Committees

April 2021 conference committee CHOICES

• Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee (SOCHUM) (beginner/intermediate)

• House of Commons (all levels)

• UN Women (double delegation) (beginner)

• Historical Crisis Committee (HCC) (intermediate & advanced)

• The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (beginner & intermediate)

BEGINNER & INTERMEDIATE
Committee Overview:

The Social, Cultural, and Humanitarian Committee (SOCHUM), is the third committee of the UN General Assembly. Headquartered in New York, the committee is focused on combating discrimination, social justice, and other issues of human rights. This year, the topic focused on will be on coups d’état in the developing world, which has been on the rise since 2020. Delegates will discuss the humanitarian ramifications of these events, including their impact on democracy, human rights, and the role of the international community in their prevention.

- BACKGROUND GUIDE -

All Levels
Committee Overview:

At the heart of Canadian democracy lies the House of Commons, the elected body, and the lower chamber of Parliament. As the most valuable legislative body in Canada, the House holds 338 seats for its members, known as Members of Parliament, whose main duty is to represent Canadian voters from respective electoral districts. Members function as lawmakers by either introducing legislation themselves or initiating modifications to those introduced by the government and fellow members.

Contrary to traditional MUN committees, the House of Commons pushes members to engage in a policy-making process where party politics triumphs individual opinion. For this year’s ShawMUN conference, aspiring Members of Parliament will be examining and debating the widely contested and likely close-to-home topic of post-secondary education loans and affordability. Be it be forgiving student loan debt, which has received support from all federal parties to varying degrees, or reducing college tuition. With the current average price of post-secondary education in Canada being around $80 000, the fundamental right to education is at stake. 

A truly unique experience, the HOC offers an exciting opportunity for prospective members to dive into the fascinating world of parliamentary debate and procedures.

- BACKGROUND GUIDE -

BEGINNER ( DOUBLE DELEGATION)
Committee Overview:

The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), formed in 2010, is dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. With more than eighty percent of posts in the field, UN Women acts as a channel, reaching out to all women and girls to ensure their needs are met. UN Women works globally to make the vision of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals a reality to all women and girls, focusing on four strategic priorities: equal participation in governance systems and politics, promoting income security and economic autonomy, eliminating all forms of violence, and ensuring the voice of women and girls being heard and recognized. As a global champion, UN Women coordinates with governments and other organizations to promote the UN system’s work toward more women empowered and equal stage. Delegates will be debating on topics mainly focusing on ensuring the right of receiving proper reproductive healthcare and women’s participation in politics.

- BACKGROUND GUIDE -