Overview

This is a double-delegate committee.

The Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee (SOCHUM) is the Third Committee of the General Assembly, and addresses issues relating to human rights, social issues and humanitarian affairs. SOCHUM deals with all issues examining potential violations of human rights, and receives reports from the UN commission on Human Rights. SOCHUM’s mandate is to promote and protect the rights of all people, especially those currently marginalized. In particular, SOCHUM’s mandate deals with the protection of rights for women, children, and other underrepresented groups. In this spirit, this committee will center around expanding access to quality healthcare for all. 

Topic 1: Maternal and Child Health

The first topic of this committee is dedicated to strengthening global efforts to improve maternal and child health, particularly in underserved and conflict-affected regions. Maternal health refers to the health of a pregnant person during pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period. Maternal health refers to physical and mental health. Access to healthcare during these phases can drastically impact maternal mortality rates, and currently there are many discrepancies in maternal mortality based on access to healthcare due to demographic factors such as race, income, and location.  Additionally, maternal health problems also impact the child and infant and child healthcare is necessary after the birth. Delegates will be challenged to create a plan to help fund and distribute life-saving care to those in need, considering issues such as maternal death rates, food insecurity, and expanded social programs for health.

Topic 2: Expanding Access to HIV/AIDS Vaccines

The second topic will parallel the first, focusing on strategies to expand equitable access to healthcare, specifically treatment for HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). STIs can be deadly, and there is currently an epidemic of HIV facing the world, with tens of millions currently living with HIV. However, these numbers can be drastically improved with proper access to healthcare such as antiviral treatments, education about STIs and how to prevent them, access to testing, and vaccinations for certain STIs. Overall, STIs are a stigmatized subject, and similar to maternal and infant mortality rates, disproportionately affect underprivileged groups with poor access to healthcare due to discriminatory systems. Delegates will strive to break the stigma, expand access, and work with organizations to help protect at-risk populations.

More information will be released in the coming months!