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Topic 1: Combating Human Trafficking

The Third Committee was created with the mandate of protecting and promoting human rights. According to the U.S. Department of State, Trafficking in Persons Report in 2007 nearly 800,000 persons are trafficked internationally each year. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime released a report, Trafficking in Persons: Global Patterns, in April 2006 which concluded that the trade in Human beings affects roughly 161 countries. In December 2000 the United Nations produced the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish Trafficking In Persons Especially Women and Children, also known as the Palermo Protocol, which was a protocol to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (resolution 53/111). The protocol successfully defined human trafficking but also called for the criminalization of trafficking, the prevention of human trafficking, and the protection of especially vulnerable persons from trafficking predators.

Currently the definition of “Trafficking in persons” shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organ”

Unfortunately, the very scope of the above definition is problematic and many humanitarian NGO’s argue it must be altered. The debatable definition explains how this influential crime has underdeveloped debate.

Human trafficking is the third largest criminal industry in the world after arms and drug dealing, and it is the fastest growing criminal activity. The large number of people and countries involved in this modern day form of human slavery makes the topic of Human Trafficking an excellent option for SOCHUM. Delegates will find this alarming topic intriguing and engaging because of the level of empathy generated considering this modern form of slavery. The plethora of statistics and information makes this topic reasonably researchable for high-school students. The committee would be charged with evaluating the current UN protocol and seeking out improvements. The currently existing framework to combat this social issue is young and needs adjustment. The true challenge lies in the methods of implementation of these already existing and future policies. Delegates will first consider their own country’s internal trafficking situation and share ideas internationally to improve their individual situations. Then, delegates will collaborate internationally to further curb the occurrence of global trafficking.

Topic 2: Advancing Women in Government and Politics

There are 192 members of the United Nations, but only ten have a female president, and only six have female prime ministers. Women have made significant strides as working professions in modern times but the world of politics remains a “man’s game.” General trends indicate that women have assumed more roles as social reformers and entrepreneurs but not as government officials and politicians. Information from the Inter-Parliamentary Union shows that only 18.9% of parliament seats, 19.1% of lower single house seats, and 17.9% of upper houses senate seats globally are held by women. As of 2003 Rwanda was the closest country to reaching parity between men and women of any national legislature. The Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Affairs Committee was created with one objective of advancing women. In the past the Third Committee has worked on efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women, improve the situations of women in rural areas, and combating all forms of discrimination against women. The topic of advancing women in government would be on par with past work done by this committee. This topic most importantly would afford delegates the opportunity to work towards achieving the Millennium Goal that seeks to promote gender equality and empower women. Within this Millennium Goal there is the set goal of empowering women by placing them in positions of political decision making. By debating this issue delegates will focus on viable options that give women political empowerment tools.

As politics becomes increasingly important in the daily lives of global citizens it is critical that our global governments represent the global segment of women. Delegates will find a plethora of information regarding women’s suffrage, political empowerment, and participation in regional government for every region of the world. This is a perfect issue for SOCHUM to discuss because it not only affects every nation of the world but also integrates elements of culture, social practices, religion, education, history, and politics. Most importantly the core of this issue is the protection of a minority’s right to equal political representation. By empowering women politically and promoting their positions in governments a whole new perspective on global issues will be obtained. Delegates will be charged with investigating what elements are preventing women in their countries from being politically active and running for office. Furthermore delegates can create solutions that ensure women are given fair opportunities to gain political office in a heavily patriarchal political system.