Human Rights Commission

Human Rights – One of the keystones of the UN working as an international body to solve problems of vast magnitudes. Ever since the birth of this commission in 1947, and the first publication of the UN Charter of Human Rights in 1948, the HRC has had one of the most grueling and difficult tasks to accomplish – to work towards preserving and upholding the basic human rights of people all around the globe. Today, we hear of power struggles, countries of great might wrestling for control over land and oil, but in the end it is humanity that loses the most. The Human Rights Commission must tackle this issue effectively.

At MUNE I, we shall be discussing two relevant and sensitive issues – the human rights violations in Russia and Chechnya and Arbitrary Detention, Torture and Abuse. Both topics are of great relevance in the world we live in today, and one can even relate to them on a personal level.

The human rights violations in Chechnya is a complex set of issues, wherein there have been grave human rights violations committed by both the Russian forces as well as Chechen rebels. Grave breaches of humanitarian laws in Chechnya are not an accident or a consequence of Russia’s inability to control its own forces, but of evidence of a basic psychological strategy with which the Russian authorities hope to break down the Chechen resistance. Chechen guerrilla forces have also resorted to terrorist acts, such as suicide bombings and hostage takings, leading to the suffering of people. Disappearances of people in custody, rapes and sexual assault of women, torture and murder of civilians continue to date.

Arbitrary Torture, Detention, and Abuse are major human rights violations. These violations vary, from denying immigrants the right to appeal, , to the torturing of prisoners as a war on terror strategy. Previous recommendations by the UN regarding criminal code and torture have not been heeded, seeing as many states still systematically use torture. WAY TOO STRONG!!!

As members of the Human Rights Commission, we need to work together to debate and solve these extremely volatile and current problems that plague the world we live in. We look forward to working with you all to come up with comprehensive and innovative solutions to the problems faced in Chechnya as well as the issue of Arbitrary Detention and Torture. Good Luck!

Karan Kothari Committee Director

Abbi Johnson Assistant Committee Director