• Question of the protection of Indigenous communities

• Issue of the detaining of journalists

Greetings honorable delegates, fellow chairs, and most esteemed guests,

My name is Beomjoon (BJ) Park and I am a junior at United Nations International School. This is my 4th MUN conference as a chair and I am also a member of the President & Chair training Department of UNISMUN. I am very excited to be the head chair for the human rights council for the UNISMUN November Conference.

All UNISMUN conferences have a theme and this conference’s theme is “How can we use regional cooperation to promote equitable development?” What I found most interesting about this theme was that it had a focus on regional cooperation. Since the UN is an international organization, UNISMUN usually looks at issues on a global level. However, this theme shows us the value of discussing the topics and promoting equitable development within a specific region such as the African Union or European Union.

The Human Rights Council has always been held near my heart because my first time chairing was in the Human Rights Council. The OHCHR is the leading body of the actual UN for promoting human rights. I’ve always been interested in promoting equity in regards to the rights of the people. This is why I think this council is one of the most integral councils in the United Nations.

The two topics that HRC will discuss during this November conference is the “Question of the protection of indigenous communities” and “Issue of the detaining of journalists.” The first topic looks at protecting indigenous communities. This is very important because a lot of different nations in the world are struggling with balancing sustainability of indigenous communities and the growing industrialization of the country. The second topic of “Issue of detaining journalists” is a much narrower topic in my opinion. Delegates should definitely look into reporters without borders and take notice of how their country is promoting free speech or attempting to diminish it through detaining journalists. 

I will always try to be a helpful guidance to my delegates to ensure that they have a firm grasp of the topics and a confidence to do well during the conference. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone. Thank you.

Honorable directors, fellow chairs, distinguished delegates, and most esteemed guests,

I am Nam Anh, currently a junior at Singapore International School @ Gamuda Gardens and I am honored to be able to serve as your deputy chair for the Human Rights Council for this UNISMUN conference. This conference will be my 5th MUN and 2nd as a chair and will also be my last UNISMUN conference. 

This conference’s theme of ”How can we use regional cooperation to promote equitable development?” highlights the need for regional cooperation in conjunction with international collaboration. This aligns with the topics of HRC as human rights is generally best solved at the regional level, with international governing bodies giving guidelines and guidance in general. Regional cooperation can also aid in addressing shared challenges, creating consistent standards and providing mutual support to all involved at a more hands-on level than international committees. 

The two topics that will be discussed in HRC during this conference will be “Question of the protection of indigenous communities” and “The issue of the detaining of journalists”. The protection of indigenous communities and the detaining of journalists are critical human rights issues that reflect broader concerns about justice, democracy, and social equity. Indigenous communities often face exploitation, displacement, and violence, especially in conflicts over land and natural resources, which threaten their cultural survival and environmental stewardship. Protecting their rights is critical to maintaining their heritage and correcting historical injustices. Similarly, detaining journalists harms press freedom, which is a pillar of democracy. When journalists are silenced, openness suffers, limiting public access to information and allowing human rights violations to continue unchallenged. Both concerns underline the importance of better safeguards for marginalized communities as well as truth and justice advocates.

With that said, I look forward to seeing all of you in November and I hope HRC can achieve a memorable and fruitful conference.

Fellow chairs, esteemed delegates, and distinguished guests, 

I am Hye In, a Junior at Concordia International School Hanoi. It is my greatest honour to serve as the Procedural Chair for the Human Rights Council (HRC) for the 2024 UNISMUN Conference. Since my freshman year, I have been part of the MUN program, and this marks my fifth conference. 

How can we use regional cooperation to promote equitable development? This question significantly relates to the Human Rights Council. In the HRC, countries are required for collaborative efforts to foster in hopes of building innovative solutions and providing mutual support.  

The Human Rights Council plays a pivotal role in the UN. The council's work involves addressing country-specific situations, appointing certain rapporteurs, and coordinating  Universal Periodic Reviews(UPR). These efforts allowed the promotion and security of the rights of civilians through collaboration from different nations. 

In the November UNISMUN Conference, the Human Rights Council will discuss “Question of the protection of indigenous communities” and “Issue of the detaining of journalists.” The protection of Indigenous communities requires considering the balance between the nations’ situational priorities and the rights of the indigenous communities. And the issue of the detaining of journalists will highlight the differences in nations’ will to either uphold the principle of free speech or impose restrictions on it. Both topics call for dialogues and collaboration of all nations. 

Personally, the mission of the Human Rights Council deeply resonates with me, and as a Procedural Chair, I genuinely aim to facilitate engaging and productive debates, with inclusion and contribution from every delegate.  

I look forward to a fruitful debate. Thank you.