WORKING PAPER 1.

Committee: United Nations Women

Topic: Discussing the bans on veils and headscarves
Signatories: People’s Republic of China, The Russian Federation, The French Republic,
Turkey, Iran, United States of America, Rwanda, United Kingdom, Italy and Canada

Economic and Social Council,

Recalling United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, which emphasises on the
importance of female participation with respect to the resolution of post conflict problem and
negotiations, in addition to Article 36 of the Chinese constitution, United Nations Human
Rights Council Resolution 16/18 and Resolution 40/11 which acknowledge and promote the
right to freedom of religion or belief, including the right to manifest one's religion or belief in
teaching, practice, worship and observance,

Aware of the definitions of different types of veils and headscarves which include Hijab, a
cloth that covers the hair and neck, a niqab which covers the whole face except the eyes, a
burqa which covers the whole body and contains a mesh around the eyes for visibility, a
woman which is an adult female with XX chromosomes, feminism which primarily serves as
a white supremist movement to push western agendas,

Alarmed by the anti hijab stigmatisation following 9/11 caused by factors such as propaganda
through media and politics against muslims, the US patriot act of 2001 which provides
appropriate tools required to intercept and obstruct terrorism post 9/11, in addition to the
banning of Hijabs in three states of the United States of America, particularly Oregon,
Nebraska and Pennsylvania, and the fact that the United States of America had implemented
a ban on hijab within the US parliament for since 1837 and have kept 181 years,

Cognizant of the UN special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or beliefs, the UN committee

on the elimination of discrimination against women as well as UN-led initiatives such as the
Alliance of Civilizations and World Interfaith Harmony Week, and the significant role played
by them regarding the freedom of religion and beliefs,
Aware of the definitions of different types of veils and headscarves which include Hijab, a
cloth that covers the hair and neck, a niqab which covers the whole face except the eyes, a
burqa which covers the whole body and contains a mesh around the eyes for visibility, a
woman which is an adult female with XX chromosomes, feminism which primarily serves as
a white supremist movement to push western agendas,

Observing the role of media, which serves as a primary source of information regarding
headscarf and veil bans, providing coverage of policy developments, legal debates, and
public reactions,

Approving the principle of secularism as the which is the main ideology followed by the
alliance of both blocs,

Recognizing the need for a more nuanced approach as proposed by The French Republic that
respects both cultural diversity and human rights,

Recognizes that France's approach to veiling bans is based on the principles of secularism,
security and gender equality, which respects the country's commitment to the protection of
individual freedoms within the context of its national values, in addition to the fact that the
international community to learn from the French model in balancing the principles of
secularism, gender equality, and individual freedoms,

Noting with deep concern the violations to article 36 of the third geneva convention, article
27 of the fourth geneva convention as a result of CIA’s support and aid of the Taliban regime
and them forcing hijabs onto prisoners of war and civilians within Afghanistan, during the
soviet invasion in the 1980s,