UNCSW TOPIC BULLETIN HARNOOR SACHAR NEHA VAZARKAR - Academy model United Nations XXIII
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UNCSW
TOPIC BULLETIN
HARNOOR SACHAR
NEHA VAZARKAR
CHAIRS
PAGE 1 | AU TOPIC BULLETINContents:
Letters from the Chairs …………………………………………….…….. 3
Introduction ………………………………..………………………………… 4-5
Topic A: Child Marriage and Oppression in South Asia .…….. 6
Topic History ………………………………..………………………. 6-8
Current Situation ……….….…..….……………..…................. 8-9
Country Policy ……………………………………………..………… 9-10
Questions to Consider .………….…………….…..…………….. 10
Topic B: Online Harassment of Women …………………………… 11
Topic History ………………………………………………………… 11-13
Current Situation …………………………….….…..…………….. 13-14
Country Policy ….…………………..………………………………. 14-15
Questions to Consider .………….…………….…..…………….. 15
References …………….…………….…………….…..……………………. 15-16
PAGE 2 | AU TOPIC BULLETINAcademy Model United Nations
SECRETARIAT - THE TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL CONFERENCE -
AARON Hello Delegates,
THAMMAVONGXAY
SECRETARY GENERAL Welcome to AMUN XXII! We are so excited to witness some exciting debate and
productive resolutions during our time with you during this conference. My name is
KAYLYN LU
Harnoor Sachar, and I will be one of your chairs for CSW. I am a current junior at BCA,
CHARGÉ D’ AFFAIRES
in the Medical Science Academy, but my interests vary from STEM to humanities and
EMILY HASHEM politics.
DIRECTOR OF EXTERNAL Among all these, I am most certainly an activist for human rights and was lucky
AFFAIRS enough to spend a summer at Cambridge University in England, where I studied female
pioneers in politics. As I have discovered through my experiences in debate and Model
ALISHA MERCHANT
DIRECTOR OF EXTERNAL UN, by amplifying our voice and speaking on important issues, we begin to developed an
AFFAIRS evolved perspective on the world, which is the key to change.
I cannot wait to see the talent and passion in the conference room, and as your
CATHERINE PARK chairs, I hope you know that we are there to help you along the way. I wish everyon ethe
DIRECTOR OF INTERNAL
best of luck in your research and preparation. Of all things, I hope everyone attends the
AFFAIRS
sessions with the intention of learning new things and making new friends! See you all in
JIWON SON February!
DIRECTOR OF INTERNAL
AFFAIRS Best,
Harnoor Sachar, Co-Chair, UNCSW
ESTEBAN MEDINA
DIRECTORS OF OPERATIONS harsac22@bergen.org
VIDIT SHAH
DIRECTORS OF OPERATIONS Dear Delegates,
LAETITIA PARK
DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS My name is Neha Vazarkar and I am honored to be one of your co-chairs for
AMUN 2021. I am currently a junior at Bergen County Academies. I started Model
MICHAEL United Nations in my freshman year. The more conferences that I went to, the more
PAPADOPOULOS passionate I was about Model UN. Whether you are new to Model UN or have been to
DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY many conferences, I hope that all of you step out of your comfort zone to deliver
speeches and create solutions to real global problems. It might be hard at first but it gets
ELLIOT LEE
DIRECTOR OF COMMITTEES easier with time!
I am passionate about UNCSW because there are still so many problems that
ETHAN DONOVAN women around the world face on a daily basis. Many of these women cannot advocate for
CHIEF OF STAFF themselves, so we need to step up and advocate for them. Due to the complicated
historical backgrounds that these problems stem from, it is important to come up with
MARK KRAMER innovative and creative solutions to solve many of these problems.
FACULTY ADVISOR
Outside of Model UN I enjoy reading, writing, and drawing. I’m super excited to
ANDREA BUCCINO meet you guys and hear your interesting solutions!
FACULTY ADVISOR
Sincerely,
Neha Vazarkar, Co-Chair, UNCSW
nehvaz22@bergen.org
PAGE 3 | AU TOPIC BULLETINcommittee, as they can often
Introduction advocate for countries that are not
The UNCSW is the main global recognized by the United Nations.
body dedicated to gender equality They meet annually at a two-week
and women’s empowerment. It is conference to discuss the status of
one of the Economic and Social gender equality, identify
Councils (ECOSOC) of the United achievements already made, and
Nations. Founded on 21 June 1946, evaluate where gaps need to be
it was established as a means to closed.
promote, report on, and monitor
issues relating to the political, One of the main achievements of
economic, civil, social, and the UNCSW is the 1995 Beijing
educational rights of women. It was Declaration and Platform for
uniquely designed to draw Action. After the Beijing
attention to women’s concerns, Conference, the General Assembly
especially amongst the growing mandated the UNCSW to monitor
suffrage movements and gender the implementation of the
equality petitions around the world. declaration and to advise the
It marked the launch of a new ECOSOC based on its findings. The
leadership initiative for women and UNCSW has also helped to found
their fight for equality. The agencies for women such as
Executive Board of the CSW, UNIFEM and INSTRAW.
composed of 45 Member States that
The Commission adopts multi-year
are elected by ECOSOC, has
programs of work to appraise
thirteen members from Africa,
progress and make further
twelve from Europe, eleven from
recommendations to accelerate the
Asia, and nine from Latin America.
implementation of the Platform for
However, the UNCSW is one of the
Action. These recommendations
few commissions in the UN that
take the form of negotiated agreed
does not limit membership simply
conclusions on a priority theme.
to governments. NGOs (non-
The 2021 priority theme is
governmental organizations) are
Women’s full and effective
also critical members of the
PAGE 4 | AU TOPIC BULLETINparticipation and decision-making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. PAGE 5 | AU TOPIC BULLETIN
Topic History
Over 12 million girls are forced to
get married before the age of 18
each year. In South Asia, 3 in 10
girls are married before they turn
18. Child marriage violates the
rights of the girls involved, and can
happen as a result of many factors
based on the communities they
occur in. Financial strains, food
insecurity, and social or cultural
Topic A: norms are significant contributing
factors in child marriage.
Child Marriage and
As a result of child marriage, many
Oppression in young girls are denied
opportunities to learn and grow,
South Asia causing their development to be
seriously compromised. By
marrying off girls, which are seen
as economic burdens instead of
wage earners in many societies,
families are preventing themselves
from poverty by relieving
themselves of the responsibility of
one person. Younger girls can often
bring higher dowries to the bride’s
family as well, as they are providing
more time to the family and have
the opportunity to birth more
children. Young girls can also be
married off to pay off debts or settle
PAGE 6 | AU TOPIC BULLETINconflicts. In some traditional taken significant steps in
societies, marriage and child preventing child marriage, such as
bearing are the logical result of criminalizing child marriage in
entering puberty. Younger women 2006. In the Indian state of Bihar
are also seen as easier to shape and where child marriages are most
influence as well. prevalent, the state government
sent social workers around the state
UNICEF currently has a to bring awareness to priests that
Sustainable Development Goal to
they must sign declarations
eliminate child marriage by 2030 confirming that both bride and
and a global effort in part groom are of age before the
coordinated by UNICEF has helped wedding is conducted. However,
to prevent over 25 million child there is still a long process before
marriages between 2008 and 2018.
child marriage is officially
In 2012, the International Day of eliminated, as many of these
the Girl Child was celebrated for marriages often go unreported and
the first time on October 11, with a are now even more undercover as a
focus on preventing future child result of intense policing.
marriages.
Child marriage causes young girls
Child marriage is present in most to be separated from their families
societies throughout the world, but at a young and critical
is more prevalent in developing developmental age. They are unable
countries. South Asia comprises to get suitable opportunities as they
over 40% of all child marriages,
are expected to take on the roles of
mostly due to the large population older women, such as running a
and history of child marriages in household instead of learning
the society. Child marriage in South through school and play. Girls
Asia is often weaved with other without an education are three
societal problems such as sex
times more likely to get married
trafficking and dowries, making it before the age of 18, and girls that
difficult to tackle one issue without had education are often forced to
addressing the others. India has drop out once they become
PAGE 7 | AU TOPIC BULLETINmarried. There are major health
risks associated with child marriage
Current Situation
as well. Most teen girls are not The rate of child marriage in South
prepared to handle pregnancy and Asia has been declining from 63%
motherhood emotionally and in 1985 to 45% in 2010, with the
physically. Complications relating majority of the decline in marriages
to birth and pregnancy are the occurring before 15. However, a
largest cause of death globally for large problem still remains in child
girls between the age of 15-19. marriages happening for girls
These young girls are also scared to between the age of 15-18, so larger
speak up about their rights relating awareness must be garnered on the
to their body, leading to a higher negative effects of older adolescents
risk of domestic and sexual abuse getting married. Bangladesh, which
from their partners. has the highest rate of child
marriage in South Asia only has a
Child marriage creates a dangerous small fee or one month jail time for
situation for the young bride and conducting or failing to prevent a
her family, causing emotional child marriage. In Nepal, a father
damage that can last a lifetime. only paid 25 NPR and spent 3
Poverty is not only a leading cause nights in jail for selling his 13 year
for child marriage but is also old daughter into a child marriage.
continued as a result of it. The Furthermore, laws are already
uneducated women who were lenient on offenders, but enforcing
unable to fulfill their entire these regulations on a local level
potential are unable to help their leads to even less prosecution.
family economically, perpetuating Currently, many people view child
the poverty cycle once more. marriage as a family issue that law
enforcement should not get
involved in, which further
motivates people to continue the
process. Women are forced to
become pregnant soon after the
wedding, hopefully with a boy, to
PAGE 8 | AU TOPIC BULLETINprove their fertility. Soon, they are These are Saudi Arabia, Equatorial
expected to have more kids in a Guinea, Gambia, Somalia, and
small space of time, deteriorating Yemen. In India, the government
their health. has implemented many policies to
stop child marriage but it is
Overall, it is clear that child common in more rural
marriage has many devastating communities.
effects on the young girls that it
impacts, especially in South Asia. While some countries do have an
From deteriorating health to age minimum of 18, there are some
perpetuating the cycle of poverty in exemptions to this rule which can
the family to commodifying allow child marriages to continue.
women, South Asian women are For example, in Australia people
forced into a system that will below the age of 18 can marry with
significantly worsen their situation. judicial approval. In Iraq, Jamaica,
and Uruguay, child marriages are
allowed as long as the parents
approve. In countries such as the
Country Policy Philippines and Tanzania, there are
While this topic focuses on South different requirements based on the
Asian child marriage practices, religion the bride and groom follow.
child marriage occurs all around And in Bangladesh and Sudan, ages
the world, therefore, many are different based on gender, with
countries have stances on the issue. the minimum age for girls being
Member nations of the African younger.
Union, such as Algeria, Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Egypt, and In developing countries such as
Ethiopia have all signed the LEADS Afghanistan and Albania, while
approach, which is a campaign that minimum age requirements are set,
aims to end child marriage on the they are often broken in rural
continent.As of 2016, 6 out of the communities where forced
192 countries in the world do not marriages are common. Turkey,
state a minimum age for marriage. Mali, Sudan, and Cameroon are
PAGE 9 | AU TOPIC BULLETINsome of the countries currently developing policies to combat the practice. Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, two regions where the practice is relatively common, do not have national plans developed to ensure no more child brides. Questions to Consider What are the reasons child marriage take place? What are the consequences of child marriage on women? What can countries do to ensure regulations are being followed? What are the social implications of child marriage? How has the situation changed due to COVID-19? PAGE 10 | AU TOPIC BULLETIN
Topic History
Ever since the uprise of media,
various minority groups have been
subject to hate and harassment. A
large group that falls under this
category is women, especially those
who are verbal and active on their
platforms. A few examples of the
online harassment women face on
the daily include rape threats,
cyberstalking, blackmail, and more.
The internet is considered a critical
space for marginalized populations,
Topic B: especially because the spread of
information and posts is so rapid.
Online Harassment However, women have been unable
to feel safe, even behind their
of Women screens, and their online
oppression is often overlooked in
discussions of female harassment.
“Online violence against women is
an overt expression of gender
discrimination and inequality that
exists offline. Online, it becomes
amplified,” says Jac sm Kee of the
Association for Progressive
Communications (APC), a Global
Fund for Women grantee partner.
If social media apps and websites
continue to grow, women need a
transformation so that they are
PAGE 11 | AU TOPIC BULLETINguaranteed a safer space, rather increased since. Things peaked
than more exposure to threats and around 2017 when deaths began to
harassment. There are certain occur due to threats received
subgroups, such as female activists online.
and journalists, that are especially
Over the course of two decades, the
affected by hostility in online
ability to communicate over the
environments, as it interferes with
internet has advanced. While chat
their freedom of speech and job
rooms and old technology could
profile. Evidently, online assault
easily be tracked, the platforms
has more than just one effect, as it
have improved privacy settings, so
trickles down to various aspects of a
that people can reach out to others
woman’s life. The most important
while releasing limited information
aspect, however, is the overall
about themselves. This also applies
impact online harassment can have
to apps that do not record chats and
on the safety of women, especially
media, and it “disappears” after it is
considering that many virtual
sent.
threats turn into physical attacks
and incidents. Internationally, there have been
various cases of such abuse of the
Although the internet and social
internet and online
media are recent developments in
communication. In the Democratic
history, many incidents of
Republic of the Congo, two teens
harassment online have been
had private photos taken by a
recorded and witnessed.
boyfriend, which were posted on
Unfortunately, despite the small
Facebook without consent. A young
time frame, this behavior has been
girl in Bosnia and Herzegovina was
normalized, and because online
stalked and photographed, and her
tags and private accounts allow
stalker followed her online claiming
abusers to feel safe and protected,
they had a “forbidden love”. A
the treatment tends to be worse
human rights activist’s address was
than what is seen in person. Online
leaked in Pakistan, and the blog it
harassment campaigns have been
was posted on encouraged people
active since 2003 and have only
PAGE 12 | AU TOPIC BULLETINto kill her; consequently, she and nonconsensual use of photography
her husband were targeted in a and violent threats.
shooting a month later. These
Doxing is a common type of threat,
stories may sound like extreme
in which a woman’s personal
cases, but in a 2012 survey, 89
information, including address,
percent of local domestic violence
phone number, etc, are released to
programs reported that victims
the public, often after being hacked.
were experiencing intimidation and
Gender-based slurs are also
threats by abusers via technology,
common, and while not considered
including through cell phones,
a “threat”, they encourage
texts, and email. All of these
normalized sexism and misogyny
scenarios have the potential to turn
and put down women in the largest
into the human and civil rights
community in the world. There are
violations that have occurred in the
even more extreme cases of
past, which is why action is so
harassment, such as rape videos,
necessary.
which are used to shame or extort
innocent victims and have resulted
Current Situation in deaths by suicide in the past.
Sexual objectification is also
Online harassment continues to
incredibly popular, both in real life
present itself more and more often,
and online. However, online, a
as various new social media
woman has no voice, because they
platforms emerge. While many
are talking to a protected and
female empowerment campaigns
secure account, rather than a
have also taken flight online, new
person. Many predators create
forms of abuse have also emerged.
explicit photos or use their photos
Online abuse includes a diversity of
without consent on other, often
tactics and malicious behaviors
unsafe, websites, putting the
ranging from sharing embarrassing
woman’s life in danger.
or cruel content about a person to
impersonation, doxing, stalking, Not all harassment is conducted by
and electronic surveillance to the predators, however, or at least the
PAGE 13 | AU TOPIC BULLETINtype of predator that we assume. that almost 88% of female internet
Shaming is also a common type of users in China experienced some
attack, that is often seen amongst kind of abuse. Specifically, China’s
teenage girls, in which girls are “human flesh search engine” allows
ridiculed for their choice of clothing people to team up and publicly
or photography, insinuating a humiliate online targets, especially
sexual intention. This often goes social minorities. The country,
hand in hand with sexual or non- while boasting its censorship
consensual photography. capabilities, has no specific law
Regardless of the type of against cyberbullying.
harassment, the overall danger for
Russia and other eastern European
women on the internet has
countries have a similar issue with
increased, and we are currently
cyberbullying, but for a very
dealing with an issue that has the
different reason. It is suspected that
potential to threaten and hurt 51%
the authorities are involved in
of the population, especially as
making online threats through
media and technology expand day
patriotic websites and phone calls.
by day.
There are certain propaganda laws
in place that also inhibit activist
groups and minority protests.
Country Policy
Online harassment is certainly a Western European countries, such
global issue, and different countries as the UK, are much more
have taken various approaches, if advanced when it comes to anti-
any, in combating the problem. harassment campaigns and
China, for example, with the most regulation of online abuse of
internet users in the world (688 women. However, while the laws
million), has created uncensored are stricter, social media users do
platforms that leave many women not consider this enough.
susceptible to abuse. A 2016 poll According to a study by Amnesty,
conducted by women-focused only 23% of Facebook and 19% of
media platform Jianjiao showed Twitter users rated the platforms’
PAGE 14 | AU TOPIC BULLETINresponse in addressing online
abuse or harassment as adequate,
Questions to
versus 41% and 43% who Consider
considered it inadequate.
On which types of platforms are
Although different countries are women most susceptible to
dealing with this issue differently, if harassment?
at all, and it often depends on their
Which types of online attacks and
economic and social development,
harassment are most common and
there are also international efforts
why?
taking place in order to mitigate the
issue globally. For example, What type of control do countries
organizations like International have on online communication and
Federation of Journalists which kinds of restrictions/
encourage media organizations and movements can encourage a safer
journalists' trade unions worldwide space?
to take concrete steps to eradicate
online trolling and make clear to
women journalists subject to abuse
that they will not be left alone. References
Much of the regulation lies in the Topic A
hands of governments willing to https://www.unicef.org/rosa/what-
establish laws to enforce a stricter we-do/child-protection/child-
online environment that protects marriage
women and their freedom of
speech. https://www.worldvision.org/
child-protection-news-stories/
child-marriage-facts
https://www.ohchr.org/
Documents/Issues/Women/
WRGS/Earlyforcedmarriage/
NGOs_Individuals/CRR2.pdf
PAGE 15 | AU TOPIC BULLETINhttps://time.com/3305466/male-
https://www.nytimes.com/ female-harassment-online/
2018/03/05/world/asia/india-
child-marriage.html https://
www.womensmediacenter.com/
https://reliefweb.int/report/world/ speech-project/online-abuse-101/
child-marriage-south-asia-
evidence-review https://
onlineharassmentfieldmanual.pen.
https://www.dw.com/en/south- org/defining-online-harassment-a-
asia-is-home-to-highest-number- glossary-of-terms/
of-child-brides/a-17256037
https://www.scmp.com/abacus/
http://www.unicefrosa- culture/article/3029457/fighting-
progressreport.org/ online-harassment-hard-chinas-
childmarriage.html strictly-monitored-cyberspace
https://www.washingtonpost.com/ https://www.ifj.org/actions/ifj-
world/asia_pacific/child-marriage- campaigns/online-trolling-you-are-
drops-in-south-asia-leading-to- not-alone.html
global-decline/
2018/03/06/0ff0a15c-2110-11e8-9 https://www.theguardian.com/
46c-9420060cb7bd_story.html technology/2016/apr/12/online-
abuse-how-harrassment-revenge-
pornography-different-countries-
Topic B deal-with-it
https://
www.globalfundforwomen.org/ https://www.amnesty.org.uk/
online-violence-just-because-its- online-abuse-women-widespread
virtual-doesnt-make-it-any-less-
real/ https://ec.europa.eu/fpi/news/
new-survey-reveals-violence-
against-women_en
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