HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL TOPICS
Topic 1: Measures to Combat the Practice of Discrimination, Xenophobia, Racism, and Assaults (Chair Report)
It is now universally acknowledged that all humans are entitled to human rights. There are different ways in which these universal human rights can be violated, and discrimination, xenophobia, racism, and assaults are especially important issues that must be considered in the modern world. As two of the UN Sustainable Goals, “Sustainable Cities and Communities” and “Peace, Justice and strong Institutions,” refer to these topics, there is no doubt that these topics are important for the sustainability of the world. Discrimination, xenophobia, racism, and assaults all tend to lead to some sort of violence or a separation within a community. In the larger scale, these things also affect intercountry decisions. For world peace to happen, one of the most important things is to diffuse borders of discriminations, especially across race, and to decrease both physical and sexual assaults.
Topic 2: Measures to Protect the Human Rights of Refugees Who Lost Permanent Settlement Due to Climate Change and Natural Disasters (Chair Report)
Nowadays, we live in a world where climate change is an extreme problem that can easily be observed and measured. Currently with the Coronavirus pandemic and various forest fires, it can also be said that natural disasters are also something that leaves drastic effects. Both climate change and natural disasters are increasing in frequency and intensity, resulting in an acute need for humanitarian aid. According to the UNHCR, the “lack of food, water, education, health care and a livelihood would not ordinarily and by themselves sustain a refugee claim under the 1951 Convention.” Nevertheless, these refugees must be given protection, especially for those who have lost their permanent homes. Some of the signs of climate change and natural disasters include droughts, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, and many more.
Topic 3: Measures to Ensure Freedom of Expression During a Global Crisis (Chair Report)
Freedom of expression is similar to freedom of speech, but it expands its area of concern to more than just speaking through terms of verbal and textual expression, to for instance, arts and gestures. In times of a global crisis when governments are required to solve problems, some may take advantage of the ability to impose restrictive measures on its citizens and infringe freedom of expression of its citizens. However, at times of global crisis, disinformation and rumor may be formed to mislead the population and this may require government intervention to stop irrational fear and chaos from forming. With the role and ability of governments and organizations, it is crucial to create an appropriate protocol for governments to follow in times of global crisis, in order inform governments of methods to restrict disinformation and chaos, but not the freedom of expression. After the global crisis ceases to be a problem, the disinformation and restrictive regulations may remain to affect freedom of expression of individual citizens, which will stop the GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE RECOVERY, the conference theme, from happening.
Topic 4: Measures to Promote Right to Protection of Health (Chair Report)
Nowadays, measures to promote the right to protection of health have risen as one of the most urgent issues to be solved. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the right to health is defined as “a complete state of physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” The right to protection of health has its grounds on the fact that this right must be enjoyed without discrimination based on race, age, ethnicity, or any other background. Nevertheless, certain populations around the world are currently facing their lack of rights to protection of health especially in areas vulnerable to some fatal communicable diseases, such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis, due to inequalities among their gender, migration status, and age. In order to combat these issues regarding the right to protection of health, some essential courses of action must be taken globally to recover these rights and to ensure these rights are sustained equally in worldwide areas.