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Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee
London International Model United Nations
18th Session | 2017
Table of Content
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Table of Contents
Introduction Letter
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Introduction to the Committee
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Topic A: Integration of disabled people into society
Topic B: Tackling imbalanced population growth, family
planning and migration
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Conference information
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Introduction letters
Honourable Delegates,
My name is Izabela Bany, I have a pleasure to be the Director of the SOCHUM at
this conference. I have been working on MUNs and UN organizations for the last 5
years. Me, my great friend Victoria Smit and Mariagni Lalioti cannot wait to meet
you at a time of great challenge. I am counting on your continued leadership and
engagement during LIMUN conference. By participating in this Model United
Nations, you will hone your negotiating skills and gain insights into what it takes to
achieve consensus, it is the opportunity to review the most high-profile issues of our
world. Armed with these assets, you can mobilize and engage on the major issues of
our day. I wish you great success at this Model UN, and I hope the experience will
inspire you to support the United Nations and our global work for peace, justice,
human rights and sustainable development for years to come.
Dear delegates,
My name is Victoria Smit, and together with my good friend Izabela Bany and
Mariagni Lalioti, I will chair the Social and Humanitarian Committee at LIMUN
2017. I am a third-year liberal arts and sciences student at Leiden University College
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The Hague, where I major in Governance, Economics and Development and
minor in Chinese and French. I am also a first-year student at Leiden Law school
where I study tax law. Besides training the LUCMUN delegation and judging debates
for Fortuna Debating I work as a tutor (maths and chemistry) and have a news agency
startup. Last year, Izabela and I chaired the Human Rights Council and we were
amazed by the quality of the debate. This year, we will chair together again and we
cannot wait to see the innovative solutions of you, the delegates, to these challenging
topics. Sufficient to say, I am looking forward to seeing everyone in London. In the
meantime if you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me.
Victoria Smit
Dear Delegates,
It is a great honor for me to officially welcome you to the 18th London International
Model United Nations Conference and more specifically in the Social and
Humanitarian Committee. My name is Mariagni Lalioti and together with Izabela
Bany and Victoria Smit I will be one of your chairs this year.
First and foremost, I would like to pinpoint that our committee is of great importance,
since we will be discussing two topics affecting the international community to a
great extent, namely the integration of disabled people into society and tackling
imbalanced population growth: family planning and migration. The following study
guide is the basis of your preparation as delegates and it provides the main points that
should be addressed. However, further research is required, in order for you to be
fully informed on the topic and find effective and realistic resolutions, which is our
final goal.
I hope you are excited to be a part of this crucial body of the United Nations and
prepared to solve the problem of imbalanced population growth, which during the last
decade is gathering momentum and therefore concerns more and more the United
Nations.
Good luck with your research and I am looking forward to meeting you all in
February!
Committee email: [email protected]
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Introduction to the Committee
Welcome to the Social, Humanitarian & Cultural committee of the United Nations.
SocHum is the third part of the General Assembly, one of the principal organs of the
United Nations. As part of the GA, the committee can make recommendations to
States on issues within its competence. SOCHum can decide on a wide range of
issues that touch upon the social aspects, but also regarding Human Rights as part of
the Humanitarian aspect.
GA committees can Initiate studies and make recommendations to promote
international political cooperation; the development and codification of international
law; the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms; and international
collaboration in the economic, social, humanitarian, cultural, educational and health
fields
The seventy-first session of SocHum will not only discuss human rights issues but
particularly questions relating to the advancement of women, the protection of
children, indigenous issues, the treatment of refugees, the promotion of fundamental
freedoms through the elimination of racism and racial discrimination. The topics for
LIMUN are chosen specifically to address parts of these questions.
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Topic A: Integration of disabled people
into society
Introduction
About 1 billion people have some form of a disability, making up about 15% of the
world’s population (World Health Organization, 2016). The topic title and these
statistics suggest that disabled people are one homogenous group, whereas the
opposite is true. Disability is, as the World Health Organization calls it, an umbrella
term for impairments, activity limitations and restrictions (World Health
Organization, 2016). The group is diverse: they can be located anywhere, they can be
of any age and of any gender. But the consequences of the heterogeneity does show
in the participation and inclusion. For example, school enrolment for disabled
children in Africa is estimated to be as low as 5% (African Studies Center Leiden,
2016). Even though these rates are considerably higher in developed countries, the
gap between disabled and not-disabled children is still visible in school enrolment
rates (World Health Organization, 2011). But there are more issues than school
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enrolment rates. Overall participation in society seems to be filled with
obstacles for disabled people. These can range from physical barriers to mental and
even social barriers. Disabled people have traditionally been marginalized, as their
issues were addressed as “special”, rather than promoting the inclusion in society
(Disability Awareness in Action, 1995).
Please note that this guide - much like the topic - will be very general. It will
include some possible directions for discussion, however, ultimately it will be up to
the committee to prioritize issues.
It is time to change the discussion around the inclusion of disabled people. For
the Social and Humanitarian Committee, discussing this issue is an absolute necessity
as it touches upon so many important fields. In making efforts to tackle this problem,
we can make the world a better place for those 1 billion people.
History of the Problem
Beginning of the problem
The first stage in the history of participation of disabled people is set in the
pre-1700s. Cases that demonstrate the position of society on disabled people are
countless. Disabled people were excluded from full social participation and
considered inferior (Chomba Wa Munyi, 2012). Yet, as a consequence of war and
battles, there were advances in creating prosthetics (Disability Social History Project,
2003). Naturally this only covers a small part of the large group.
The second stage, between the years 1700 and 1900, marked advances that
were made in the field of medicine. These included the recognition of deaf people as
capable of reasoning and the attempt to explain mental disorders. The Braille system
was invented and there were early attempts to create schools for deaf and deaf-mute
students.
Even though these advances were made, full social participation was still far
from realized. Additionally, during the Second World War disabled people were not
only excluded from social participation, large numbers were killed under the
euthanasia program (United States Holocaust Memorial Museum). In the past four
decades, the development of the view on disabled people has followed diverse paths.
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Notably due to factors such as technological advancement, increased available
information and financial resources, some countries have a more inclusive approach
to people with disabilities. Yet, as will be seen in the discussion of the problem
section of this guide, these progresses have not yet reached the entirety of the
international community.
Previous resolutions/ other documents
Resolution: A/RES/37/52, 1982
This resolution created the World Programme of Action. It contained the a
framework for countries to improve on the rights and policies for disabled people.
 Resolution 60/131,2005
Here, the General Assembly recognized the important role of the World Programme
of Action concerning Disabled Persons.
 Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2006
Created in 2006, the purpose of this convention was to “promote, protect and ensure
the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all
persons with disabilities” (United Nations, 2006).
Previous actions by the UN and other related organs
Whereas there are numerous examples of UN related documents, actions seem to be
more directed in the national decision making process. Of the latter, numerous
examples can be found in the “further reading” section of this paper.
 International Year of Disabled Persons, 1981
The international year of disabled persons was a year in which the needs for disabled
people were highlighted. It resulted in creating a World Programme of Action
concerning Disabled Persons
 The Global Meeting of Experts to Review the Implementation of the World
Programme of Action, 1987
This meeting was held to review the enforcement and implementation of the
Programme of Action. In the conclusion reached on the review, attention was paid to
not only the UN but increasingly to NGOs concerned with disability rights.
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Statement of the Problem
The problem in this discussion is not that one of the causes of disabilities. But it is
important to consider these when thinking of solutions.
Causes of disabilities
Genetics
With the discovery of DNA, a world opened itself into researching various
disabilities and anomalies (WebMD, 2014). Even though the medical world is
advancing in finding genetic causes for disabilities, some are still not explained.
Conflict
One of the major sources of physical impairment is that as a result of conflict (World
Health Organization, 2016). Think of for example the loss of limbs due to bombs. It
would be unrealistic to think that the ultimate solution to this is to end all conflict.
However, thinking about medical treatment and rehabilitation
during and after
conflict is absolutely necessary.
Diseases
Another factor that counts towards disabilities are those of diseases. Common
diseases such as heart attacks or strokes are amongst the leading cause of disabilities
(WebMD, 2014). Mental illnesses may also cause disabilities. Some of these diseases
are preventable or treatable with a change of lifestyle, dietary patterns, medication or
therapy.
The causes of the exclusion are those that need to be taken away in order to achieve
full participation. It will be impossible to discuss these in greater detail, however, the
next section will attempt to give a brief overview of these causes.
Physical barriers
One of the, perhaps most obvious, barriers is that of a physical nature. For example,
in order to achieve school enrolment, people need to be able to go to school, access
the building and access the class materials. Other problems include access to
employment opportunities and work buildings. Also consider transportation barriers:
the commuting to work or to school.
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Mental barriers
Next to physical barriers are mental barriers. These are not restricted to people with
mental impairments. It is a two-way street: disabled people may think that they do not
belong in a society and society may underestimate the usefulness of these people. It is
very closely related to the social barriers discussed later. Additionally, it is important
to consider the potential of people with mental impairments. These may face
significant mental barriers to functioning and living independently.
Communication barriers
Communication barriers exist everywhere and in every situation. But in the case of
integration, some disabled people may not even be aware of their rights.
Communication from governments, organizations and communities to these people
need to be improved. On a practical note these barriers may include lack of
understanding of communication means, such as sign language for the deaf, braille
for the blind. Also consider the technology and knowledge necessary to reach out to
people that are both blind and death.
Society barriers
This barrier is perhaps one of the biggest umbrella terms. Within this research report,
society barriers are divided into the following categories:
Attitude barriers
This is closely linked to mental barriers. Society may stereotype disabled people or
not be aware of how useful and resourceful these people can be. But, as an old
Chinese proverb says “one radish, one hole”: everyone has a purpose and no one is
indispensable. Combatting attitude barriers and stereotyping is necessary to change
the societal barriers that stop inclusion.
Policy barriers
Policy barriers are “ related to a lack of awareness or enforcement of existing laws
and regulations that require programs and activities be accessible to people with
disabilities” (Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016).
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Programmatic barriers
Programmatic barriers differ from policy barriers in the sense that the definition
mostly relates to health services and health access to disabled people (Centres for
Disease Control and Prevention, 2016). Limited access to supportive technology or
not enough time set aside to properly explain procedures to disabled people all fall
under this category of barriers. All of these barriers can have the consequence of
leading to isolation of disabled people. And isolation can reinforce the social barriers,
leading to a vicious cycle. If the social and humanitarian committee can prevent
isolation of disabled people, and they are able to integrate to a greater extent, this can
help change the overall view on disabled people and their role in society.
Information problems
Information problems can be interpreted, again, in a very broad sense. Some
countries may have difficulty locating the people with disabilities, others may find it
difficult to identify what types of disabilities there are. Measurement problems can
hinder the development of effective and targeted policies. Other information
problems include that of knowledge on how to deal with certain disabilities more
effectively, whether that be on a national, community or individual level. For
example, a community might have no access to people speaking sign language in
order to communicate with deaf people. Or an individual may not know about their
rights in certain cases.
Poverty
One of the major problems for the integration of disabled people is that of poverty.
As a result of being disadvantaged in school enrolments, transportation access,
employment opportunities, disabled people tend to belong to a more impoverished
class in society (Groce et al, 2011).
The need for technology
Technological innovation has played a pivotal role in creating better life standards for
disabled people, helping them integrate into society. Technology is a very broad term,
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but one can think of very practical examples. One of these is that of the
development of prosthetic limbs.
Current Situation
The World Health Organization estimates that around 1 billion people suffer from
some form of disabilities. This is, as stated before, not a homogenous group.
Disabilities are high among elderly, and with an increasing amount of elders the
amount with disabilities is expected to rise too. Please bear in mind the demographics
of the group of people with disabilities when considering the current situation.
Regarding education, one can see a clear distinction between developed and
developing nations. In developed nations, for example the United Kingdom, close to
30% of disabled children is able to attend a special school. But in Hong Kong, up to
98% of the male children receive no education at all (Overcoming Obstacles, 2006).
There is a less clear distinction between developed and developing nations when it
comes to the employment of disabled people. As discussed before, poverty is one of
the common problems preventing people from actively integrating in society.
Employment
rates
are
considerably
lower
in
all
nations
(Overcoming
Obstacles,2006).
Bloc Positions
Europe
Although Europe has better enrolment rates, full participation in particularly
employment is still low. Europe has an employment rate of around 45% for people
with disabilities. To increase these numbers, Europe has created strategy plans to
implement in the nations (European Parliament News, 2011).
Asia
The most people with a disability live in Asia, but there is still much social stigma
around it. Particularly education rates are low (UNESCO office Bangkok, 2016). The
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
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(UNESCAP) has been a pivotal contributor in helping governments and
promoting inclusion (UNESCAP, 2016).
Africa
An estimated 60 million people live with disabilities in Africa. Violence, malnutrition
and other factors contribute to a growing number. Similar to Asia, children are often
excluded from education (Human Rights Watch, 2015). Even though conventions
were ratified, enforcement has proved to be difficult.
Latin America
Around 50 million people live with a form of disability in Latin America. The
situation is similar to that of Africa and Asia, where school and employment rates are
low but poverty rates are high (World Bank, 2004).
Questions a Resolution Should Answer
1. How can the international community overcome information problems?
2. How can the international community overcome the different barriers? Can be
viewed both from a top-down solution oriented perspective (e.g. legislature on access
to buildings) and a grassroot solutions perspective (what improvement can small
communities make).
3.What be done for self-empowerment of disabled people?
4.How does the international community address the different needs of different
disabled people?
Children are an obvious example of a group that may have different needs to
integrate into society than for example that of women. But also think of the needs for
people in rural versus urban areas. Or a distinction based on the type of disability. For
mentally impaired people, access to buildings may not be a priority whereas finding
fitting employment is.
Further reading
Highly recommended:
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Overcoming obstacles to the integration of disabled people. (1995). 1st ed.
London: Disability Awareness in Action.
Sources
Ascleiden.nl. (2016). Disability in Africa | African Studies Centre Leiden. [online]
Available at: http://www.ascleiden.nl/content/webdossiers/disability-africa [Accessed
15 Nov. 2016].
Disabilityhistory.org. (2016). Disability Social History Project - Timeline. [online]
Available at: http://www.disabilityhistory.org/timeline_new.html [Accessed 15 Nov.
2016].
Cdc.gov. (2016). Disability Overview | Disability and Health | NCBDDD. [online]
Available
at:
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/disability.html
[Accessed 15 Nov. 2016].
Groce, N., Kett, M., Lang, R., & Trani, J-F. (2011). Disability and Poverty: the need
for a more nuanced understanding of implications for development policy and
practice. Third World Quarterly, 32(8), 1493-1513
Munyi, C. (2016). Past and Present Perceptions Towards Disability: A Historical
Perspective.
[online]
Dsq-sds.org.
Available
at:
http://dsq-
sds.org/article/view/3197/3068 [Accessed 15 Nov. 2016].
Overcoming obstacles to the integration of disabled people. (1995). 1st ed. London:
Disability Awareness in Action.
Un.org. (2016). Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. [online]
Available
at:
http://www.un.org/disabilities/convention/conventionfull.shtml
[Accessed 15 Nov. 2016].
Ushmm.org. (2016). The Murder of the Handicapped. [online] Available at:
https://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007683 [Accessed 15
Nov. 2016].
World
Health
Organization.
(2016).
Disabilities.
[online]
http://www.who.int/topics/disabilities/en/ [Accessed 15 Nov. 2016].
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Available
at:
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World Health Organization. (2016). Disability and health. [online] Available
at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs352/en/ [Accessed 15 Nov. 2016].
Source: https://a.dilcdn.com/bl/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2011/08/family-planning.png
Topic B: Tackling Imbalanced Population
Growth; family planning and migration
Introduction
Over the last decades the issue of imbalanced population growth is gaining more and
more momentum. According to the United Nations, overpopulation is defined as the
situation in which the number of existing human population exceeds the carrying
capacity of the Earth. UN World Population Division shows world population
reaching 9.7 billion by 2050 and 11.3 billion by 2100 when currently 7.5 billion
people inhabit the planet, with China hosting 1.4 billion people and India around 1
billion. This rapid increase in population underlines the importance of the situation
and the challenge to provide fundamental living conditions to the upcoming
generations. The most significant problem though is the imbalanced population
growth, namely that overpopulation occurs to a larger extent in countries like India,
Japan and the United States, whereas many developing countries in the Middle East
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and Asia show a decrease to their population rate and are concerned about
population decline rather than growth.
First and foremost imbalanced population growth occurs due to migration. Climate
change and natural disasters destroy estates and properties, worsen living conditions
and force people to abandon their homes in order to survive. Bad living conditions
can also be a result of lack of economic growth, education, medical facilities and job
opportunities, especially in developing countries. Nowadays though, the most
important reason for migration is the menace of terrorism and terrorist attacks.
Everyday more and more immigrants, illegal and legal, try to enter the European
Union causing a massive shift of the world’s population from the Middle East to the
Western countries. The formation and development of terrorist groups spreading fear
and violence across the Middle East, violating fundamental human rights and
eliminating democracy and security are adequate reasons for migration.
Moreover, overpopulation is caused by uncontrolled family planning. According to
the World Health Organization Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, DR Congo and Tunisia have
a 7.6 fertility rate throughout the years 2015 and 2016, ranking among the first in the
global fertility rate. Lack of education and early marriages of young girls in those
countries results in increasing numbers of babies born per family, mainly in order for
more hands to work and fight poverty, compared to the low fertility rate 1,4 in
countries like Hungary, Poland and Greece; as a result it causes overpopulation. The
situation worsens, since many times overpopulation is combined with poverty, food
and clean water insufficiency and inhibits social and economic development of
overcrowded places.
Last but not least, enhanced medical facilities have been the key to the disturbance of
balance between mortality and fertility rate. Before the evolution of medicine, science
and technology, mortality rates were increased due to deadly diseases, illnesses and
lack of medical facilities and care. However since the development of vaccines,
treatments for multiple illnesses, like malaria, hepatitis and cancer, have been
detected and billion lives have been cured and saved, therefore decreasing death
rates. Younger generations have been outliving their ancestors for many decades and
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bearing in mind the continuous progress of medicine life expectancy will
continue to expand. Meanwhile new ways of fertility have increased birth rates
rapidly. The method of In Vitro Fertilization has more than 50% success rate and
since its development has resulted in 200.000 additional babies per year, according to
the World Bank. In addition increasing the food production over the years and
finding alternative ways for nutrition has provided higher survival rates and the
ability for families to raise more children.
Over the next decades, more people will live on the planet for more years
deteriorating the problem of overpopulation unless a resolution is implemented.
Overpopulation and unequal distribution of residents has serious implications on a
social, political, environmental and economic sector, which are going to be further
analyzed in the study guide.
There are many solutions that could be implemented in order to tackle imbalanced
population growth and control overpopulation, however during the conference we
will focus significantly on migration and family planning.
Statement of the Problem
Imbalanced population growth jeopardizes food sustainability, political stability and
social development. Moreover, the conflict between agencies in population control
and increased production and consuming rates becomes more intense. According to
the World Health Organization “Nearly 220,000 people are added to the planet every
day, further compounding most resource and environmental problems”.
Population policy is currently state controlled; each nation determines its
demographic rate and accommodation policy, usually diverse and discriminating,
without an international established balanced population growth plan.
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History of the Problem
Population growth has been an ongoing situation since the beginning and the
evolution of humanity. However the serious problem of overpopulation, meaning that
the supply of basic elements and facilities is less than the demand, had not been
detected since 1798. In this year Thomas Robert Malthus published the first essay
edition of the population growth emphasizing the problem of overpopulation.
However the controversial gap between scientists and policy makers about how many
more people the global system could accommodate lead to the ignorance and
substitution of the problem until the mid nineteenth century. On the one hand,
scientists in the filed of political economy and demography predicted the inability of
our planet to host the amounts of citizens living nowadays via developing multiple
theories and making demographics data to support their arguments. Paul Ehrlich
developed his famous mathematical equation I= PAT representing the significant
impact of overpopulation on our planet (I is impact on Earth, P stands for population,
A for affluence and T for technology). Other worth mentioning scientists include Karl
Marx, Julian Simon and Garrett Hardin. Their estimation though, of the world
population rising by 70 billion annually, did not raise public awareness as expected,
since statistics and evidence were still on an early stage and the problem seemed
invincible and exaggerated. On the other hand, business corporations and institutions
were interesting in the increase of funds and economic growth through
overpopulation. In their point of view, overpopulation was not hazardous because
more people living on the planet would create more job vacancies and more facilities
would be created for accommodation and nutrition of the growing population. In case
of economic instability and inability of countries to host growing populations, loans
would be provided to ensure social development. In other words, economists, focused
in raising interests, presented an ideal and organized way to control population
growth in the following decades excluding and devaluating the demographical
statistics and prevention warnings of many scientists. As a result, for the coming
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years overpopulation and imbalanced growth did not spark interest to many
countries until its serious social and economic repercussions were deteriorating the
situation. Additionally optimists supported that rate for population growth has been
decreasing throughout all these years contradicting significant demographics data. It
is true that since 1979 rate for population growth has been declined, but the base
population had grown more than three billion. It wasn’t until 1985 that the
international community was concerned about overpopulation, when demand for
basic elements exceeded supply for the first time, meaning that trade market products
were not adequate; there were more people inhabiting the planet than expected.
Scientific data of overall population numbers presented that:
● mid- nineteenth century base population was over one billion.
● Beginning of the twentieth century population reached 1.6 billion.
● After the Second World War population was estimated 2.3 billion.
After the second world war the phenomenon of “population explosion” occurred as a
result of agricultural and industrial revolution in technology, which lead to a massive
increase of production and affected interactions with natural resources and elements.
● By 2008 world population was nearly 7 billion.
● In 2015 over 7.5 billion people are living on the planet.
Main Points of Conflict
a. Social Aspect
Imbalanced population growth has severe consequences for the integrity of the
ecosystem. As the population raises, biological resources, water and energy are
necessary in higher quantities to provide adequate food and fulfill fundamental
human needs. According to the World Bank about 2 billion people are now
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malnourished, indicating the current food insufficiency and unequal
distribution that is deteriorating as the population grows. Additionally fossil fuels and
natural resources are running out and the potential of renewable energy and
alternative ways of providing food and medical properties will take a long time to be
implemented and effective. Therefore along with the increase of population and the
decrease of basic elements, the global community is inevitably heading towards
double amounts of starvation. This situation results in violation of the fundamental
human rights to clean food and water, heat, education and medical capacities for
many people in developed and developing countries. Overpopulation with
insufficient natural resources leads to lack of social development and increases
poverty rate and social instability. Conflicts over these natural resources, especially
water, are raising tensions between neighboring countries and could ignite possible
wars and quarrels. The acute difference between developed and developing nations
well become more intense, taking into consideration the waves of migration towards
well-developed nations and the unequal distribution of trade products and would
polarize our world with catastrophic outcomes.
b. Environmental Aspect
Imbalanced population growth deteriorates environmental degradation. Pollution,
global warming and climate change stemming from excessive use of technology and
gas emissions are going to be exaggerated by additional use of more people. Even by
using environmentally friendly products the problems of global warming and
greenhouse effect are already very severe and worsen as overpopulation continues.
The balance between humanity and nature is going to be further disrupted, natural
habitat is going to be destroyed for housing and manufacturing facilities, more animal
species are going to become extinct and less land will be available for agriculture,
farming and food production.
According to World Health Organization "If we cannot stabilize population and if we
cannot stabilize climate, there is not an ecosystem on earth we can save."
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c. Economic Aspect
Increasing global population is accompanied with increased production and trading
market; as the demand raises so should the supply. Rationally this would not be a
problem a few decades ago when natural resources were abundant, but nowadays the
shortage of basic natural elements is becoming lower. As more people are going to
need these limited products, they are going to be available in less quantities and
higher prices. Apart from the economically advanced minorities, the majority will not
be able to afford these prices, the welfare system of developed nations will not be
able to provide housing and food facilities for such amounts of citizens and
developing nations are going to face even worse poverty and starvation problems
with child mortality rate boosting. In addition poor living conditions and lack of
hygiene cause the spread of diseases and inhibits educational and economic progress,
therefore deteriorating national growth. Severe economic deficits and lack of funding
results in many corporations going bankrupt and causes huge unemployment rates.
With the prices of market products on a high stake, trade diminishes as many
countries cannot afford trading taxes and production is limited to powerful
individuals and economically strong governments with many economic interests.
Before imbalanced population growth reached the current level, policy makers
presented an ideal plan of funding developing countries and help them achieve a
competitive progress, in case overpopulation was not manageable. Even though over
the past years only basic amounts have been donated and funded to these nations
through the United Nations and various NGOs with little success, imbalanced
population growth would limit these funds even more; increased population density
and migration to developed counties requires huge investments by these governments
to ensure accommodation and nutrition for all these people, therefore leaving little or
no amounts available for donation if not creating a deficit.
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d. Political Aspect and Security
High unemployment rates, increased immigration and poverty disturb social balance
and peaceful coexistence between citizens and result in criminality and insecurity.
Taking into account that one of the most important reasons for imbalanced population
growth is immigration, many believe that terrorist member groups and organizations
can transport across neighboring countries in this way and cause major deadly
attacks. In multinational countries discrimination against minorities and immigrants
results in violence and fear and diminishes security and democracy. In this way
political groups with chauvinistic point of views stigmatize these groups and
propagate the local population therefore causing political instability and violation of
human rights.
e. New Legal Framework; Family Planning and Migration
The most vital issue concerning overpopulation is unawareness regarding family
planning and the serious effects of imbalanced population growth. In most
developing counties girls get married at a young age, families are bigger and formed
faster compared to developed nations, resulting in overpopulation. In addition
developing countries are often conflict or post-conflict areas, so a great part of the
population shifts towards the developed countries. The current situation is well
observed today; western countries are now becoming overpopulated and the Middle
East has lost a great majority of civilians with only few of them still remaining in
their home countries. Lack of global legislation concerning overpopulation and
different state laws complicate the problem even more. Through educational seminars
prevention of unwanted and early pregnancy as well as the consequences of
imbalanced population would be emphasized. Apart from raising awareness new and
rapid laws controlling birth rate is one of the most effective and simultaneously
controversial measure to tackle the problem. “Life is a sacred gift and should not be
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limited or restricted” according to many cultures but the restriction of children
a family can have will decrease fertility rate and population growth. Of course the
number of children per family depends on each nation’s demographic data, economic
and social development. This is a promising measure for developing countries as less
people born would increase the supply of basic elements and improve living
conditions. Proper family planning allows governments to organize society and
provide the best facilities for its citizens. Regarding immigration, a lot of measures
have been proposed and implemented but the situation continues to worsen (82% of
population growth in developed countries are immigrants) and it is still a topic of
intense debate. In order to overcome extensive immigration, developing counties
have to restore security, prevent terrorism and aim development through the
construction of educational and transport facilities, hospitals and investments. As a
final result population will grow at a controlled and balanced pace, while eliminating
its current defects. The way to achieve it requires extensive funding and overseeing
of projects, universal legislation and ethics debate, all expected to be discussed
between the delegates.
f. United Nations
The United Nations has one of the most significant roles since facing imbalanced
population growth requires international cooperation of all member states. Multiple
studies have been published, like the Brundtland Report “our common future”, the
“Unbalanced distribution of benefits and costs” , emphasizing the significance and
the repercussions of the problem, but few actions have been made. The main reason
is because population management and organization is state controlled and the UN
cannot intervene in their legislation. However during the General Assembly new
common legislation aiming family planning and balanced growth should be discussed
and overseen by UN bodies. Through the United Nations is the only way to protect
developing states from the interests of the economically strong and prevent
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exploitation while ensuring investments, peacekeeping missions and
development programs.
Bloc Positions
There are two blocs that should be formed in order to ensure effectiveness of the
proposed resolutions;
On the one side are countries with overpopulation due to the imbalanced population
growth. They include most of the countries in the European Union, the United States
and all countries dealing with excessive immigration apart from domestic population
growth. In this bloc countries deal with social and political multinational instability
and need to ensure democratic and peaceful existence of citizens, while advancing the
welfare system and creating a formula for balanced population growth. Since the
majority of countries in this bloc has achieved economic growth providing loans
through Governmental Organizations and the United Nations and making investments
in less developed nations is essential. The overall goal is the balanced population
growth across the globe and controlled birth rate in order to ensure healthy living
conditions.
On the other side there are countries facing under population due to immigration or
increased poverty rate. These countries are located mainly in the Middle East and
Asia and are mostly developing countries in need of financial support and social
progress.
African countries have major economic development over the past decades and
population growth is balanced and controlled. However there are still countries in the
African Union with low development rates facing overpopulation that need further
investments and funds to achieve social stability.
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Important Questions a Resolution Must Answer
1) How does imbalanced population growth affect the ability of resources at a
national and global scale?
2) How can equal distribution of natural resources and basic facilities between
developed and developing nations be achieved?
3) What are the necessary actions to limit high immigration rates in a way that
controls population growth?
4) Is the establishment of any Non-Governmental Organizations responsible for
organizing and monitoring balanced population growth necessary?
5) Which are the factors taken into consideration for investing and funding in
developing countries and what is the ultimate goal concerning imbalanced
population growth?
6) Is there an effective monitoring system that can be established to ensure
implementation of funds directed to developing countries and prevent
exploitation and bribery?
7) What are the positive and negative effects of controlling birth rate and defining
the number of children per family? Which are the moral difficulties and the
criteria taken into consideration to make such legislation?
8) Are there alternative approaches to limiting population and family planning?
9) What is the role of the international community and the United Nations
towards the problem? Should they intervene in the population control or should
they create global legislation concerning the issue?
10)
What is the role of educational facilities and sexual education regarding
the prevention of overpopulation and how could it be achieved?
11)
How can media coverage be beneficial for the information of the citizens
and future prevention of the undesired long term effects?
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References/ Links for Further Research
1. http://archive.futureagenda.org/pg/cx/view#302http://archive.futureagenda.org/pg/cx/
view - 302
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states_and_dependent_territories_by_
fertility_ratehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states_and_dependent_territor
ies_by_fertility_rate
3. http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats8.htmhttp://www.internetworldstats.com/stats8
.htm
4. http://www.postconsumers.com/education/10-factsoverpopulation/\http://www.postconsumers.com/education/10-facts-overpopulation//
5. http://cgge.aag.org/PopulationandNaturalResources1e/CF_PopNatRes_Jan10/CF_Pop
NatRes_Jan10_print.htmlhttp://cgge.aag.org/PopulationandNaturalResources1e/CF_PopNa
tRes_Jan10/CF_PopNatRes_Jan10_print.html
6. http://www.dieoff.com/page57.html
7. http://www.un.org/esa/desa/papers/2006/wp20_2006.pdfhttp://www.un.org/esa/desa
/papers/2006/wp20_2006.pdf
8. http://www.futureagenda.org/insight/imbalanced-populationgrowthhttp://www.futureagenda.org/insight/imbalanced-population-growth
9. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-worldfactbook/rankorder/2127rank.htmlhttps://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-worldfactbook/rankorder/2127rank.html
10. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/program-on-the-global-demography-ofaging/WorkingPapers/2010/PGDA_WP_53.pdfhttps://www.hsph.harvard.edu/programon-the-global-demography-of-aging/WorkingPapers/2010/PGDA_WP_53.pdf
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Conference Information
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editions) your first step should be to visit our website: www.limun.org.uk
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Agenda & Rules of Procedure
The agenda for the 2017 conference is available online at
www.limun.org.uk/agenda
Since its 17th session last year, LIMUN has introduced changes to its Rules of
Procedure. The revised Rules can be accessed here: http://limun.org.uk/rules
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