Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee (SOCHUM)

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countries do not have what would traditionally be considered indigenous peoples, and thus they see the issue of indigenous impoverishment as another aspect of human rights and international development. they were among the foremost proponents of the declaration on the Rights of indigenous Peoples and have included indigenous peoples as a priority group in some of their most important resolutions on development, including the 2005 European Consensus on Development. 206 The nations of Latin America also have a history of supporting indigenous peoples in international forums. Of the twenty-two states to ratify the International Labour Organization’s Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, fifteen were from Latin America. Despite the support that these countries have given to indigenous rights issues, many of them do not have such positive records on actually implementing policies to aid indigenous groups. As discussed above, Latin America has among the highest poverty rates for indigenous peoples of any region in the world, and little improvement in the conditions that indigenous peoples face has been seen in recent years. Finally, the remaining countries, most of which are in Africa and Asia, have mixed policies with regard to indigenous development. Most of these countries have marginalized populations that are traditionally considered to be indigenous, even though these countries do not have the same colonial histories as North and South America and Australia and Oceania. These countries are generally still developing and thus are concerned more with overall economic growth than assisting a small minority of the population, which explains their historic policies on land and trade liberalization. Often, these governments do not have the resources to create special programs for indigenous peoples and will need some assistance to implement the plans that the committee drafts. Some countries in Asia and Africa, however, do not recognize the existence of their indigenous populations in the first place. China, for example, has been committed to strong economic growth for its population, including for minority groups, and has seen success in reducing poverty among its minorities, but it denies that any of these groups are indigenous. By denying the indigenous status of its minorities, China has legitimized its use of resource extraction and relocation as methods of reducing poverty among its indigenous populations. 207 Suggestions for Further Research There is a wealth of information about the impoverishment of indigenous peoples on the websites of various intergovernmental and nongovernmental groups. The United Nations has a number of different groups dedicated to indigenous peoples, including the Permanent Forum on indigenous issues and the expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. These organizations have published countless reports on issues of indigenous development and indigenous rights and may be good places to start for general information on indigenous peoples. The World Bank also has extensive information about indigenous development and poverty, including some country-specific reports. The World Bank website is also a good resource to learn about economic development in general. Additionally, i would recommend doing some research on the first MDG; you can find information on the MDG section of the United Nations website or on the website of the United Nations Development Programme. it is also important to do research on the indigenous peoples that reside within the country that you are representing and your country’s policy toward them. Almost every country has some indigenous groups, and each indigenous group has a different history and current situation. Some indigenous populations 48 Melbourne Host Directorate PTY LTD | Office of Media and Design
are doing as well as the majority ethnic group, though most lag behind in development levels. Some are most affected by the loss of local land rights, while others face widespread discrimination. Some governments accept and protect the unique cultures and practices of indigenous peoples; others force them to assimilate and even deny their existence in the first place. Before developing creative solutions to this problem then, you must uncover the specific needs of the indigenous peoples within your borders and figure out what your country’s attitude toward such groups has traditionally been. Position Papers each delegation must turn in two position papers before the start of conference. The purpose of the position paper is to give each delegation the chance to summarize their understanding of the issue at hand, to delineate their nation’s stance on the issue, and to propose possible solutions that could be debated in committee. Please take this chance to immerse yourself in the two topics that we will discuss in SOCHUM; I hope you will see it more as an opportunity and a challenge than a chore. When writing your position papers, there is a simple format that you should stick to; it will make it easier for you to write and for me to read. The first paragraph of your position paper should describe what you feel are the most pressing and pertinent aspects of the issue, as well as some facts that you could use in debate or to support a point and how you nation relates to the topic. the second paragraph should be used to describe what your nation thinks about the previous international action taken on the issue. Finally, your third and last paragraph should contain your ideas for possible solutions as well as courses of action that you believe should be included in a resolution. each delegation should complete one position paper per topic area. When writing, make sure you use the third person; instead of saying “I believe” or “we believe,” say “the delegation of Nation X believes” or something similar. All position papers should be written in Times New Roman 12-point font, single-spaced and be approximately one page in length. Closing Remarks Thank you for taking the time to read carefully about both topic areas. I know that these topic areas are complex, and I appreciate the effort that you have put in just by reading this study guide. As you have probably realized, however, this study guide only provides a limited introduction to each topic area, and there is a wealth of additional information in books and on the Internet that I encourage you to read. the more sources you consult in your research, the more you will understand these topics and the more rewarding your experience at WorldMuN will be. I also urge you to become an expert on the facts and positions of the country that you are selected to represent, which will make your time in committee even more enjoyable. I am very excited to meet all of you in Melbourne in March. As my last WorldMUN, I know that it will be a truly memorable opportunity, and I hope that I will be able to make your experience as unforgettable and gratifying as possible. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the topics areas, WorldMUN, or Model UN, or even if you just want to say hello. I look forward to being there in Melbourne as you make SOCHUM the best committee at WorldMuN 2013! Bibliography History of the Committee Bailey, Sydney d. The General Assembly of the United Nations: A Study of Procedure and Practice. Westport: Greenwood Press, Inc., 1964. 49 Melbourne Host Directorate PTY LTD | Office of Media and Design
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