Human Management Topic Summary: The human population produces a significant amount of human waste every year. Solid waste (feces) liquid waste () and medical waste (blood, used health care supplies) are all produced in nations throughout the world on a daily basis. Disposing of the waste is often done unsafely, with some solid waste disposed of in drinking water, and medical waste left in . Each year, waterborne illnesses, caused in part by improper disposal of solid waste, is the single greatest cause of death in the world. In most years, more people are dying of infections and diseases caused by unsafe water than armed conflict. Despite this fact, discussion of practices as a focus of public conversations is rare in most places in the world. Either the topic is taboo and uncomfortable (discussing it requires talking about feces), or people are ignorant of the need for sanitation practices to improve .

While relatively safe human guidelines have been developed by the international community, many nations have not made steps to improve public sanitation. In large part, this is due to lack of infrastructure and resources. The guidelines can’t be implemented successfully with a lack of equipment, lack of awareness, and lack of a mindful effort to safely dispose of waste.

Further, medical waste, like syringes and used bandages, sometimes show up in general landfills. Often in least developed countries, children are tasked with picking through landfills for food or metals (which can be sold). One wrong step or move, and these impoverished children can be stuck with needles and contract fatal diseases.

Finally, human waste can potentially be used as a good source of for improving crop yields. In some nations, the practice of using solid waste as fertilizer has existed for centuries, while in others, the practice has never gained much ground. Sometimes cultural taboos prevent the practice. While the practice holds promise for helping to feed the world, mishandling of the waste may carry health risks.

Background Information: 2006: The World Health Organization publishes guidelines for safe disposal of human waste, and its use in food production 2009: WHO reports waterborne illnesses as the single greatest cause of world deaths 2011: World Health Organization publishes fact sheet regarding health-care waste management 2014: UN issues report on failing solid waste management system in India

Issues to be Addressed in a Resolution: 1. How can governments that lack resources and infrastructure provide sanitary and cost- effective methods of human waste disposal? 2. How can nations coordinate regarding international rivers, to preserve their potability? 3. How can the UN improve public awareness of safe human waste disposal methods? 4. How can healthcare waste (syringes, bandages, medical devices, blood, etc) be disposed of in nations which lack resources? 5. Should the UN encourage or discourage the practice of fertilizing fields with human waste?

Bibliography: http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/wastewater/research_audience_fs.pdf?ua=1 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0956053X13000032 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0956053X12004205 http://www.rti.org/page.cfm/Waste_Management 1 http://www.unep.org/ietc/ourwork/wastemanagement/globalpartnershiponwastemanageme nt/tabid/56257/default.aspx http://www.unep.org/ietc/informationresources/solidwastemanagementpublication/tabid/7 9356/default.aspx http://www.irinnews.org/fr/report/99601/eco-friendly-medical-waste-disposal-in-nepal http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/Solid-waste-management-system-a- failure-in-Varanasi-says-report/articleshow/29980955.cms http://www.un.org/esa/dsd/dsd_aofw_ni/ni_pdfs/NationalReports/korea/WasteManagement. pdf http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs281/en/

2 Preparing for the AIDS Cure

Topic Summary: Many advances towards a cure for HIV, and potentially AIDS are expected to come out in the near future. However, millions upon millions of people will need the cure immediately, and there will not be enough cure manufactured immediately to go around. This topic asks delegates to make exceedingly difficult ethical and logistic decisions when it comes to UN and UN partner organizations delivering the AIDs cure to nations in need. A lot of pressures could be exerted politically upon nations if threats to not receive the cure were place on them with conditions, one of the few ways the UN could actually create pressure for change, but many nations might disagree on the morality of such a plan.

Background Information: First of all be aware of terminology of the disease: HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It is the virus that can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS. Unlike some other viruses, the human body cannot get rid of HIV. That means that once you have HIV, you have it for life. (5)

• 1981: First reported cases of AIDs. On June 5, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publish Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), describing cases of a rare lung infection, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), in five young, previously healthy, gay men in Los Angeles. The report described GRID (Gay-related immune deficiency) and later be known as AIDS. • 1987: A new treatment emerges that is hailed as the first significant step in responding to HIV. • 1990s: Many countries all over the world launched campaigns warned against being afraid of AIDs and advocated education. • 1991: British actor Jeremy Irons wore a small red ribbon to the Tony Awards; the red ribbon became the international symbol for AIDs. • 1993: The First World AIDs Day. • 1996: At the XI International AIDS Conference in Vancouver, Canada, researchers announce new developments in HIV treatment. However, a year later scientists find that HIV ‘hides’ in reservoirs in the body, making the virus impossible to totally eliminate with current therapies, highlighting that AIDS would remain a chronic disease, at best. • 1997: UNAIDS launches the HIV Drug Access Initiative in Uganda and Côte d’Ivoire, representing the first introduction of antiretroviral therapy in sub-Saharan Africa. The first people receive treatment in Uganda and Côte d’Ivoire in early 1998 and in Chile later this year. • 2000: In January, the UN Security Council discussed the health issue for the first time. Six months later, the Council passes Resolution 1308, emphasizing the threat to security posed by AIDS and drew attention to the need for treatment, especially in the case of military personnel “where appropriate.” • March: UNAIDS and WHO announce a joint agreement with five pharmaceutical companies to reduce the prices of antiretroviral drugs. • May: UNAIDS launches the Accelerating Access Initiative, stimulating the development of treatment plans in 39 countries. • 2001: UN Commission on Human Rights resolves the access to treatment is essential to the full realization of the right to health. • June: the first UN General Assembly Special Session on AIDS takes place. The Declaration of Commitment is the first internationally agreed, time-bound set of goals which is based on indicators of progress. • 2002:WHO publishes the first edition of its guidelines for HIV treatment in resource-limited settings. 3 • 2003: WHO Director-General Lee Jong-wook officially launches the “3 by 5” Initiative. • 2010: UNAIDS set targets, called UNAIDS Strategy 2011-2015, for universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support and to halt and reverse the spread of HIV and contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development goals by 2015.

Issues to be Addressed in a Resolution: 1) Are some nations deserving of not receiving aids cures? 2) Should the UN spend a great deal more money to save people immediately, or wait until the cost of the cure is reduced before purchasing aids cures, even if it means more people will die in the immediate future. 3) Should some people be prioritized for reducing an aids cure over others (which people are at the greatest risk: the young, the raped, the people who get it from to a blood transfusion, those who have the money to pay for it?) 4) What nations should be prioritized? 5) Should nations where it is easier to administrate (stable, richer nations) be prioritized over nations where is it harder to administer (poorer, unstable nations) or vice versa? 6) Should nations with human rights violations be kept from keeping the aids cure? 7) Should certain regions be prioritized within nations (urban vs. rural, places UN is already operating vs. newer places for example)

Bibliography http://www.who.int/hiv/aboutdept/strategy_consultation/en/index.html http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/04/health/timeline-hiv-aids-moments/ http://www.unaids.org/en/ http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/aids.shtml http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/index.html http://www.unaids.org/en/media/unaids/contentassets/documents/unaidspublication/2011 /20110607_JC2069_30Outlook_en.pdf http://americablog.com/2013/07/hiv-aids-cure-bone-marrow-transplant.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tag/aids-cure http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/07/26/how-a-trade-fight- with-india-could-keep-the-next-aids-cure-out-of-reach/ http://globalvoicesonline.org/2013/08/10/does-a-malawian-herb-cure-hiv-africa-check- knows-the-answer/ http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/807518 http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/499445/20130816/hiv-cure-new-drug-targets-immune- system.htm#.UhY94z-k8YJ http://www.medicaldaily.com/brazilian-scientists-test-new-aids-vaccine-hoping-hivbr18- ends-global-pandemic-249353

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Literacy Topic Summary: Traditionally, literacy is defined as the ability to read and write. The exact definition of literacy varies from country to country. As does the exact specified age determined that a person must be literate. It is an important foundation of a developed country, as literacy rates tend to be higher in developed societies. Literacy is an extremely essential component to further develop the advancement of a society. Literacy is used as a means to empower and improve an individual's’ connection and contribution to society. And thus helping improve the overall quality of the society and nation. Literacy is crucial to advancing economically for countries. And literacy helps improve an individual’s ability to communicate with the world around him/her.

Background Information: • 1946: UNESCO establishes an Education Committee focusing on the promotion of ‘Fundamental Education’ which is later developed into an action program. The idea of fundamental introduces a broader concept of education, which recognizes that while not everyone can access formal schooling, each person should have the right to knowledge and skills as essential conditions for living better lives. • 1957: UNESCO issues the ‘World Illiteracy at Mid-Century’ report, the first attempt to present statistical evidence on the extent of illiteracy in every country and territory of the world. • 1958: UNESCO publishes an issue of the UNESCO Courier on literacy, featuring selected writings from well-known experts of the time who expose the scale of the problem and the challenges the world faces. • 1965: On the recommendation of the World Conference of Ministers on the Eradication of Illiteracy, the concept of functional literacy is introduced. This approach is integrated into several UNESCO programs, notably the Experimental World Literacy Program (1967-1973), jointly led with UNDP. • 1975: UNESCO conducts the International Symposium for Literacy and adopts the Persepolis Declaration. Literacy is proclaimed to be not just “the process of learning the skills of reading, writing and arithmetic, but a contribution to the liberation of man and to his full development”. • 1990: Proclaimed International Literacy Year by the UN General Assembly based on a decision adopted in December 1987, this year gives impetus to UNESCO to highlight the critical role of literacy in the World Declaration on Education for All and the Framework for Action to Meet Basic Learning Needs adopted by the World Conference on Education for All (Jomtien, Thailand). • 2000: The international community adopts the Dakar Framework for Action at the World Education Forum in Dakar, Senegal, convened by UNESCO. The Organization is mandated to coordinate global efforts in meeting six goals which recognize the fundamental role of literacy. The two principal goals are meeting the basic learning needs of youth and adults through the functional literacy approach and reducing adult illiteracy rates by 50%. • 2003: UNESCO takes the lead of the United Nations Literacy Decade (2003-2012) which envisions Literacy for All. Throughout the decade, UNESCO takes actions to increase the numbers of those who are literate. The Literacy Initiative for Empowerment is the main instrument for reaching this objective.

Issues to be Addressed in a Resolution: • What more can the UN do to improve global literacy? • How can education programs in nations which lack financial resources be funded? • How can the UN incorporate new technology into their Literacy Goals? 5

Bibliography • For International Literacy Day, UN flags key role of reading and writing in global peace. UN Global Education First Initiative “United Nations Secretary General's Global Initiative on Education “International Literacy Day. Retrieved December 26, 2013, from http://www.globaleducationfirst.org/165.htm

• Literacy Milestones | Education | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Literacy Milestones | Education | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Retrieved December 25, 2013, from http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/education-building- blocks/literacy/literacy-milestones/

• Literacy | Education | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Literacy | Education | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Retrieved December 25, 2013, from http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/education-building- blocks/literacy/

• UN Literacy Decade | Education | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. UN Literacy Decade | Education | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Retrieved December 26, 2013, from http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/education-building- blocks/literacy/un-literacy-decade/

• United Nations Literacy Decade: Education for All (2003-2012). Public Libraries of New Zealand. Retrieved December 26, 2013, from http://www.publiclibrariesofnewzealand.org.nz/article/united-nations-literacy- decade-education-all-2003-2012

• United Nations Statistics Division - Demographic and Social Statistics. United Nations Statistics Division - Demographic and Social Statistics. Retrieved December 25, 2013, from http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/socind/illiteracy.htm

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ECOSOC Budget Exercise 2015-2016 Topic Summary: Each year, ECOSOC must pass the United Nations Operating Budget for the following year. It is passed on the last day of the conference. The budget details 14 categories of spending to which the UN allocates funding, including a number of special projects to consider funding (some of which are asked for by resolutions passed on other committees at the conference. The 14 budget Categories include:

1) International Labour Organization (ILO) 2) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) 3) United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) 4) Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) 5) World Food Programme (WFP) 6) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) 7) United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) 8) United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) 9) United Nations High Commission on Refugees 10) United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees 11) World Health Organization (WHO) 12) Other Agencies (including IDA, IFC, MIGA, ICAO, UPU, ITU, WMO, IMO, WIPO, IFAD, IAEA, GATT, and, UNIDO) 13) Discretionary Funds 14) Special Projects

This year, thanks to efforts by last year’s ECOSOC, the budget has grown slightly, and delegates must consider how to best spend the additional funds.

Background Information: 2011: United Nations passes leaner 2012-2013 budget 2012: United States ceases paying UN dues for UNESCO, citing the UN decision to make Palestine a member of UNESCO, creating a large budget shortfall 2012: ECOSOC significantly cuts all programs 2013: ECOSOC partially funds program to combat persecution of children as witches 2013: ECOSOC allocates 24 million dollars of budget to eliminating administrative redundancies, slightly increasing budget size for 2014. 2013: ECOSOC makes cuts to all programs, resulting from a 1 percent decline in revenue from UN Dues.

Issues to be Addressed in a Resolution: 1) Delegates must appropriate a sum of money for each of the 14 categories. 2) Each organization is requesting more money than they received last year. 3) The total sum of money appropriated may not exceed the 2015-2016 projected budget. 4) The budget must include recommendations for spending to consider discontinuing by next year’s ECOSOC.

Bibliography: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/25/us-un-budget-idUSTRE7BO01A20111225 http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/11/08/us-loses-unesco- vote/3473381/

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