Human Rights Council (HRC) - Topics
- Human Rights in Sudan and Neighbouring Regions
- Human Rights and the Elimination of Racial and Religious Discrimination
Committee Chairs: Sara Skinner, Agnes Venema
Contact: hrc@zagimun.org
Topic A
Human Rights in Sudan and Neighbouring Regions
Conflict has been widespread throughout Sudan since it achieved independence from its joint rulers, Britain and Egypt in 1956. Civil wars, military coups and unrest have plagued the country, much of the conflict based on ethnic lines between the black Christian’s of the North and the Arabs of the South.
The current conflict in Darfur which has created a humanitarian disaster affecting millions of people in both Sudan and its neighbour Chad, began in 2003 when two rebel groups {Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) and the Justice and Equality Movement (Jem)} rose up and accused the Arab dominated government of years of neglect and discrimination. The government of Sudan has admitted to mobilizing self defence militias, however they maintain that they do not sponsor or have any links with the Janjaweed who are systematically wiping out entire villages, raping and abducting women. Though the government has condemned the actions of the Janjaweed and committed to disarming them, little action has been taken. In addition to this conflict which poses a great deal of danger to the population, the refugees are also threatened by the diplomatic fallout between Chad and Sudan as the neighbours accuse one another of supporting each other's rebel groups.
With thousands of people dead, millions in refugee camps, and women, children, and civilians being favoured targets, the Darfur region of Sudan and increasingly Chad, is a human rights emergency.
A peace agreement was signed in 2005 that ended a 20 year civil war within Sudan, however the separate and vicious conflict in the Darfur region which has yet to be addressed. It is not within the mandate of the Human Rights Council to advise that a peacekeeping mission be dispatched, and calls to the Security Council to act show good intent, but make no tangible difference to the people who are awaiting relief from human rights abuses. This in mind, the Human Rights Council of ZAGIMUN is going to take on a challenge that is too big for most. The HRC will discuss how to address the human rights violations that are occurring both in Sudan and the neighbouring regions that are being affected while remaining within the mandate of the HRC, and not focusing on issues that are out of its jurisdiction, such as the conflict itself or peacekeeping efforts, but remain focused on addressing human rights issues, concerns, and abuses.
Topic B
Human Rights and the Elimination of Racial and Religious Discrimination
"The purposes of the United Nations are… to achieve international cooperation… in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language and religion". (Charter of the United Nations, extract from preamble).
In a period of great interconnectivity within the world, racism remains a stumbling block to the full realization of human rights in a growing number of areas. Although progress has been made in some areas, distinctions, exclusions, restrictions and preferences based on race, colour, descent, and national or ethnic origin continue to create and embitter conflict, and cause untold suffering and loss of life throughout the world. The resurgence of racism, which is appearing in new forms as well as in traditional forms, can be taken to reflect a deep political, ethical and intellectual crisis. Furthermore, the amalgamation of racial, cultural and religious factors within the resurgence of the racist and xenophobic culture and mentality can feed and foster a dynamic of conflicts between cultures and civilizations, which constitutes the most serious threat to world peace.
In 1965 the International Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination was introduced to become a means of achieving equality within all states. Since that time there have also been two decades (1973-1983, 1983-1993) dedicated to ending racial discrimination, however in 2007 racial discrimination, as well as discrimination based on religion, culture, and xenophobia remains a pressing that member countries of the UN need to address. Combating racism requires not only identifying its manifestations and expressions but also analyzing and better understanding its underlying causes.
Racism and any sort of discrimination often go hand and hand with other important human rights issues, for instance human trafficking. Although the links between trafficking and racial bias are not immediately clear they are nonetheless undeniable.
Because the overwhelming majority of trafficked persons are women, trafficking is usually considered to be a gender issue and the result of discrimination on the basis of sex and therefore is rarely considered from the perspective of race discrimination. However, when attention is paid to which women are most at risk of being trafficked, the link of this risk to their racial and social marginalization becomes clear.
Racism and discrimination is also often visible within migration policies and migrants are a particularly vulnerable group and see their rights routinely violated, not only as workers, but as human beings. They commonly face discrimination and xenophobic hostility. According to the International Organization for migration (IOM) migrants "are more and more targeted as the scapegoats for all manner of domestic problems facing societies today, particularly unemployment, crime, drugs, even terrorism." This problem knows no boundaries, and is prevalent throughout Europe, Africa, North America and indeed anywhere migration occurs.
When considering the issue of racism and discrimination it is important to consider the various ways in which it can express itself, and to remember those who are most susceptible to discrimination, such as indigenous peoples, minorities (whether religious or ethnic) and often women.
The UNHRC of ZAGIMUN will address the issue of Racial and Religious Discrimination with the intent of finding a solution that will protect the human rights of people, in hopes of achieving the worthy and lofty goals as dictated by the Charter of the United Nations.
