SOCHUM

Social, Cultural,
Humanitarian Committee

AGENDA
Discussing rising naval tensions in the South
China Sea pertaining to areas of conflict and
militarisation of claimed waters.
 11 Letter from the Executive Board
TABLE OF CONTENTS

2 Introduction to the committee

3 List of key terms

4 Introduction to the agenda

5 Timeline of events

6 Case studies

7 Bloc positions

8 Past resolutions

9 Questions a resolution must answer

10 Sources to use

11 Preambulatory and operative clauses

 Letter from the EB
Dear Delegates,

We welcome you to the Social, Cultural, and Humanitarian Committee at JBCN

Oshiwara MUN 2024. We would like to cordially extend a warm welcome to all
delegates participating and hope to moderate a fruitful and high-quality debate.

In this edition of JBCN Oshiwara MUN, SOCHUM’s agenda will be centred around
exploring the living conditions of immigrants in host countries pertaining to
violence against minorities. This issue plagues multiple countries and territories
and thus the study guide provides direction through its timeline and case studies.
A thorough understanding of the crises, resolutions and agreements is required to
make a meaningful argument that drives the proceedings forward.

Please be aware that the purpose of this study guide is to assist you in starting your
research and provide essential information about this committee, not to limit your
research base. We expect a high level of research as well as a good
understanding of the agenda in each delegate which requires going beyond the
guide and uncovering more valuable information in your individual research.

Having said that, the Executive Board and the Organising Committee are
committed to making sure you have an enjoyable and fulfilling conference
experience.

We urge everyone taking part in the two days to maintain a friendly and congenial
atmosphere. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you need any kind of help or
direction. In a few weeks, you will be welcomed to JBCN Oshiwara, and we are
excited to work with you!

Ahaan Modi, Naqash Chamadia,

Director - SOCHUM Assistant Director - SOCHUM

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 Introduction to the Committee
The United Nations General Assembly allocates to its third committee all agendas
dealing with human rights issues, cultural issues and humanitarian and social
affairs that impact people all over the world. The Social, Humanitarian, and
Cultural Committee (SOCHUM or C3) meets yearly in early October and plans to
finish its work before the end of November, additionally, all 193 member states of
the United Nations can attend SOCHUM and due to its noble purposes and
undisputed agendas it's one of the most effective committees of the UNGA with
one of the highest acceptance ratios for resolutions. At the 76th session of
SOCHUM, the committee considered over 50 draft resolutions, and more than half
of them were related to human rights agendas. Furthermore, a majority of the
committee's work revolves around the examination of reports related to the
special procedures set by the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2006, which
closely deal with human rights questions and violations. The committee also works
in close coordination with the UNHRC due to their overlapping agendas. SOCHUM’s
mandate encompasses a broad array of topics including:

Social Issues: Social development, gender equality, advancement of youth,

empowerment of marginalised groups and minorities. SOCHUM promotes
global growth in these areas and creates opportunities for all involved.

Humanitarian Affairs: The C3 committee focuses closely on the protection of

human rights, thus its conjunction with the UNHRC, working towards the
betterment of refugees, displaced individuals as well as the combatting of
issues such as human trafficking, and aid during conflicts as well as natural
disasters.

Cultural Matters: Cultural cooperation, protection of heritage and the

promotion of cultural rights are deeply ingrained in the mandate of SOCHUM,
additionally working against racial discrimination, intolerance and xenophobia
fall under this category.

SOCHUM acts as a recommending or deliberative body in the UNGA, this means it

lacks the authority to put any resolution into execution, it rather recommends
actions and coordinates member state efforts. SOCHUM’s Functions and
responsibilities include:

1. Drafting Resolutions - The debate and drafting of resolutions addressing the

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large multitude of social, humanitarian and cultural issues is the responsibility of the Third
Committee. These Resolutions, if adapted by the GA, influence international policy and
national legislation

2. Monitoring and Reporting - C3 monitors the progress and implementation of

agreements related to its Mandate. It additionally reports on individual developments of
member states.

3. Raising Awareness - Global awareness regarding social and humanitarian issues is

carried out by SOCHUM, this is done through debates, reports and resolutions, critical
issues are highlighted and member states are encouraged to take action.

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 List of Key Terms
Asylum Seeker: Someone who claims to be a refugee, but whose claim has not yet been
fully evaluated.

Rakhine State: Formerly known as Arakan State, is a state in Myanmar. Situated on the
western coast, it is bordered by Chin State to the north

Fundamental Freedoms: Basic political liberties required in a democracy. In general,

they guarantee that an individual can act, think, be, or do without government
interference unless a law says otherwise.

Internally Displaced Person (IDP): A person who has been forced to flee their home but
remains within their country's borders. They are often referred to as refugees, although
they do not fit the legal definition of a refugee.

Cultural Assimilation: The process by which a minority group gradually adopts the
customs and attitudes of the prevailing culture.

Resettlement: The transfer of refugees from an asylum country to another state that has
agreed to admit them and ultimately grant them permanent settlement.

Xenophobia: The fear or hatred of that which is perceived to be foreign or strange, often
directed at people from other countries or ethnic groups.

Stateless Person: A person who is not considered as a national by any state under the
operation of its law. Statelessness can be a result of discrimination, state succession, or
administrative practices.

Ethnic Cleansing: The systematic forced removal of ethnic or religious groups from a
given territory by a more powerful ethnic group, often with the intent of making it
ethnically homogeneous.

Integration: The process by which refugees or immigrants become part of the host
society, through various means such as employment, education, and social
participation.

Non-Refoulement: A principle in international law that forbids a country from returning

asylum seekers to a country in which they would be in likely danger of persecution
based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political
opinion.
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 Introduction to the Agenda
In this edition of the JBCN Oshiwara MUN, SOCHUM will probe the agenda “Exploring the
living conditions of immigrants in host countries pertaining to minority violence”. The
issue of substandard living conditions for immigrants and refugees has plagued the
world since the early nineteenth century and OECD as well as EU countries have seen
large gaps in immigrant and native incomes, living conditions and literacy rates. Taking
into consideration the theme of our MUN, war of ideologies, it is time for you, the
delegates, to take advantage of ideology and negotiate using immigration policies and
stances. The world has seen some of the worst immigration and living conditions policies
from countries such as Latvia, Japan, Thailand, etc. while overcrowding and
mistreatment of immigrants run rampant in countries such as Austria, Greece and Italy.

The agenda is extremely vast and has an endless list of examples and situations which
can be used and an infinite number of possible paths our committee can take, the
agenda is also diverse and every country has an important role to play in steering the
debate in the committee, achieving fruitful and feasible solutions, while also guarding
their own national interest and diplomatic relations.

The vastness of this agenda must be compartmentalized to guide the passage of the
committee in an organized fashion. To do this, this study guide explores five distinct case
studies - The Rohingya Muslim Refugee Crisis, the Syrian Refugee Crisis, the Sudanese
Refugee Crisis and the Uyghur Muslim Refugee Crisis. These studies have extreme depth
and can be looked at through multiple perspectives.

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 Timeline of Events
1936-1945: The Romani Genocide takes place where Adolf Hitler’s Nazi troops kill over
130,000 Romani people

1938-1945: Nazi Germany kills over 6,000,000 Jews within Germany as well as overseas
as a part of the Holocaust campaign

1940-1952: 3.5 million civilians belonging to minority groups such as the Chechens,
Karachays and Ingush

1945: 16000 ethnic Albanian Muslims were expelled from a region in Northwestern
Greece to various European countries. Additionally, 1945 saw the rehabilitation of 14
million ethnic Germans back to Germany. This decision was made at the Potsdam
conference.

1947: 6 million Muslims fled India as a result of the partition to modern-day Pakistan and
Bangladesh and 5 million Sikhs and Hindus fled to India.

1948: 700,000 Palestinians expelled from modern-day Israel during 1948 Palestine war

1950-1960: 1 million Jews were expelled from Arab land with bank accounts and
property confiscated. Additionally, in 1959, Tibetan killings took place in Lhasa, 15,000
Tibetans were killed in 3 days

1973: Laos’ communist government killed 100,000 Hmong people in an act of mass
genocide

1989: 112 Turkish civilians were killed by Uzbek nationalists in Fergana Valley. 17,000
were evacuated by soviet troops and 60,000 left Uzbekistan

1990: Over 100000 Lhotshampa people were forced to leave Bhutan by the army and
sought refuge in Nepal

1993-1998: The conflicts in Abkhazia lead to over 250,000 civilians, mostly Georgians
getting deported in an ethnic cleansing

1991: 400000 pandits were deported and 1200 were killed by separatists in Kashmir

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1998: Over 100000 (80%) of Kosovo's Romanis were expelled previously in the
Kosovo War. There is a long account of expelling other ethnic minorities too like
Albanians and non-Albanian minorities as well as Muslims.

2013-2014: Seleka Muslims were killed to suppress their uprisings and the 2013
coup in the Central African Republic.

2014-2021: The Uyghur genocide caused a refugee crisis and killed many,
however, the precise figures remain elusive. Additionally, in 2016, The Rohingya
genocide killed over 36,000 people.

2017-present: Rohingya genocide occurred post the ARSA attack in military

camps. Villages burnt and over 1.3 million civilians displace.

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 Case Studies
Rohingya Muslims Refugee Crisis

The Rohingya refugee crisis, primarily triggered by military conflicts and crackdowns in
the Rakhine State, Myanmar since 2017, has forced over 740,000 Rohingya Muslims to
flee to the neighbouring country Bangladesh. The crisis is representative of one of the
largest and most dreadful humanitarian emergencies, with ghastly living conditions for
refugees.

Two key instances of violence were:

The Rakhine State Riots - In 2012, disputes between Rohingya Muslims and ethnic
Rakhine Buddhists led to widespread violence and the displacement of more than 20,000
people. Villages and homes were destroyed, leading to heavy persecution of the
Rohingyas, further escalating tensions and fostering anger in the Muslims.

Myanmar Military Crackdown - August 2017 saw the development and execution of a
brutal crackdown on Rohingya villages by the Myanmar military. This was an effort to
silence the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA). The Myanmar military’s operations
were highly unethical, involving mass killings, gang rapes and the burning of Rohingya
villages resulting in international condemnation and is known today as one of the most
brutal ethnic cleansings of the modern age.

Syrian Refugee Crisis

The Syrian Refugee Crisis, a product of the Syrian Civil War since 2011, has created more
than 13 million displaced citizens with close to 6.6 million of them seeking asylum
abroad. This crisis stands as one of the largest humanitarian emergencies of the 21st
Century, having drastic adverse effects on neighbouring countries such as Turkiye,
Lebanon and Jordan as well as countries in Europe.

Two of the main instances of violence were:

The Battle of Aleppo - A devastating conflict that took place in the city of Aleppo from
2012 to 2016. It involved the Syrian Government forces, various rebel groups and
extremist organizations such as ISIS. The product of this conflict was the death of 30,000
displaced civilians and 15000 combatant casualties. The battle caused an even more
significant exodus of residents, contributing to the refugee crisis and leading to millions
fleeing the country.

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The Ghouta Chemical Attack - in August 2013, The Ghouta area near Damascus
witnessed the use of chemical weapons, The attack involved the use of Sarin Gas
and was put ahead by President Bashar al-Assad, killing hundreds of civilians
including women and children. This only further highlighted the severe crisis in
Syria and created thousands of refugees and IDPs.

Uyghur Refugee Crisis - The Uyghur Refugee crisis stems from the Chinese
government's persecution and cultural repression of the Uyghur Muslims in
Xinjiang. As a result of the mass detentions, forced labour and unwarranted
crackdowns, many Uyghurs have been forced into fleeing their country and
becoming IDPs lacking any international protection.

Two significant instances of violence in the Uyghur refugee crisis are:

Mass Detentions in Xinjiang - The Chinese government has detained over a million
Uyghurs and other Islamic minorities who they segregated and sent to “re-
education camps”. Reports of human rights abuses in these camps include sexual
abuse, forced sterilisations and psychological torture. The first camp was reported
in 2017 and they have grown to more than 350 - 380 in China.

Cultural Repressions - Since 2017, a significant number of mosques have been

demolished and repurposed by the Chinese Government. In 2020 it was found that
nearly 16000 mosques, whose main population were Uyghurs, were destroyed. This
figure stood for 65% of the mosques in China. Furthermore, the ban of Religious
Practices was observed, Uyghurs were held from wearing religious attire, fasting
during Ramadan and educating children about their children. Such practices have
become highly punishable offences in China.

The Sudanese Refugee Crisis

The Sudanese Refugee Crisis, catalyzed by multiple conflicts taking place in the
nation of Sudan such as the South Sudanese Civil War (2013 - 2018) and multiple
violent conflicts has forced millions of Sudanese people to seek refuge in
neighbouring countries, leading to food shortages, overcrowded camps and
ongoing violence.

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Two main instances of violence were:

The Darfur Conflict - The Darfur Conflict began in 2003 when ethnic African rebel
groups pointed fingers at the Sudanese Government accusing them of oppression
and neglect, the government’s response was brutal counterinsurgency involving
mass killings, rape and the burning of villages at the hands of the Janjaweed
Militia. This caused the displacement of over 2.5 million people, most of whom
sought refuge in Chad.

South Sudanese Civil War - In the advent of South Sudan’s independence from
Sudan in early 2011, tensions were high due to ethnic and political conflict. This
slowly escalated until a full-scale war erupted in December 2013. The conflict was
between armed forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those aligned with former
Vice President Riek Machar. This conflict led to widespread atrocities, massacres,
sexual violence and the conscription and use of child soldiers. This war displaced
more than 4 million people contributing to one of the most complex refugee crises
ever.

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 Bloc Positions
USA
The United States has historically played a significant role in addressing global
refugee crises and contributed generously in terms of financial and humanitarian
aid, in 2022 they allocated more than $4 billion aid towards refugees and IDPs
globally, supporting their essential services such as food, education and
healthcare. The U.S. refugee admissions program has changed policy over the
years based on global events and political standings. From 2008 to 2016 the US
resettled an average of around 70,000 refugees per year, however, in recent years
significant policy shifts have been observed. 2017 saw the implementation of The
Trump Administration. This suspended refugee admissions and introduced
extremely strict vetting procedures that led to a drastic reduction in refugee
admissions. There has been a reversal of some of these policies and in 2021, the
refugee ceiling was raised to 125000. Internationally the US has been a key
participant in shaping global refugee policies and providing meaningful insights in
organisations such as UNHCR.

India
India’s stance on refugee crises reflects a nuanced approach shaped by historical
factors, humanitarian concerns, and national security considerations. India was
not a part of the 1951 Refugee Convention and thus not a signatory. It follows a
case by case approach to refugee disputes, with a key focus on regional
cooperation rather than international convention. India has provided refuge to
hundreds of ethnic groups, such as Tibetans since 1959, Sri Lankan Tamils, Afghan
Sikhs and more. Despite lacking a formal refugee law, India respects and adheres
to non refoulement principles and is one of the world’s most diverse countries
today. India hosts over 200,000 refugees and asylum seekers and has actively
participated in providing international aid. Their proactive involvement in SAARC
and BIMSTEC shows their commitment to regional refugee management.
Unfortunately, there are multiple discrepancies in India’s refugee policies and the
Indian government has been openly racist and xenophobic in terms of the groups
it accepts on multiple occasions.

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South Africa
South Africa has historically positioned itself as a supporter of refugee rights while
facing challenges in implementing its policies effectively. It is a signatory to the
1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 protocol and has pledged to protect
refugees and asylum seekers however the country has struggled severely with
minority violence, xenophobic and unsafe environments and bureaucratic delays
in processing its refugee claims which don't align with its optimistic stance. South
Africa hosts a significant refugee population, primarily from countries such as
Zimbabwe, DRC and Somalia. According to UNHCR, 268,000 refugees and asylum
seekers are held by South Africa but the government struggles to provide them
with healthcare, education and safety. South Africa’s foreign policy focuses on
regional cooperation and peacekeeping however in recent years has faced
criticism for instances of xenophobic violence.

Germany
Germany has been at the forefront of efforts to address the global refugee crisis,
especially in light of the events in Syria. Since 2015, Germany has welcomed a
sizable number of asylum seekers with a comparatively open door policy.
Germany's humanitarian response peaked in 2015 when more than a million
refugees, mostly from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan, applied for asylum there. The
administration of Chancellor Angela Merkel led initiatives to offer resettlement
opportunities and humanitarian relief. Germany's position acknowledged the
demographic and economic advantages of integrating refugees while
emphasizing the moral duty to support those escaping conflict and persecution. In
terms of foreign policy, Germany has advocated for a coordinated European
Refugee Crisis Response and pushed for burden sharing mechanisms, however,
these initiatives are widely understood to be actions of consolation in an attempt
to cover up for the First and Second World Wars. Germany played a leading role in
the EU - Turkey Agreement of 2016 aimed at improving the living conditions of
refugees and has donated over 4 billion euros in the pursuit of these goals.

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Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia holds a puzzling stance on refugee acceptance and matters
regarding asylum seekers. While they have created a portfolio of sufficient
humanitarian aid they have been highly selective and exclusive with their refugee
and asylum seeker process. Saudi Arabia has been a significant donor to the
Syrian Refugee Crisis and has contributed millions of dollars to aid in stabilizing
living conditions but this does not distract from the fact that Saudi Arabia does not
have a formal refugee settlement program and has historically not accepted large
numbers of refugees. These decisions are influenced by regional security concerns
and geopolitical interests, showcasing how Saudi Arabia’s financial prosperity and
comfort matters more to them than the lives of IDPs. Saudi Arabia has instead
focused much of its attention on stabilizing its neighbouring countries to ensure
security.

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 Past Resolutions by the UN
UN Security Council Resolution No. 1325 (2000): Addressed the impact of war on
women and the need for the involvement of women in conflict resolution, peace
negotiations and post-conflict resolution. This resolution makes clear the need to
protect women and children from gender-based violence with an emphasis on
individuals who are refugees or internally displaced.

UN General Assembly Resolution No. 46/182 (1991): This resolution focuses on

strengthening international cooperation and the infrastructure of humanitarian
emergency assistance. Along with the protection of refugees, it also calls on
nations to provide more resources and aid for IDPs.

UN General Assembly Resolution 70/147 (2015): Makes the protection of

immigrants and their living conditions a top priority. This resolution calls for
measures to combat discrimination, xenophobia and violence against refugees
and migrants. It additionally pleads for inclusive policies and practices to be put
into motion by member nations.

UN Human Rights Council Resolution 6/32 (2007): Human Rights of minorities are
focused on in this resolution. The protection and promotion of the rights of the
people belonging to national or ethnic groups as well as their cultural practices.
Preventative measures to ethnic cleansing are also put forward.

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Questions a Resolution Must Answer
1. What can be done to prevent violent uprisings, coups and extremism and
terrorism by refugees?

2. Can a framework to control the violence be created, and which UN

committees should be responsible for the same?

3. What should be done if refugees are not accepted into their neighbouring
countries, how can hosts be located, and transport be made available to
refugees in question?

4. What actions should be taken against countries which are participating in

minority violence or state-sponsored genocide?

5. How can more focus be brought to the fundamental freedoms of refugees

and immigrants?

6. Beyond the prevention of violence, how will the social, cultural, and other
needs be looked after by countries housing immigrants/refugees?

7. How can member states coordinate efforts to create more opportunities for
struggling immigrants in their host countries?

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 Sources to Use
The Right Sources:
1. Official UN Websites, Articles, and Libraries
2. UN Ratified Sites. Eg: Aljazeera, Britannica, Amnesty International, etc.
3. Governmental Websites (of your country)
4. Websites ending with “.org” that follow fact-based reporting
5. Websites of NGOs (that your country is associated with)

These sources are verified with accurate information your portfolio could use. A UN
website is the most reliable as it is UN-ratified and gives you more in-depth information
about your country’s stance.

The Wrong Sources:

1. Buzzfeed
2. Wikipedia
3. Quora
4. Websites ending with “.com” that have a vested interest
5. Op-ed articles

All of the sources listed above are opinionated with the perception of the article’s writers.
These sources also answer questions from a person’s individual knowledge domain with no
proven accuracy.

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Preambulatory and Operative Clauses

Preambulatory clauses:
Acknowledging Fulfilling Taking note
Affirming Fully alarmed Viewing with appreciation
Alarmed by Fulfilling Welcoming
Approving Aware of
Fully alarmed Noting with appreciation
Believing
Fully aware Noting with approval
Bearing in mind
Confident Fully believing Noting with deep concern
Congratulating Further deploring Noting with regret
Contemplating Further recalling Noting with satisfaction
Convinced Guided by Observing
Declaring Having adopted Pointing out
Deeply concerned Having considered Reaffirming
Deeply conscious
Having considered further Realizing
Deeply convinced
Having devoted attention Recalling
Deeply disturbed
Deeply regretting Having examined Recognizing
Deploring Having heard Referring
Desiring Having received Reminding
Emphasizing Having studied Seeking
Expecting Keeping in mind Taking into account
Expressing its appreciation Noting further. Taking into consideration
Expressing its satisfaction

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Preambulatory and Operative Clauses

Operative clauses:
Accepts Designates Recommends
Affirms Encourages Regrets
Approves Endorses Requests
Appreciates Expresses its hope Resolves
Asks Further invites Seeks
Authorizes Further proclaims Strongly affirms
Calls for Further recommends Strongly condemns
Calls upon Further requests Strongly urges
Condemns Further resolves Suggests
Congratulates Hopes Trusts
Confirms Proclaims Transmits
Deplores Proposes Urges

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