Epiphany MUN

Background guide

Letter From The Executive Board

Greetings, delegates!

This is the study guide for the The United Nations Human Rights Council, also known as UNHRC,
is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for "strengthening the promotion and
protection of human rights around the globe and for addressing situations of human rights
violations and making recommendations on them". MUN is a simulation of the United Nations
(UN) that is done at a high school and university level. MUN aims to educate participants about
civics, effective communication, globalization and multilateral diplomacy. In MUN, students
participate as “delegates” from the UN Member States and simulate UN committees. From this
experience, not only do they become involved and debate today’s pressing current issues, but
also broaden their world view and their knowledge of international relations and the UN, allowing
delegates to develop their critical thinking and soft skills whilst discussing the most amazing
topics that are on our International Agenda nowadays! Although in the beginning it may seem
overwhelming, since you need to know the Rules of Procedure, how to write a Position Paper, a
Draft Resolution or Working Paper, the big goal is that you really need to have in mind is to
search for information about your state’s policy – you will be discussing a topic, a substantive
issue. Therefore, delegates should understand that it demands prior research and knowledge
not of the workings of MUN itself, but also of the topic being discussed, how your state
approaches the problem, what are the solutions and the way to go to a world without prejudice
and hatred. This study guide begins with an introduction to the committee and to the topic of the
2

debate. You will have some information about its history and current situation, as well as
some guidance towards the different possible approaches. As such, you should read it with
close

attention, so that you know the directions that the debate might take. It also addresses some
key terms that you need to keep in mind, which will provide all Delegates some definitions that
we all agree on, making sure that everyone is on the same level in terms of concepts and

interpretations. With this, it is guaranteed that the debate does not end up discussing only the
definition of certain expressions and words and the committee can therefore address the core

issues of the topic.

We advise you to read this chapter carefully since it is important for you to know what are the
ideas that Delegates approach and the terms that you can use to make your speech much more

appealing and interesting. The bloc positions intend to reflect a certain tendency that countries
located in certain geographical areas tend to form, influenced by their surrounding

neighbors. As such, you should see what position the country you represent adopts, as well as
the ones taken by its neighbors, so that you can see which would be more open to cooperation
for a possible Draft Resolution. After that we list the issues the Draft Resolution Should address.
These are some of the most important points and issues that your Draft Resolution should try to
present solutions to. Lastly, you have the further research chapter, which consists of some
suggestions and advice

to help you prepare for the MUN, and the further reading and bibliography, where you can find
some links to help you do your own research! Please note that this is only a study guide. This
does not include the comprehensive research on the topic, it is not sufficient by itself to prepare
you to debate. You will have to do your own research, not only on the topic, but also

on the position that your country takes on the matter. Having that said, we sincerely hope that
this will be a memorable experience and that you have an amazing time learning about
diplomatic issues that affect our society. Above all else, make sure that this event is
anopportunity to meet people with the same interests (they are all curious and passionate about

MUN and they all have creative ideas)

Co-Chair: Sambhav Gunecha

Co-Chair : Aniha Shroff

Rappourter : Bhumika Nagpal

Introduction To The Committee

United Nation Human Rights Council is one of the six inter-governmental bodies in the

United Nations system established to strengthen the promotion and protection of human

rights around the world and for addressing human rights violation issues and recommending

the same, The council is made of 47 United Member states elected by the UN General

Assembly.

UNHRC was created by the general assembly on the 15th of March,2006 by resolution 60/251 to
replace the UN commission on Human rights and the first session took place on

19th to 30th June 2006. The council promotes and aspires to have a transparent

intergovernmental process and connect this realistically to the world. Topics dealt with

mostly are specific Human Rights situations involving certain countries,however affecting a

lot of member states, groups of certain people and individuals. All human rights issues are

assessed through a mechanism of ‘Universal Periodic Review’ every five years. The council

also works with ‘UN Special Procedures’ which can be made to advise and report on specific

Human Rights issues. This is a team made up of rapporteurs, special representatives and
4

independent experts . They are very different from the Office of the High Commissioner for

Human Rights( OHCHR) ; they coordinate different human rights activities throughout the

different UN bodies. The Council works with other UN bodies but focuses mainly on the

interaction of Human Rights.

About the Agenda

1. What is racism?

Racism is the belief that groups of humans possess different behavioral traits corresponding to
inherited attributes and can be divided based on the superiority of one race over another. It may
also mean prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against other people because they
are of a different race or ethnicity. Modern variants of racism are often based in social
perceptions of biological differences between peoples. These views can take the form of social
actions, practices or beliefs, or political systems in which different races are ranked as
inherently superior or inferior to each other, based on presumed shared inheritable traits,
abilities, or qualities. There have been attempts to legitimize racist beliefs through scientific
means, which have been overwhelmingly shown to be unfounded.

2. What Problems that arise due to racism?

2.1 ECONOMIC INEQUALITY:-

Discrimination at work can occur in many different settings, from high-rise office buildings to
rural villages, and in a variety of forms. It can affect men or women on the basis of their sex, or
because their race or skin colour, national extraction or social origin, religion, or political
opinions differ from those of others. Discrimination at work denies opportunities for individuals
and robs societies of what those people can and could contribute. The most exclusive people of
a region in terms of economic independence and employment is the racial minority. The
problem withstands even more at labor markets where the gender pay gaps due to racism are at
its peak.

According to reports;

unemployment rates were significantly higher for ethnic minorities at 12.9 per cent compared
with 6.3 per cent for White people

Black workers with degrees earn 23.1 per cent less on average than White workers

significantly lower percentages of ethnic minorities (8.8 per cent) worked as managers,
directors and senior officials, compared with White people (10.7 per cent) and this was
particularly true for African or Caribbean or Black people (5.7 per cent) and those of mixed
ethnicity (7.2 per cent)

Black people who leave school with A-levels typically get paid 14.3 per cent less than their White
peers

2.2 Educational opportunities:-

The color still divides us in the 21st century. In recent years, the most visible evidence of this in
the public policy arena has been the persistent attack on affirmative action in higher education
and employment. The problem is persistent and the social exclusion makes it even worse. The
racial discrimination in higher education is not a bigger problem but a problem, thus we need to
acknowledge the same to move ahead for some effective solutions.
6

According to reports;

95% of young Black British people have witnessed racist language in education.

More than half of males said they hear racist language in school ‘all the time’.

Teacher perceptions are seen as the biggest barrier to educational success.

Two-thirds say they do not trust the police to act fairly towards them.

Tackling structural racism requires a collaborative, society-wide effort.

There are some UN conventions protecting the rights of people to get education like The
Convention against Discrimination in Education adopted by UNESCO on 14 December 1960
aims to combat discrimination and racial segregation in education. As at December 2020, 106
states were members of the Convention.

2.3 Human Trafficking

there is close link between racism and human trafficking. The black, the asians and many other
socially excluded groups like these are mostly trafficked because they are easy targets due to
their vulnerability which doesn't allow them to seek protection from the government or the
society the same way that the other classes are getting. This is a phenomenon which has been
a problem for a century. They are never seen as victims but criminals making their situation even
worse. Minorities continue to be identified as criminals, and these biases cloud the ability to
recognize when girls have not given consent to prostitution, thus making them victims of human
trafficking. Similarly, Black children are more likely to experience some form of sex trafficking,
other children of color are similarly at a higher risk than their white counterparts.

What can be done?

Advocate for human trafficking policies and restructuring them

Social and political awareness needs to spread

Healthcare professionals and rescue teams must be trained to allow better victims identification

2.4 Police brutality

Black men are 2.5 times more likely than white men to be killed by police during their lifetime.
This is the most important issue as this kind of violence brought up recently as a major problem.
Police brutality is the excessive and unwarranted use of force by law enforcement. It is an
extreme form of police misconduct or violence and is a civil rights violation.

Even UN human rights experts have expressed alarm at what they describe as a rampant police
brutality against peaceful protesters worldwide and warned States of the grave danger arising
from such abuse for human rights and the rule of law.

Additionally, since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been numerous reports of
security forces employing excessive and often indiscriminate violence resulting in unlawful
deaths, injury and psychological trauma, as well as arbitrary detentions, in order to enforce
emergency measures for the protection of public health, such asbans on assemblies, lockdowns
and curfews.

The key incidents of police brutality includes:-

Trayvon martin- On the night of February 26, 2012, in Sanford, Florida, United States, George
Zimmerman fatally shot Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old African-American high school
student.Zimmerman shot Martin, who was unarmed, during a physical altercation between the
two.

Eric Garner- On July 17, 2014, Eric Garner was killed in the New York City borough of Staten
Island after Daniel Pantaleo, a New York City Police Department (NYPD) officer, put him in a
prohibited chokehold while arresting him.
8

Michael brown- On August 9, 2014, Michael Brown Jr., an 18-year-old black man, was fatally
shot by 28-year-old white Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in the city of Ferguson, Missouri,
a suburb of St. Louis.

George Floyd- On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was murdered near the
intersection of East 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in the Powderhorn Park neighborhood of
Minneapolis, Minnesota, by Derek Chauvin, a 44-year-old white police officer with the
Minneapolis Police Department. It was one of the key reasons for the spark of #Black lives
matters.

George Floyd case:-

George Floyd case and its impact

The murder of George Floyd sparked immense global outrage. The 46 old man kept telling the
police officers he could not breathe as they kept on kneeling on his neck. After about 8 minutes
of struggle, he died. Since then, lawmakers both nationally and locally have debated police
reform and whether law enforcement officers must change how they do their jobs. In schools,
educators and students have tackled discussions on race and equity, sometimes with
controversy. And across Minnesota, community members have marched and come together in a
call for change.

In April 2021, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin — who pressed his knee on
Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes — was convicted of murder and manslaughter in Floyd's
death. He was sentenced to 22 1/2 years in prison.

The three other ex-cops who were involved with the arrest have been charged with two counts
each of aiding and abetting in the death. Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao go on
trial in March 2022.

The United Nations Human Rights Committee expects the delegates to have a fruitful
discussion regarding racism around the world with special emphasis on this particular case. The
9

homicide of George Floyd was an eye opener towards the very prevalent racist behavior and
superiority complex existing in a comparatively modern time as the 21st century. As a Human
Rights committee it is crucial for us to come up with resolutions and reforms to prevent gross
violations of human rights in the future and provide justice to the affected.

EVIDENCE OR PROOF ACCEPTABLE IN THE COMMITTEE

Please note that the source presented by the delegate will be considered credible in the

council:

- Reuters

- State operated new channels:Some examples are RIA Novosti (Russia), IRNA (Iran), Xinhua
News Agency and CCTV (China)

Government Reports: These reports can be used in a similar way as the State Operated News
Agencies reports and can, in all circumstances, be denied by another country. However, a report
being denied by a certain country can still be accepted by the Executive ,Board as credible
information. Some examples are:

● Permanent Representatives to the United Nations Reports

● Multilateral Organizations:

- NATO (http://www.natolibguides.info/nato-russia/reports)

- ASEAN (http://www.aseansec.org/)

- OPEC (https://www.opec.org/opec_web/en/publications/336.htm)

2. UN Reports: All UN Reports are considered are credible information for this simulation.
10

● UN Bodies:

- UNSC (https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/)

- UNGA (https://www.un.org/en/sections/general/documents/index.html)

● UN Affiliated Bodies: Some examples of UN Affiliated Bodies are-

- International Atomic Energy Agency (https://www.iaea.org/)

- World Bank (https://www.worldbank.org/)

- International Monetary Fund (https://www.imf.org/external/index.htm)

- International Committee of the Red Cross (https://www.icrc.org/en)

● Treaty-Based Bodies: Some examples of Treaty-Based Bodies are:

- Antarctic Treaty System (https://www.ats.aq/e/ats.htm)

- International Criminal Court (https://www.icc-cpi.int/)

3. Subsidiary Organs of the UN:

● Peacebuilding Commission

(https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/repertoire/peacebuilding-

commission)

● International Law Commission: (http://legal.un.org/ilc/)

● The Commission on the Status of Women (http://www.unwomen.org/en/csw)

NOTE: Please note that under no condition will the