Social, Humanitarian, & Cultural Committee Background Guide

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Esteemed Delegates,
Welcome to the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee.  My name is Erin Bobst.  I am the committee chair.  I am a sophomore International Studies major from Davenport, Iowa.  My committee also consists of Veronica Quintero.  She is a freshman International Studies major from Chicago, Illinois.
The Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee is often referred to as the Third Committee of the General Assembly.  This committee works to protect human rights and freedoms around the world.  We are extremely excited to work with you all.  We wish you the best of luck in the coming days.
This year, at Bradley University’s Model UN conference, the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee will be covering topics including Child Soldiers, the recent oppression in the Burma (Myanmar) region, and the India/Pakistan conflict.
In our agenda, we will be discussing the history, statistics, and current issues involving child soldiers.  With the topic of Burma, we will discuss the oppression, government, and recent protests in this region.  In dealing with the India/Pakistan conflict, will we talk about Kashmir and human right violations.

The three topics that will be presented in this background guide are:

Sincerely,
Erin Bobst
BUMUN Staff 2007-2008
Social, Humanitarian, & Cultural Committee Chair

1.  Child Soldiers

            Child soldiers in today’s society are seen as ‘under-18s’ who are used by the government and rebel forces to fight for their power.  There is an estimated 300,000 ‘under-18s’ in over 20 countries around the world that are in armed conflict.  Often they are recruited by force or kidnapped to serve.  Young children, under the age of ten are often taken early so they can be taught to kill others and other special commands such as, spies, messengers, etc.  Another way children are ‘recruited’ is they are forcibly given drugs.  In addition, the army forces threaten children with physical force or abandonment, which keeps the children fighting for their cause.  The idea of using children as soldiers can be found as early as Ancient Egypt and Greek Mythology.  In ancient times, child soldiers were used the same way as they are today, as collateral or even distractions to the enemy.
            Today the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Art. 38 (1989) urge governments to take action for children under the age of 15 to have no direct participation in the military.  This was also stated in the Geneva Conventions in 1949.  The Convention also sets the minimum age of 15 in which an individual can be voluntarily recruited into or enlist in the armed forces.  The Optional Protocol has strengthened the Convention and increases the protection of children during times of conflict.  Although the Convention does not require the age of 18 to enlist in the military, the Protocol reminds states that children under 18 are entitled to special protection.  It bans recruitment of those under 18.
            This committee should focus on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and better ways to enforce this international law.  It is well known, that there are laws put in place by the UN, but think about ways to put the law into action.

Countries where child soldiers are involved in active conflict (2001-2004)

Africa

Americas/Caribbean

Asia/Pacific

Europe/Eurasia

Middle East/North Africa

Committee Directives

2.  Oppression in Burma (Myanmar)

            Since 1962, the state of Burma (known as Myanmar by the government) has been under authoritarian control.  More specifically, the people have been controlled by the military.  After many protests for democracy, including one in 1988 led by a group of Buddhist monks, and even an election in 1990 where the National League for Democracy was the winning party, the military-controlled government has used their power to keep the authoritarian regime.
Students, who wanted to see more human rights, led a demonstration in December of 1996 that was forcibly suppressed by the authoritarian regime.  Most recently, on August 19, 2007, there was a small protest movement against the regime because the government raised fuel prices.  These protests strengthened and eventually led to more demonstrations, this time against policies of the government that are causing economic hardships throughout the country.  Many monks said that people’s lives were getting worse because the government was unjust and selfish.  These monks held a protest on September 5th.  This protest did not turn out well; the monks were ‘manhandled’ and were angered by this decision by the government.  They threatened to take to the streets if the ‘junta’ (government) did not apologize.  The military government did not give an apology, so the monks launched another round of protests throughout the country on September 18th.  These renewed protests have brought thousands of Burmese together to raise objection to the government.  In response, the ‘junta’ has become violent and has taken away more rights from the people, including installed curfews and groups of more than five cannot assemble.
So far, the UN General Assembly has been urging Myanmar’s government to exercise utmost restraint and seek a political solution.  A UN special envoy, Ibrahim Gambari, is set to travel to Myanmar to promote a political solution and provide reconciliation efforts.  China is an important country in this conflict.  Multiple states are calling on China to use its regional influence to urge Myanmar’s government to show some kind of restraint in dealing with these protests.  Thus far, China has refused to condemn the ‘juntas’ but agreed to a statement expressing concern at the violent crackdown on Burmese citizens and urging the country’s military rulers to allow in a UN envoy.
            The focus for this topic should be how the UN can stop this oppression of Burmese citizens.  In addition, this committee should pay attention to how the military government of Myanmar reacts to both domestic and international demands to give freedom to the people.

Committee Directives

This topic is subject to change due to the fact that these events are still unfolding.

3.  India & Pakistan
Since both of their independences in 1947, the estranged neighboring countries of India and Pakistan have engaged into many conflicts, including three wars.  Their primary dispute being over the Kashmir territory, a small region located north of India and east of Pakistan. In 1948 the then-ruler of Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh, who was holding out for independence, consented to India on condition that the state retain autonomy in all matters except defense, currency and foreign affairs. The invasion of Pakistani raiders and an uprising of villagers in the western part of the state provoked the accession.  Today, the far northern and western areas of the state are under Pakistan's control; the Kashmir valley, Jammu, and Ladakh are under India's control. Since then there have been multiple acts of violence between Kashmir separatists and Indian militants over the disputed region including various terrorist acts that have claimed thousands of lives in the Indian-ruled areas since 1990. Militant groups of Kashmir since then have increased attacks, including murdering and threatening Hindu residents, carrying out kidnappings and assassinations of Indian government officials, suspected informers, and engaging in sabotage and bombings. India accuses Pakistan of supporting the separatists militarily. With the encouragement and assistance of the Indian government, some 100,000 Kashmiris have fled the Kashmir territory. By May 1990, rising tension between Pakistan and India following the escalation of the conflict in Kashmir raised fears of another war between the two countries. The friction between both countries is relevant to the rest of the world as they both have nuclear weapons.
            Major fighting between Pakistan and India has ended with UN intervention.  Since 1948, a cease-fire line was installed by the UN and till this day is monitored by the U.N. Military Observer Group on India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) also known as resolution 91.  Also in 1948, the United Nations and Security Council have passed resolution 39 that allows the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan to investigate and mediate the conflict between both countries. Another resolution passed known as resolution 47, advises both countries to settle the dispute over the Kashmir territory through democracy and also urge peace and to cease-fire. There has also been an intervention by the Indian government itself to end the widespread human rights violations the Kashmir separatists have committed, including the shooting of unarmed demonstrators, civilian massacres, and executions of Indian detainees. Both sides of the conflict have participated in various acts of human rights violations especially towards woman, children, and politicians of the Kashmir region. Both India and Pakistan deny these accusations. A total of 3,744 people have ‘disappeared’ since 1989, but human rights activists figure the amount is more at 8,000.
            The Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee would like to focus on how to end these atrocities. We would like to see more awareness of the human right violations of the Kashmir and Indian people. We urge peace between both sides of the conflict in order for it not to get to the point where nuclear war is at stake.

Committee Directives

• How can the UN take a more direct approach in order to solve human rights violations in the Indo- Pakistani conflict?
• Can the pressure of other countries on both Pakistan and India, cease violence or perhaps end the entire conflict altogether?
• Can the rearranging of borders, including giving Kashmir independence, be a possible solution?