WELCOMING REMARKS FROM THE CHAIRS

Greetings my amazing delegates!

It is my pleasure in welcoming you all for the Asia Youth International Model united Nations
Virtual conference March 2022.

I’m Pumudika Amarasekara from the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka and I currently
work as the Research Analyst in a think tank. I’m a CGMA, ACMA by profession, and holds
a 1st Class honors Degree in Business Management from The Federal University of Wales,
UK, and a Master’s Degree with a Distinction in Business Analytics from Robert Gordon
University, Aberdeen, UK. I always had the belief that one should not love what you do, but
rather should do what you love, and in such style, there is no need for extra motivation since
you already are.

My first International MUN was also the Asia Youth International Model United held in
Thailand 2018 and I won my first international award being the Best Position Paper for the
council of UNESCO out of more than 100 delegates. With this, my love for Model United
grew more and I wanted to be a much bigger part of this family. By 2020 I’m holding the
responsibility as a director in more than ten Model United Nations around the globe including
RGMUN, HMUN, GYLMUN, APIMUN, and GYIMUN to name a few. My hobby is to travel
and thus MUNs gives me the perfect opportunity to see the beauty of mother nature. I live by
the quote, “Magic happens when you do not give up, even though you want to, the Universe
will always fall in love with a Stubborn heart”, which has proved to be true over the years.

All that I advise for you is to be ready with every power you have. Read and even debate
with yourself of what could be the best solutions to put a comma or maybe even a full stop to
the current topic in hand. Have a deep look at the study guide, because you might find some
hidden gems in it and please do not think twice to contact me for any clarifications on the
subject matters. To you my amazing delegates I wish the best of luck in all your endeavors
and bless you all to find that spirit which drives you.

Have a blessed day!!!

Best Regards,
PUMUDIKA AMARASEKARA

1
Message from the Co-chair

Dear Delegates,

It is our pleasure to welcome you to Asia Youth International Model United Nations
Virtual Conference 2022 (AYIMUN VC) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization Committee where we will be seeking peace through international
cooperation! We are ecstatic to be your committee chairs and have the honor to lend you a
hand and guide you throughout your AYIMUN VC experience. We will help you make the
best out of the conference and help you discover the best versions of yourselves as
delegates.

Though MUN is not a competition, your remarkable participation, and excellence will
surely be rewarded. MUN is about representing countries, standing by their policies and
position, participating and sharing ideas to arrive at a common solution. Participate in the
conference, learn new ideas, make friends, and have fun! In everything you do, remember
that success is always fueled by great courage, undying determination, and faith. We’re
looking forward to some heat in the committee. All the best!

Yours truly,
Gillian Mei

INTRODUCTION TO THE COUNCIL

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was
founded in 1946 with the mission of promoting peace through partnership in the sectors of
education, research, and culture in order to advance universal respect for justice, the rule of
law, and the human rights and fundamental freedoms affirmed for all peoples of the world
regardless of race, gender, language, or religion, by the United Nations Charter1

UNESCO is a United Nations (UN) system specialized agency.2 Although financially and
physically distinct from the UN's core agencies, UNESCO collaborates with the UN to
advance shared objectives.3 The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is the principal
vehicle for coordinating the activities and programs of specialized organizations; ECOSOC is
UNESCO's first point of contact with the United Nations system.4 Additionally, UNESCO
receives advice and strategic direction from the United Nations System Chief Executives
Board for Coordination (UNSCEB) via its High-Level Committee for Programmes (HLCP),
High-Level Committee for Management (HLCM), and United Nations Development Group
(UNDG).5

UNESCO was founded in 1942 by the Conference of Allied Ministers of Education (CAME),
a group of government representatives seeking to rebuild education systems following the
1
UNESCO in brief. (2022). Retrieved 2 March 2022, from https://www.unesco.org/en/brief
2
Trade, N. (2022). UN Handbook 2021-22. Retrieved 2 March 2022, from https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/peace-rights-and-
security/our-work-with-the-un/un-handbook/
3
Nations, U. (2022). United Nations Charter (full text) | United Nations. Retrieved 2 March 2022, from
https://www.un.org/en/about-us/un-charter/full-text
4
ibid
5
Communication and Information. (2019). Retrieved 2 March 2022, from https://en.unesco.org/themes/communication-and-
information

2
Second World War; CAME was preceded by the International Committee of Intellectual
Cooperation (CICI) and the International Bureau of Education (IBE), the latter of which has
been a part of the UNESCO Secretariat since 1969.6 CAME convened a summit in London
in November 1945 to form an Educational and Cultural Organization (ECO/CONF).7
UNESCO was founded on 16 November 1945 by nine representatives from 37 nations; the
official constitution was signed on 16 November 1945 and came into existence on 4
November 1946.8

UNESCO has coordinated and developed a number of worldwide standards for the
development of education, science, and culture since 1946.9 The Universal Copyright
Convention (1952), the Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural
Heritage (1972), the Declaration on Race and Racial Prejudice (1978), the Memory of the
World Programme (1992), the Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human
Rights (1998), the Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity (2001), and the Convention for
the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (2001) are among the most important
(2003). Additionally, UNESCO hosted the world's first international conference on
sustainable development, which resulted in the establishment of the organization's Man and
the Biosphere program.10 UNESCO has made substantial contributions to UN reform efforts
and the post-2015 development agenda in recent years.11

UNESCO's mission is expressly specified in Article 1, paragraph 3 of the United Nations

Charter and in Article 1 of the UNESCO Constitution (1945).12 UNESCO's mission is to
foster cooperation among Member States in the sectors of education, research, and culture
in order to foster and sustain peace, the rule of law, and mutual respect among nations.13
Additionally, UNESCO is charged with organizing and promoting the advancement of
knowledge and culture in the sake of "economic stability, political security, and the general
well-being of the world's peoples."14 In accordance with this mandate, UNESCO collaborates
directly with Member States, United Nations organs, intergovernmental organizations (IGOs),
and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to promote peace through the collaborative
exchange of knowledge, culture, and strategies for sustainable development.15 Finally,
UNESCO is crucial in organizing international accords and establishing standards on
education, culture, and science.16

6
UNESCO in brief. (2022). Retrieved 2 March 2022, from https://www.unesco.org/en/brief
7
Ibid
8
Ibid
9
Key milestones reached for new education goals. (2014). Retrieved 2 March 2022, from https://en.unesco.org/news/key-
milestones-reached-new-education-goals-0
10
UNESCO, 2010. (2022). Retrieved 2 March 2022, from https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000191870
11
UNESCO's work on culture and sustainable development. Retrieved 2 March 2022, from
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000234443
12
Trade, N. (2022). UN Handbook 2021-22. Retrieved 2 March 2022, from https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/peace-rights-and-
security/our-work-with-the-un/un-handbook/
13
Nations, U. (2022). United Nations Charter (full text) | United Nations. Retrieved 2 March 2022, from
https://www.un.org/en/about-us/un-charter/full-text
14
Conference for the Establishment of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, held at the Institute
of Civil Engineers, London, from the 1st to the 16th November, 1945. (2022). Retrieved 2 March 2022, from
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000117626.locale=en
15
Nations, U. (2022). United Nations Charter (full text) | United Nations. Retrieved 2 March 2022, from
https://www.un.org/en/about-us/un-charter/full-text
16
Standard-Setting Instruments. (2022). Retrieved 2 March 2022, from http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-
URL_ID=12024&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

3
BACKGROUND OF THE TOPIC

“Violence against women is perhaps the most shameful human-rights violation. And it is
perhaps the most pervasive. It knows no boundaries of geography, culture or wealth. As long
as it continues, we cannot claim to be making real progress towards equality, development,
and peace.” - Kofi Annan

The danger of violence against women is one of the primary impediments to women's
empowerment and equal participation in society. They often go unreported and unrecorded,
and so remain unresolved. When society's stress and violence levels rise, as they have in
the transition zone, women's safety in the home, workplace, and community is often
jeopardized.17

The 1993 United Nations Declaration on Violence Against Women defines violence against
women as "any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical,
sexual, or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion,
or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether in public or private life."18 Women's violence is
distinct from other forms of violence and hence demands distinct remedies. The gender
components of violence are obvious; for example, women are at more danger in their own
homes than on the street, and sexual assault is often used to perpetrate violence against
women.19

Violence is a grave violation of women's and girls' human rights, and it has a significant
negative impact on their physical and emotional health. Rape and domestic abuse,
according to the World Bank, account for 19% of the overall illness burden among women
aged 15-44 in industrialized nations. This indicates that violence accounts for one in every
five years of healthy life lost to injury, sickness, or early death among women.20

Efforts to combat violence against women have developed throughout time, and there is now
a better awareness and understanding of the problem's roots and repercussions. However,
enormous obstacles remain. While the magnitude of this worldwide phenomena is immense,
investment in appropriate solutions and political commitment to address the issue remain
minimal in comparison to reactions to other human rights breaches. Apart from the
devastation to women's lives, families, and communities, the epidemic threatens to impede
efforts toward sustainable development. 21

17
Violence Against Women. (2022). Retrieved 2 March 2022, from https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/monee6/chap-
5.pdf
18
OHCHR | Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women . (2022). Retrieved 2 March 2022, from
https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/violenceagainstwomen.aspx
19
Ibid
20
Violence Against Women. (2022). Retrieved 2 March 2022, from https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/monee6/chap-
5.pdf

21
Tackling Violence against Women (2022). Retrieved 2 March 2022, from
https://documentation.lastradainternational.org/lsidocs/TacklingViolence.pdf

4
Violence against women has a well-documented consequence. It denies women their most
fundamental human rights, such as the right to health, and poses a serious danger to
communities and whole nations' social and economic growth. In terms of development, it
immediately jeopardizes the Millennium Development Goals on gender equality and
women's empowerment, poverty reduction, newborn and maternal health and mortality,
educational attainment, and HIV and AIDS prevention.22

However, despite the development community's understanding of the critical need to

address violence against women, millions of women worldwide continue to face violence in
the home and community, with severe physical, emotional, and psychological consequences.
23
Over the years, proponents of women's rights have worked tirelessly to bring the problem
of violence against women to the world's notice. As a consequence of these efforts, a
number of countries have made substantial steps toward eradicating violence against
women on a nationwide basis. However, these initiatives have been mostly directed on
strengthening laws against violence against women. Much less has been accomplished in
terms of enforcing regulations and addressing the fundamental causes of the issue — the
disparity in power between men and women and the way gender roles are communicated at
all levels of society.

KEY FACTS ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

● Violence against women – particularly intimate partner violence and sexual violence
– is a significant public health concern and a violation of women's human rights.24
● According to WHO estimates, around one in three (30 percent) of women worldwide
have experienced physical and/or sexual intimate relationship violence or non-
partner sexual violence over their lives.25
● The majority of this violence occurs between intimate partners. Around the world,
almost a third (27%) of women aged 15–49 who have been in a relationship report
having been subjected to some type of physical and/or sexual violence by their
intimate partner.26
● Violence may have a detrimental effect on women's physical, emotional, sexual, and
reproductive health, and in certain contexts may raise their chance of contracting
HIV.27
● Women's violence is avoidable. The health sector has a critical role to play in
providing comprehensive health care to women who have been subjected to violence
and in connecting them to further support services they may need.28

RISK FACTORS
The following are risk factors for intimate relationship and sexual violence.29

22
Ibid
23
Gender-based violence. (2022). Retrieved 2 March 2022, from https://www.unfpa.org/gender-based-violence
24
Violence against women. (2021). Retrieved 2 March 2022, from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/violence-
against-women
25
Ibid
26
Ibid
27
Ibid
28
Ibid
29
Ibid

5
 ● lower levels of education (perpetration of sexual violence and experience of sexual
violence);
● a history of exposure to child maltreatment (perpetration and experience);
● witnessing family violence (perpetration and experience);
● antisocial personality disorder (perpetration);
● harmful use of alcohol (perpetration and experience);
● harmful masculine behaviors, including having multiple partners or attitudes that
condone violence (perpetration);
● community norms that privilege or ascribe higher status to men and lower status to
women;
● low levels of women’s access to paid employment; and
● low level of gender equality (discriminatory laws, etc.).

CURRENT STATUS AND KEY PROBLEMS

Preceding the COVID-19 pandemic, one in each three ladies had encountered personal
accomplice or sexual brutality by a non-accomplice eventually in their lives; the numbers
were altogether higher in various countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Various examinations exhibit that, north of two years into the scourge, there has been a
stressing spike in private accomplice viciousness and different sorts of savagery against
ladies and young ladies. This increment underlines the significance of helping spending in
the counteraction and reaction to brutality against ladies and young ladies. We want to
spend all the more really, taking utilization of promptly accessible information on orientation
based brutality (GBV) and intently examining the adequacy of our drives30.

In the course of the last ten years, how much information on viciousness against ladies and
young ladies has developed, and information on sexual brutality and close accomplice
savagery is presently available for 162 countries. 90 disaggregated markers on viciousness
against ladies are accessible on the World Bank's orientation information site. These
measurements, then again, are as often as possible underused and can cloud the
encounters of the most weak ladies, for example, the people who have been strongly moved.
A progression of World Bank studies, for instance, assessed existing information from
various nations to observe that ladies living in disaster areas and the people who have been
strongly moved face more noteworthy paces of private accomplice misuse. These new
exploration' discoveries show that private accomplice savagery is more normal than sexual
viciousness executed by furnished people31.

More governments are prioritizing investments in GBV prevention, and more initiatives all
across the globe are incorporating GBV work into their development efforts. In Niger, for

30
WOMANKIND Worldwide, 2007. Tackling Violence against Women: A worldwide approach. [online]
WOMANKIND Worldwide. Available at:
<https://documentation.lastradainternational.org/lsidocs/TacklingViolence.pdf> [Accessed 5 March
2022].
31
World Bank Blogs. 2022. Global crisis of violence against women and girls: tackling it with new,
better data use. [online] Available at: <https://blogs.worldbank.org/opendata/global-crisis-violence-
against-women-and-girls-tackling-it-new-better-data-use> [Accessed 5 March 2022].

6
example, a project led to the formation of Child Protection Committees to support the
abolition of child marriage. This programme made sure that married teenage females could
get family planning help and that adolescent girls could stay in school if they got pregnant or
married. In Uzbekistan, an operation is supporting the implementation of legislation that
creates a legal foundation for police reports of GBV, leading to survivors' systemic protection
and a referral channel that meets WHO criteria32.

One in every three women in the globe is subjected to physical or sexual violence, the
majority of which is perpetrated by an intimate partner. Human rights violations include
violence against women and girls. Prior to the epidemic, 243 million women and girls aged
15 to 49 had been sexually or physically abused by an intimate partner in the previous year.
Violence against women, particularly domestic violence, has increased since the epidemic.
Emerging statistics and stories from people on the front lines suggest that all sorts of
violence against women and girls, notably domestic abuse, has increased since the onset of
COVID-19. This is the Shadow Pandemic that is erupting in the middle of the COVID-19
disaster, and we need a worldwide response to halt it33.

Fast Facts

● Even before the COVID-19 epidemic, 1 in 3 women worldwide had suffered physical or
sexual violence, the majority of which was perpetrated by an intimate relationship.
● Since the emergence of COVID-19, there has been an uptick in calls to domestic
violence helplines in numerous nations, according to new statistics.
● On the streets, in public areas, and online, women continue to face sexual harassment
and other types of abuse.
● Survivors have restricted access to support services as well as inadequate information
and knowledge about available resources.
● Resources and efforts have been diverted from the response to violence against women
in certain nations to urgent COVID-19 assistance.
PAST ACTIONS

International accords such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of

Discrimination Against Women and the 1993 UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence
Against Women uphold a woman's right to a life free of violence. Only 40% of women seek
treatment after being abused, therefore we campaign for and support women and girls'
access to high-quality, multi-sectoral services that are critical for their safety, protection, and
healing, especially for those who have previously been subjected to numerous types of
discrimination. We engage with governments, UN agencies, civil society groups, and other
institutions to develop solutions to prevent violence against women and girls by emphasizing
early education, respectful relationships, and collaboration with men and boys.The most
cost-effective and long-term strategy to stop violence is always prevention. As part of UN
Women's holistic approach, we collaborate with partners to improve data collecting and

32
UN Women – Headquarters. 2022. The Shadow Pandemic: Violence against women during
COVID-19. [online] Available at: <https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/in-focus-gender-
equality-in-covid-19-response/violence-against-women-during-covid-19> [Accessed 5 March 2022].
33
Nations, U., 2022. Confronting Violence Against Women - What Has Worked Well and Why | United
Nations. [online] United Nations. Available at: <https://www.un.org/en/chronicle/article/confronting-
violence-against-women-what-has-worked-well-and-why> [Accessed 5 March 2022].

7
analysis to better understand the nature, scope, and effects of violence against women and
girls. Data gathering and analysis also aid UN Women and our partners in determining what
works and what doesn't in the fight against violence34.

Audrey Azoulay, the Director General of UNESCO, joined the worldwide #WithHer campaign
of Spotlight Initiatives in 2020 to increase global awareness of violence against women and
girls. In Guatemala, Nigeria, Samoa, and Zimbabwe, UNESCO field offices are collaborating
with civil society organizations to develop and execute programs to modify legislation,
provide necessary services, and address the links between sexual and gender-based
violence and harmful behaviors. During COVID-19 in Nigeria and Latin America, the project
also emphasized the significance of reducing gender-based violence and giving expedited
second-chance education options to out-of-school females and young children experiencing
intersectional disadvantage35.

Pandemics affect men and women, girls and boys, and non-binary persons differently,
depending on their socioeconomic status and age. During any form of emergency, violence,
harassment, and oppression against women and girls tend to rise. In light of the present
scenario, on May 19, 2020, UNESCO hosted an online conference called "Taking Action to
End Domestic Violence During Pandemics," which brought together global leaders and
experts from state governments, civil society groups, and the multilateral system. Ms Saniye
Gülser Corat, UNESCO's Director for Gender Equality, kicked off the discussion by
presenting the available data on domestic abuse, which she described as "scarce yet
alarming."

According to some accounts, confinement measures to prevent the spread of the disease
have resulted in a 35 percent spike in domestic violence. The size of the occurrence might
be much bigger due to the difficulties of asking for aid under the current conditions. Domestic
violence is a problem that affects both men and women, according to Ms Corat. To secure a
safe and empowered future for all women and girls, a holistic approach to gender equality is
required. Since an expert group conference on the subject was organized by the
Organization in 1997 in Oslo, Norway, UNESCO was among the first UN organizations to
envision a substantial engagement of men and boys in this sector36.

QUESTIONS A RESOLUTION MUST ANSWER (QARMAS)

1. What are types of Violence Against Women and how will you eradicate them?
specific programs.
2. How can long standing regressive ideas about the role of women in society be
changed
3. without disrespecting the communities’ cultures, customs, and values?

34
UN Women – Headquarters. 2022. The Shadow Pandemic: Violence against women during
COVID-19. [online] Available at: <https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/in-focus-gender-
equality-in-covid-19-response/violence-against-women-during-covid-19> [Accessed 5 March 2022].
35
UNESCO. 2022. Eliminating Violence Against Women. [online] Available at:
<https://en.unesco.org/news/eliminating-violence-against-women> [Accessed 5 March 2022].
36
UNESCO. 2022. Taking action to end domestic violence during pandemics. [online] Available at:
<https://en.unesco.org/news/taking-action-end-domestic-violence-during-pandemics> [Accessed 5
March 2022].

8
 4. What are the changes that have occurred in the Violence Against Women post
pandemic and what should be the solutions to overcome the issue?
5. What are the other collaborations UNESCO can partner up with (both inside and
outside UN) to support these initiatives in implementation, funding etc. ?

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Communication and Information. (2019). Retrieved 2 March 2022, from

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Conference for the Establishment of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organisation, held at the Institute of Civil Engineers, London, from the 1st to the 16th
November, 1945. (2022). Retrieved 2 March 2022, from
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000117626.locale=en [Accessed 5 March
2022].

Gender-based violence. (2022). Retrieved 2 March 2022, from https://www.unfpa.org/gender-based-

violence [Accessed 5 March 2022].

Key milestones reached for new education goals. (2014). Retrieved 2 March 2022, from
https://en.unesco.org/news/key-milestones-reached-new-education-goals-0 [Accessed 5
March 2022].

Nations, U. (2022). United Nations Charter (full text) | United Nations. Retrieved 2 March 2022,from
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Nations, U. (2022). United Nations Charter (full text) | United Nations. Retrieved 2 March 2022, from
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Nations, U., 2022. Confronting Violence Against Women - What Has Worked Well and Why | United
Nations. [online] United Nations. Available at:
<https://www.un.org/en/chronicle/article/confronting-violence-against-women-what-has-
worked-well-and-why> [Accessed 5 March 2022].

Tackling Violence against Women (2022). Retrieved 2 March 2022, from

https://documentation.lastradainternational.org/lsidocs/TacklingViolence.pdf [Accessed 5
March 2022].
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[Accessed 5 March 2022].

UN Women – Headquarters. 2022. The Shadow Pandemic: Violence against women during COVID-
19. [online] Available at: <https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/in-focus-gender-
equality-in-covid-19-response/violence-against-women-during-covid-19> [Accessed 5 March
2022].
UNESCO in brief. (2022). Retrieved 2 March 2022, from https://www.unesco.org/en/brief [Accessed 5
March 2022].

9
UNESCO, 2010. (2022). Retrieved 2 March 2022, from
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UNESCO. 2022. Eliminating Violence Against Women. [online] Available at:

<https://en.unesco.org/news/eliminating-violence-against-women> [Accessed 5 March 2022].

UNESCO. 2022. Taking action to end domestic violence during pandemics. [online] Available at:
<https://en.unesco.org/news/taking-action-end-domestic-violence-during-pandemics>
[Accessed 5 March 2022].

UNESCO's work on culture and sustainable development. Retrieved 2 March 2022, from
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000234443 [Accessed 5 March 2022].

Violence against women. (2021). Retrieved 2 March 2022, from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-

sheets/detail/violence-against-women [Accessed 5 March 2022].

WOMANKIND Worldwide, 2007. Tackling Violence against Women: A worldwide approach. [online]
WOMANKIND Worldwide. Available at:
<https://documentation.lastradainternational.org/lsidocs/TacklingViolence.pdf> [Accessed 5
March 2022].

World Bank Blogs. 2022. Global crisis of violence against women and girls: tackling it with new, better
data use. [online] Available at: <https://blogs.worldbank.org/opendata/global-crisis-violence-
against-women-and-girls-tackling-it-new-better-data-use> [Accessed 5 March 2022].

10