The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the UN system made up of 47 States responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe. The Council was created by the UN General Assembly on 15 March 2006 with the main purpose of addressing situations of human rights violations and make recommendations on them.
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Issue to be debated in the HRC at SzeMUN 2012:
Human Rights of persons with disabilities
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was the first comprehensive initiative that raised awareness on a global scale. In the 21st century it is time to achieve full equality, and enable access to every aspect of life for disabled people. With wide-ranging cooperation it is possible to make our world a place where one can live a fulfilled life without regard to certain disadvantages.
Despite this, there are but few instances when persons with disabilities are able to exercise their rights to the fullest extent. Hence there is a need for more decisive action and revision of current approaches. The UN has always been one of the safeguards of Human Rights, and therefore needs to be proactive in these cases, to achieve a common goal, that equally benefits all of us.
Useful links:
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=150
http://www.un.org/disabilities/convention/conventionfull.shtml
Signatories and reservations to the Convention: http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-15&chapter=4&lang=en
Disability and the United Nations
http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=161
Work of the United Nations for Persons with Disabilities
http://www.un.org/disabilities/
Disability Rights, Gender, and Development - A Resource Tool for Action
http://www.un.org/disabilities/documents/Publication/UNWCW%20MANUAL.pdf
Disability and Statistics
http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1515
Disability-related General Assembly resolutions (66th session - 2011-2012)
http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=36
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You can apply to participate in the HRC both as a delegate and as part of a delegation. Please note that when you are in your chosen committee, your teammates will not be there with you! For further information, please check the Rules of procedure section. Eligible countries for the Human Rights Council are the following: Afghanistan, Brazil, Canada, China, Cuba, France, Germany, Haiti, Hungary, India, Iran, Israel, Japan, Libya, Madagascar, Netherlands, New-Zealand, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, UK, USA, Venezuela Please take a look at the complete Country list as well, to see how many delegates are needed to form the delegation of a given country. If you apply as a delegate, we advise you to choose a country that is present in 2-4 committees, so that we can find you teammates more easily.
