The twelve Committees of the TU-BCPS Model United Nations General Assembly (GA) deal with a variety of issues surrounding the conference scenario. They provide guidance on any number of areas such as security, legal, health, and the environment.
1st Committee: Security Council
The Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. It has 15 Members, and each Member has one vote. Under the Charter of the United Nations, all Member States are obligated to comply with Council decisions.
The Security Council takes the lead in determining the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression. It calls upon the parties to a dispute to settle it by peaceful means and recommends methods of adjustment or terms of settlement. In some cases, the Security Council can resort to imposing sanctions or even authorize the use of force to maintain or restore international peace and security.
2nd Committee: Human Rights Council
The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe and for addressing situations of human rights violations and make recommendations on them. It has the ability to discuss all thematic human rights issues and situations that require its attention throughout the year. It meets at the UN Office at Geneva.
The Council is made up of 47 United Nations Member States which are elected by the UN General Assembly. The Human Rights Council replaced the former United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
3rd Committee: Anti-Corruption Council
The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) is a multilateral treaty negotiated by member states of the United Nations (UN) and promoted by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). It is one of several legally binding international anti-corruption agreements.
Helpful Website to Prepare for Committee Discussion: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/treaties/CAC/
4th Committee: Environmental Council
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.
Helpful Website to Prepare for Committee Discussion: https://www.unep.org/
5th Committee: Rights of the Child
The Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is the body of 18 Independent experts that monitors implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by its State parties. It also monitors implementation of two Optional Protocols to the Convention, on involvement of children in armed conflict and on sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. On 19 December 2011, the UN General Assembly approved a third Optional Protocol on a communications procedure, which will allow individual children to submit complaints regarding specific violations of their rights under the Convention and its first two optional protocols. The Protocol entered into force in April 2014.
6th Committee: Law Council
The Sixth Main Committee is the primary forum for the consideration of legal questions in the General Assembly. All of the United Nations Member States are entitled to representation on the Sixth Committee as one of the main committees of the General Assembly. … It also provides links to related websites on legal matters.
Helpful Website to Prepare for Committee Discussion: https://legal.un.org/ilc/
7th Committee: Economic & Social Council
The Economic and Social Council is at the heart of the United Nations system to advance the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental. It is the central platform for fostering debate and innovative thinking, forging consensus on ways forward, and coordinating efforts to achieve internationally agreed goals. It is also responsible for the follow-up to major UN conferences and summits.
The UN Charter established ECOSOC in 1945 as one of the six main organs of the United Nations.
Helpful Website to Prepare for Committee Discussion: https://www.un.org/ecosoc/en/home
8th Committee: World Health Council
WHO’s priority in the area of health systems is moving towards universal health coverage. WHO works together with policy-makers, global health partners, civil society, academia and the private sector to support countries to develop, implement and monitor solid national health plans. In addition, WHO supports countries to assure the availability of equitable integrated people-centred health services at an affordable price; facilitate access to affordable, safe and effective health technologies; and to strengthen health information systems and evidence-based policy-making.
Helpful Website to Prepare for Committee Discussion: https://www.who.int/
9th Committee: Refugees Council
The United Nations Council for Refugees is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. It strives daily to ensure that everyone has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to eventually return home, integrate or resettle. During times of displacement, the Refugee Council provides critical emergency assistance in the form of clean water, sanitation, healthcare, shelter, blankets, and food.
Helpful Website to Prepare for Committee Discussion: https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/
10th Committee: Science and Technology for Development Council
The United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development is the United Nations’ home for discussions on science and technology – what is new, what matters, what is changing, what the impact is – and how this affects development and a sustainable future for all.
It is the forum that helps ask and frame the critical issues influencing the fields of science and technology today.
Some of the important normative issues raised include the technology and life interface, as well as governance of the use and development of frontier technologies – namely, big data analytics, biotech and genome editing, the Internet of things (IoT) and artificial intelligence.
11th Committee: Trade and Development Council
Globalization, including a phenomenal expansion of trade, has helped lift millions out of poverty. But not nearly enough people have benefited. And tremendous challenges remain.
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development supports developing countries to access the benefits of a globalized economy more fairly and effectively. UNCTAD helps equip them to deal with the potential drawbacks of greater economic integration. To do this, UNCTAD provide analysis, facilitate consensus-building, and offer technical assistance. This helps them to use trade, investment, finance, and technology as vehicles for inclusive and sustainable development.
Helpful Website to Prepare for Committee Discussion: https://unctad.org/
12th Committee: Sustainable Communities Council
At the global level, the UN Sustainable Development Group serves as a high-level forum for joint policy formation and decision-making regarding sustainable development in more than 162 countries. The UNSDG calls for integration of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals through a holistic agenda which calls for joint collaboration between agencies, funds and programs for the achievement of national development priorities.
Helpful Website to Prepare for Committee Discussion: https://unsdg.un.org/
