The Role of the Human Rights Committee

Continuing with this year’s theme of "united towards a better legacy", the Iberian Model United Nations (IMUN) has undertaken a strategic replacement of the previous Special Conference. This decision was made due to the increasing significance of environmental and human rights issues over the past decade, leading to the establishment of two separate committees: The Environmental Committee (EVC) and the Human Rights Committee (HRC). This year the HRC agenda issues included the questions of “same sex couples right to marriage and adoption”, “compulsory and coerced sterilization”, “supporting low-income communities including access to healthcare, education and employment opportunities”, and “racial discrimination as a result of a rise in nationalism”. To gain an understanding of the HRCs role, the Press team conducted interviews with the most engaged delegates, including representatives from Saudi Arabia, India, Bulgaria and the United States. The interviews were conducted as follows:

Interviewer: “Why do you think HRC is important?”

Saudi Arabia: “It’s important to promote human rights, especially given recent events in Israel and Palestine. However, claiming that same sex couples have the right to marriage and adoption infringes on our culture and religion, and Saudi Arabia believes it is its right to reject this. So, although this State believes HRC is important, it would say it has long way to go.”

India: “India thinks HRC is important as it covers the aim of the United Nations – to respect the rights of the people – while other subdivisions of IMUN only factor into the overarching UN goal of human rights.”

Bulgaria: “HRC is important because, regardless of events happening in the world and nations’ religious views, human rights should always be respected.  Dedicating a committee to this encourages these discussions, that are vital for humanity.”

United States: “The HRC is the most important committee in IMUN. How can we focus on any other issues without beginning with equality for all?”

Interviewer: “Which of the HRC agenda issues does your country prioritize and what is their stance?”

Saudi Arabia: “As stated previously, same sex couples right to marriage and adoption infringes on Islamic religion and laws implemented on the basis of the Quran. So, Saudi Arabia is looking forward with cooperating with likeminded delegates. After all, what is the world without the preservation of traditional values?”

India: “India focuses on compulsory and coerced sterilization, which unfortunately plays a role in its history. India wants to prevent the rise of the population but without coercing people into any medical procedures.”

Bulgaria: “Bulgaria’s most prioritized issue is the one regarding poverty, as Bulgaria has many poor provinces and underprivileged communities that do not have access to basic human rights. Bulgaria’s stance is that we should work on making healthcare, education and so on, more accessible to people. Therefore, this delegate has been pushing for improving transportation infrastructure, which would add new job opportunities and connect isolated towns to major city centers with schools and hospitals.” 

United States: “The issue the US prioritizes the most is same sex rights to marriage and adoption.”

Although the opinions of delegates vary between HRCs agenda issues, there is a unanimous consensus: all nation representatives agree on the importance of the newly established Human Rights Committee. This shared understanding reinforces the committee’s pivotal role in shaping a better legacy, as envisioned by this year’s IMUN theme. The diversity in perspective and shared commitment to negotiating these global challenges emphasizes the determination to forge a path toward a more promising future.