• The question of the right to seek an effective remedy due process

• The question of the right to labour unions

As part of my work as Head Chair and the Procedural Chair of the Human Rights Council, Me and Jayhe had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Alexander Best, an MYP I&S Teacher at UNIS Hanoi, to deepen our understanding of our committee topics. During the meeting, we exchanged our perspectives and insights on the topic, engaged in further research to deepen our understanding, and learned that he has previously participated in and contributed to MUN initiatives.

In relation to our committee’s topic discussions, we also examined key human-rights frameworks that shape global standards. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) lays the foundation for international human-rights norms, while the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) focuses on civil and political rights, including Articles 2 and 3 on effective remedy. The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) provides regional protections in Europe, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) addresses economic, social, and cultural rights, including the freedom to form trade unions. Additionally, International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions, particularly C87 and C98, protect the rights to organize and to engage in collective bargaining.

We also explored key legal principles. Due process ensures procedural fairness, including the right to present evidence, cross-examine witnesses, and receive adequate legal representation in a language and style the individual understands. The final decision must align with the organizing body’s legal framework. Effective remedy requires responses that are accessible, prompt, adequate, and binding, ensuring that violations are meaningfully corrected. Remedies must be realistically obtainable, delivered without undue delay, proportionate to the harm, and enforceable.

Finally, we also found out that labor rights and ILO conventions guarantee fundamental freedoms such as forming trade unions and engaging in collective bargaining, which are also embedded in UN human-rights instruments like the ICESCR.

We are deeply grateful to Mr. Best for sharing his expertise and perspectives, which significantly enriched our understanding of the HRC topics and their real-world implications.

Thank you Mr. Best!

Greetings honorable directors, distinguished delegates, and esteemed guests,

My name is Liz Park, a sophomore attending UNIS Hanoi. This is my fourth year being a part of the MUN Community, with this UNISMUN November 2025 Conference marking my sixth conference, fourth as a chair. I will serve as the Head chair of the Human Rights Council. Through my multiple experiences as not only chairs,but also delegates, I aim to make this conference memorable for many participants through support and knowledge. 

The theme of the November 2025 conference is “The role of sovereignty in diplomacy towards international responsibility?” This theme is highly relevant to our topics: The question of the right to seek an effective remedy due process, and the question of the right to labour unions, as both highlight the tension between state sovereignty and the international community’s responsibility to uphold fundamental human rights. HRC in UNISMUN refers to a simulation of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The committee is responsible for addressing urgent human rights concerns, promoting universal freedoms, and holding states accountable to international human rights standards. It is composed of 47 elected member states, balanced across regional groups to ensure fair representation.

Our first topic in the Human Rights Council is “The question of the right to seek an effective remedy due process.” This issue focuses on the ability of individuals to access justice when their human rights are violated. International law, such as Article 8 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, guarantees the right to an effective remedy. However, in many countries, obstacles such as corruption, weak judicial systems, or political interference undermine fair trials and accountability. For example, in Myanmar, victims of military abuses struggle to seek justice due to lack of independent courts, while in some authoritarian states, dissenters face imprisonment without proper trial. Addressing this issue requires balancing national sovereignty with the international community’s responsibility to uphold universal rights. 

Our next topic is “The question of the right to labour unions.” Labour unions play a vital role in protecting workers from exploitation, ensuring safe working environments, and promoting fair wages. Yet in many nations, governments restrict or even ban the formation of unions, limiting workers’ ability to advocate for their rights. For instance, in Bangladesh, union leaders in the garment industry have faced harassment and violence, while in the Middle East, restrictive labour laws prevent migrant workers from forming independent unions. The right to freedom of association, as outlined in ILO Conventions, is central to this debate, highlighting tensions between economic development, workers’ rights, and state control.

With all this said, I look forward to working with you at the upcoming UNIS MUN conference. 

See you in March. Thank you!

Liz Park

Honorable chairs, distinguished delegates, and esteemed guests,

My name is Nguyen Lan My, a freshman or 9th grader studying at Nguyen Tat Thanh Lower and Upper Secondary School. I am extremely honored to be serving as a chair for the November 2025 UNISMUN conference, which will be my sixth overall and first as chair. My position is the Deputy Chair of the Human Rights Council. With my understanding and experience in MUNs, I hope to make this conference a valuable and enjoyable time for all delegates.

This year, the theme of our conference is “The role of sovereignty in diplomacy towards international responsibility”. “Sovereignty” means a country’s self-governing ability. This theme reflects the current state of the world, where many countries are trying extremely hard to balance their national interests and their contributions to world issues, therefore leaving a lot of room for fruitful debates. It also relates directly to our topics: the question of the right to seek an effective remedy due process, and the question of the right to labor unions. 

In the real world, the Human Rights Council is made up of 47 elected country members and given the task of overseeing the execution of human rights laws. It meets at the United Nations Office in Geneva to discuss matters related to human rights across the world, such as wars and conflicts. To me, HRC is quite important since it plays a vital role in protecting the rights of people around the globe. Its resolutions assist other United Nations bodies in making decisions and provide a view purely for the good of people.

The first topic of our committee this year is “The question of the right to seek an effective remedy due process”. Simply put, the right to seek an effective remedy due process is the right to justice of a person whose rights have been violated. Around the world, many organizations - for instance, the Council of Europe and the Australian Human Rights Commission - heavily support this right and wish for everyone to have it. However, in many parts of the world where conflicts are happening, it is extremely hard for residents to have access to justice. To take an example, let us look at the Gaza Strip. Palestinians there are now desperately trying to stay alive while food, water, and health care are being denied to them, and weapons directly targeting them. But there is no court for them to plead to, no entity to grant them a due process. Thus, debating this topic helps delegates see the role of a state’s sovereignty in granting human rights to their people, and how the international community can assist them. 

Our second topic is “The question of the right to labor unions”. Labor unions have been around for a very long time, and they act as organizations to unite labor workers and give them a voice that can be heard. In the past, labor unions such as the notorious First and Second International helped many workers get better pay and working conditions. Sadly, in the current world, many countries have laws that disrupt the forming of these unions and deflect laborers from joining them. This violates rights like the right to strike and freedom of speech. Discussion of this topic allows us to see the state of the world’s workers and how to find the best for them. 

With that being said, I hope that all delegates can research well about the topics above and contribute to the discussions at this MUN. I am looking forward to meeting and working with you, so good luck researching and see you at the conference!

Nguyen Lan My

Honourable chairs, distinguished delegates, and esteemed guests, my name is Jayhe Yi, a sophomore at UNIS Hanoi and the Procedural Chair for the Human Rights Council at this conference. This is my first time chairing a conference, and my goal is to make this experience enjoyable and memorable for all.

The sovereign role of diplomacy to international responsibility is pertinent both to the right to an effective remedy and to due process, and to the right to trade unions on the principle that sovereignty holds responsibilities. States must provide security and well-being for their citizens. This is through providing "the right to an effective remedy," promoting equal access to justice, and respecting "workers' right to bargain collectively" in line with international labor standards. Sovereignty thus requires states to provide legal accountability and human rights.

The main organ of the UN exclusively committed to the promotion and protection of human rights globally is the Human Rights Council (HRC). The HRC reviews the record of member states, investigates violations, sends missions, holds states accountable, assists victims, and sets international standards.

The initial question is "The question of the right to seek an effective remedy and due process," and it concerns individuals' access to justice when there is a violation of their rights. Despite being shielded by international law, numerous barriers like corruption or political intimidation in the majority of countries exist. For example, Myanmar's victims are handicapped by a lack of impartial courts, demonstrating the challenge of balancing sovereignty with international human rights.

The right to an effective remedy ensures enjoyment of fair legal protection and justice, promoting individual dignity and security of law and facilitating rule of law and accountability globally.

The trade union right protects employees' rights to bargain collectively and organize, essential for fair working conditions and workplace justice, and promotes economic and social justice globally.

I hope to see you at the UNIS MUN conference later this November. Thank you!