Human Right Commission (HRC)

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Study Guide: UNHRCUNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCILDear Delegates,Sooraj MehtaSecretary GeneralMadhavWarawdekarDeputy Sec. GenIt is my great pleasure to welcome you to the United Nations Human Rights Commission andan honour to be chairing the same. Currently in the 12 th grade, I, Khrish Shahani, haveattended HMUN and won at MUNs like CMUN (twice), BDMUN and several more, beginningat the age of 14. That being said, I vouch to direct all my experience into ensuring that youhave an enjoyable experience at the HRC by helping you to create a sophisticated, realisticbut exciting MUN.The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations,responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe. It acts asa forum and springboard of action against all violations against any human rights.KhrishShahaniDirectorNaviyaKothariAssistant DirectorI have chosen a topic of immense interest in the current times.The LGBT Community (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) has always been underpressure through acts of hate crimes, violence, discrimination and partiality. Most countriesin the world do not have laws protecting the rights of this vast community. Some countrieshave laws and policies that suppress the freedom of the LGBT community, even consistingof punishments for people that are part of the community. The LGBT community is present inalmost each and every country worldwide. While many developed and democratic countrieshave taken a stand and protected the rights of the LGBT community there are several othersthat denounce this minority.We will be looking into matters such as equal rights, marriage, adoption, surrogacy,workplace discrimination, protection against hate crime and abolishment of punishment. It isour duty in the HRC to reach a decisive conclusion about the fortification and future of thiscommunity with regards to their rights, taking into account the sentiments of all the countriesas well as the well-being of the LGBT community.I sincerely urge each one of you to research to the best of your abilities, as this topic requiresa vast amount of knowledge. Don’t hesitate to contact any member the chair with a doubt orquery. I look forward to a stimulating conference and wish you all the best.Your Chair,Khrish Shahani.For any questions or committee procedure; you may contact us at hrc@abmun.org1
Topic Area 1: Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Rights“Some say that sexual orientation and gender identity are sensitive issues. I understand. Like many ofmy generation, I did not grow up talking about these issues. But I learned to speak out because livesare at stake, and because it is our duty under the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declarationof Human Rights to protect the rights of everyone, everywhere.” — UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moonto the Human Rights CouncilHISTORY:In the 1990’s, the term LGB – a term that replaced the phrase ‘gay community’, changed to LGBT,which collectively referred to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender communities. The intention of the termis to underline the diverse cultures that are based on sexuality and gender-identity. Often, the term is used todescribe or categorize anyone who is cisgender or even non-heterosexual. The condition of the LGBT‘minority’ today has made progress, however it’s still in a terrible state. Homosexuality has been a part of casestudies in Europe since the 1790s, and the field of psychology provided a way to directly address the matterapart from making a reference to Biblical condemnation. Academics and scientists believed homosexualitywas congenitally based, and several others believed that it was a manifestation of psychopathic behavior,which was viewed as inherited nature of degeneration or deterioration.As early as 1791, Revolutionary France adopted a new penal code that did not criminalize sodomy. Thismade France a plinth for homosexuality. In Germany, when the Third Reich came into power, Berlin’s liberalstatus came crashing down.Prior to Hitler’s decry of prostitution, cultural degeneration and syphilis in Mein Kampf, Berlinpromoted gay and “drag” bars. It had the strongest, most active LGBT movements that petitioned against theGerman Penal Code that made sex between men illegal. However the conservative nature of the Third Reichin the 1930s caused the public to grow intolerant of LGBT communities and sub-cultures. During theHolocaust, over 50,000 people were sentenced because of sexual orientation and gender identity; several ofthem were put in concentration camps. The conditions for gay men in the camps were especially rough – theydidn’t face persecution only from the soldiers, but from fellow prisoners as well. Reports state that most diedfrom gang beatings. LGBT people were diagnosed with a ‘disease’ that was given treatments that ranged fromcastration and lobotomies to electroshock treatments and pubic nerve surgery.Nineteenth and twentieth century literature highlighted homosexual subcultures. Society started tobecome aware of homosexuals and support spread like wildfire. The YMCA (Young Men’s Christian2
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