TISBMUN 2022

Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee (SOCHUM)

Background Guide

Agenda: Redrafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

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 Letter From the Executive Board

Dear Delegates,

We are pleased to welcome you to the UN SOCHUM. As of when you are reading this,
you have either already chosen this committee or are considering it. Either way, the one thing
you need to know is that we are trying to do things a little differently, so it would be best if
you pay keen attention while reading on.

As such, there are two key points of difference:

1. The nature of the agenda and the kind of discussion and preparation that will be
required to unpack its ramifications, and,
2. The nature of the committee, in terms of the way in which we want delegates to
interact and conduct themselves

The agenda we chose breaks new ground in the sense that you will not easily find
research material that connects the evolution of human rights to changes in the UDHR, let
alone an analysis of how they impact each other. This may seem daunting, but try to think of
it like this- it’s all up to how you think you’re way through it. We understand the UN
SOCHUM is often a committee that first time MUNners choose, or are recommended, since
there is an assumption that General Assemblies discuss open ended generic issues with trivial
solutions. We lament this characterization and hope to set the record straight.

You will most certainly have to think your way through the topics presented if we are
to discuss the agenda meaningfully. This in no way implies our committee is less suitable for
first timers. Rather, regardless of your past experience this committee should be equally hard
for all participants, including us, regardless of whether you’re in 9th or 12th Grade because
you need to imagine and think for yourself to understand the problems. We have tried to write
the background guide in a way that simplifies complex theoretical issues through easily
relatable visualisations. We hope you will find this useful, and maybe even entertaining :)
Furthermore, the guide is interspersed with questions that we encourage you to examine and
find answers for so that you can appreciate more dimensions of the agenda.

Now, onto the nature of the committee. It is necessary to keep in mind that we are
trying to emulate an organisation geared towards consensus building and conflict resolution.
People come here to be heard, not to be shut down. They want to be accommodated. Knowing
this, it’s a silly approach to attend with your mind made up. Think of it like playing Tetris (if
you don’t know this, check it out). You need to know what the terrain is not only to best fit
your own aspirations, but also to accommodate others. This is the unique possibility offered

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by multilateral institutions such as the UN and one would be remiss if they didn’t utilise such
an opportunity. In the same vein, we expect you to research exhaustively, but not to approach
the committee with pre-defined solutions. As you study the agenda it will become increasingly
evident that it is not a topic that can be fully examined by one person, so don’t try to solve it
on your own either. We wouldn't need a conference if that was possible.

Further, a note on delegate performance is required. Those who have previously

secured awards through “dominating committee”, being confident without substance to back
up their position, or those who, and we cannot stress this enough, are coming to this
conference with the aim of securing an award, will feel out of place. They may make their
way in despite our ample warnings, but they will feel out of place since what they seek from
the conference will not be offered by us. Our primary objective at the conference is to enable
delegates to confer with each other. That we must issue ‘rewards’ at the end of committee is,
in our humble opinion, an unfortunate token that we must offer to incentivize quality. More
often than not, it leads delegates to optimise for seeming like the best delegate, rather than
functioning like one. An obvious symptom of this is the emphasis on “being a sponsor” or
sending many chits to the EB.

Hence, we want to conclude this section by stating simply that if we must reward
someone, it will be the responsible delegate. Whereas the ‘dominating delegate’ makes the
EB’s job difficult, as they need to be restrained to allow others to speak, the responsible
delegate will make the committee indifferent to the presence of EB by themselves ensuring
that all voices are being heard and considered, choosing to strategically offer their opinion
such that it meets the least resistance in being accepted by others. We hope this adequately
communicates what we want to create at the SOCHUM simulation at TISBMUN.

Looking forward to intriguing and sincere discussions,

Michelle Anoushka Pol Menezes (Chairperson)
Aditya Gupta (Co-Chairperson)
Srikar Reddy (Co-Chairperson)
Vignajith Reddy Dasaraighari (Assistant Director)

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 Table of Contents
Introduction to Committee ………………………………………………………………… 5
Introduction to the Agenda ………………………………………………………………… 5
Case Study 1: Evolution of Human Rights ………………………………………………… 6
Case Study 2: Criticisms to and Failures of the UDHR ……………………………………. 7
Questions A Resolution Must Answer (QARMA) ………………………………………… 8
Introduction to Position Papers ……………………………………………………………... 9
Sample Position Paper + Note ……………………………………………………………… 9
Committee Resources ………………………………………………………………………. 10
MUN Rules of Procedure References ……………………………………………………… 10

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Introduction to the Committee
The Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, or the Social, Humanitarian,
and Cultural Committee (SOCHUM), focuses on issues dealing with abecedarian mortal
rights in the international community. SOCHUM was established in 1945 in response to the
establishment of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. The Third Committee promotes
and enforces introductory freedoms and ideals meant to be enjoyed by the entire international
community similar as the right to life, the expression of cultures, the freedom of political
participation, the protection of children’s rights, and the creation of social development,
among numerous others. SOCHUM derives its legality from the original United Nations
Charter and operates with the idea of designing peaceful agreements for issues within the
large diapason of social, philanthropic, and artistic complications in the transnational
community. This body does so by initiating studies that encourage recommendations for the
creation of international cooperation and fundamental freedoms for all. Note that the
SOCHUM is, as a committee under the General Assembly, simply a recommendatory body
and all decision making undertaken by delegates must take this fact into consideration.

Introduction to the Agenda

About the UDHR

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (or the UDHR) is unarguably one of the most
important documents signed in history and one of the only non-legally binded documents.
Adopted by the UNGA on 10th December 1948 this document was created, by the draft
committee led by Eleanor Roosevelt, to outline the rights and freedoms everyone is entitled
to. The document was drafted after World War 2 with multiple things in mind, the main ideas
being to not repeat the atrocities committed in the war. Some of the ideas promoted were
righteousness, freedom, equality and inclusivity.

The Draft committee featured 58 member nations, 48 nations voted for, 8 abstained (Saudi
Arabia, South Africa, USSR, Ukraine, Byelorussia, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia). The
document features 30 articles that cover the civil, political, cultural, social and economic
rights and freedoms for a person. Many of these articles form the basis of several other UN
documents such as the International Covenant of the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
(ICESCR), International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Convention on the
Rights of the Child, and Convention against Torture and the abstaining countries as
mentioned earlier have ratified at least one of 9 total succeeding legally binding documents.

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Current Status of the UDHR

Questions have been raised across the globe on the relevance of the UDHR 74 years after its
drafting. The current generation has been tackling the multiple human right issues like racial
discrimination, gender equality, etc. This questions the purposes of the drafting of the UDHR.
The conference date shares the 74th anniversary of the adoption of the UDHR by the General
Assembly, and considering the discussions and arguments raised on the UDHR, the redrafting
of the UDHR is the best way to answer the questions raised on the relevance to the UDHR to
current and future generations.

Case Study 1: Evolution of Human Rights

Human Rights, according to renowned author Arthur Heywood, are the rights entitled to
individuals because they are human. These rights can be categorised into, civil and political,
economic, social and cultural, and right to self-determination and participation in each other’s
common heritage.

As mentioned earlier, the UDHR was drafted in the context of post-WW2 to prevent the same
atrocities from occurring once again. Today, people all over the world argue whether the
UDHR still holds relevance, and/or will continue to hold relevance, given the evolution of
human rights and its forecasted rate of progress.

In the current generation, we have just begun to deal with problems such as ‘modern slavery’,
LGBTQ+ rights, environmental sustainability (better late than never) as opposed to the
instigation of attempts to solve racial discrimination, gender inequality, and refugees,
internally displaced or in foreign territory, (all three of which still exist today, the latter being
more prevalent than ever) from the past. What has changed? Not much. Yes, Apartheid as a
social construct is no longer enforced and is in fact banned in South Africa but people Black
Americans still face discrimination on a daily basis. Yes, slavery was abolished all over the
world but poor immigrants in Dubai work in scorching heat, in a “community” of other
kinsmen in the same trap, locked off from the city so the tourists don’t lay their eyes on that
the preposterous living complexes. What makes the UN and its enshrined International
Humanitarian Law different from the League of Nations if rich and/or nations are going to
bypass the organisation?

Society has a very back and forth relation with women and people of different sexualities.
But over the course of this time, we have seen a large portion of countries evolve in their
acceptance for people ‘different’ from the ‘norm’.

Freedom of Religion is still an issue in the 21st century and seems to never leave our side.
Even “secular” nations like India have seen atrocities take place due to religions like the
Anti-Sikh Massacre in Delhi and Anti-Christian riots in Odisha. France declared itself a

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secular state in its Constitution in 1958 but still faces backlash due to its treatment of
Muslims. The nation passed laws stating that wearing overt symbols of religion is forbidden.
In 2004, there was also an attempt for a complete ban on hijabs. Many questioned the safety
of muslims in France and called the nation “Islamophobic”. Secularism, just like any other
glittering generality, carries a multitude of interpretations and it really arises the question on
the limit to which the UDHR should be allowed to be misinterpreted as context of
composition is set in a particular time/timeline whereas context of interpretation has the
capability of changing massively over even short periods of time.

Case Study 2: Criticisms to and Failures of the UDHR

The UDHR has come under criticism, positive and negative, for a myriad of reasons.

To introduce this case study, it is important to consider some of the reasons why the UDHR
was criticised from its inception. Ideology was by far the reason that stood out the most.
Saudi Arabia is not a part of the ICCPR and was part of the lot that voted ‘abstain’ when the
GA voted for the UDHR. This is because the Sharia Law stood in direct opposition to Article
16 and 18 which talks about freedom to marry any individual and freedom of religion
respectively. To a large extent, Saudi Arabia still holds these sections of the Sharia Law as
integral components of citizenship, society and culture within the country. Moreover,
countries that followed socialism and communism at the time felt like the ideals proposed by
the UDHR were extremely west-leaning and an attempt to spread the ideas of liberalism and
suppress those of communism.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights proudly boasts off itself as a document that
promotes the idea of universality. However, this acknowledgement is not enough to satisfy
the ideals that the document and its successors entail. Even during the day that the UDHR
was adopted by the United Nations, several countries stood opposed to the document citing
religious values and the attempt by the West to impose their ideology on countries that they
view as incomparable to their own might and hence, significance. Some argue we still live in
an age where power = relevance. Is this how the UDHR aims to preserve peace and promote
ideas of equality. There is, however, a commonly cited counter-reasoning is the fact that
countries such as Chile, China, India, Pakistan and Lebanon played a considerable role in the
drafting of the UDHR, none of which can really be classified as “western’’ per se.
Additionally, 2/3rds of the affirmative votes were by Non-Western countries. Hence, the other
side of the spectrum claims that this legitimises its claims of global inclusion.

Can one really celebrate while citizens in Yemen are left to the mercy of death, or when
women and the girl child are denied their ‘rights’ under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.
Yes, these acts do not hold a candle to the atrocities to the Second World War, however, in
summation and the taking the future into account, it can be said that a wider populace in
quantity and of nationality/ethnicity are and will be affected by the seemingly improper

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implementation of the rights and freedoms encompassed by the document. Does this really
come as a surprise? Not really.

However, scholars state that considering the progress in Human Rights especially with
respect to recognition of women’s and LGBTQ+ rights as mentioned earlier. The UDHR,
even though seemingly a bunch of ideals, gives countries and the world as a collective unit a
standard to achieve. Perhaps the UDHR being post-WW2 what the League is to post-WW1;
just symbolic for ideals. But then again, what is the motive to reach these goals? Everyone
has a different way of living, sense of ideals and leading a community. Iran, for example, is
repeatedly criticised for human rights violations. Yes, Iran was a party to the drafting of the
UDHR but since has been through a coup d’etat and revolution that completely reversed the
progress in societal norms. Today, and probably even now, women are fighting for the right to
wear what they want in Iran and every day. One was not born free but wishes to be free.
Unfortunately, there is a negatively proportional relationship between freedom and equality
which must be taken into account. How far can the UDHR accommodate such a relation?
Numerous factors, including segmentation of human rights, shifting geopolitical balances,
substantial economic and social disparity, environmental degradation, and a deterioration of
democratic institutions, contribute to the UDHR's faults.

It resembles the dilemma formed when viewing a glass and debating whether it is half-empty
or half-full, which is precisely why the scope of this committee remains pertinent.

Questions A Resolution Must Answer (QARMA)

1) Why is the UDHR still relevant today?
2) What is the scope for change in the UDHR? How will the UN ensure that the UDHR
keeps up with the progress of time?
3) Is universality possible in a document that is claimed to be dictation of international
humanitarian law?
4) How will this change be accommodated and implemented? Is it feasible?
5) Does the new framework address the question of universality?

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Introduction to Position Papers
Position Papers play a crucial role to present your nation’s perspectives on the agenda to the
executive board prior to the conference. They are also very important to serve as the starting
points for your own individual research. The following are some important components that
should be present in a position paper-

● Introductory Information
○ TISBMUN 2022 Position Paper
○ Name of Delegate: __________
○ Name of Committee: SOCHUM
○ Name of Country: __________
○ Agenda: Redrafting the Universal Declaration for Human Rights (UDHR)
○ [attached on the side: the flag of your country]
● Introduction:
○ a catchy and impactful opening statement
○ what is the agenda about
○ scope of the agenda
○ how the agenda impacts the world
● Body Paragraph 1 and/or 2:
○ Causes of the agenda at hand
○ Effects of the Agenda at hand
○ Has your country dealt with it?
■ If so, how has your country combatted it?
○ Does it concern any UN Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs)?
○ Any previous UN Resolutions on the topic? Do mention and state which
specific clauses it concerns
● Body Paragraph 3 [very important]:
○ Solutions
■ A new UN framework?
■ A new UN sub-committee?
■ Amendments to existing frameworks?
● Conclusion:
○ Re-addressing the pertinence of the agenda to the world as a whole
○ It should be short and brief
○ Your ideal outcomes out of the committee session

Sample Position Paper

Following is a link to a sample position paper created by the Co-chairperson for one of the
conferences they had recently attended-
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mISgG-FN5vpUQn4ERv7LMf6Tib0Tru5d/view?usp=sharing

Note: Background guides will be considered compulsory for this committee and it is recommended to
submit one by the 7th of December, 2022 to your EB at tisbmunsochum@gmail.com

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Committee Resources
Following are a few important resources to aid your research [do not stay limited to these!]:
● https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights
● https://repository.law.miami.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2518&context=umialr
● https://www.ethicsandinternationalaffairs.org/2018/udhr-at-seventy-progress-and-chal
lenges/
● https://odi.org/en/insights/why-the-universal-declaration-of-human-rights-is-still-relev
ant-70-years-on/
● https://impakter.com/whats-wrong-with-the-universal-declaration-of-human-rights-ud
hr/
● https://www.coe.int/mk/web/compass/the-evolution-of-human-rights

MUN Rules of Procedure References

➢ https://bestdelegate.com/rules-of-procedure-the-secret-to-dominating-an-advanced-co
mmittee/
➢ https://bestdelegate.com/mun-made-easy-how-to-get-started-with-model-united-natio
ns/
➢ https://bestdelegate.com/model-un-made-easy-top-20-important-terms-to-know-in-co
mmittee/

You are recommended to go through this, to spend less committee time discussing Rules of
Procedure. Consider looking at MUN Crash Courses/Tutorials on YouTube or Google.

Thank you and all the very best for the conference!

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