United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)

Committee Profile

The United Nations Human Rights Council focuses on promoting and protecting human rights as well as addressing violations of these rights around the world. This committee also specifically focuses on the need to ensure that every individual is aware of their basic human rights and can use them. The members of this council largely refer to pivotal UN documents including the Geneva Conventions and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The migrant and refugee crisis in Southeast Asia is an example of widespread human rights violations. Specifically, this issue involves persecution relating to one's religious and ethnic identity. The UN has released the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees which focuses on defining what a refugee is and ensuring basic rights such as housing, work, and education while displaced. Furthermore, the UN has also released a convention regarding the rights of minorities, including having the “right to enjoy their own culture, to profess and practice their own religion, and to use their own language” without any discrimination. It is also important to consider that as of 2021, Southeast Asia hosted 2.1 million migrants, and yet many countries in this region are not part of international refugee treaties.

Food insecurity and political violence in East Africa and the Horn of Africa address the right to food and national peace. The right to food is directly related to the right to an adequate standard of living, both of which are outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Furthermore, there are many rights involving not only national peace but also legal protection of individuals during conflicts. It is also important to consider how political violence and instability result in a variety of stemming effects including poverty and displacement, both which contribute to food insecurity. These two issues within these regions of Africa thus have led to an increasing movement of migrants and refugees. As of 2022, the region hosted nearly 5 million refugees and 10.7 million internationally displaced peoples (IDPs). It is important to consider solving not only the root causes – food insecurity and political violence – but also their effects – refugees, asylum seekers, IDPs.

Chair Letter

Hello Delegates!

My name is Mary Sharkoff (she/her), and I will be your UNHRC chair for BruinMUN this year.

I am a second year student at UCLA majoring in Molecular, Cell, & Developmental Biology as well as minoring in Biomedical Research. I currently hope to pursue a dual MD/PhD program after undergraduate to combine my love of research and interest in the medical field. When I’m not studying for classes I enjoy reading novels (romance and fantasy to be specific), baking an absurd amount of sweets for my friends and family, and rewatching any rom com starring Meg Ryan.

I first joined Model UN as a freshman in high school mostly as a way to overcome my fear of public speaking. However this program quickly turned into a passion which allowed me to expand my knowledge of international events and global issues while honing in on my debate skills. I have competed in a multitude of committees, whether it be a fictional Marvel one or discussing the proper disposal of nuclear waste, I always found myself enthralled by the ability to combine research and communication skills into a proper committee. Thus, I have continued my passion for MUN through college, serving as dias staff in last year’s BruinMUN and crisis backroom for our collegiate conference.

I invite every one of you to engage actively in research and discussion for this year’s topics in hopes of exploring plausible solutions to these complicated issues. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to the email below. I look forward to meeting you all and experiencing a great weekend of debate and solution-making this November.

Welcome to UNHRC!

Mary Sharkoff | Chair | BruinMUN 31

unhrc@bruinmun.org