Third Committee Topic B

Third Committee topic A: Improving Literacy Worldwide

General Background

One of the key elements to an educated society is a high literacy rate. Truly, a high literacy rate often corresponds to higher rates in other sectors of society, such as gross national product, health, per capita income among others. The United Nations has long put a great emphasis on literacy, even going as far as to form the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1946. Historically, high literacy rates have only been found in developed nations, yet these nations have lost focus in attempting to help the rest of the world. However, in our new global society, literacy has become a global issue, and the days of focusing merely on the literacy rate of ones own country have gone by the wayside.

Current Situation

Currently, least developed nations have the lowest literacy rates, especially across the continent of Africa. Progress has been made, as many countries have seen an increase in literacy rates of up to 20%. However, even with these increases these literacy rates are still well behind the rates of developed nations. In response, the General Assembly, with resolution A/RES/56/116 has declared the years between 2003-2013 to be the decade of literacy. Thus, it is imperative that the United Nations take a strong look at how to improve literacy rates world wide.

Future Outlook

We currently have a global population of 6.5 billion people where only 4 billion are literate. As the world’s population increases, an alarming trend has emerged in that the majority of countries where the population is booming also have low literacy rates. While UNESCO views improving the literacy rate as one of the most important tasks it faces, it is not their sole job. The question becomes, then, what can the United Nations do itself to improve the literacy rate going forward, and what can the United Nations do to help regions and states individually improve their literacy rates?

Focus Questions

1. What are some of the obstacles in trying to create a completely literate world?

2. What role should governments and NGOs take in pursing positive action?

3. What can the General Assembly do to assist UNESCO?

4. What measures have proven successful in improving the literacy rates in some countries?

5. What indirect benefits can come from a country having a high literacy rate? Could promotion of these indirect benefits help strengthen the case for global literacy?

6. Do countries with a certain type of government seem to have a higher literacy rate? Do countries with a certain record on human rights seem to have a lower literacy rate? Why might these be the case?

7. Is literacy really a global issue? What can really be done at the global level as opposed to the regional or local levels?

8. What is the literacy rate of your country? Is your country more capable of providing help to the fight for literacy or is your country in need of that help? What types of help could your country provide or use?

Helpful Links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_literacy_rate

http://www.glpinc.org/

http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=43283&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

http://warriorlibrarian.com/CURRICULUM/global_literacy.html

Third Committee Topic B: Measures to Prevent and Stop Human Trafficking

Background

Human trafficking is a growing international trade, making billions of dollars at the expense of millions of victims, which are robbed of their dignity and freedom. Because human trafficking is an underground crime, the true number that composes this business is not known with certainty. The United States government estimates that between 600,000 and 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders each year. Human trafficking is becoming a big business. The U.N. and other experts estimate that the total market value of illicit human trafficking is about $ 32 billion, where about $ 10 billion comes from the initial “sale” of individuals, and the remainder representing the estimated profits derived from the activities pursued or the goods produced by the victims.

Most victims of this modern form of slavery are women and young girls, many of whom are forced into prostitution or otherwise exploited sexually. On the other hand, males are found in fields, mines and quarries, or in other dangerous working conditions. Children are trafficked into conditions of child labor, and exploited in industrial sectors such as textiles, fishing and agriculture. Besides the physical bondage, trafficking victims are also bound psychologically. They cannot walk away because they do not have the means to walk away, and even when they do escape, typically they have nowhere to go, and they lack in financial capabilities and identity papers. In addition, many are ill: HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases are common among women and young girls that are forced into prostitution.

Current Situation

The UN Protocol Against Trafficking in Persons, in effect since December 2003, states that human trafficking is a crime. The Protocol has been signed and ratified by more than 110 countries, but the participating countries and their criminal justice systems have failed to effectively inhibit the phenomenon. Few criminals are convicted, and most victims never receive help. On the contrary, many victims are convicted and charged for offences such as illegal entry or unlawful residence.

In addition to the Protocol, on March 26, 2007, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), together with other United Nations agencies, Governments, and NGOs, launched the Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT). The Global Initiative has the aim to inspire international cooperation, empower civil society, wake up corporate responsibility, strengthen regional alliance, mobilize resources, and push the attention of the media towards this phenomenon to prevent and fight human trafficking. This series of events will have the culmination in Vienna, with an International Conference against Human Trafficking from 27-29 of November 2007.

Future Outlook

Taking into consideration the fact that human trafficking is an exponentially growing phenomenon, the need for the international community to decrease the number of victims by preventing trafficking is becoming critical. It is necessary to increase the number of victims that are rescued and supported, and the number of traffickers that are convicted. Most of all, it is a pressuring need to wake up the political will, increase large-scale public awareness and find the resources to make that happen.

Discussion Questions

1) What is the interest that your country has in regard to human trafficking?

2) What is the definition of Human Trafficking according to the 2003 Protocol?

3) What are the countries more involved in the phenomenon?

4) What are the international institutions and regional programs that are already involved

with many aspects of human trafficking?

5) What is the main responsibility of the political will in regard to human trafficking?

6) What is the main responsibility of the civil society in regard to human trafficking?

7) Would your country opt for a global action or a local, regionally focused, action?

Resources