The UN This Week document discusses several issues that the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and other UN bodies have been addressing: 1) The UNHRC has urged several countries to repeal discriminatory laws, including Kenya removing a law stripping women of land after divorce, Libya placing restrictions on freedom of expression, and Uganda repealing anti-gay laws. 2) In Venezuela, thousands are protesting the detention of students amid rising crime and economic hardship. The UNHRC has condemned the killing of journalists and is pressuring Venezuela to stop prosecuting journalists with terrorism charges. 3) The UNHRC has made a large effort to address human rights issues in North Korea through raising awareness and

1. The UN This Week
19-02-14

2. UNHRC
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Has been urging nations to change discriminatory and undemocratic laws:
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Kenya - Effort to repeal marriage property tax that will strip women of land after divorce.
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Libya - A new law could place restrictions on freedom of expression. The new law will issue
prison time to those who are deemed to be insulting the current authorities or challenge their
legitimacy.
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Turkey - UN has expressed concern that companies in Turkey may be given the right to
block access to websites without a court order.
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UNAIDS - Pressuring Uganda to repeal anti-gay laws in order to promote AIDS awareness
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What can be done by HRC?
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Name and shame.
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Encourage lobbying from NGOs.
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Use UN mission in these countries to work with legislators to repeal these laws.

3. Venezuela
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Thousands of people in Venezuela are participating in protests
against the detention of student demonstrators.
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Rising crime rates and increasing economic hardship in the country.
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UNHRC has condemned the loss of 3 journalist’s lives and continues
to pressure the government to stop them prosecuting journalists with
terrorism charges.
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Violence comes 1 year after Venezuela withdrew from the American
Human Rights Convention.
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UN mission to Venezuela did not expand once Venezuela withdrew.
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Could the UN have done more to prevent this situation?

4. DPRK
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Huge recent effort by UNHRC to address human rights issues in
naughty Korea.
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Raising international awareness.
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Calling for open dialogue.
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Just published a detailed report of the crimes committed by the
DPRK government against its people.
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Sent all research to the ICC which will hopefully indict DPRK
officials, however it is unlikely to be able to prosecute them unless
intervention occurs or the guilty parties leave the country.

5. Malakal
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UN aid to the South Sudan city of Malakal has
once again been interrupted by conflict.
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Presidential and vice presidential forces broke
ceasefire
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UNMISS (UN Peacekeeping mission in South
Sudan) has made vague threats that they will
start to use any means necessary in order to
protect those in Malakal

6. Speech writing
Opening speech (1-1.30 minutes)
• Introduction
• Explain your country’s position on the topic
• Address sub issues you specifically want to
focus on
• Summarise your points if it’s a long speech
• Thank you – yield remaining time.

7. Resolution writing
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Any delegate can write one – author states are called ‘sponsors’.
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A resolution contains all the problems a committee wants to solve
(perambulatory terms) and the solutions to those problems
(operative clauses)
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Usually written in unmoderated caucuses
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The ultimate goal of a committee is to pass a resolution (to
provide a solution to the problem implied in the topic)
•
http://bestdelegate.com/model-un-made-easy-how-to-write-aresolution/

8. Researching
Charters/Treaties/Past Resolutions
Official UN websites (specialised agencies)
Reputable news outlets
Official governmental websites (Press releases)
CIA World Fact-book
Wikipedia
http://bestdelegate.com/research/