The Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee
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The Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee (SOCHUM) deals with fundamental human rights in the international community. Founded in 1945 following the establishment of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, SOCHUM advocates and enforces the right to life, expression of culture, freedom of political participation, the protection of children’s rights, and the promotion of social development among several others. The committee’s legitimacy is derived from the United Nations Charter where it will operate to design solutions for social, humanitarian, and cultural complications in the international community.
During this conference, delegates will act as representatives in the General Assembly of SOCHUM to decide how SOCHUM will deal with the following issues.
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Decolonization is the process a nation undergoes to regain its political independence, native land/culture, and ways of thinking. It has been a prominent feature of society as colonial powers granted many of their colonies independence, increasingly so after the end of the Second World War.
While on paper, decolonization sounds ideal. Countries would finally have the right to self-determination and full utilization of their resources, granting them economic and political stability, the issue arises in that many of the colonies were granted independence with minimal or no support from their colonial powers. Countries were suddenly deemed free but were left without any support in establishing effective governments, infrastructure, or policies and in some instances, were left with minimal resources and wealth for their own continuance. Additionally, many colonial powers industrialized and gained economic prosperity as a result of the exploitation of the natural resources, labour, and wealth from their colonies, benefits that these colonies never received in return even after gaining independence.
This now leads us to the ongoing debate as to whether or not colonial powers should be accountable and take responsibility for their previous colonies. This debate circles around the responsibility colonial powers owe (find better word later) their colonies while still respecting the innate sovereignty of each nation. Despite colonialism formally ending, there exists many modern day equivalents called neo-colonialism. Neo-colonialism exists in forms like odious debt/foreign direct investment debt, unequal trade relationships, unbalanced agreements, and many others.
Today, many countries, especially in Asia, Africa, and Indigenous communities worldwide experience and still see the effects of colonialism in economic, political, and cultural aspects such as a loss of cultural identity, weak political institutions, corruption, poverty and inequality, dependence on other countries, and other effects.
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With the understanding that many colonial powers and colonies look different today than in previous eras, should each modern day equivalent colonial power be accountable to the modern day equivalent of its colonies?
What are some important cultural effects of colonialism seen today?
How can nations counter some of the issues experienced as a result of colonialism?
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Mass incarceration refers to the widespread usage of imprisonment in response to crime which results in an inflated percentage of incarcerations in a population. While prisons are intended to punish offenders and protect the public from criminals, mass incarceration becomes an issue when imprisonment is the primary response to crime. This results in over-crowded prisons and long-term social, economic, and political consequences on a society. The problem of mass incarceration is particularly prevalent in the Americas, especially in nations such as Cuba, El Salvador, and the United States.
During the 20th century, particularly the 1970s and the 1980s, mass incarceration rates began rising with increasing concerns about crime which led many governments to begin adopting stricter crime policies which included mandatory minimum sentence, three-strike laws which gave longer sentences to repeat offenders leading up to a life sentence, and stricter drug enforcement policies. Crime rates are also heavily influenced by slavery and colonialism as observed in the United States.
Ongoing debate surrounding mass incarceration lies in how it disproportionately affects marginalized communities such as racial/ethnic minorities, Indigenous peoples (same thing?), low-income individuals, and other populations are disadvantaged within the legal system. Another point of consideration are youth offenders. Punitive methods have been shown to increase the likelihood of youth reoffending as methods like correctional facilities disrupt education, employment possibilities, and social development. Those in favour of reform argue that these are reflective of broader inequalities in their respective societies at large in areas like inequalities in policing, housing, and sentencing. However, those in favour of incarceration argue that prisons play an essential role in upholding public safety and proving victims justice and compensation.
Currently, for incarcerated individuals, reintegration can often be difficult as imprisonment can limit access to employment, housing, education, and social services. There have been frequent incidents recorded of individuals who commit crimes in order to secure housing and food in prison as a result of poor social services available. Additionally, the living conditions of many prisons is also widely debated as many prisons operate past capacity and without proper resources, limiting access to healthcare, nutrition, and other basic supplies which often results in poor sanitation and increased violence in prisons. The Nelson Mandela Rules officially establish internationally recognized discard of humane treatment of inmates, ensuring their rights to healthcare, dignity, and safety.
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What are the ways in which rehabilitation could occur, especially among different legal frameworks in each country?
Should serious crimes committed by youth be considered for rehabilitation? What are the benefits and consequences of this?
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Position papers are due on February 12, 2025 in order to be considered eligible for an award.
contact: hsmun.sochum@gmail.com.