Post on 25-Feb-2021
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
Welcome Delegates,
We are Hana Schlosser and Angie Lo, and we are the Secretaries-General for the UCI Model United Nations 2019-2020 school year. We are honored to serve as part of your Secretariat this year and are excited for everything we have planned for the conference. We truly hope you find our conference to be enjoyable as well as engaging and educational in nature.
Hana is a 4th year Biomedical Engineering major with passions in both biology and politics. This is her fourth year participating as part of the UCIMUN Conference Staff, previously serving as Assistant Director of Ad Hoc on Terror, Director of SOCHUM, and Director-General. She originally joined UCI’s MUN program because she wanted to continue intellectual discussions outside of STEM after participating in Speech and Debate throughout high school. Hana truly loves the MUN program at UCI because it allows her to improve upon skills such as public speaking and diplomacy while also providing her a family at UCI. Outside of her studies and MUN, Hana enjoys playing music, cooking, and playing basketball.
Angie is a 3rd year Sociology and Political Science double major. She has been involved in MUN since freshman year of high school, and loved her experiences there so much she wanted to continue it onto college. She served as Secretary-General of her high school MUN club in her senior year and as a part of UCIMUN, has been an Assistant Director and a Director for General Assembly, and Under-Secretary-General of Mains. When not busy with her school, UCIMUN and work, she likes drawing, playing video games and doting on her pet fish.
This year, we really hope for you all to take to heart the paramount nature of coming up with solutions to the topics we have chosen. Our theme this year, “addressing global human security and its impacts”, was carefully selected because we would like to emphasize the number and severity of global issues which affect everyday people. With your research and your resolutions, we would like you all to delve into ways to benefit as many people as possible, because global issues go beyond nations and governments—they affect all of us.
Our staff’s goal, as always, is to provide delegates with high quality debate and an opportunity to immerse themselves in an intellectual discussion of issues that are relevant to the community around them. Please feel free to reach out to us, our USGs, or our Directors anytime between now and our conference. We are here to help you in any way we can. Thank you for your time, and we look forward to seeing you in the Spring! Sincerely, Hana Schlosser and Angie Lo Secretaries-General UCIMUN Secretariat 2019-20 ucimunsg@gmail.com
UCIMUN | 2
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
Welcome Delegates!
I am excited to welcome you to our 28th Annual University of California at Irvine, Model United Nations High School Conference. My name is Kyle Petersen and I will serve as you Under-Secretary-General of the Mains Committees. Along with the Secretaries-General, Ashima and I have been working tirelessly to create an incredible conference for you this spring. I am truly excited to see all of the hard work you have put into preparing for this conference.
Outside of Model United Nations here at UC Irvine, I am a 3rd year Business Administration Major specializing in Finance and Management. I have been involved with Model United Nations for seven years now, and it has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Model UN has helped me tremendously in my personal and professional life. It was also one of the major influences to do a year abroad in Milan, Italy, to study international banking and finance at Bocconi University. Model UN has helped shape me to become the person I am today, and I hope it will help you do just the same.
Model UN will help you grow into a better and a more worldly individual. Whether UCIMUN is your first conference or your fifth, take it as a learning experience. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and grow. The dais will be there to guide the debate and help facilitate the learning experience; however, the direction in which the committee goes is up to you and your fellow delegates.
You will be tasked with embodying a country and its policy; for some of you, this will be extremely easy because this country’s policy matches your own opinions, while for others, this can be quite difficult. No matter the case you will then have to work with delegates whose objectives are the exact opposite of your own. I entrust that each and every one of you will uphold the diplomacy of the United Nations and work together in a professional manner in order to find the best solution to the problem at hand.
I hope that you will have just as much fun as I have in preparing for this conference and I cannot wait to see what your debate has in store. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact myself or your dias, as we will be more than happy to help. I wish you all the best and cannot wait to see you this April! Sincerely, Kyle Petersen Under-Secretary-General of Mains Committees UCIMUN Secretariat 2019-20 usgmains@gmail.com
UCIMUN | 3
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
Hello Delegates!
Welcome to UCI Model United Nations’s 28th Annual High School Model United Nations Conference! I am very pleased to introduce you to the Third Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee (SOCHUM).
My name is Sangho Seog, and I will be your director of SOCHUM. This will be my third year in the Model United Nations program here at the University of California, Irvine. I joined UCI Model United Nations (UCIMUN) as one of many extracurricular activities I could find on campus during my freshman year, and it turned out to be the most amazing experience I had at UCI so far.
I am a third-year here at UC Irvine, majoring in Political Science and International Studies. My specific focus is on the economic development model East Asian countries have adopted in their development stage and I am currently planning on writing a thesis on the topic, with the help of faculty members here at UCI. In addition to UCIMUN, I am part of many on-campus activities; for example, I currently work with the UCI YouTube channel to produce quality videos for the Anteater community. I’m also a part of a mentoring program to help high school students pursue their field of interest and enhance their knowledge on global and international issues such as globalization, nuclear proliferation, the refugee crisis and more.
The topics for SOCHUM this year are (A) Countering Xenophobia and Persecution of Minorities and (B) Sustainable Growth and Development in the least Developed Countries (LDCs). Globalization has progressed for nearly 3 decades, and the world is now connected more than ever. However, while nations around the world are getting to know one another more and more as each day passes, so does the distrust and detestation for each nation’s distinct culture, people and practices. Xenophobia is growing in many nations and so is the persecution of minorities within them. Furthermore, while globalization has fostered the economic growth of many countries and integrated them into the world economy, it also has dealt with great damage to the environment, and many today are still suffering from environmental insecurity. While it is important to pursue economic growth in the least developed countries, it is also important to make sure that the development is sustainable so to not cause irreversible damage to the environment. Both topics are of great importance in the world we live in and must be addressed by the international community to reaffirm the community’s commitment to safeguarding common social, cultural and humanitarian values that all of mankind benefits from.
I expect all delegates to go through thorough research and ensure that you are keen on the committee topics. The topic synopsis is meant to help you guide through your research—more like a starting point—and I expect all delegates to research further and gain comprehensive knowledge on the topic.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I’ll be seeing you all on the day of the conference! Sincerely, Sangho Seog Director, Third: SOCHUM ucimun3rd@gmail.com
UCIMUN | 4
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
Topic A: Countering Xenophobia and the Persecution of Minorities
Introduction
Xenophobia refers to an attitudinal orientation of hostility against non-natives in a given
population. The word xenophobia originally comes from the Greek word xénos—meaning “the
stranger” and “the guest”, and phóbos—meaning “the fear”. It often overlaps with racism, but
they are distinct phenomena. While racism focuses on physical attributes like skin color and
facial features, xenophobia is concerned with “foreign” ideas and behaviors.
Although the global community has been committed to countering xenophobia
worldwide, globalization and new migration patterns—which enabled the large movement of
populations from industrializing societies to industrialized societies—have caused xenophobic
and racist movements to resurge in several societies in the world. Increased competition between
states due to globalization and gradual internationalization of labor markets have negatively
influenced those living in the margins of society as they have to compete with newcomers for
jobs and public welfare. Such transformation has generated a social and political climate right for
xenophobia to breed, and the world once again saw a resurgence of xenophobic and racist
movements (UNESCO, 2017).
Xenophobic and racist movements mainly target social groups that are perceived to be
outsiders, such as asylum-seekers, non-nationals, migrants and refugees. Even though article 1 of
the 1992 United Nations Minorities Declaration defines minorities as based on “national or
ethnic, cultural, religious and linguistic identity”, currently there is no internationally agreed
definition of minorities as countries could not reach agreement on what groups constitute
minorities (OHCHR, n.d.). Therefore, the definition of the minorities in this conference will be
UCIMUN | 5
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
“national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities” - the one that is usually referred to by the
United Nations human rights system (OHCHR, n.d.).
Nearly all states have one or more minority groups within their national boundaries who
can be characterized by their national or ethnic, religious and linguistic identity distinct from that
of the majority population. However, although numerous international conventions encourage
states to guarantee the protection of the rights of minorities, too often minorities face multiple
forms of discrimination from the majority population of society, which results in exclusion and
marginalization (Panter, 2017).
In both cases, what is important is to promote and implement international human rights
standards that perceived outsiders and persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and
linguistic minorities need not face discrimination, exclusion, and marginalization from the
mainstream society. Furthermore, states should discourage xenophobic and racist movements
that usually target these marginalized people and ensure inclusion and safety for all.
Description
The international community has put an enormous effort to eliminate xenophobia and
racism from the face of our planet. Probably the most groundbreaking international agreement on
human rights standards is the 1965 International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Racial Discrimination or ICERD. Article 2 of the Convention states that state parties are obliged
to eliminate racial discrimination and promote understanding and respect of the dignity of the
human being by all appropriate means. Furthermore, Article 4 of the convention obliges state
parties to punish incitement to racial discrimination and declare illegal and prohibit racist
organizations (OHCHR, n.d.). The ICERD has had a significant impact on the municipal law of
UCIMUN | 6
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
multiple countries as many countries enacted legislation that follows the standards in the
convention (Grant, 2017). Furthermore, it laid the foundation for multiple international human
rights conventions that would come into effect later in the century, such as the 1993 Vienna
Declaration and Programme of Action.
The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, or VDPA, reaffirmed that the
universal nature of human rights is unquestionable and all human rights are universal,
indivisible, interdependent and interrelated (OHCHR, n.d.). The most important takeaway from
the Vienna Declaration is that it confirmed the universality of human rights, disproving claims
that human rights are not universal but rather culturally, historically and socially contextual and
contingent (BBC, n.d.). In addition to this, the declaration led to the founding of the United
Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, a leading UN entity on human rights entrusted to
promote and protect all human rights for all people.
Another important international human rights convention includes the 2001 Durban
Declaration and Programme of Action, or DDPA. It reasserted principles of equality and
non-discrimination as core human rights, assigned primary responsibility to combat racism,
xenophobia and related intolerances to states, and emphasized that racism is a global concern and
countering it should be a universal effort (United Nations, 2009).
However, despite the effort of the international community and implementation of a
series of international human rights conventions, xenophobia, racism, and related intolerance
remains a serious issue for people worldwide. At SOCHUM’s 71st session, during 39th & 40th
meetings in 2016, delegates from UN member states and human rights experts expressed their
concerns for the rise of racism and xenophobia worldwide. Delegates reported that the
UCIMUN | 7
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
resurgence of racism and xenophobia was visible in public discourse, media, and political
rhetoric, and especially against migrants, refugees and people of African descent. The delegates
urged greater commitment to ICERD and condemned signs of pervasive racism: hate crimes
against minorities, discrimination, and violence toward migrants and refugees, race-based police
brutality, etc (United Nations, 2016). Furthermore, they expressed disappointment for the slow
implementation of DDPA and delayed formulation and initiation of compliance and enforcement
mechanism for several international human rights conventions.
What can be seen here is that acts of xenophobia, racism, and related intolerances
continue to this day despite numerous international human rights conventions. Not only those
who are perceived to be outsiders, like migrants and refugees, but also national, ethnic, linguistic
or cultural minorities within the community are threatened by the resurgence of xenophobia and
racism.
Syrian female refugees face dual discrimination based on gender and ethnicity in Turkey,
a country that hosts the world’s largest community of Syrian refugees. These refugees have
distinct national, ethnic and linguistic identities for the majority of the Turkish population and
face limited access to the Turkish labor market, and face additional risks like physical and sexual
violence (Duran, 2018). Furthermore, the Turkish refugee protection regime is insufficient to
meet the needs of refugees, eventually leading to the inaction of the Turkish government in
regulating exploitation and abuse of Syrian female refugees as unpaid sex and household
workers (Kivilcim, 2016). Minorities with distinct national and ethnic identity face xenophobia,
racism and violence all around the world.
UCIMUN | 8
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
Persecution of the Baha’i faith is consistent throughout Southwest Asia and Iran where
their teachings are inconsistent with the dominant faith in the mainstream society. The very
expression of affiliation to the faith is illegal, organizational structures are banned, and believers
face unexplained court summons, arrest orders and arbitrary detentions (Ghanea, 2019). The
United Nations General Assembly expressed serious concern for the Islamic Republic of Iran’s
ongoing severe limitations and restrictions on the right to religion or belief - including attacks on
Baha’i places of worship and cemeteries- and noted arbitrary arrests, detention, and incitement of
hatred against religious minorities (UNGA, 2018). Despite pressure from the international
community, religious minorities - not only limited to the Baha’i - face forced cultural
assimilation and incitement of hatred against them all around the world.
Russian language speakers in Eastern Europe face challenges in their everyday lives as
local governments take measures to weaken the status of the Russian language in the region. In
Ukraine, a law that only allowed the Ukrainian language to be spoken in official settings has
been in effect since April 2019. The law outlined that people acting in official capacities must
only speak Ukrainian, set quotas for films, television and books in Ukrainian and banned
attempts to use any other official languages. Significant Russian-speaking minorities expressed
concerns that their access to education, public service, and the labor market will be limited due to
linguistic differences and they could potentially face criminal charges because of the use of the
Russian language (Luhn, 2019). In Latvia, parliament has voted legislation that will effectively
increase the use of Latvian language and significantly decrease the use of the Russian language
in minority schools, limiting Latvia’s Russian minorities’ access to education. Russian minorities
denounced the move as discriminatory and expressed concerns for limitation to access to higher
UCIMUN | 9
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
education (Gotev, 2018). In both cases, the Russian government expressed serious concerns and
referred to these legislations as human rights violations (RFE/RL, 2019). Like Russian-speaking
minorities in Eastern Europe, linguistic minorities all around the world face the threat of forced
assimilation and limitation of basic rights if they do not surrender.
Bloc Positions
European Bloc
The European Union condemns and rejects all forms of racism and intolerance since they
are incompatible with the founding values of the EU. The EU had established various
legislations and institutions to counter racism, xenophobia and related intolerance. One example
of such legislation is the Victims Rights Initiative that establishes minimum standards on the
rights, support, and protection of all victims of crime. Furthermore, the initiative aims to pay
particular attention to victims who have suffered “a crime committed with a bias or
discriminatory motive” (European Commission, 2019).
The European Commission facilitates information exchanges through several expert
groups and networks, particularly the EU High-Level Group on combating racism, xenophobia
and other forms of racism (2019). The group’s goal is to support EU and national efforts on
ensuring effective implementation of relevant legislation and policies to combat and prevent
practices such as racism, xenophobia, hate crimes, hate speech and related intolerance (2018).
Moreover, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, or ECRI, acts as a
monitoring agency to systematically respond to the issue of racism and xenophobia and EU
member states. The ECRI makes policy recommendations like enacting both specific and
UCIMUN | 10
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation that covers fields like housing, employment,
education and access to social services (n.d.).
Unfortunately, racism and xenophobia in non-EU member states are proliferating as
municipal governments do not put as much effort as their EU counterparts (2019).
African Bloc
African states have a great interest in the issue of racism, xenophobia, and related
intolerance. For instance, speakers from the African Group - a group composed of
representatives from African countries at OHCHR - voiced concerns at OHCHR meetings
regarding the treatment of people of African descent, refugees, minorities and migrants. Togo,
Egypt, Nigeria, Tunisia, and Libya reiterated concerns about continued racial discrimination and
xenophobia and called on the global community to enact and implement legislation and policies
against racism and xenophobia (OHCHR, 2018).
Furthermore, African countries not only call out for non-African countries to combat
racism and xenophobia, but they are also putting effort to counter such intolerance in their
content as well. Such effort includes South Africa’s five-year plans to raise public awareness
about anti-racism and equality and increase anti-discrimination efforts and Tunisia’s
criminalization of racial discrimination (Grewal, 2018). However, in most cases, the African
governments lack means to effectively address the problem (Bremmer, 2019).
Northern & Southern America Blocs
Many governments in North and South America condemn and reject all forms of racial
discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance, and respective governments have
implemented effective policies to combat the problem.
UCIMUN | 11
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
In the United States, for instance, federal law prohibits discrimination based on a
person’s origin, skin color, religion, etc. The U.S. Department of Justice is concerned at
safeguarding people’s civil rights and punish individuals who conduct criminal violations
motivated by racist and/or xenophobic ideas (2015). Furthermore, there is civil rights law at both
federal and state-level that protects minority populations and ensures equal employment, access
to education and social services, civil and political rights (n.a., n.d.).
In Canada, the government acknowledges that multiculturalism and diversity are at the
core of Canadian values and actively promote such principles through government policies and
relevant legislation. Canadian constitution entrenches the charter of rights and freedoms and laws
that protect minorities (2005). Additionally, the Canadian parliament regularly collects reports
regarding taking action against systemic racism and xenophobia and make recommendations on
solving the issue (2008).
The Mexican government also strongly rejects racism and xenophobia and implement
necessary legislation and policies to protect minorities and oppose racial discrimination. The
Mexican government has been implementing various action plans and programs to strengthen the
protection of fundamental rights of its citizens based on the constitution that expressly prohibit
discrimination on the grounds of ethnicity. Mexican federal anti-discrimination laws have been
amended to cover broader topics and federal agencies are addressing rising racist / xenophobic
sentiment surrounding migrants from Central America (OHCHR, 2019).
South American governments are similar in the manner with the global community that
they too reject and condemn racial discrimination and xenophobia and aim to protect minorities.
For example, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), an autonomous organ
UCIMUN | 12
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
of the Organization of American States, holds regional consultations on the campaign against
racial discrimination, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance with the aid of OHCHR. Such
consultations sought to improve cooperation between inter-American and international human
rights mechanisms and propose cooperation in the campaign against racial discrimination,
xenophobia and related intolerance (OAS, 2018). Moreover, the OAS recognizes difficulties
minorities in the region are facing and have created a series of mechanisms to support the rights
of the minorities (2017).
Asia & Pacific Blocs
Asian & Pacific countries are lagging behind other countries in the global community in
terms of the development of legislation and policies to effectively counter racial discrimination,
xenophobia and other forms of intolerance. Only a handful of countries in the region have
comprehensive anti-discrimination law that expressly prohibits racial discrimination (Mitsumori,
2017). Despite most countries in the region nominally oppose racism, racial discrimination,
xenophobia, and intolerance of minorities, most countries in the region not only lack legal and
institutional framework to address the problem but also have serious issue with racial
discrimination, xenophobia, and intolerance toward ethnic and religious minorities (Russel,
2018).
International Human Rights bodies have expressed grave concerns over discriminatory
aspects of the legal system in Asian & Pacific countries and challenge ethnic, religious and
linguistic minorities face in the region (OHCHR, 2018).
UCIMUN | 13
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
Committee Goals
The Dais calls on delegates to work together with other delegates that have different
views on the issue to come up with a comprehensive and feasible plan that can address the
problem of racism and xenophobia on the rise.
The chair also highly smiles upon delegates to be creative and cooperative when working
with delegates that might propose solutions that are completely different from your own. The
issue of racism and xenophobia cannot be solved by the effort of one state alone and all members
of the global community need to be part of the effort.
The Dais welcomes delegates to work together with other delegates who have similar
concerns, interests or policies to provide a solution to this issue.
Research Questions
The Dais will provide you with some research questions that would help you gain a better
understanding of the topic and should assist you in proposing a solution based on your country’s
concerns, interests, and policies. The questions are:
1. How should the existing global human rights regime be utilized to address the issue?
Should they be reformed or not?
2. How much effort did your country put in implementing recommendations provided by
international human rights bodies?
3. What would be the solution to solve the discrepancy between the internal politics of
states and the requirements of the international human rights regime? (i.e. some states
often do not follow international human rights standards due to internal politics)
UCIMUN | 14
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
4. Finally, what is your country’s stated goal regarding racism, racial discrimination,
xenophobia, and other related intolerance?
UCIMUN | 15
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
References
A EU High Level Group on combating racism, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance.
(2019, March 18). Retrieved from
http://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/just/item-detail.cfm?&item_id=51025.
Article 5. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/human/race_rep1/article5.html
AsiaNews.it. (2018, September 19). Churches, societies and religions facing xenophobia, racism
and nationalism. Retrieved from
http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Churches,-societies-and-religions-facing-xenophobia,-ra
cism-and-nationalism-44970.html
Bremmer, I. (2019, September 6). What the Xenophobic Violence Gripping South Africa Means.
Retrieved from
https://time.com/5671003/what-the-xenophobic-violence-gripping-south-africa-means-fo
r-future-of-country/.
Combating racism and xenophobia. (2019, May 7). Retrieved from
https://ec.europa.eu/info/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/combatting-discriminati
on/racism-and-xenophobia/combating-racism-and-xenophobia_en.
Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination reviews Mexico's report. (2019, August
9). Retrieved from
https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=24886&Lang
ID=E
Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination reviews the report of China. (2018,
August 13). Retrieved from
UCIMUN | 16
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=23452&Lang
ID=E
Duran, N. (2018). Türkiye Ve Avrupa İş Piyasalarında Suriyeli Mülteci Kadınlar: Çifte
Ayrımcılık Bağlamında Meydan Okumaları Tanımlamak. Sosyal Siyaset Konferansları
Dergisi/Journal of Social Policy Conferences, (75). doi: 10.26650/jspc.2018.75.0008
Durban Review Conference, 20-24 April 2009, Geneva. (2009). Retrieved from
https://www.un.org/en/durbanreview2009/ddpa.shtml.
ECRI - Country monitoring in Ukraine. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.coe.int/en/web/european-commission-against-racism-and-intolerance/ukrain
e.
EU High Level Group on combating racism, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance -
Knowledge for policy European Commission. (2018, November 15). Retrieved from
https://ec.europa.eu/knowledge4policy/organisation/eu-high-level-group-combating-racis
m-xenophobia-other-forms-intolerance_en.
European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) Standards. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.coe.int/en/web/european-commission-against-racism-and-intolerance/ecri-st
andards.
Federal Protections Against National Origin Discrimination. (2015, August 6). Retrieved from
https://www.justice.gov/crt/federal-protections-against-national-origin-discrimination-1.
FoNet, & N1 Belgrade. (2019, April 30). Albanians in Serbia: Intolerance of minorities,
especially Albanians on the rise. Retrieved from
UCIMUN | 17
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
http://rs.n1info.com/English/NEWS/a480212/Albanian-Council-in-SAerbia-warns-about-
rising-xenophobia-in-the-country.html.
Ghanea, N. (2009, March 12). Iran's persecution of Bahá'ís is devastating. Retrieved from
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/4979875/Irans-persecution-of-Baha
is-devastating.html.
Gotev, G. (2018, June 24). Latvia's school language reform irks Russian minority. Retrieved
from
https://www.euractiv.com/section/languages-culture/news/in-latvia-school-language-refor
m-irks-russian-minority/.
Government of Canada. (2005). Canada’s Action Plan Against Racism. Retrieved from
http://publications.gc.ca/site/archivee-archived.html?url=http://publications.gc.ca/collecti
ons/Collection/CH34-7-2005E.pdf
Grant, S. (2017, March 21). What is the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination? Retrieved from
https://rightsinfo.org/explainer-convention-elimination-race-discrimination/.
Grewal, S. (2018, October 15). In another first, Tunisia criminalizes racism. Retrieved from
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2018/10/15/in-another-first-tunisia-cri
minalizes-racism/.
Human Rights Council holds general debate on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and
related intolerance. (2018, September 25). Retrieved from
https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=23629&LangI
D=E.
UCIMUN | 18
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
Human Rights | BBC World Service. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/people/features/ihavearightto/four_b/treaties_vienna.s
html.
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. (n.d.).
Retrieved from https://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CERD.aspx.
Introduction. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Minorities/Pages/introduction.aspx.
Kalumbila Minerals Employee. (2018, October 22). Zambia : Employees complain about racism
and apartheid at Kalumbila minerals. Retrieved from
https://www.lusakatimes.com/2018/10/22/employees-complain-about-racism-and-aparthe
id-at-kalumbila-minerals/.
Kivilcim, Z. (2016). Legal Violence Against Syrian Female Refugees in Turkey. Feminist Legal
Studies, 24(2), 193–214. doi: 10.1007/s10691-016-9323-y
Lee, C. (2018, November 8). Human rights report says Korea has 'serious racism problem'.
Retrieved from http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20181108000721
Legislation against racism and intolerance. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.coe.int/en/web/european-commission-against-racism-and-intolerance/legisla
tion-to-combat-racism-and-racial-discrimination.
Luhn, A. (2019, April 25). Ukraine passes law against Russian language in official settings.
Retrieved from
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/04/25/ukraine-passes-law-against-russian-langua
ge-official-settings/.
UCIMUN | 19
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
Mavhinga, D. (2019, March 25). South Africa Launches Plan to Combat Xenophobia and
Racism. Retrieved from
https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/03/25/south-africa-launches-plan-combat-xenophobia-an
d-racism.
Mehr News Agency. (2019, April 3). Iran warns against spread of xenophobic networks.
Retrieved from
https://en.mehrnews.com/news/143741/Iran-warns-against-spread-of-xenophobic-networ
ks.
Migration and inclusive societies. (2019, December 17). Retrieved from
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/social-and-human-sciences/themes/international-migratio
n/glossary/xenophobia/.
Minorities under international law. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Minorities/Pages/internationallaw.aspx.
Mitsumori-Miller, M. (2017, June). Anti-Discrimination Laws in Australia and Japan: ヒューラ
イツ大阪. Retrieved from
https://www.hurights.or.jp/archives/focus/section3/2017/06/anti-discrimination-laws-in-a
ustralia-and-japan.html
OAS. (2018, December 14). OAS - Organization of American States: Democracy for peace,
security, and development. Retrieved from
https://www.oas.org/en/iachr/media_center/PReleases/2018/269.asp
OAS. Promoting the Rights of Indigeneous People of the Americas. Retrieved from
http://www.oas.org/en/sla/dil/indigenous_peoples.asp
UCIMUN | 20
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
OAS. The Afro-descendant Theme in the Americas. Retrieved from
https://www.oas.org/dil/afrodescendants.htm
OHCHR. (2018, December 3). Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination discusses
situation Republic of Korea and Norway with civil society. Retrieved from
https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=23967&Lang
ID=E.
OHCHR. (2018, October 24). Iran: UN expert says human rights should be at the heart of the
response to challenges faced. Retrieved from
https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=23768&Lang
ID=E.
Panter, E. R. E. (2017, May 1). Economic marginalization of minorities: Do laws provide the
needed protections? Retrieved from
https://blogs.worldbank.org/psd/economic-marginalization-minorities-do-laws-provide-n
eeded-protections.
Persistent persecution of Bahá'í in Yemen 'unacceptable,' and must stop, says UN expert | UN
News. (2017, May 22). Retrieved from
https://news.un.org/en/story/2017/05/557852-persistent-persecution-bahai-yemen-unacce
ptable-and-must-stop-says-un-expert.
RFE/RL. (2019, July 16). Russia, West Clash During UN Session On Ukraine's Language Law.
Retrieved from
https://www.rferl.org/a/law-on-ukraine-state-language-comes-into-force/30057943.html.
UCIMUN | 21
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
Race Discrimination: Applicable Laws. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://civilrights.findlaw.com/discrimination/race-discrimination-applicable-laws.html.
Racism, Xenophobia Increasing Globally, Experts Tell Third Committee, amid Calls for Laws to
Combat Hate Speech, Concerns over Freedom of Expression | Meetings Coverage and
Press Releases. (2016, November 1). Retrieved from
https://www.un.org/press/en/2016/gashc4182.doc.htm.
Russell, J. G. (2018, June 3). Face the reality of racism in Japan. Retrieved from
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2018/06/03/commentary/japan-commentary/face-r
eality-racism-japan/
Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage. (2018, February). TAKING ACTION AGAINST
SYSTEMIC RACISM AND RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION INCLUDING
ISLAMOPHOBIA. Retrieved from
https://www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Committee/421/CHPC/Reports/RP9315686/chpcrp
10/chpcrp10-e.pdf.
United Nations General Assembly, A/C.3/73/L.42. (2018, October 31). Retrieved from
https://undocs.org/A/C.3/73/L.42.
Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/Vienna.aspx.
UCIMUN | 22
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
Topic B: Sustainable Growth and Development in Least Developed
Countries
Introduction
Sustainable development, a term that first appeared in the Brundtland report from the
1987 United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development, refers to a type of
development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs (LLSD, 2019).
In 1972, 113 delegates from United Nations member states met at Stockholm, Sweden
and held the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment to discuss the impact of
human activities on the environment and raise awareness for the global environment (UNSD,
n.d.). Also known as the Stockholm Conference, it is remembered as the first major UN
conference on international environmental issues that marked a turning point in international
environmental politics as it led to the development of the United Nations Environmental
Program, or UNEP (Maekin, 1992).
Since the 1972 Stockholm Conference, multiple international environmental agreements
were made by the international community. These agreements include the 1979 Geneva
Convention on long-range transboundary air pollution, the 1985 Helsinki Protocol, the 1987
Montreal Protocol, and the 1989 Basel Convention, all of which had important implications that
facilitated multilateral cooperation among states in the global community to address
environmental issues mankind was facing (UNECE, n.d.). These agreements laid the foundation
for more comprehensive development to be made in international environmental politics, which
is the first United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.
UCIMUN | 23
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
UNCED, also known as the Earth Summit, was held at Rio de Janeiro where
representatives from 178 states and non-governmental organizations met together to discuss
global environmental issues that would become central to policy implementation (n.d.). At the
conference, states agreed on creating the Agenda 21, a comprehensive action plan to be taken by
actors in the global, national and local level that encouraged them to work on issues like
changing consumption pattern, deforestation, biological diversity, international traffic of toxic
and dangerous products, etc (1992).
In addition to Agenda 21, states agreed on creating the Commission on Sustainable
Development to ensure effective implementation of the agreement made at the Rio conference at
local, national, regional and international levels. Full implementation of Agenda 21 and
commitment to principles agreed at the Rio conference were strongly affirmed at the 2002 World
Summit on Sustainable Development (n.d.).
In other words, the notion of sustainable development which first appeared at the 1987
United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development became more concrete
objective at the Rio conference in which the goal of sustainable development is to ensure socially
inclusive and environmentally sustainable economic growth (LLSD, 2019).
In 2015, all members of the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals,
also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by all United Nations member states in 2015 as a
universal determination to end poverty and solve environmental problems by 2030 (UNDP, n.d.).
All 17 SDGs acknowledge that the development must balance economic, social and
environmental sustainability and member states who agreed on 17 SDGs also established the
‘Leave No One Behind’ principle that encourages countries that have made more progress to
UCIMUN | 24
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
assist countries faltering to achieve their set goals (United Nations, n.d.). Additionally, the
UNDP is assisting UN member states in achieving SDGs by providing integrated solutions to the
problem - focusing on root causes, systems and connections between problems - and offer policy
expertise gained through a long period of track record working (n.d.).
Description
As mentioned before, the key goal of sustainable development is to pursue economic
development to an extent that does not hinder the well-being of future generations. This concept
that was established at the 1987 United Nations World Commission on Environment
Development is reflected on 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) that all United Nations
member states have adopted in 2015. Goal 8 of the SDG—decent work and economic
growth—is one good example of the key concept of sustainable development being implemented
in SDGs as the international community created a goal to promote sustained, inclusive and
sustainable economic growth (n.d.). Furthermore, Goals 9, 11, and 12 of SDG also call upon the
international community to promote sustainable industrialization, build sustainable communities
and ensure sustainable consumption of goods (n.d.).
However, the most important factor that limits some countries’ ability to participate in
achieving SDGs is that developing countries—especially LDCs—have a much lower level of
economic development than already developed countries. This is also connected to one of the
main challenges to sustainable development, which is the lack of financial resources to plan and
implement reforms to achieve sustainable development (Adhikari, 2018).
For instance, SDGs require states to provide quality education, affordable and clean
energy, innovation on infrastructure, climate action and so on. How could a developing country
UCIMUN | 25
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
that does not even have enough resources to solely focus on industrialization and economic
development—which heavily relies on ‘unclean’ energy production and traditional way of
development that largely neglects damage done to the environment—pursue goals that only ones
with spare resources have potential to achieve? (Adhikari, 2018).
Additionally, there is an issue with governance as corruption, the reaction from the public
and failures in the system slows down the reforms implemented by national and local
governments. One case study shows how bureaucracy and corruption in the government caused a
‘deadweight loss’—a large portion of resources assigned for achieving SDG being wasted in
transition (Carbon Brief, 2019).
In other words, for Least Developed Countries to overcome challenges of pursuing
sustainable development, developed countries and the international community need to
remember the “Leave No One Behind” principle and assist such states who are stagnating in
terms of progress toward achieving sustainable development.
Bloc Positions
European Bloc
Sustainable development has long been a core value of the European Union as the EU
recognizes that its social, economic and environmental problems that should be addressed
together. The European Union fully affirms the notion that economic development must meet the
needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs. Furthermore, it stresses that a life of dignity for all who live on this planet and reconciling
environmental responsibility, economic efficiency, and social inclusion is at the essence of
sustainable development (European Commission, n.d.).
UCIMUN | 26
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
The European Union has an outline to strategically approach the implementation of the
2030 Agenda, including the SDGs. The EU has taken several key actions to implement 2030
Agenda, which includes integrating SDGs into EU policies and initiatives, providing regular
reporting of EU’s progress toward achieving SDGs and launching a high-level multi-stakeholder
platform that supports the exchange of best practices on implementation at national and regional
level (European Commission, 2019).
In addition to the progress the EU has made at the regional level, it also assisted LDCs in
achieving SDGs. For instance, EU funding instruments such as the Development Funding
Instrument and the European Development Fund provide development aid to African, Carribean
and Pacific countries where many countries in the region are classified as LDCs (European
Commission, 2019). Furthermore, the EU is working with developing countries to promote
access to sustainable energy, affordable housing, responsible supply chains and business
practices, and so on (Kettven, et al., 2018).
Asia & Pacific Bloc
Asian & Pacific countries’ progress toward sustainable development varies greatly by
level of development and part of the continent they are on. Overall, more economically
developed on the eastern side of the continent tend to have made more progress in achieving
sustainable development whereas those in the western and southern parts of the continent tend to
lack results (Upadhyayg, 2019).
However, finance remains at the core of the problem in the Asia & Pacific region as well,
especially for developing countries. UN ESCAP—Economic and Social Commission for Asia
and the Pacific—estimated that investment of $1.5 trillion for Asia-Pacific developing countries
UCIMUN | 27
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
would be required to finance SDG programs in those developing countries and yet it remains a
complicated task that requires unprecedented coordination between public and private sectors
(Subhanj, et al., 2019).
Although developing countries in the region have made progress toward goals like SDGs
1, 3, 5, 10 and mobilized more financial resources through domestic reforms, much more needs
to be done in terms of enhancing efficiency of expenditures, strengthening compliance and
promoting institutional capacity for national and local governments to pursue SDGs (UNDP,
n.d.).
Americas & the Carribean Bloc
The United States of America has made a remarkable effort to implement the changes
required to pursue SDGs. Since the adoption of SDGs in 2015, the United States government
reported that the United States has made progress in almost all sectors, such as renewable
energy, food insecurity, good health, resilient infrastructure and education (UNDP, 2017).
In addition to achieving sustainable development in the home front, the United States
government also assists LDCs with the hope that LDCs could improve the quality of life and
build a foundation for long-term developmental gains (USAID, 2019).
Like the United States, Canada is also putting a considerable amount of resources on
achieving sustainable development. The Federal Sustainable Development Strategy, or FSDS, is
the Canadian government’s primary tool for planning sustainable development for Canada that is
responsible for setting priorities and identifying government actions to achieve those targets
(Canada, 2018). With the FSDS and other related government agencies and programs, Canada
has made progress on achieving SDGs 6, 7, and 12 through 15 (Canada, 2019). In addition to
UCIMUN | 28
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
making progress, Canada is also increasing mobilization of public and private finance for
sustainable development to channel the funds for achieving positive development impact in
developing countries (OECD, 2018).
In Latin America and the Carribean, the United Nations Development Group is working
with local governments to prioritize populations who are marginalized and excluded. With the
help of the UNDG of Latin America and the Carribean (UNDP LAC), the regional commitment
to implement SDGs continue as countries in the region agreed that reduction of inequalities is at
the core of development. Furthermore, the UNDP LAC supports countries to achieve greater
synergy by strengthening practices and processes and provides practical support to countries by
offering strategic analysis, guidance and technical assistance (UNDP, 2018).
However, Latin American and Carribean states also face challenges when trying to
pursue sustainable development. Obstacles to sustainable development include lack of financial
resources and institutional capacity, little attention being paid to conserving the environment,
extreme poverty and corruption in the government, ethnicity, and significant disparities between
states and regions within the state (Nicolai, et al., 2016).
African Bloc
Despite challenges, African countries are also making “baby step” progress on
implementing SDGs. The SDGs have received numerous official endorsement from African
governments and have been incorporated into many official government action plans and
strategies (UNECA, 2018). Countries in Africa have made some progress in providing access to
safe water and efficiency in energy use, conservation and suitable use of mountain resources,
UCIMUN | 29
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
etc.; but these countries also need to address issues like rapid urbanization and the resulting
pollution, sanitation, air quality and conservation of forests (AFDB, 2018).
However, there is still a wide gap in understanding insufficiency in terms of achieving
SDGs and a lack of understanding and consideration for the financial resources required for
achieving SDGs. In other words, a lack of funding and resources poses the most significant
challenge for African countries to implement and monitor sustainable development. Furthermore,
most countries are not engaged in awareness-raising activities and many people in Africa are
unaware of their countries’ progress toward achieving SDGs (SDG, 2018).
Committee Goals
The Dais calls on delegates to work together with other delegates that have different
views on the issue to come up with a comprehensive and feasible plan that can address the
problem that LDCs face while pursuing sustainable development.
The Dais calls on delegates to be creative and cooperative when working with delegates
that might propose a solution that is completely different from yours. The issue of developing
countries facing challenges toward achieving sustainable development cannot be solved by the
effort of one state alone and all members of the global community need to be part of the effort.
The Dais welcomes delegates to work together with other delegates who have similar concerns,
interests or policies to provide a solution to this issue.
UCIMUN | 30
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
Research Questions
The Dais will provide you with some research questions that would help you gain a better
understanding of the topic and should assist you in proposing a solution based on your country’s
concerns, interests, and policies. The questions are:
1. How much effort did your country put in working toward achieving Sustainable
Development Goals set by the United Nations General Assembly?
2. Does your country hold any kind of historical responsibility or burden for any LDCs?
3. What would be the solution for the international community to assist LDCs in achieving
Sustainable Development?
a. Considering cases of internal challenges (i.e. corruption).
b. Considering cases of structural challenges (i.e. lack of financial resources).
4. What is your country’s stated goal regarding sustainable development? What is your
country’s policy on helping other countries (especially developing countries) for
sustainable development?
UCIMUN | 31
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
References
Adhikari, O. (2018, August 15). Sustainable Development and its Challenges in Developing
Countries - IYNF - International Young Naturefriends. Retrieved from
http://www.iynf.org/2018/08/a-guide-to-sustainable-development-and-its-challenges-in-d
eveloping-countries
Adhikari, O. (2018, August 15). Sustainable Development and its Challenges in Developing
Countries - IYNF - International Young Naturefriends. Retrieved from
http://www.iynf.org/2018/08/a-guide-to-sustainable-development-and-its-challenges-in-d
eveloping-countries
African Development Bank Group. (2018, December 5). New Africa's Sustainable Development
report urges improved planning to leverage potential of urbanization and address
attendant environmental challenges. Retrieved from
https://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/new-africas-sustainable-development-report-ur
ges-improved-planning-to-leverage-potential-of-urbanization-and-address-attendant-envir
onmental-challenges-18802
Agenda 21 .:. Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/index.php?page=view&nr=23&type=400&menu=
35
Basel Convention. (n.d.). The Basel Convention at a glance... Retrieved from
http://www.basel.int/TheConvention/Overview/tabid/1271/Default.aspx
CarbonBrief. (2019, October 24). Mapped: The world's coal power plants in 2019. Retrieved
from https://www.carbonbrief.org/mapped-worlds-coal-power-plants
UCIMUN | 32
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
Doshi, T. (2019, June 7). In Coal We Trust: The Need For Coal Power In Asia. Retrieved from
https://www.forbes.com/sites/tilakdoshi/2019/06/07/in-coal-we-trust-the-need-for-coal-p
ower-in-asia/#361616aa1222
European Commission. (2019, August 5). The Sustainable Development Goals. Retrieved from
https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/policies/sustainable-development-goals_en
European Commission. (2019, January 29). European Development Fund (EDF). Retrieved from
https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/funding/funding-instruments-programming/funding-instru
ments/european-development-fund_en
European Commission. (2019, June 26). EU approach to sustainable development. Retrieved
from
https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/international-strategies/sustainable-development-goals/e
u-approach-sustainable-development_en
European Commission. (n.d.). Sustainable development. Retrieved from
https://ec.europa.eu/environment/sustainable-development/
Government of Canada. (2017, May 4). Achieving a Sustainable Future: A Federal Sustainable
Development Strategy for Canada. Retrieved from
http://www.fsds-sfdd.ca/index.html#/en/intro/what-is-fsds#tabs
Government of Canada. (2018, December 11). 2018 Progress Report on the Federal Sustainable
Development Strategy. Retrieved from
https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/sustainable-development
/publications/2018-progress-report.html
UCIMUN | 33
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
Government of Canada. (2019, November 27). A Canadian Approach to Innovative Financing
for Sustainable Development. Retrieved from
https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/issues_development-enjeux_developpemen
t/priorities-priorites/fiap_fsd-paif_fdd.aspx?lang=eng
IISD. (2019, June 20). Sustainable Development. Retrieved from
https://www.iisd.org/topic/sustainable-development
IISD. (2019, June 20). Sustainable Development. Retrieved from
https://www.iisd.org/topic/sustainable-development
IMF. (2018, November 8). ASEAN Progress Towards Sustainable Development Goals and The
Role of the IMF. Retrieved from
https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/Policy-Papers/Issues/2018/11/07/pp101118asean-pr
ogress-towards-sdgs
India. (2017). Voluntary National Review Report on Implementation of Sustainable
Development Goals. Retrieved from
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/15836India.pdf
Kettunen, M., Bowyer, C., Vaculova, L. and Charveriat, C. (2018) Sustainable Development
Goals and the EU: uncovering the nexus between external and internal policies,
Think2030 discussion paper, IEEP Brussels, www.think2030.eu.
Meakin, S. (1992, November). THE RIO EARTH SUMMIT: SUMMARY OF THE UNITED
NATIONS CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT. Retrieved
from http://publications.gc.ca/Collection-R/LoPBdP/BP/bp317-e.htm
UCIMUN | 34
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China (2017, August). China’s Progress
Report on Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Retrieved
from http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/specials/China'sProgressReport2(CN).pdf
Nicolai, S., Bhatkal, T., Hoy, C., & Aedy, T. (2016, June 1). Projecting progress: the SDGs in
Latin America and the Caribbean. Retrieved from
https://www.odi.org/publications/10454-projecting-progress-sdgs-latin-america-and-carib
bean
OECD. (2018, September 14). Canada needs to increase foreign aid flows in line with its
renewed engagement. Retrieved from
https://www.oecd.org/newsroom/canada-needs-to-increase-foreign-aid-flows-in-line-with
-its-renewed-engagement.htm
Omoju, O. (2014, September 23). Environmental Pollution is Inevitable in Developing
Countries. Retrieved from
https://breakingenergy.com/2014/09/23/environmental-pollution-is-inevitable-in-developi
ng-countries/
SDG Center for Africa and Sustainable Development Solutions Network (2019, June). 2019
AFRICA SDG INDEX AND DASHBOARD REPORT. Retrieved from
https://s3.amazonaws.com/sustainabledevelopment.report/2019/2019_africa_index_and_
dashboards.pdf
Subhanij, T., & Hasannudin, Z. (2019, April 18). Rethinking finance for sustainable
development: Challenges and progress. Retrieved from
UCIMUN | 35
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
Sustainable Development Goals. (2017, November). Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security
and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. Retrieved from
https://sdg.data.gov/2-1-2/
Sustainable Development Goals. (2017, October 13). Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable
quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. Retrieved from
https://sdg.data.gov/4-1-1/
Sustainable Development Goals. (2017, October 15). Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote
well-being for all at all ages. Retrieved from https://sdg.data.gov/3-3-2/
Sustainable Development Goals. (2017, September 21). Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable,
reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. Retrieved from https://sdg.data.gov/7-2-1/
Sustainable Development Goals. (2017, September 21). Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure,
promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation. Retrieved from
https://sdg.data.gov/9-4-1/
Sustainable Development Goals. (n.d.). About the Sustainable Development Goals - United
Nations Sustainable Development. Retrieved from
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/
UN Conference on the Human Environment .:. Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform.
(n.d.). Retrieved from
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/milestones/humanenvironment
UN ESCAP. (2019, April 3). Financing for Development in Asia and the Pacific: Highlights in
the Context of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, 2019 Edition. Retrieved from
UCIMUN | 36
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
https://www.unescap.org/resources/financing-development-asia-and-pacific-highlights-co
ntext-addis-ababa-action-agenda-2019
UN Environment. (n.d.). About Montreal Protocol. Retrieved from
https://www.unenvironment.org/ozonaction/who-we-are/about-montreal-protocol
UN Sustainable Development. United Nations Conference on Environment & Development Rio
de Janeiro, Brazil, 3 to 14 June 1992, Agenda 21. Retrieved from
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/Agenda21.pdf
UNCED, Earth Summit .:. Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/milestones/unced
UNDP Africa. (2018, December 28). Africa Sustainable Development Report 2018: UNDP in
Africa. Retrieved from
https://www.africa.undp.org/content/rba/en/home/library/reports/africa-sustainable-devel
opment-report-2018.html
UNDP in China. (n.d.). Sustainable Development Goals. Retrieved from
https://www.cn.undp.org/content/china/en/home/sustainable-development-goals.html
UNDP. (2018, September). Challenges and Strategies for Sustainable Development in Latin
America and the Caribbean. Retrieved from
https://unsdg.un.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Challenges-and-Strategies-for-Sustaina
ble-Development-in-Latin-America-and-the-Caribbean.pdf
UNDP. (2018, September). Challenges and Strategies for Sustainable Development in Latin
America and the Caribbean. Retrieved from
UCIMUN | 37
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
https://unsdg.un.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Challenges-and-Strategies-for-Sustaina
ble-Development-in-Latin-America-and-the-Caribbean.pdf
UNDP. (n.d.). Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth. Retrieved from
https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/sustainable-development-goals/goal-8-dece
nt-work-and-economic-growth.html
UNDP. (n.d.). Goal 9: Industrial innovation and infrastructure. Retrieved from
https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/sustainable-development-goals/goal-9-indus
try-innovation-and-infrastructure.html
UNDP. (n.d.). SDG Integration. Retrieved from https://sdgintegration.undp.org/
UNDP. (n.d.). Sustainable Development Goals. Retrieved from
https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/sustainable-development-goals.html
UNECA. (2018). 2018 Africa Sustainable Development Report. Retrieved from
https://www.uneca.org/publications/2018-africa-sustainable-development-report
UNECE. (n.d.). Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution. Retrieved from
http://www.unece.org/fileadmin//DAM/env/lrtap/lrtap_h1.htm
UNECE. (n.d.). Protocol on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions. Retrieved from
https://www.unece.org/env/lrtap/sulf_h1.html
USAID. (2016, September 20). Sustainable Development Goals. Retrieved from
https://www.usaid.gov/globalgoals
USAID. (2019, May 7). USAID History. Retrieved from
https://www.usaid.gov/who-we-are/usaid-history
UCIMUN | 38
MODEL UNITED NATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE
UCIMUN 2020 | April 25-26, 2020 | sites.uci.edu/ucimun
Upadhyaya, H. (2019, July 8). Is India ready to meet Sustainable Development Goals? CAG
raises concern. Retrieved from
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/health/is-india-ready-to-meet-sustainable-develop
ment-goals-cag-raises-concern-65510
UCIMUN | 39