Hollywood

 This House condemns the bombing of Iraq

 This House fears the millennium

 This House believes that multinationals are the new imperialists

 This House supports the televising of criminal trials

 This House believes in the nuclear deterrent

 This House believes that the state has a duty to protect individuals from themselves

1998: Jerusalem, Israel

This House would turn its swords into ploughshares

This House would ban surrogate motherhood

This House believes the cost of space exploration is justified

This House believes that economic sanctions against individual countries are immoral

This House believes it is appropriate for governments to subsidize the arts

This House believes that governments should limit population by legislation

This House believes that the death penalty is justified in some circumstances

This House would support severe penalties against invasion of privacy by the media

This House would severely restrict research on genetic engineering

This House believes that only the rich can afford to protect the environment

This House would continue to prosecute Second World War criminals

1997. Bermuda

This House would support a mandatory retirement age

This House would expand the use of nuclear energy

This House believes that national boundaries are out of date

This House would support the legalisation of marijuana

This House believes there is too much money in sport

This House believes our leaders should pay more attention to public opinion

This House supports tougher penalties for criminals

This House welcomes the twenty‑first century

This House supports affirmative action

This House believes that free speech should be limited

1996: Canberra, Australia (and several other cities)

That we should fear China

That voluntary euthanasia should be legalized

That we should censor the internet

That sport brings out the best in us

That gun control is the answer

That same‑sex marriages should be legalized

That monarchy has no place in the modern world

That the United Nations should have a standing army

That to preserve war we should prepare for war

That we would rather have big government to lower taxes

That third world aid should be tied to human rights

That we should spend more money on space exploration

That the world should have one language

That the government should regulate the media

1995: Cardiff, Wales

This House believes that aid is a barrier to development

This House believes that censorship is a legitimate tool of the state

This House believes that the global communications revolution is a positive force

This House believes that Mickey Mouse stands at the apex of twentieth century culture

This House would be greedy

This House believes that principles are a luxury politicians cannot afford

This House believes that our leaders have failed us

This House believes that extremism is the catalyst for progress

This House believes that the United Nations has failed

1994: Auckland and Wellington, New Zealand

That technology has outstripped morality

That feminism is corrupting the family

That one superpower is better than two

That tourists are a global menace

That money is undermining sporting values

That Hollywood has a lot to answer for

That social injustice justifies violent action

That we should keep out of other people's wars

That tradition is holding us back

That the United Nations is our best hope for the future [Grand Final]

1993: Medicine Hat, Canada

This House believes that the United Nations should take a greater role as a global enforcer

This House believes that first world countries should forgive debts owed to them by third world countries

This House believes that curbs should be placed on world population

This House believes that environmental protection should be made the number one priority worldwide

This House believes that children have the answers to world problems

This House believes science holds the answers to world problems

This House believes that religion has the solutions to world problems

This House believes that women have the answers to world problems

This House believes that there is a new world order

That same‑sex marriages should be legalized

That greed is good

That high fences make good neighbours

That we are more American than British

1992: London, England

This House believes that money is corrupting sport

This House would abolish all monarchies

This House believes that it is better for a leader to be loved than feared

This House would legalize voluntary euthanasia

This House believes that the West should leave the Middle East alone

This House would copy the Japanese

This House believes that nuclear energy is worth the risk

This House believes that civilization has failed

This House would ban bloodsports

This House believes that today's heroes are hollow

This House believes that money is corrupting sport

This House would ban all alcoholic drinks

This House believes that the war against discrimination has been badly fought

This House welcomes the passing of communism

This House would abolish private schools

This House would readmit South Africa to the world community

This House believes the march of science has gone too far

This House deplores the media's distortion of political issues

1991: Edinburgh, Scotland

This House believes that one man's terrorist is another's freedom lighter

This House believes that the community is more important than the individual (prepared)

This House deplores man's treatment of animals

This House regrets technology

This House believes that public figures have no right to private lives

This House prefers liberty to equality

This House would follow the law rather than its own conscience

This House believes that power comes from the people

This House believes that the young give hope for the future

This House believes that the media has too much influence

This House believes that the United Nations has proved itself to be impotent

1990. Winnipeg, Canada

Be it resolved that Mr Gorbachev's reforms will fail

Be it resolved that we support the reunification of Germany

Be it resolved that no pain, no gain

Be it resolved that we prefer revolution to evolution

Be it resolved that we regret nationalism

1988. Canberra, Australia (and several other cities)

That God is dead

That New Zealand is a traitor to the West

That hard drugs should be legalized

That Labour has lost its way

That the planet is in good hands