General Assembly CommitteesThe General Assembly Committees form the core of UMMUN. Each of these committees hosts between 50 and 60 delegates and represents a standing United Nations body. Students can expect to debate both current events and ongoing global issues. Disarmament and International Security (DISEC)DISEC deals with issues of international arms proliferation, reduction and security. Topics for the 2008 conference include: Armed Conflict in the Darfur Region of SudanViolence has continued to engulf the Darfur region in western Sudan. A dispute over possible secession and deteriorating conditions has culminated in years of fighting between government militias and rebel groups. The United Nations has investigated numerous reports of violence, claims of genocide, ethnic cleansing, displacement and rape. However, these investigations have lead to little positive response to the fighting. The Sudanese government has reacted negatively to any promise of peacekeeping efforts, calling any UN response an act reminiscent of colonialism. The Disarmament and International Security Committee should work towards preventing future violence and establishing any sense of stability in Sudan. The Conflict in IraqSince the overthrow of the Saddam Hussein regime, tensions between Shiites and Sunnis have erupted into a violent conflict. At the heart of the Middle East, the conflict threatens to destabilize diplomatic and economic relations for neighboring nations. Several different nations continue to support the conflict and have helped to escalate the violence. Military support of both factions continues to stem from Iraq's neighbors, and its deflection would undoubtedly help to limit the ongoing conflict. Special Political and Decolonization (SPECPOL)SPECPOL handles territorial disputes and questions of sovereignty between nations. Topics for the 2008 conference include: Drilling Under the Arctic Ice
The ocean floor is rich in oil, and many nations bordering the region have been exploring. Last year Russia planted a flag on the sea bed claiming the land for the Kremlin. Issues that arise are national sovereignty, the peaceful use of the seas, and natural resources. Many nations don’t want anyone to control the ocean floors. UN doctrine denotes any land outside of 3 miles of a country’s coast as international waters. Naturally, this tends to the ocean floors as well. Or does it? Nuclear Proliferation in North KoreaThe crisis in North Korea is as difficult to understand as the difference between proliferation and non-proliferation. No one knows what goes on in Kim Jong-Il’s empire, but one thing is for sure, they have Nuclear weapons. Sending inspectors to Pyong Yang will be perceived as a breach of sovereignty, but otherwise, the situation may lend itself to harming world peace. Economic and Financial (ECOFIN)ECOFIN addresses topics of international fiscal policy. Topics for the 2008 conference include: Science and Technology for DevelopmentScience and technology are vital to the economic development of all nations, and the Economic and Financial Committee will focus on how developing nations can obtain the scientific expertise and technological resources they need to progress economically and socially. The applications of science and technology in nation-building are vast. Developing economies need to develop sustainable fuel resources, and modern science provides numerous alternatives to the burning of limited fossil fuels. Agriculture greatly benefits from improved methods of cultivation and irrigation, and new ecologically-friendly strategies can yield more productive harvests. Provision of scientific education to developing nations will create a skilled workforce which will propel these countries into the modern international economy, allowing them to be competitive in a global market. Additionally, scientific education and resources can help these nations tackle many of their social and demographic problems, including population growth, infant mortality, and the prevalence of infectious disease. An emphasis on computer science and engineering can help develop and sustain physical infrastructure, which is the backbone of economic growth. With more scientific resources and technological education available, developing countries can begin to lift themselves out of poverty. Delegates are expected to debate various ways that the United Nations can help developing countries to achieve such scientific and technological advancement, and will also discuss how the UN can work to promote scientific education in impoverished communities worldwide. Delegates will be expected to work cooperatively in deciding upon a realistic international course of action, and will also have to take into account the high monetary cost and human capital necessary to establish scientific and technological infrastructure in developing nations. External Debt Crisis and Development One major macroeconomic policy challenge developing nations are facing in the 21st century has to do with the looming debt crisis and its hindrance on development. Total debt stock of the developing countries rose from US$1,421.6 billion in 1990 to US$2,384.2 in 2002. Debt-servicing efforts in these nations constitute one of the major blockades to sustainable development, and in turn remove funds that could otherwise be used for enhancing the economy and promoting development. Furthermore, the General Assembly has noted that enhanced market access for goods and services of export interest to developing countries greatly contributes to the sustainability and adequate servicing of debt obligations. It is suggested that delegates work together to form a realistic, time-efficient, and mutually agreeable plan to finance this debt in such a way that nations will be able to further national economic development while continuing to meet debt obligations. It is also recommended that delegates work with established institutions within the United Nations system, the Bretton Woods Institutions, and the International Monetary Fund whose respective missions encompass the assistance of devising solutions to such issues. Delegates should build upon existing UN Resolutions within the Economic and Financial Committee while remaining cognizant of the limitations of the General Assembly, particularly while considering the political misuse of funds originally earmarked for development assistance. Finally, the inherently global nature of economics should be taken into account, and can be done so through the fostering of regional and international cooperation among these states. Social, Cultural and Humanitarian (SOCHUM)SOCHUM delegates will debate humanitarian relief issues as well as cultural questions. Topics for the 2008 conference include: Religious IntoleranceWhile many religious groups are persecuted around the world, there are many such groups that also discriminate against secular groups. The issues of separation between church and state, as well as freedom of religion, are central to this topic. With dozens of conflicts around the world having at least some religious roots, the problem of religious intolerance is of the highest priority and concerns the entire international community. Rights of Women in Prisons Although the violation of women’s rights in prison has existed for decades, there is little public awareness on the issue. Since the late 20th century, the rate of women in prison has grown drastically in comparison to the rate of men sentenced to prison. In most countries, women constitute a minority of the prison population: usually between 2% and 8%. Prison systems and prison regimes are mostly designed to hold male prisoners—from security procedures, to facilities for healthcare, and family contact. Women’s prisons are adopted from men’s prisons. Thus, prisons tend not to meet the needs of women prisoners, and women in prison are affected by imprisonment in a particularly harsh way. All too commonly, the human rights, including medical care, sexual discrimination, the lack of childcare, and basic dignity of women in prison are violated and the issue of helping the children rehabilitate after they return from combat. Prevention and Treatment of Pandemics With increased trade and travel from country to country, the spread of diseases has become an important issue facing the international community. With growing concerns about the potential spread of Bird Flu, SARS, and tuberculosis, the exponential increase of AIDS victims, the world is arguably facing a heath crisis. We focus on the four diseases listed above as examples, but obviously the discussion should not be limited to just those diseases. World Health Organization (WHO)The WHO addresses issues of global public health. Topics for the 2008 conference include: Pediatric HIV/AIDSThe HIV/AIDS pandemic is one of the most significant and pressing public health challenge facing countries around the world. Children in particular are noticeably vulnerable to HIV infection for a number of social and economic reasons including poverty, sexual exploitation and violence, and lack of access to HIV information. With different partners, WHO is working to promote universal access to HIV prevention, care and treatment for children. There is, however, much progress that still needs to be made. Areas of discussion for this topic may include expansion of education programs to broaden HIV awareness, the strengthening and enhancement of health care systems, and the development of strategies to ensure a larger number of children receive antiretrovirals. Organ Trafficking Organ trafficking is a threatening technique where a third party recruits, transports, transfers, or harbors a person using threats, force, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, or abuse of authority for the purpose of removing that persons organs. The issue of organ trafficking is a pressing challenge facing many countries around the world. The scope of organ trafficking has been difficult to assess due to its underground nature. This increasing demand for donated organs, uncontrolled trafficking have prompted a serious re-evaluation of international guidelines and has caused the World Health Organization to reevaluate its role in gathering epidemiological data and setting basic normative standards. WHO has called for more protection for vulnerable people who would be tempted to sell their organs for as little as 1000 dollars. Much needs to be done to fix this situation. Human Rights Council (HRC) The HRC discusses and enforces human rights standards and violations. Topics for the 2008 conference include: Multinational Corporations and Human Rights RegulationPresently, some of the largest economies in the world are comprised of multinational corporations instead of countries. A multinational corporation is defined as a "business enterprise with manufacturing, sales, or service subsidiaries in one or more foreign countries." Originating in the 20th century, these transnational corporations develop new products in its native country and manufacture them abroad, often in developing or underdeveloped countries, gaining "trade advantages and economies of labor and materials." As these corporations establish permanency in the world economy, various student coalitions, non-governmental organizations, and intergovernmental organizations have raised concerns about human rights violations committed by these global conglomerates. Many of these violations entail outsourcing products to countries where wages, and other work and social conditions are at its lowest. Name brand corporations like Nike, J. Crew, and Tommy Hilfiger have been accused for using sweatshop labor. On an even more troublesome level, corporations like Coca-Cola and Unocal have been charged for killing workers, farmers, and residents. Though these atrocities continue to occur, the afflicted countries have little incentive in reporting these corporations as they increase revenue and production. Also, because many of these corporations are not regulated under official laws, it is often difficult to recognize violations and report to organizations like the UN. As these corporations expand, it is becoming apparent that there's a pressing need to address these human rights abuses more strictly. Rights of Displaced Children Worldwide, there are millions of children living in orphanages and other similar institutions. Even more children are displaced from their homes by conflict and natural disaster. However, these children are often abandoned by the system. In many developing nations, children are frequently treated inhumanely or completely ignored. Countries with particularly negative reputations include Romania, Russia, and China. Additionally, as a result of the current AIDS crisis and the situation in Darfur, more children are orphaned and/or displaced everyday, and often in countries which are not equipped to raise children in any sort of system. Furthermore, children who are taken way from their parents as a result of being deprived or living in an unsafe environment are often treated no better once they become part of the system. Substandard, overcrowded housing, lack of proper medical care, physical and mental abuse, and denied access to education are frequent occurrences in the lives of these children. Further awareness of this issue is needed so rights-based solutions can be found
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Committees 
