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NUMUN VII Committee Information
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United Nations Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee
The United Nations Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee is the third committee of the General Assembly. As a body, SOCHUM engages in comprehensive dialogue and debate on a broad set of contemporary issues, including women’s rights, the status of refugees, and the promotion of racial equality. At NUMUN VII, this large committee will give delegates a great opportunity to further international collaboration while experiencing a simulation very close to actual proceedings of the United Nations.
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United Nations Committee on Disarmament and International Security
The General Assembly was established in 1945 under the Charter of the United Nations. It consists of all 192 members of the United Nations and it covers a wide range of topics. DISEC specifically discusses issues related to weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, regional and worldwide disarmament, and the illegal trade in arms and munitions. The goal of DISEC is to resolve any extant questions related to international security and to recommend policies in topic cases that are not currently being discussed by the United Nations Security Council. Delegates to DISEC at NUMUN VII should expect a large committee focused on resolving current international threats and safeguarding the world's nations.
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United Nations Human Rights Council
The United Nations Human Rights Council is a subsidiary body that was created in 2006 with the expressed purpose of furthering the interest of human rights around the globe. It is composed of a 47-member intergovernmental assembly that primarily makes recommendations to the General Assembly. The Institution Building Package of the HRC outlines the prospective work of the body, which necessitates the review of human rights issues in all member states of the United Nations. This year, delegates can expect a moderately sized committee wherein all members will be expected to "uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights."
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United Nations Commission for Social Development
One of the ten functional commissions established by the United Nations Economic and Social Council in 1946, the Commission for Social Development's 46 member states are primarily concerned with eradicating poverty, enabling the world's economies to reach full employment, and fostering social integration. Since the World Summit for Social Development was held in Copenhagen in 1995, the Commission has been the UN body leading the implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action. Delegates to NUMUN VII's Commission on Social Development should expect a mid-sized committee and be prepared to address a broad range of contemporary topics.
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World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a United Nations Agency that is concerned with dealing with public health. It is comprised of 193 Member States whose primary goal within the body is to provide steady unified leadership on issues of global health. The aim of WHO is to foster a environment based on international cooperation while delivering realistic, attainable, result-based resolutions on issues of global health. This year, delegates can expect a medium-sized committee at NUMUN VII
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African Union
Consisting of 53 African states, the African Union serves to foster a cooperative environment on the continent of Africa that promotes growth both politically and economically, while preserving the local interests and the rich cultural history that make Africa unique. The African Union also has the ability to intervene in domestic issues with both diplomatic and military means. The current chairperson of the AU is Leader Muammar Gaddafi of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. The AU plays a major role in many of the current issues that are plaguing African nations. Delegates should come prepared with an understanding of the problems prevalent on the continent and should be ready to work on real cooperative solutions that could realistically be applied.
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Organization of American States
The Organization of American States is a multilateral body composed of thirty-five autonomous nations in North, South, and Central America, as well as the Caribbean. Its Charter was first signed in 1948 and had been placed into effect by 1951. This states that the purpose of the body is "to achieve an order of peace and justice [within its member states], to promote their solidarity, to strengthen their collaboration, and to defend their sovereignty, their territorial integrity, and their independence." Since the end of the Cold War, its aims have been broadened to include strengthening democracy, fostering free trade, fighting drug trafficking, and promoting sustainable development.
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Group of Eight Plus Five
Every year, the G8+5 unites the leaders of the Group of Eight (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and the world’s five greatest emerging economies (currently Brazil, China, India, Mexico, and South Africa). Here, they generally focus on economic and trade policy, particularly the strengthening of relationships between industrialized and developing nations. Since its Kyoto Declaration of 2007, climate change has also become a point of frequent discussion. At NUMUN VII, the G8+5 will be a small, fast-paced simulation wherein delegates will be expected to come prepared to address difficult economic issues while still representing their country faithfully.
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Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China
Today, the Politburo Standing Committee is the most powerful decision-making body in the world's most populous nation. While its decisions have had a major impact on the Chinese people and way of life since Chairman Mao's Cultural Revolution, the power of the Politburo Standing Committee has only grown since then. As China's global influence on geopolitical and economic order becomes ever more pronounced, the Politburo Standing Committee's nine members must find a way to balance their own powerful Communist ideology with the undeniable boon to overall quality of life that the first steps of capitalism have brought to their population. Delegates to this Committee will need an exceptional grasp of current world affairs as they relate to China in addition to strong debate skills. (Keep in mind that the Politburo Standing Committee comes to all its decisions by consensus)
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Balance of Power: Serbia
NUMUN VII will feature a Balance of Power simulation between Serbia and Kosovo, two European states whose tense ethnic histories have resulted in the death or displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. Delegates in the Serbian cabinet will have to deal with the humanitarian crisis on their borders without inciting global criticism or regional retaliation. In addition to these international disputes, Serbia’s government is internally fractured between liberal and nationalistic factions and the concurrent economic instability only contributes to regional money laundering and trade in illicit drugs.
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Balance of Power: Kosovo
NUMUN VII will feature a Balance of Power simulation between Serbia and Kosovo, two European states whose tense ethnic histories have resulted in the death or displacement hundreds of thousands of people. Kosovo’s continued battle for international legitimacy against the will of its powerful neighbors is a driving force that will underscore each delegate’s experience within this cabinet. The nation’s uncertain politics has led to many territorial, humanitarian and economic crises that will need to be addressed if Kosovo is ever to prosper in peace.
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United States Historical Cabinet, 1960s
Following World War II, the United States of America became one of the world’s undisputed superpowers. With this position as a global hegemon, America entered a period of growth checked only by its rival: the USSR. In 1960, John F. Kennedy was first elected to office and a tense decade of international relations and internal struggle was about to begin. Delegates in this committee should be prepared to discuss a wide range of topics ranging from the nuclear policies of the Cold War and Red Scare, to the humanitarian issues raised by the Civil Rights Movements and Counterculture Revolution. Perhaps, given enough preparation and a willingness to defend one’s position, a delegate might just change history in this unique cabinet.
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United Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is the primary body in charge of maintaining international world peace as provided by the United Nations Charter. It is composed of five permanent members (China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States of America) and ten non-permanent members. The non-permanent rotating members in 2010 are Austria, Japan, Mexico, Turkey and Uganda. In the UNSC, the first attempt at resolution consists of diplomacy. However, if that proves unsuccessful, the council has the power to enact economic sanctions, deploy UN peacekeeping forces, or decide on collective military action to bring to bring an end to any issues as soon as possible. Delegates at NUMUN VII will encounter a high level of debate in a small committee and must be both well prepared and ready to engage in discussion.
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