Committee: Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee

Country: Saudi Arabia

Topic: Reproductive Rights and Services

I. Background
With 97% of unsafe abortions occurring in developing nations, along with fatality

rates of up to 13%, the threats to population growth and societal structures are becoming

ever more prevalent. Financial instability and fear of not being able to provide proper

education are key factors in women’s decisions to get unsafe abortions. Furthermore,

restrictive legislation is directly linked to the number of unsafe abortions, not limiting

numbers, but merely eliminating the safety of the operations. Extensive research has

been conducted on ways to decrease unintended pregnancies, and as seen in countries

such as the Eastern Bloc, access to contraceptives are an effective solution to the issue. In

consideration of the threat insufficient reproductive rights pose to the populations of

developing nations, SOCHUM finds it imperative to globally address this issue.

II. UN Involvement

The UN has extensively outlined policies on reproductive rights in the the

Universal Declaration of Human Rights(UDHR)(1948), United Nations Population

Fund(UNFPA)(1969), and the Sustainable Development Goals(SDG)(2012). The UNFPA

has worked in over 150 countries implementing UN standards of reproductive rights and

ensuring the security of millions of young women threatened by insufficient medical

systems, and harmful traditional practices. Through enabling the access of modern

contraceptives to young women, as well as supplying critical birth supplies to pregnant

mothers, they are able to create a safe environment for struggling women in the most

impoverished countries. Similarly, the Sustainable Development Goals(2015) clearly

cover this topic in SDG 3.7, urging governments to reduce reproductive harm to their
 women through the implementation of proper education, health-care services, and

modern methods of family planning.

III. Country Policy and Proposed Solutions

In the past decades, Saudi Arabia has instituted a number of social reforms

reflecting the United Nations standards for human rights, abortion laws in the nation have

become more lenient than that of some American states. Furthermore, the legalization of

contraceptives has seen a significant decline in the number of unintended pregnancies in

the nation, allowing for a similarly declining rate of unsafe abortions. The Islamic

Republic of Saudi Arabia acknowledges the sovereignty of every nation to decide

whether the legalization of abortion should be allowed and asks other nations to do the

same as every country has its own beliefs and practices that every one of us must respect.

Therefore, the delegation of Saudi Arabia proposes a multi-faceted solution

addressing all factors of the expansion of reproductive rights. HUMMES, the Humane

Universal Mediatory Initiative ensuring Medication, Education, and Sovereignty will

provide necessary support to developing reproductive rights in nations across the world.

Unsafe abortions are ever prevalent in many developing nations, and it is necessary that

the UN provide a viable solution to these impoverished nations while simultaneously

respecting the beliefs and practices of that country. By securing $200 million from

various NGOs such as the Human Rights Watch and from SOCHUM’s own budget of $5

billion, the UN can provide economic support to countries where the effects of

insufficient reproductive healthcare are fatal. This can be achieved through loans from the

World Bank to nations that need more developed healthcare infrastructure such as, wider

hospital development, medical supplies, and the promotion of standardized medical

practices within underdeveloped communities. These loans will be expected to be paid

off in a time period of 10 years with a 1.4% annual interest rate. Incentives for

governments to participate in this initiative would be the reduction of overpopulation

issues and the support it gives to a broader nationwide development. Education is also a

key factor to the solution, as various studies have shown that only 30% of Africans use

contraceptives such as birth control. A more recent study by Dr. Mounira Al Sheeha in

Saudi Arabia showed that many Saudis had little knowledge on the variety of

contraceptive techniques available. The widespread implementation of reproductive

education is a major part of reducing unsafe abortions and allowing for increased

modernization. However, the UN must ensure that every nation should retain their own

set of societal beliefs, which is why it is imperative that this initiative be limited to the

supplementation of aid, rather than intervention within governmental legislation. This can

be monitored by officials from the OHCHR to prevent any breaches to the independence

of states being supported. The HUMMES solution will utilize multiple methods in

providing reproductive rights across the world, and mitigating the threat unsafe abortions

and unintended pregnancies pose to the growing development of the world population.
 Works Cited

● SDG Target 3.7 Sexual and Reproductive Health. 15 Sept. 2022,

www.who.int/data/gho/data/themes/topics/sdg-target-3_7-sexual-and-reproductive-health.

● “About Us.” United Nations Population Fund, www.unfpa.org/about-us.

● “Saudi Arabia Faces Population Pressures.” PRB,

www.prb.org/resources/saudi-arabia-faces-population-pressures.

● Alharbi, Rahaf H., et al. “Perception of the Saudi Population on Abortion Decisions in

Congenital Fetal Anomalies.” Cureus, Cureus, Inc., 16 Dec. 2022,

https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.32587.

● Sheeha, Mounira Al. “Awareness and Use of Contraceptives Among Saudi Women

Attending Primary Care Centers in Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia.” PubMed Central (PMC), 1

Jan. 2010, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3068803.

● Haddad, Lisa B. “Unsafe Abortion: Unnecessary Maternal Mortality.” PubMed Central

(PMC), 1 Jan. 2009,

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2709326/#:~:text=Some%2068%2C000%20wo

men%20die%20of,suffer%20long%2Dterm%20health%20complications.

● Wikipedia contributors. “Abortion.” Wikipedia, 28 Mar. 2023,

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion#
Committee: Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee
Country: Saudi Arabia
Topic: Discrimination and Violence Against the LGBTQ+ Community

I. Background
The subjugation and discrimination of LGBTQ people has existed for centuries,

and is still present in the modern 21st Century. Since the 1960s, advocacy for LGBTQ

rights has shown a rapid increase, such as the influential Gay Liberation Front and the

following decriminalization of homosexuality in many Western countries. However, the

free expression of gender in the Middle East and Africa is highly restricted in order to

preserve the predominant Islamic beliefs of the region. These sentiments are reflected in

other regions of the world such as the Slavic Orthodox Nations of Eastern Europe who

prefer to preserve their religious sovereignty rather than have it be influenced by different

beliefs. It is evident that these actions are greatly offensive towards the LGBTQ

community around the world, who have exclaimed harsh criticism towards these

ideologies, but age-old traditions still hold firm as a foundation of society in many

nations. This is why it is imperative that SOCHUM address this ever pressing issue.

II. UN Involvement

LGBTQ Discrimination has been brought to attention several times in the United

Nations during various developmental initiatives and conferences. This is explicitly

conveyed in the Vienna Declaration on Human Rights(1993) or more specifically in the

recent follow-up implementation of the initiative with Resolution 27/32. Passed by the

UNHCR with a ⅔ majority, it was the first formal UN resolution on LGBTQ Rights,

extensively outlining and reaffirming standards for the universal equality of every human
 individual. However, it was voted against by several Islamic countries including Saudi

Arabia, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates.

More recent initiatives have been taken for this issue, as in 2013 the UN’s Free

and Equal Campaign was released by the OHCHR(Office of the United Nations High

Commissioner for Human Rights) as a way to spread awareness on the inclusion of

LGBTQ people. This campaign strongly advocated against widespread homophobia

within many cultures and religions, and it has proven to be effective in promoting rising

activism within many countries as a way of reaching LGBTQ individuals who did not

have a chance to express their views. Further acknowledged in Sustainable Development

Goals(2015) 3, 5, and 10 the principles of gender equality have shown to be steadily

progressing in recent decades, as increasing amounts of action are being taken to uphold

these newfound rights. Overall the UN’s course of action over the decades have made a

significant impact in promoting the rise of LGBTQ activism across the globe.

III. Country Policy and Proposed Solutions

The rights of LGBTQ people in Saudi Arabia or more broadly the Middle East,

has been a topic that the majority of people have been against discussing. The strict

Islamic policies of the government and of society have been against LGBTQ people for

centuries, as it is directly against all of Islam’s morals and virtues. Despite this

widespread discrimination, anti-LGBTQ sentiments have stagnated significantly across

the nation, as with the new Prime Minister, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, numerous

reforms have been made, including the shift in power from the prominent religious police

back towards the state law enforcement. However, the Saudi government believes in

representing the cultural positions of its people, as with a 94% muslim population the
rights of LGBTQ citizens are a matter that the majority of the population are against.

Additionally, religious sovereignty is a key factor in this issue, as many times foreign

countries directly or indirectly disrupt this delicate balance. This can be portrayed in

recent LGBTQ activism during the World Cup, which was strongly supported by many

Western nations.

Therefore, the delegation of Saudi Arabia proposes a declaration ensuring the

sovereignty and self-determination of nations. It will specifically reaffirm the ideas of

self-determination from the UN Charter (1945), explicitly stating that every nation has

the right to govern themselves based on the decision of the people. Furthermore, it can be

used in tandem with a transportation program of LGBTQ citizens. This program, funded

with 50 million USD from SOCHUM’s $5 billion budget, will allow for decreased

discrimination within nations opposed to the LGBTQ Movement. If agreed upon by both

nations and the concerned individual up to the extent of national law, it will allow the

transport of an LGBTQ citizen to a country without strict laws on homosexuality. This

will ensure that in nations such as those in the Middle East and Africa, LGBTQ

individuals will suffer less and the cultural rights of states are respected. UN officials

from the SOCHUM committee will act as mediators between the two nations, discussion

will be held on transportation conditions and the allowance of asylum. A portion of funds

will be allocated towards providing safe conditions for each individual such as adequate

protection, medical services, and other essential provisions. The declaration will also

outline the boundaries between foreign interference and the free expression of ideas. For

example, various foreign media stations contain harmful messages that are against

societal and cultural practices. It is imperative that each nation respects the sovereignty
of other states and that no foreign influence be allowed to interfere with a nation’s

independence. Within the declaration, legislation will be added allowing the censorship

of foreign media in nations with beliefs that oppose whatever information is being

broadcasted. However, it should be noted that this legislature will not restrict freedom of

speech, but merely protect the cultural sovereignty of the people.

 Works Cited

● Purposes and Principles of the UN (Chapter I of UN Charter) | United Nations

Security Council.

www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/purposes-and-principles-un-chapter-i-un-char

ter#rel1.

● ---. “LGBT Rights in Saudi Arabia.” Wikipedia, 7 Apr. 2023,

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Saudi_Arabia#

● LGBT Rights in Saudi Arabia | Equaldex.

www.equaldex.com/region/saudi-arabia.

● Labi, Nadya. “The Kingdom in the Closet.” The Atlantic, 1 May 2007,

www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2007/05/the-kingdom-in-the-closet/30577

4.

● Canada, Immigration and Refugee Board Of. Responses to Information Requests.

1 June 2020, irb.gc.ca/en/country-information/rir/Pages/index.aspx?doc=453615.

● Wikipedia contributors. “1960s in LGBT Rights.” Wikipedia, Apr. 2023,

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960s_in_LGBT_rights.

● Issa, Antoun. “How Gay Rights Advance Democracy in the Middle East.”

Foreign Policy, 22 July 2016,

foreignpolicy.com/2016/07/22/how-gay-rights-advance-democracy-in-the-middle-

east.
● Schaer, Cathrin. “Did LGBTQ Rights Campaigns in Qatar Help or Hinder?”

dw.com, 30 Dec. 2022,

www.dw.com/en/did-lgbtq-rights-campaigns-in-qatar-help-or-hinder/a-64239795.

● “UN Free and Equal.” UN Free & Equal, 4 Apr. 2022, www.unfe.org.

● Dockery, Wesley. “Saudi Arabia Cracks Down on Rainbow-colored Toys —

Report.” dw.com, 15 June 2022,

www.dw.com/en/saudi-arabia-cracks-down-on-rainbow-colored-toys-report/a-621

42067.

● Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General |

UN Press. 10 Mar. 2023, press.un.org/en/2023/db230310.doc.htm.

● ---. “Gay Liberation Front.” Wikipedia, Apr. 2023,

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_Liberation_Front.