COMMITTEES
Social, Cultural, and Humanitarian Committee (SOCHUM)
Establishing Legal Protections for Undocumented Immigrants
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Addressing the Mistreatment of Ethnic Minorities in Eastern Europe
The Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee (SOCHUM) deals with a variety of issues relating to social development and human rights. One issue delegates will debate at this year’s conference are the legal protections that should be afforded to undocumented immigrants. Currently, many nations are seeking to reduce the number of undocumented individuals in their countries due to both social and economic pressures. However, this has faced growing global criticism for the method and manner in which these people, many of which are fleeing unsafe environments, are being deported. Is it okay to separate children from their parents? Should third-country deportations be allowed under international law? This committee will consider these questions and more while developing ethical alternatives to mass deportation and legislation to protect the rights of immigrants. Another topic delegates will address in this committee is the mistreatment of ethnic minorities in Eastern Europe. The mistreatment in question takes on a number of forms, including forced evictions, receiving poor education, and lacking legal protections against discrimination in several nations. Delegates will debate and vote on. As delegates, you will be expected to seek solutions to these issues while also accurately representing the current positions of your countries.
United Nations Historical Committee (UNHC)
The Holocaust Displacement Crisis — Relocating Victims of the Holocaust and Systematic National Socialist Persecution
The United Nations Historical Committee (UNHC) is an unofficial General Assembly committee where delegates take on the role of foreign diplomats to solve the past's most dire issues. While crisis committees mimic this concept, delegates in historical committees typically represent nations rather than political figures. This year’s historical committee will focus on the period between the first session of the United Nations General Assembly in 1946 and the start of its second session in 1947. Although the atrocities of the Holocaust finally came to a close, the nightmare that minority groups endured failed to end. Meetings between foreign diplomats, such as the Yalta and Potsdam Conferences, altered borders and displaced many ethnic groups—including Germans, Poles, and Belarusians—whereas minority groups continued to face harassment from their nations’ people, revoking their sense of belonging in European society. In light of these issues, delegates can expect to debate pressing matters such as repatriation versus relocation, refugee status qualifications, how resettlement costs should be distributed between world powers, leveraging relief organizations as political tools, the ethics of establishing a Jewish homeland, and other equally compelling topics. Please recognize that delegations do not have to follow the steps taken by their country at the time; however, clear violations of their countries’ political ideologies are looked down upon by the chair.
United Nations Human Rights Council (Specialized)
Addressing the Human Rights Violations Against Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang
The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has been convened to confront the ongoing human rights abuses against the Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, China. This Specialized Committee includes crisis elements, where delegates will be challenged by responding to real-time updates and fast-paced, solution oriented debate. Delegates are expected to examine credible reports of mass interment, forced labor, religious repression, and surveillance of Uyghur communities, while also maintaining a deep understanding of Uyghur history and related UN or National legislation. In alliance with this year's conference theme, Never Again: Confronting Hate, Protecting Memory, and Preventing Atrocity, cooperation, creativity, and a firm commitment to justice is critical to ensuring the protection of the Uyghur community and, in turn, all minorities globally.
Crisis Committee
The Rwandan Genocide
As the 20th century came to an end, the world was confronted with a massive human tragedy that ranked among the worst in recent history. The shooting of Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana in April 1994 was followed by a chain of events that led to the outbreak of the most lethal violence ever heard of in the concurrent century. This turmoil, fueled by the political power struggle, escalated into the killing of thousands of innocent people, as the extremist groups mercilessly pursued the Tutsis as well as the moderate Hutus. The genocidal rage that swept the country in less than 100 days killed about 1 million people. The killing spree that began in Kigali later extended to the whole country and the international community could do little but stare at it helplessly. The UN efforts to put an end to it were hampered by many challenges and obstacles. Their mediators on the ground did not have the required equipment and the support they needed from the Security Council was limited because the peacekeeping mission's mandates were very narrow in scope. While the hesitation continued among the world superpowers as to which decisive move to take, a massive exodus of the people of the neighboring countries was already underway. Refugees in such great numbers caused instability in the areas that surrounded the crisis and led to more difficult situations for the people living there. Even if some members at the Security Council still hesitate and a few voices at the UN are calling for a firm response, the death toll continues to rise at this point. What should the United Nations Security Council do next? Would strengthening peacekeeping forces be the right step? Would international intervention aimed at stopping the killings receive the green light? Or would the emphasis be placed on diplomatic measures and the provision of aid? Delegates, you make the call. The ability of the United Nations to carry out its mission and the lives of innocent people are dependent on the choices that you make. Take time to think it through, as the future of Rwanda and the ethical position of the international community are really hanging on to you.