Photography Workshop

SBMUN 2023
Background Guide
UNITED NATIONS HUMAN
RIGHTS COUNCIL

Agenda
Combating Intolerance and Discrimination Against
Persons with Special Emphasis on Discrimination based
on Religion or Belief
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Greetings from the Executive Board,

Hey Delegate,
The last few years have seen much changes in and around us. The world’s
eye was focused on the ever raging pandemic that was claiming lives, and
when everything was coming back to normal, the Russian invasion of
Ukraine happened.
We youth, are excited to speak about national and international issues on
social media, but seldom in person. This opportunity will introduce you to
the world of MUNs and undoubtedly enhance your diplomatic, public
speaking, problem solving and social skills. In a time of our declining
attention span, it needs to be stressed repeatedly to go beyond an online
forum to delegate action that breeds successional change and inspires
more to follow suit. We’re here for a short time, and if we aren’t leaving
this place any better than how it was, what are we really here for?
Ponder on it, let it brood, internalize it, and let’s discuss it, together.
Welcome to the UNHRC of SB MUN 2023.

So congratulations on choosing to Delegate here! With that, we'd like to

wish you all the best and we'll see you soon.

Chairperson: Safal Tom

Vice Chairperson: Akash Videsh
Director: Aisha Hussain
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ABOUT THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

• History of the Human Rights Council

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) was founded on 15
March 2006 by the General Assembly with the adoption of resolution
A/RES/60/251. The council is the successor of the United Nations
Commission on Human Rights and held its first session from 19 to 30
June 2006.

• Membership and Mandate

The council consists of 47 member countries who are elected by the UN
General Assembly. The countries elected remain in the Human Rights
Council for a term of 3 years. Instead of all members being elected at once
one third of the UNHRC members is replaced every year. To ensure a
representation as fair as possible the UNHRC always consists of 13
African and 13 Asian states, 8 Latin American and Caribbean states, 7
Western European and 6 Eastern European states. The numbers have been
determined according to the areas populations

• Responsibilities and Actions

The UNHRC is responsible for the promotion and protection of human
rights. To do so the committee actively promotes human rights, checks
what governments do for the protection of those rights, addresses the
violations of human rights and gives recommendations to other UN bodies
especially regarding human right emergencies.
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The council meets several times a year at the United Nations Office in
Geneva in Switzerland. There are at least 3 regular session scheduled in a
year and additionally the council can have meetings on human rights
crises. Its documents are not legally binding and have a rather
recommendatory nature. In order for a draft resolution to be adopted a
simple majority is required.

The HR has several procedures and sub bodies which distinguish it from
other UN committees.
Those include:
1. The Universal Periodic Review: Every 4, 5 years the council
conducts a Universal Periodic Review (UP) during which it reviews
the human rights records of all 193 Member States of the UN. During
the UP the UNHRC gives recommendations to each individual
member state and the member states can come forward and ask for
assistance it they struggle to ensure human rights within their country.

2. Special Procedures: The UNHRC is entitled to Special Procedures.

For those special procedures the council appoints 5 independent
individuals, for example experts in a certain field who can go to places
struggling with human rights and help by giving expertise, assisting in
setting up infrastructure for the development of human rights and by
raising awareness and writing reports.
.
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3. The Advisory Committee: The HRC has an advisory committee,

which "functions as the "think-tank" of the Council is focused mainly on
studies and research.-based advice" This committee 1 consists of 18
independent experts from 5 regional areas, who were elected by the HRC
for a period of 3 years. Those experts have varying professional
backgrounds and contribute to the council by examining proposals and
offering their expertise.

4. Complaint Procedure: The so called "Complaint Procedure" allows

non-governmental groups and even individuals to issue a complaint, if
they feel that their human rights are being violated. This distinguishes the
HR from other UN bodies, since it "is the only universal complaint
procedure covering all human rights and fundamental freedoms in all UN
Member States.
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AN OVERVIEW SBMUN 2023

The agenda "Combating Intolerance and Discrimination Against Persons

with Special Emphasis on Discrimination based on Religion or Belief" is
a comprehensive plan of action that aims to address and prevent
discrimination and intolerance against individuals on the basis of their
religion or belief. It is vital to address intolerance, negative stereotyping
and stigmatisation of, and discrimination, incitement to violence and
violence against, persons based on religion of belief with a human rights-
based approach.

This agenda is built on the recognition that discrimination and intolerance

on the basis of religion or belief is a serious violation of human rights and
a hindrance to the enjoyment of those rights by individuals and
communities. It is also acknowledged that this is a complex and
multifaceted problem that requires a comprehensive approach to address.

The agenda lays out a number of specific goals and actions to be taken in
order to combat discrimination and intolerance based on religion or
belief. These include measures to promote understanding and respect for
different religions and beliefs, as well as measures to ensure the
protection and promotion of the rights of individuals and communities
who may be at risk of discrimination and intolerance.
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The committee also calls for the strengthening of national and

international mechanisms to prevent and combat discrimination and
intolerance based on religion or belief, as well as the engagement of
governments, civil society organizations, religious leaders, and other
relevant stakeholders in efforts to promote tolerance and respect for
diversity.

CASE STUDIES

1. Uyghurs in China

The Uyghurs are an ethnic minority group mostly living in the

Xinjiang autonomous region of the People’s Republic of China.

The Uyghurs are predominantly Muslims. They have been practicing

Islam for centuries, tracing their religious influence to the Karakhanid,
a Turkic fiefdom that ruled Central Asia from the 9th to the 13th
century. In previous centuries, Uyghurs followed other religions
including Zoroastrianism and Buddhism.
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Human rights groups believe China has detained more than one million
Uyghurs against their will over the past few years in a large network of
what the state calls "re-education camps", and sentenced hundreds of
thousands to prison terms.

Recent decades have seen a mass migration of Han Chinese (China's

ethnic majority) into Xinjiang, allegedly orchestrated by the state to dilute
the minority population there. China has also been accused of targeting
Muslim religious figures and banning religious practices in the region, as
well as destroying mosques and tombs. Uyghur activists say they fear that
the group's culture is under threat of erasure. They have also voiced
concerns that much of that cotton export is picked by forced labor, and in
2021 some Western brands removed Xinjiang cotton from their supply
chains, leading to a backlash against the brands from Chinese celebrities
and netizens.

2. Communal Violence in India

An officially secular nation with thousands of ethnic groups and 22

official languages, independent India has a long tradition of religious
tolerance (with periodic and sometimes serious lapses). Religious freedom
is explicitly protected under its constitution. Hindus account for a vast
majority (nearly four-fifths) of the country’s populace.
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Hindu nationalism has been a rising political force in recent decades, by

many accounts eroding India’s secular nature and leading to new assaults
on the country’s religious freedoms.

Recent religious violence in India has been overwhelmingly associated

with two atrocities; the destruction of the Babri Masjid Mosque in
Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh in 1992, and the 2002 massacres in Gujarat. Both
have sparked riots and retaliations across the country and have played an
important role in politics.

A more enlightening framework in which to understand the conflict is the

active politicization of religion for political gain. Violence may be linked
to ideas of the past, but this is not natural, rather a deliberate and very
successful political strategy. Although also a tactic of other organizations,
the politicization of religion is overwhelmingly linked to the rise of the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideology of ‘Hindutva’ – Hindu
identity.

3. Pakistan

Religious discrimination in Pakistan is a serious issue for the human rights

situation in modern-day Pakistan. Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Shias, and
Ahmadis among other religious minorities often face discrimination and at
times are even subjected to violence.
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One of the significant issues being faced by minority communities is the

abuse of the blasphemy law. People belonging to minority religions are
often falsely accused of using derogatory remarks against the Islamic
prophet Muhammad, resulting in fines, lengthy prison sentences, and
sometimes the death penalty. Often these accusations are made to settle
personal vendettas and, due to the bias against minorities, victims are often
immediately presumed guilty without any substantive evidence.

Women belonging to minority communities have been targets of forced

conversions and marriages. Forced conversion, rape, and forced marriages
of Hindu women in Pakistan have recently become controversial in
Pakistan.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan, reports emerged that rations

were being denied to minority Hindus and Christians in the coastal areas of
Karachi. The Saylani Welfare Trust, carrying out the relief work, said that
the aid was reserved for Muslims alone.

4. Iranian Protests

Imposition of Islamic law, a continuing economic crisis, lack of freedom of

expression, violation of women's rights, brutality carried out during
protests, internet cutoffs, and the killing of Mahsa Amini were some of the
reasons for the start of civil protests in Iran in 2021-2022.
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Protests initially erupted on 15 July to protest the water shortages and

crisis, but quickly were met with police violence and brutality. November
2021 saw further protests due to water shortages but various other protests
and strikes also took place due to the worsening economic situation. In
August 2021 Amnesty International noted that brutal forces have been
used by the Security Forces to oppress the protesters.

The imposition of Islamic Law is a major issue in much of the Middle

Eastern Countries. Since these nations have a state religion and aren't
necessarily secular, they promote one main religion. This caused ruptures
to the rights of people especially expats who follow other religions and
have beliefs that contradict the value of Islam.

CONCLUSION

Diplomatic engagements and negotiations are the only legitimate way

forward. The world community is giving its faith in our capacity.
This document is just giving you a basic idea about the issue. Further
readings are recommended for fruitful debates in the committee.

Best wishes, See you soon.