Welcome to United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
Dear Delegates,
Welcome to UNESCO 2012! My name is Joy McKenzie and I am simply ecstatic to have received the honor of being your chair – I ask that you prepare yourself to be part of the best ILMUNC committee the world has ever seen, not because I am in it, but because you are. This is my last ILMUNC, so it is mandatory that we go big or go home.
A little more about me: I am a senior at Penn majoring in Communication with a minor in Consumer Psychology. I am from Tallahassee, Florida by way of Boston, MA. When I am not jet setting between Philadelphia and Boston, I spend the majority of my spare time (i.e. not in class) eating, studying and sleeping. That is, or course, if I am not at gym, anywhere watching my three favorite television shows, none of which I will mention her for fear of prejudgment (hint: G***** G***), or meditating.
UNESCO is my favorite MUN committee and I am I cannot wait to hear and see the stimulating debate that your brilliant minds will produce this year. It is my hope that you not only “resolve” the issues at hand in the ILMUNC context, but that you think about these issues with an eye to toward real world resolutions, whether that be through the U.N. or in another capacity. If you have any questions before during or after the conference, please do not hesitate to email Allie Kronthal – our lovely USG. I look forward to meeting all of you in January.
Sincerely,
Joy McKenzie
Chair, United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
Ivy League Model United Nations Conference XXVIII
Topic Summaries
Topic A: Access to Information and Communication
UNESCO is a proponent of giving individuals the power to access, and contribute to, the flow of information and knowledge. UNESCO sets standards by developing management infrastructure, monitors progress, and strengthens the libraries and archives that serve as informational hubs in communities. Moreover, this organization raises awareness of the importance of universal access to information. For many people, the number and variety of communication mediums has increased their access to information. However, censorship and other forms of restriction still persist in pockets of the world. How should the international community react to events ranging from former President Hosni Mubarak preventing Egyptians from accessing the Internet during the 2011 protests to issues such as the Chinese government’s long-lasting Internet censorship? Delegates will need to gain a comprehensive understanding of the level of access to information and communication within their own nation in order to contribute to a debate that may ultimately establish international guidelines and norms regarding access to information.
Topic B: Violence Against Women
UNESCO is dedicated to the gender equality and the advancement of women. Despite its efforts and the efforts of numerous international organizations, the well-known reality is that violence against women is too often committed. Violence takes on many ugly forms: assault, domestic violence, honor killings, verbal abuse, and rape. Though this issue has been discussed in many different forums, it is the goal of this committee to develop innovative and inventive resolutions to alleviate the suffering of females around the world. The committee will also evaluate the effectiveness of existing international laws and standards; those that the committee deems as ineffective will be reformed.