Sochum
Sochum
Sochum
PRIMER
SOCHUM
Delegates,
I am thrilled to be serving as your chair for the third general
assembly, the Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee
(SOCHUM) this year at KaizenMUN. I may be known as the resident
swiftie of Kaizen High.
I want every delegate to not take for granted the fact that it is a
very privileged position in of itself to speak at this level regarding
these issues and to not take that privilege for granted. This
committee hopes to be an inclusive environment for debate and no
matter if you are an experienced speaker or a beginner, I expect
everyone to engage in the committee and make sure that others are
included too.
The Social, Cultural and Humanitarian committee mainly focuses on the protection of human
rights. It was first founded in 1948 to create solutions in order to provide globally high
standards, protect human rights and suggest solutions for the humanitarian and social
development crises. There are lots of violations of human rights in almost every part of the
World. Sochum’s main purpose is to examine them and set global standards in order to
protect human rights while working together with the Member States. The committee has the
right to suggest recommendations concerning issues of peace and security to a member of
the General Assembly, UN Security Council and other bodies and agencies. Sochum can also
request reports from the UN Human Rights Council by special rapporteurs.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Int ernat i ona l H i s t o r y
IThe fight for reproductive freedom largely began with Margaret Sanger in the early 1900s
who, starting with a clinic in New York, fought to educate women on sex and contraception
and was a major advocate for women's right to birth control, sexual and reproductive rights,
and the sex education that came with them.
02
FORCED STERILIZATION FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION
(FGM)
Forced sterilization is the involuntary or
coerced removal of a person's ability to Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C)
reproduce, often through a surgical procedure comprises different practices involving cutting,
referred to as a tubal ligation. Forced pricking, removing and sometimes sewing up
sterilization is a human rights violation and external female genitalia for non-medical
can constitute an act of genocide, gender- reasons. The practice of FGM/C is highly
based violence, discrimination, and torture. concentrated in a band of African countries
When performed without informed consent, from the Atlantic coast to the Horn of Africa,
sterilization violates an individual’s rights to in areas of the Middle East such as Iraq and
dignity, humane treatment, health, family, Yemen, and in some countries in Asia like
information, privacy, and to freely decide the Indonesia. Girls exposed to FGM/C are at risk of
number and spacing of children, among other immediate physical consequences such as
rights. In recent years, human rights bodies severe pain, bleeding, and shock, difficulty in
have further clarified the steps States must passing urine and faeces, and sepsis. Long-
take to prevent forced sterilization, protect term consequences can include chronic pain
survivors, and ensure access to redress. and infections. FGM/C is a deeply entrenched
social norm, perpetrated by families for a
One notable example of forced sterilization variety of reasons, but the results are harmful.
occurred in Peru during the 1990s and early FGM/C is a human rights issue that affects girls
2000s. In an effort to curb poverty and and women worldwide. The practice is
overpopulation, the Peruvian government decreasing, due to intensive advocacy
implemented aggressive family planning activities of international, national, and
policies, which included coercive sterilization grassroots agencies. An adolescent girl today
campaigns targeting Indigenous and is about a third less likely to be cut than 30
impoverished women. These women were years ago. However, the rates of abandonment
often subjected to sterilization procedures are not high enough, and change is not
without their informed consent, sometimes happening as rapidly as necessary. Multiple
under duress or through deceptive means. interventions have been implemented, but the
Health workers, incentivized by quotas and evidence base on what works is lacking.
government pressure, performed sterilizations
on a massive scale, often in makeshift clinics POOR QUALITY REPRODUCTIVE
and without proper medical protocols.
Thousands of women, particularly those living
HEALTHCARE SERVICES
in rural and marginalized communities, fell The poor quality of abortion services in many
victim to these practices, which violated their healthcare facilities presents significant
reproductive rights and resulted in severe challenges for women and other pregnant
physical and emotional harm. Despite individuals seeking safe and legal abortion
international condemnation and efforts to care. One common issue is the lack of proper
seek justice, many survivors of forced medical equipment and supplies necessary to
sterilization in Peru continue to face barriers perform abortions safely, which increases the
in accessing reparations and holding risk of complications during the procedure.
perpetrators accountable. This tragic episode Additionally, shortages of trained healthcare
underscores the importance of protecting staff can lead to errors or improper
individuals' reproductive autonomy and administration of abortion procedures, further
ensuring that family planning programs compromising patient safety. Inadequate
respect human rights and adhere to ethical procedures and protocols for conducting
standards. abortions also contribute to inconsistencies in
care delivery across different facilities.
Moreover, stigma and mistreatment from
healthcare providers can create barriers to
accessing abortion services, with individuals
facing judgment or denial of care.
02
Limited access to comprehensive post- When possible, a meta-analysis was
abortion care further compounds these conducted to estimate mean effects by
challenges, leaving patients without necessary outcome, and to understand sources of
follow-up support. Overall, the poor quality of variation between studies. 35 papers had been
abortion services reflects broader barriers to identified that met the inclusion criteria.
reproductive healthcare, including limited Although many of the studies report evidence
access to contraception, inadequate sexual of a causal relationship between education
education, and restrictive abortion laws, and one or more SRH outcomes, estimated
underscoring the urgent need for improved effects are often small in magnitude. Meta-
standards and accessibility in abortion care. analyses reveal mostly null mean effects, with
the exception of small effects of increased
One example of a country where poor abortion grade attainment on lower fertility and HIV
services have been reported is Uganda. In positive status. We also found inconsistent
Uganda, despite abortion being legally evidence supporting mechanisms linking
permitted in certain circumstances, such as to education and SRH
save the life of the pregnant person, access to
safe and legal abortion services remains Cultural and religious beliefs can present
limited. Many healthcare facilities lack the hurdles for individuals seeking education and
necessary equipment, trained personnel, and access to reproductive rights. These beliefs
protocols to provide safe abortion care. As a may enforce strict rules about sexuality and
result, individuals seeking abortion services reproduction, leading to stigma around
may resort to unsafe methods or clandestine seeking information or services related to
providers, putting their health and lives at risk. sexual and reproductive health. Religious
Moreover, stigma surrounding abortion in teachings may also influence views on
Ugandan society often leads to discrimination contraception and abortion, potentially
and mistreatment of individuals seeking deterring individuals from utilizing these
abortion care, further deterring them from services even when legally available. Moreover,
accessing formal healthcare services. These cultural norms and community expectations
challenges highlight the need for improved can impact decisions regarding reproductive
access to quality abortion services, health, making it difficult for individuals to
comprehensive sexual education, and efforts assert their preferences or access appropriate
to address the stigma surrounding abortion in care. Addressing these challenges requires
Uganda. promoting open dialogue and ensuring that
reproductive health services
LACK OF EDUCATION AND respect diverse cultural and religious
perspectives.
ACCESS REGARDING
REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS Rwanda has significantly improved women's
reproductive rights through education and
Despite strong theoretical grounding,
access to healthcare. Following the genocide
important gaps in knowledge remain
in 1994, the country prioritized gender equality
regarding the degree to which there is a
and women's empowerment. Policies
causal relationship between education and
promoting girls' education, including
sexual and reproductive health, as many
scholarships and addressing cultural barriers,
claims have been made based on associations
increased literacy rates among women.
alone. Understanding the extent to which
Rwanda also invested in expanding access to
these relationships are causal is important
reproductive health services, such as family
both to inform investments in education and
planning and maternal healthcare, with
health, as well as to understand the
community health workers playing a crucial
mechanisms underlying these relationships. A
role. These efforts led to increased
systematic review conducted of the evidence
contraceptive use, reduced maternal mortality
for a causal link between education and sexual
rates, and better HIV/AIDS outcomes,
and reproductive health (SRH) in low and
highlighting the success of combining
middle-income countries. Education indicators
education and healthcare access in promoting
included exposure to formal schooling and
women's reproductive rights.
learning. SRH outcomes included: age at first
sex, age at first marriage, age at first
pregnancy/birth, contraceptive use, fertility, 02
and HIV status and other sexually transmitted
infections.
United Nations rights bodies have repeatedly
CASE STUDIES urged Brazil to decriminalize abortion,
concluding that denying women, girls, and
USA
On June 24, 2022, pro-abortion rights activists other pregnant people access to abortion is a
demonstrated outside the Supreme Court form of discrimination, jeopardizing, among
building for protest following the decision to others, the rights to privacy, life, health,
overturn Roe and Casey. By noon, there was a information, and to not be subjected to cruel,
major police presence around the Supreme inhumane, and degrading treatment.
Court building and the Capitol building,
including police with riot gear, and police Justice Rosa Weber, who was the former
squad cars and SUVs. Multiple streets were President of the Court, made her decision on
barricaded by police. Protests also occurred in September 22, just before retiring. She
cities and towns across the country, drawing highlighted that being a mother should be a
large crowds of demonstrators, with many choice and not something forced upon
activists calling for more action from someone. Forcing someone to continue a
Democratic lawmakers. pregnancy would harm the woman physically,
On June 30, more than 180 abortion rights emotionally, and morally. The other judges will
protesters were arrested in Washington, D.C. vote on this matter during a public hearing
after sitting and blocking an intersection near scheduled for the upcoming months.
the Supreme Court.
Chanting "we won't go back", protesters If the entire court agrees to support women's
converged on the White House, with some rights, Brazil will join other Latin American
tying themselves to the gates outside. An countries like Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico
estimated 10,000 people gathered from across in decriminalizing abortion. This would be a
the US, organizers said. Lauren Pierce, 33, an big win for the Green Tide movement, which
attorney from Dallas, was among them, fights for abortion rights, and could inspire
traveling some 1,300 miles (2,100km) to attend positive changes in other countries too. Local
the demonstration."There's nothing, to me, organizations like Anis and other Brazilian
more worth fighting for than this cause - our groups have been working hard for years to
fundamental right to have bodily autonomy," make abortion legal. The combined efforts of
she said. "If that means taking up space and women's rights organizations globally and
getting arrested then I think it's worth it." Ms locally have made a big impact. Women and
Pierce's home state of Texas is among the 10 others in Brazil have been waiting a long time
US states where abortion has already been for their rights to be protected. This decision is
prohibited. At least a dozen other states are overdue and a chance for Brazil to finally
expected to follow. ensure that everyone can safely and legally
Anti-abortion campaigners, many of whom see access abortion services according to
abortion as "murder", have meanwhile international human rights rules.
celebrated the court's decision and the
opportunity to outlaw the procedure in large
swathes of the country.
BRAZIL
The court of Brazil, known in the country as
STF, has come to consider a case to
decriminalize abortion for pregnancies up to
12 weeks. This case has been on hold in court
since 2018. Brazil’s current legislation
regulating abortion, which dates to 1940, is
incompatible with the country's human rights
obligations. Abortion has been made illegal
except in situations where the pregnancy was
a case of any sort of sexual violence, where the
mother’s life is in danger due to the pregnancy
or if the fetus has been diagnosed with fatal
fetal condition known as ‘anencephaly’.
QUESTIONS A
RESOLUTION MUST
ANSWER
QUESTIONS
HOW DOES THE RESOLUTION ADDRESS THE SPECIFIC MATERNAL HEALTH NEEDS
OF WOMEN IN VULNERABLE SETTINGS, INCLUDING ACCESS TO SKILLED BIRTH
ATTENDANTS AND EMERGENCY OBSTETRIC CARE?
IN WHAT WAYS DOES THE RESOLUTION CONSIDER AND RESPECT THE CULTURAL
CONTEXTS OF VULNERABLE SETTINGS TO ENSURE THAT REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
POLICIES ARE CULTURALLY SENSITIVE AND ACCEPTABLE?
HTTPS://BOOKS.GOOGLE.COM/BOOKS?
ID=WBA5G9JQQGMC&DQ=WEDDINGTON&PG=PA54
HTTPS://WWW.LEHMANNS.DE/SHOP/MEDIZIN-PHARMAZIE/1645616-
9780253330758-LIMITS
HTTP://WWW.COE.INT/EN/WEB/COMMISSIONER/-/COVID-19-ENSURE-
WOMEN-S-ACCESS-TO-SEXUAL-AND-REPRODUCTIVE-HEALTH-AND-
RIGHTS
HTTP://WWW.WHO.INT/NEWS-ROOM/FACT-
SHEETS/DETAIL/PREVENTING-UNSAFE-ABORTION
HTTPS://WWW.GUTTMACHER.ORG/ARTICLE/2020/11/NOT-DEBATE-
LGBTQ-PEOPLE-NEED-AND-DESERVE-TAILORED-SEXUAL-AND-
REPRODUCTIVE-HEALTH
HTTPS://WWW.OHCHR.ORG/SITES/DEFAULT/FILES/DOCUMENTS/PUBLI
CATIONS/NHRIHANDBOOK.PDF
REFERENCES
HTTPS://WWW.UN.ORG/EN/GA/THIRD/75/BUREAU.SHTML
HTTPS://WWW.UN.ORG/EN/GA/THIRD/
HTTPS://WWW.SCIENTIFICAMERICAN.COM/ARTICLE/PROTECT-
WOMENS-HEALTH/
HTTPS://WWW.UNFPA.ORG/ICPD
HTTPS://WWW.OHCHR.ORG/EN/WOMEN/SEXUAL-AND-REPRODUCTIVE-HEALTH-
AND-RIGHTS
HTTPS://WWW.TANDFONLINE.COM/DOI/FULL/10.1080/00220388.2016.1241389
HTTPS://IJRCENTER.ORG/FORCED-STERILIZATION/
HTTPS://WWW.WHO.INT/NEWS-ROOM/FACT-SHEETS/DETAIL/FEMALE-GENITAL-
MUTILATION HTTPS://WWW.WOMENSHEALTH.GOV/A-Z-TOPICS/FEMALE-GENITAL-
CUTTING HTTPS://PRESS.UN.ORG/EN/2023/POP1106.DOC.HTM
HTTPS://WWW.DOVEPRESS.COM/LEVEL-OF-KNOWLEDGE-ON-SEXUAL-AND-
REPRODUCTIVE-HEALTH-RIGHTS-AMONG-THE--PEER-REVIEWED-FULLTEXT-
ARTICLE-RMHP
HTTPS://WWW.OHCHR.ORG/SITES/DEFAULT/FILES/DOCUMENTS/PROFESSIONALIN
TEREST/CEDAW.PDF HTTPS://WWW.UNWOMEN.ORG/EN/DIGITAL-
LIBRARY/PUBLICATIONS/2015/01/BEIJING-DECLARATION
HTTPS://WWW.REFWORLD.ORG/LEGAL/GENERAL/CESCR/2000/EN/36991
HTTPS://DIGITALLIBRARY.UN.ORG/RECORD/832961
HTTPS://EDITION.CNN.COM/2003/LAW/01/21/ROEVWADE.OVERVIEW/
HTTPS://WWW.HRW.ORG/TOPIC/WOMENS-RIGHTS/REPRODUCTIVE-RIGHTS-AND-
ABORTION HTTPS://SUPREME.JUSTIA.COM/CASES/FEDERAL/US/410/113/
HTTPS://WWW.HRW.ORG/NEWS/2018/07/31/BRAZIL-DECRIMINALIZE-ABORTION
SPONSOR