STUDY GUIDE

UNITED NATIONS ENTITY FOR GENDER EQUALITY AND THE EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN (UNWOMEN)

THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ISIS

Dear delegates,

I am thrilled to welcome you to the first Villa Maria Model of United Nations. With a lot effort, we have managed to present you an amazing opportunity. My name is Andrea Valdivieso and I will be your director in this committee. I am 19 years old and I study Economics at Universidad del Pacífico. Since my last year of school, I have been interested in MUN experiences. Last year I joined Peruvian Debate Society and since then I have participated in two international models. Not only did I get to meet amazing people from all around the world and learn a lot from distant nations, but I also travelled alone and it was a new experience for me.

The fact that you, at your different ages, are interested in global topics that include not only international cooperation but also a large range of knowledge thrills me even more. That is why I also have the pleasure to welcome you to the UN Women Committee in which we will be discussing the topic of the Role of Women in the Fight Against ISIS. Recently women have been gaining participation in the activities coming from ISIS and the international community has just started to take measures in the issue. For this topic it is important for you to investigate about the sovereignty of your nations in respect to the issue and also to take into consideration the policies that the nations have in regard to ISIS. Keep in mind that a good way to tackle all the problems regarding this topic is to separate the different roles that women have in ISIS and place solutions for each role. For me it’s not an easy topic, it is very complex so please, if you have any other doubt, just send me an email. Hope to see you soon.

Best regards, Andrea Valdivieso Director of UNWOMEN Villa Maria Model of United Nations 2015 [email protected]

Dear delegates,

It is my honor to welcome you to the UN Women Assembly to address The Role of Women in the Fight against ISIS. My name is Gabriela Bellido Ludowieg and I will be serving as one of the directors of your committee at VMMUN. I finished high school at Villa Maria in 2013 and I am currently a student of "Estudios Generales Letras" at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del .

My MUN career began in July 2014 with the Peruvian Universities team, which I represented at Harvard National 2015 in the Human Rights Council, where I obtained an Honorable Mention debating about Statelessness. I have also participated in other MUN conferences such as IDPMUN 2014 at COP 20 debating about the Millennium Development Goals and USIMUN 2014 at the United Nations Development Program debating about informal jobs. In addition, this year I will be serving as the Logistics sub-director at LiMUN 2015.

Leaving the Harvard experience at HNMUN 2015 made me realize how much I enjoy debating in different MUN conferences, that is why I recently joined the Acción AENU team, where I am going to spend my free time giving MUN Workshops.

I am ecstatic to see you at VMMUN and hope to meet you soon, if you have any doubts regarding the committee do not hesitate to ask!

Sincerely yours, Gabriela Bellido Ludowieg Director of UNWOMEN Villa Maria Model of United Nations 2015 [email protected]

Dear delegates,

We’re María Paz Azula, Valeria Castro and Ivana Noriega, and we will be the assistant directors for the UNWOMEN committee during this year’s VMMUN conference. We are all extremely honored to partake in this amazing experience as part of the chair for the first time, and to be able to share it with all of you. We find the topic of this committee to be very interesting and controversial, one that is going to generate different opinions, ideas and possible solutions to the problem. We hope that your experience in this conference will be as pleasant as possible, making sure to respect each other’s policies and ideas to reach a solution to this imminent situation in a peaceful and dynamic way. Make sure to come prepared for the debate, doing prior research about you countries policy and position regarding the topic and with an open mind for other possible solutions that your fellow delegates may have to offer. Finally we’ll like to welcome you all to this amazing experience that is going to be VMMUN. See you soon! Good luck to each and every one of you.

Best regards, María Paz Azula, Valeria Castro and Ivana Noriega Assistant Directors of UNWOMEN Villa Maria Model of United Nations 2015

I. INTRODUCTION processes. The organization of UN Women consists on the functions of: the Office of “I shall put terror into the hearts of the the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and disbelievers, strike above their necks and Advancement of Women, the Division for strike their fingertips” – Koran 8:12 the Advancement of Women, the United Nations Development Fund for Women and the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women. This entity leads and promotes the work that the United Nations has placed into achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment that is why it enhances (not replaces) the efforts from other organs such as UNICEF, UNDP or UNFPA1. The main goals of UN Women include:

The violence that ISIS has placed around • Elimination of discrimination the world has become one of the most against women and girls relevant issues at an international level. • Empowerment of women The rates of terrorism, casualties, rapes, • Achievement of equality between attacks, within others, coming from the women and men as partners and Islamic State have increased at a worrying beneficiaries of development, rate. Many organizations, for instance the human rights, humanitarian United Nations, have lately started to action and peace and security propose solutions and campaigns for the issue. The most terrifying aspect in the Within the main roles that UN Women fight against the Islamic State is that it not considers of much importance, they are in only involves the terrorist and resistance charge of supporting inter-governmental groups, it also affects the social bodies in the formulation of policies, global environment, education, the economies, standards and norms; helping Member cultures, national heritage, governments States on achieving the standards by and mostly innocent people that cannot providing technical and financial support live a normal life because of the insecurity and by forging effective partnerships with caused by ISIS. civil society and leading the UN system´s work on gender equality and to promote II. ABOUT THE COMMITTEE accountability through regular monitoring of system-wide progress. Created in July 2010, UN Women is a United Nations organization dedicated to III. DESCRIPTION OF THE TOPIC AND ITS gender equality and empowerment of PROBLEMS women. Gender equality is not only a human right but its achievement has ISIS stands for Islamic State of Iraq and enormous socio-economic ramifications as Syria and it is and extremist rebel group it impulses the economies and growth of controlling territory in Syria, Iraq and nations. The most common social problems Lybia2. It also operates in Lebanon, , regarding gender inequality are that women lack access to decent work and 1 UNICEF – United Nations Children’s Fund. face occupational segregation; they are UNDP – United Nations Development denied their right to basic education and Programme. UNFPA – United Nations health care; they suffer violence and Population Fund. 2 discrimination; they are under-represented In Image 1 you can find the exact territories in the Middle East that have been taken by ISIS in in political and economic decision-making the last years.

Egypt and other areas of the Middle East, reporting that ISIS new sympathizers are North Africa, West Africa, South Asia and from Indonesia. Southeast Asia. Lately, ISIS has been called a caliphate 3 which not only includes Recent reports from the Philippines geographical territory but also claims Islamist militant groups have issued a religious, political and military authority warning to the governments of Germany over all Muslims amongst the world (As and the Philippines to stop supporting the you can appreciate in IMAGE 1). U.S. in the killing of the ISIS militants. had been also attacked by ISIS What is the Islamic State? What are their and as respond they had implanted Anti – intentions? Questions like these must Terrorism raids, the population is afraid of always follow every person regarding a ISIS kidnaping, kills and child recruiting, as topic like ISIS. For many countries a measure they are supporting the U.S. – understanding the Islamic States led campaign of airstrikes against ISIS and movement and the war they fight creates a has sent warplanes and military personnel lot of confusion, but it’s really important to to the region. be clear that Al – Qaeda4 is different from ISIS. The members of ISIS, better known as Another important ISIS event has been Jihadists, support Osama bin Laden’s ideas, produced by Boko Haram5. The last year, and many of Al – Qaeda’s principles, but Boko Haram abducted 246 girls. 50 of them they have their own particular beliefs could escape, yet the rest is still regarding the most important day for an unreleased. Negotiations to exchange the Islamic person, which is the Day of kidnapped girls for a monetary reward are Judgment. The Day of Judgment is when still taking place but the terrorist group has they prove their missions as good persons even released information expressing the seeking for equality and peace on earth to intention of selling the girls into sexual Ala. slavery.

The Islamic State requires territory to One of the main principles for women in remain legitimate; their bureaucracy is the jihadist group is that girls must be divided into civil and military arms, and married to fighters at the age of nine, their territory in provinces. As a matter of emphasizing their role as wives, mothers fact, ISIS keeps growing, reaching global and homemakers. Relating on how to be extension. Even though they haven’t the “ultimate jihad wife”, the Islamic states attacked most of the countries in the had posted pictures of their women posing world, the impact of their attacks reaches with guns showing the power of being a the entire world. The Islamic states had jihad, also that way many women feel mostly attacked Syria and Iraq in both encourage to join the ISIS army. Also with places they had imposed their laws by the pictures they show up in media and set killing people accusing them of recruiting campaigns by giving an idealized “unbelievers”. Another example would be and power position of women all over the where they had increased the risk of media. instability. One of their most recent expansions news had come from Algeria, This only shows how women, in the past years had been taking more participation in 3 Caliphate: is a form of Islamic government led Islamic countries culture. Nowadays by a caliph, who is a person considered to be a women do play an important role for ISIS political and religious successor to the prophet Muhammad. Taken from: all over the world. Even though they have http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caliphate 4 Al – Qaeda: global militant Islamist 5 Boko Haram is the Islamist terrorist movement organization, founded by Osama bin Laden. occupying Nigeria and other African nations. Taken from: Recently this year, they pledge allegiance to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Qaeda ISIS.

been left aside for many years, today their death threats. And also loosing hope, not presence – not only in the army, also at only for the threats, but also because of home, for recruiting, nursery and child the rice on prices, little water and care- is vital. electricity, no schools or universities are being respected and that is making them loose their hope.

Women sexually abused and used as sex slaves

Another aspect related to terrorism caused by ISIS is sexual violence 6 directed to women. The most threatening aspect about ISIS is that they use sexual violence. The most important use is to increment the sense of insecurity within communities and to raise funds through the sale into sexual slavery. Also there are reports that in 2014 IMAGE 1 – taken from http://cdn.static- ISIS extended its recruitment to Western economist.com/sites/default/files/images/2014/0 females for them to bear children for the 6/blo gs/graphic-detail/20140621_gdc000_2.png new caliphate, this is another type of slavery 7 . For ISIS this criminalistics acts have religious justification; their religious Women joining Jihadist Groups interpretation of the Hadith8 permits them to enslave Yazidi 9 women and to rape Many women see the opportunity of captive non-Muslim women. They have joining the jihadist not only for training for even released a pamphlet (as you can see battle, but also for staying close to their in IMAGE 3) specifying the following: relatives, taking care of the children or most important for them, fulfilling Ala’s will ü The treatment of female slaves to find peace in the States. By joining the ü The allowance to have sexual acts forces they consider their selves as heroes. with adolescent girls

Another way women are directly involved in ISIS (and possibly this is their main role) 6 Sexual violence is defined by the World Health is in the recruitment of new women and Organization as: “any sexual act, attempt to children, by encouraging them to move to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments Syria and Iraq. For convincing them, they of advances, or acts to traffic of otherwise offer a lifestyle led by responsibilities in directed, against a person’s sexuality using their home, as it is Ala’s will. Another role coercion by any person regardless of their regarding to women in ISIS army focuses on relationship to the victim, in any setting, education of the children, in order to included but no limited to home or work”. 7 Taken from The Guardian prepare them not only in their religious 8 The Hadith are collections of the reports, studies, but also to teach them their role at teachings and sayings of the Islamic prophet the household center. In other cases, they Muhammad. Taken from: start working as doctors for the Jihadists. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadith 9 The Yazidis is a Kurdish religious community On the other hand, women are worried that has been prosecuted by ISIS since 2014 as because their children are being forced to they have declared the Yazidis are devil donate blood for fighters even though they worshipers. Taken from: don’t reach the necessary weight and size. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yazidis#Persecutio They are constantly being scared by ISIS n_by_the_Islamic_State_of_Iraq_and_the_Leva nt_.28ISIL.29

IMAGE 2 – taken from: https://i1.wp.com/womanstats.org/laststatics/combinedscaleandsanctionofrape20113.png

ü The allowance to beat slaves as a able to push the ISIS militants out of discipline Kobane. There are theories to explain why ü The allowance to trade slaves these troops are feared by the Islamic State. Some say, following their beliefs, that The reation of the Muslims is negative if a Jihadist is killed by a woman, they towards these interpretations of the Hadith won’t go to paradise or that they will not and they have even send a letter to the be rewarded with 72 virgins in the afterlife. Islamic State leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, These women are proud of their fighting rejecting the acts. In terms of data, the tactics and get support from all the nations United Nations made a report10 on October fighting against ISIS. 2014 based on 500 interviews with witnesses and they confirmed that at least There are military camps to train the between 5000-7000 Yazidi women and women that voluntarily join the Kurdish children had been abducted by ISIS for then army, where the managing of weapons is to be sold as slaves or given to the fighters especially taught. These women are also as a reward. focused on education programs, especially into teaching the Kurdish language in the Kurdish women fighting against ISIS near towns.

In the last years, the Kurdish women Today they celebrate the women that Protection Units (YPJ) have been growing in recently died in the fight for Kobane yet popularity as they are a major force they know there’s still hard work. combatting the Islamic State in Syria, especially in the city of Kobane (near the IV. ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN AS UN WOMEN Syrian border). These fighting groups are fearless and actually this year they were As the UN Women committee, we are focused on promoting gender equality and

10 empowering women all over the world. The report comes from the Commission of Inquiry of Syria of the United Nations. Today we have a very big issue regarding

the women role on ISIS. Not only they are had called all UN Member States to give all being cheated by the images send by the the possible help to the foreign fighters by media and convinced to join ISIS looking for financial and other supports for the fight freedom, but, what is even worst, there are against extremist groups in Iraq and Syria. women who are being mistreated for not The European Bloc must act quickly to joining ISIS, threatening to kill their empower women to fight against ISIS, children. either by serving in the army (Kurdish army, for instance), or by performing other jobs. It’s our duty to protect not only the children, but also women by empowering Asia and Oceania Bloc them and showing them their rights to say no. We must keep our women’s dignity and One of the recent and dramatics attacks of rights by helping them fight against the ISIS had been held in a café Sydney, where Jihadist. We must look forward to global ISIS members kidnapped 18 people for cooperation. Remember, consequences are almost 16 hours. This ended in a gunfire not only felt in one place. blaze with the Australian police officers. After the attack, Australia and Iraq reached an agreement that allows 200 Australian Special Forces troop to be part of the fight against ISIS (leaving apart the legal issue between the two countries). As part of the fight against ISIS, it had been Asian and Australian military operations in Kobani, and airstrikes had successfully helped avoiding the group advancements to other territories. Asian and Oceanic countries must worry about how to prevent the influence of media on their women. V. CURRENT SITUATION: BLOC POSITIONS

European Bloc

As the has initiated an international coalition looking for an ending to all armed offensive from ISIS because of the massive violation of sovereignty, the European countries have decided to contribute to the fight against ISIS. As a first step, they are evaluating if ISIS representatives are a direct threat or just a potential risk in the future to the European countries. One of the biggest concerns in the European bloc comes from the European Western countries, which are still worrying about their nations taking African Bloc part in the Middle East Jihad. For that reason the EU is looking for effectiveness in On March 2014, Abubakar Shekau, leader the cooperation between the European of Boko Haram in Nigeria, pledged Boko intelligence, police, judicial and financial Haram’s allegiance to ISIS, making it a agencies. As a matter of fact the European much bigger and aggressive terrorist group. countries are taking advantage of the UN This alliance between two of the most Security Council Resolution 2170, which

ruthless terrorist organizations means a send an additional 475 troops to Iraq in a growing concern for extremist groups to non-combat role in his prime time address. seize control in territories such as , Over the year, the US has launched more Libya, Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. The than 150 airstrikes over Iraq and the decision for the terrorist group to pledge airborne campaign looks set to continue. loyalty to another is based on US Secretary of State John Kerry said on organizational strategy, leadership and, the past Friday it’s too early to know what type most important of all, for ideological of role each member of the US led coalition reasons. The Nigerian Government believes against ISIS will take. The American Bloc must focus on consolidating.

IMAGE 4 – taken from: http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/54465f6a69beddeb4e3ecd78- 1200-800/isis%20nation%20map.jpg this act to be a sign that Boko Haram has VI. QUESTIONS A RESOLUTION MUST been defeated and, as a consequence, the ANSWER (QARMAS) elections on March would be postponed. The African Bloc should be concerned on Any resolution considered for application how to protect the basic rights of women must answer the following questions: in vulnerable territories. 1. What policies should nations include American Bloc to protect the identity of women that report terrorist attacks? The United States doesn’t seem to support 2. How can governments of nations the Kurdish armies that fight against ISIS, affected by ISIS improve the yet it has made several efforts into conditions in which their women and reducing the violence and sexual abuse children live? (Make a special from the terrorist groups against women. emphasis on national security) They have outlined a plan on confronting 3. Should there be a framework / ISIS. President Obama authorized airstrikes standards for the women that want over Syria and told the nation he would to join armies fighting ISIS?

4. What cultural, social and religious VIII. GETTING PREPARED aspects should be considered by governments that impulse the 1. RESEARCH participation of women in the groups that fight against ISIS? The success of your experience in VMMUN will depend heavily on how VII. BIBLIOGRAPHY much preparation you put in before the conference actually begins. Although 1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexua research may not seem like the most l_violence_in_the_Iraqi_insurgency fun or exciting activity leading up to a 2. http://www.theguardian.com/worl conference, if you put in the effort it d/2014/jul/18/iraqi-civilian-death- will definitely pay off during the toll-5500-2014-isis conference. You will be more 3. http://aranews.net/2015/03/suppo knowledgeable, more prepared, and rting-kurdish-female-fighters- more confident to deal with whatever against-isis-german-woman-dies- comes your way. in-syria/ 4. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ As you perform your research, you may article-2942377/Killed-battle- want to keep a page of notes on key Kobane-fearless-woman- facts, figures, policies and other commander-led-Kudish-female- important information. Bring a copy of fighters-against-ISIS.html your notes to the conference in order 5. http://www.vox.com/cards/isis- to use them as a reference (bear in myths-iraq/isis-female-soldiers mind that electronic devices are not 6. http://www.theguardian.com/worl allowed during committee sessions). d/2015/jan/30/kurdish-women- died-kobani-isis-syria 2. POSITIONS PAPERS 7. http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/ 06/19/article-2661007- A Position Paper is a policy statement 1EE6FA3F00000578- in which delegates clarify the 287_634x786.jpg committee topics, state their 8. http://www.addictinginfo.org/wp- representative’s position, and suggest content/uploads/2015/01/Punishm solutions that fall in line with their ents_FINAL-01.jpg national stance. Before VMMMUN 9. http://concit.org/wp- begins, each delegation is responsible content/uploads/2015/01/ISIS_OR for writing a position paper for the GCHART_V5_FW.jpg benefit of the conference staff and 10. http://www.unwomen.org/en/digit more importantly their fellow al-library/annual-report delegates. 11. http://www.unwomen.org/~/medi a/headquarters/attachments/secti The general format of position papers ons/library/publications/2013/6/u is one page long, single-spaced, with nwomen-annualreport2012-2013- size 11 Arial font. Please make sure to en%20pdf.pdf cite every source that you use in your 12. http://www.unwomen.org/~/medi position paper. a/headquarters/attachments/secti ons/library/publications/2012/un- Position Papers should always begin women-ar-2012%20pdf.pdf with a header stating the country that the delegation is representing, the committee, the delegates’ names and school, and the topic area being discussed in that section.

IX. DISCLAIMER 3. RULES OF PROCEDURE This study guide has been created for The Rules of Procedure will guide the educational purposes only, and meant to delegate’s participation throughout the be used exclusively for Villa Maria Model debate. They contain the rules United Nations (VMMUN) 2015. The governing the debate, speeches, points authors of this study guide claim no and documents, as well as the rules copyright nor any kind of intellectual governing the vote. The Rules of property or legal right for the content of Procedure may be found in the this document. However, this document following source: may not be distributed or reproduced http://nebula.wsimg.com/476bdc0309 without the express written consent of its d36f2718859a78f6421b6a?AccessKeyI authors. d=10D67498F310E30965C7&dispositio n=0&alloworigin=1.

Nevertheless, delegates shall bear in mind that the Secretariat or the Committee Directors may provide variations to these rules. In the event of a conflict, those rules will always take precedence over the ones referred to in the precedent paragraph.

4. WRITING RESOLUTIONS

The purpose of the debate, as stated in our philosophy, is to encourage you to develop comprehensive and pragmatic solutions to the topic being discussed. These solutions should be embodied in a document called a resolution.

The process of drafting a resolution consists of two main written stages: the working paper and the draft resolution. Working papers are a point of reference for discussion in committee that contain concrete ideas on the topic under discussion. They do not require a specific format. In contrast, draft resolutions are a formal document in which the committee determines the actions to be taken in order to solve the problems under discussion. They have a specific format and must include a specific number of signatories.