United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)

About the Committee:

From the sealed borders to the uncertain roads of refugees and asylum-seekers, the United Nations Human Rights Council at MUNUM XXXIX will approach two of the most urgent human rights crises of the 21st century. In the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), conformity is law and silence is policy. The regime maintains its grip over society through political repression, forced labor, and pervasive surveillance. Opposition is restricted before it has the chance to grow, and truth is replaced with pro-regime propaganda. As the global community becomes perceptibly aware of these human rights abuses, delegates must confront a difficult problem: how can the international community protect citizens rights within a hermit country that renounces transparency and cooperation? Past efforts to hold the DPRK accountable—through sanctions, inquiries, and ICC references—have been unsuccessful. Now, it is up to you to discover a new path to justice, awareness, and impact. 

Meanwhile, far beyond the Korean peninsula, refugees and asylum-seekers around the world face unknown futures. As displacement reaches unprecedented levels, many countries are tightening their borders, redefining what “safety” and “refugee” mean, and undermining the human right to seek asylum. From the United Kingdom’s contentious deportation agreements, to the United States’ use of expedited removal, global norms surrounding repatriation are under increasing strain. This committee will confront questions regarding sovereignty, international law, and human impact. How can the international community ensure states uphold their legal and moral obligations to those seeking asylum, and what happens to displaced people when states refuse? 

As delegates, you will be asked to respond to both crises—one cemented in a repressive regime, the other in an international principle struggling to uphold the principles it is claiming to protect. The stakes are high, the challenges immense, and the ability to create meaningful global change is in your hands. 

A LETTER FROM THE DaiS:

Welcome delegates!

My name is Lydia and I am so excited to serve as your co-director for the United Nations Human Rights Council at MUNUM XXXIX! Currently, I am a senior at the University of Michigan studying International Studies and Political Science, with a concentration on International Security, Norms, and Cooperation. Last year, I served as a Rapporteur for the MUNUM XXXVIII Special Political and Decolonization Committee, and I had such a great time that I couldn’t wait to come back in a director role. Outside of MUNUM, I’m involved with the Nam Center for Korean Studies where I engage in research on East Asia and help plan cultural events. When I'm not in class, I love listening to music (especially early 2000s R&B), watching movies, and unleashing my inner yogi. This year’s committee is going to challenge us to think critically, collaborate creatively, and reflect deeply on human rights issues—and I can’t wait to see how you all rise to the occasion. I am looking forward to meeting everyone in January!

My name is Edith Pendell and I will be your other co-director! Last year, I served as the director of the MUNUM XXXVIII Special Political and Decolonization Committee, and the year prior, I was a rapporteur for the MUNUM XXXVII Gulf Collaboration Committee. Outside of MUNUM, I am a junior studying political science and English. On campus, I am a senior editor on the Michigan Daily and serve as concert manager for my acapella vocal group, Heartbeat. I also sit on the Ann Arbor Inter-Cooperative Council Board of Directors and love to run, cook healthy food, and collect trinkets. I’ve been a Model UN aficionado/fanatic since my freshman year of high school and I am also on the staff of the MAGEC conferences, including CASC, MAMUN, and MAHSC. These topics are tough, and they are more relevant than ever. But I know that, with ample research and dedication, UNHRC can navigate international power dynamics to build and reinforce systems of harm prevention, transparency, justice, and accountsability. See you all soon!

Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions or concerns that may arise as you prepare for the MUNUM conference in January: klydia@umich.edu, ependell@umich.edu

Best,

Lydia and Edith

Co-Directors for the UNHRC