Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee (SOCHUM)
Topics: The Situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and
The Rights of Migrant Workers
Chairs: Daniel Gillespie and Ruchita Poddar
Contacts: daniel.gillespie@yale.edu, ruchita.poddar@yale.edu
Description: The Third Committee of the General
Assembly, SOCHUM, deals with issues relating to a wide range of social
and humanitarian affairs, and human rights issues that affect peoples
all over the world. This body has the power to not only draft
resolutions, but to draft conventions as well.
Source: http://www.un.org/ga/third/index.shtml
TOPIC A: The Situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo
TOPIC B: The Rights of Migrant Workers
Statement of the Issue
The rights of migrant workers have become a subject of international
concern as more and more wealthy countries face declining or stagnant
populations. These countries turn to foreign, cheap labor to fill the
labor gap and keep their economies growing, but often do not award
these workers the same rights or protection as their own citizens.
History of the Topic
In the Middle East, oil-rich gulf nations such as the United Arab
Emirates or Bahrain are flooded with foreign workers who are denied
citizenship but also serve as the backbone of the economy. In the West,
Europe has faced waves of job-seeking immigrants from Africa and Asia
in addition to large scale intra-European movement of the labor force.
Migrant workers support many of the industries of the United States but
are often without health care, job security, and subject to
discrimination. As the world’s wealthy nations face the influx of
foreigners into their otherwise homogenous societies many important
questions are raised. Under the protection of neither host nor their
home country, many migrant workers are left to fend for themselves. It
is time that the international community addressed their struggles.
Questions a Resolution Must Answer:
- Should all migrants be integrated into a process that will eventually allow them to achieve citizenship?
- How can immigrants be assimilated?
- To what extent should immigrants be allowed to maintain their national identities?
Source:
http://www.mrci.ie/
http://www.migrantsrights.org.uk/
http://www.migrantwatch.org/
http://www.migrantsrights.org/
http://www.pdhre.org/rights/migrants.html