TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Welcome Note 2
Topic 1 4
Topic 2 14

1
 WELCOME NOTE
Letter from dais

Dear Delegates,
We are pleased to have you join us for United Nations Entity For Gender Equality
And The Empowerment Of Women (UN WOMEN) at this year's Model UN Role
Play Exercise. As your chairs- Ayesha, Karma and Zedan, we are excited to take
this journey with you as we tackle some of the most pressing challenges on gender
equality & women rights. Over the years UN Women has stepped up in hope and
optimism a silent witness to change, fighting for gender equality as an independent
agency managed by women on behalf of global leaders who are bold enough. We
hope that through this committee, you will be able to play the role of world leaders
discussing with others on developing unique solutions to tackle our issues. To get
you as prepared for the new world order of things, we have put together this
background guide that will hopefully equip you with a deep-enough understanding
of the agenda and show its reach across other continents. We expect you to do your
research, come prepared for every session with open heart and mind; be respectful
of these conversations in a thoughtful way. Remember that this committee, above
all else, is a space for collaboration and constructive critique, a place for us to come
together and lead with empathy, striving to be our best. We are your chairs and
will be here to help you navigate the waters of this dynamic journey! This is our
opportunity to change that and ensure we center equity, justice, empowerment.
Have a productive and enjoyable conference everyone!
Sincerely, Chairs of UN Women
[email protected]

Introduction to Committee

Welcome to the UN Women Committee, one of the key institutions of the United
Nations which focuses on the achievement of gender equality and the
empowerment of women and girls at the international level. After being established
in 2010, UN Women has engaged in various advocacy programs for the rights and
grievances of women, as well as addressing issues that impede their development.
Our committee is instrumental in assisting and funding the international efforts to
fight against gender discrimination and violence. 2
UN Women seeks to assure gender equality across all sectors, such as political
representation and economic development. The committee faces some of the
greatest relevant global women's issues such as ending violence against women,
ensuring education and access to healthcare, and women's participation in peace
and security. Delegates in this committee are tasked with crafting resolutions that
propose actionable solutions to these challenges, fostering collaboration among
member states and organizations.

The inception of UN Women brought together various efforts that were once
scattered across multiple UN entities. Throughout the years, the committee has led
initiatives like the HeForShe campaign and UN Security Council Resolution 1325,
which underscores the critical roles women play in conflict resolution and
peacebuilding. These achievements showcase the committee’s capacity to rally
global efforts and drive meaningful change.

Countries with a history of championing women’s rights, such as Sweden, Canada,

and Rwanda, play a significant role in shaping the agenda and funding of UN
Women. However, countries dealing with gender imbalances take specific
perspectives to the committee, which guarantees that the committee also pays
attention to the needs of various populations. The committee’s strategic
cooperation with non-governmental organizations and grassroots movements has
increased its efficiency in the field.

While UN Women adheres to standard MUN procedures, its discussions focus on

ensuring inclusiveness and integration. Delegates are encouraged to use gender-
specific language in decision-making. In addition, the committee values ​qualitative
contributions alongside quantitative data to address deeply rooted cultural and
societal issues.

This committee offers an opportunity for dedicated delegates to engage with

critical global gender issues and develop impactful solutions that extend beyond the
scope of this conference. Together, we aim to inspire meaningful change and
advance the rights of women and girls, working toward a future rooted in equality
and fairness.

3
 TOPIC 1:
Addressing the impact of traditional practices on gender
inequality and women’s right
Introduction

Gender disparity fostered by deep-rooted norms including child marriage, female

genital mutilation (FGM), and alienable guarantees of inheritance rights is of
undoing. The practices violate cultural, religious, and socio-economic rights of
women through inhibiting their educational, economic, and power bases, while
strengthening masculinity in society. And this is the reason why this issue needs to
be addressed. To accomplish goals like gender equity, inclusive quality education
and economic growth, sustainability development’s agenda is comprehensive. Such
mechanisms require legal provisions, community involvement and changes in the
attitude of the society towards women to start changing the dominance of man in
the society. The main of UN, Women’s agenda is education, cooperation at the
bottom, and joint actions of states with civil society to not let bilateral
discrimination norms of women to exist and to create better and more just society.

Analysis

Harmful traditional practices, such as Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting

(FGM/C), child marriage, dowries, and gender-biased inheritance laws, continue to
undermine the rights and equality of women worldwide. These practices stem from
deeply rooted cultural, religious and social norms, violate human rights and
perpetuate gender inequality. Their effects are far-reaching, denying women access
to education, healthcare and economic participation, while exposing them to
violence and exploitation.

Efforts to address these issues have shown mixed results. Legislative reform and
international cooperation have been prompted by global frameworks, including the
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
(CEDAW) and Sustainable Development Goal 5. Culture, resource deprivation,
and politics are the main reasons for the difficulty in enforcing these policies.
Community-driven initiatives, such as those supported by UN Women, 4
demonstrate that engaging local leaders and integrating culturally sensitive
approaches can yield sustainable change
Tackling these issues requires a careful approach that respects different
cultures while standing up for basic human rights. Delegates must propose
culturally sensitive yet resolute measures that empower women, engage local
leaders, and ensure accountability. Achieving this will not only protect
women’s rights but also drive broader societal progress by fostering equality
and reducing poverty.

Historical background

The origins of these practices are deeply intertwined with societal structures,
often serving as tools for controlling women’s autonomy. FGM/C and child
marriage have been around for centuries, justified by myths about purity,
fertility and social cohesion. Efforts to combat them gained momentum in
the 20th century with the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights (1948) and the Beijing Platform for Action (1995). In recent years,
global campaigns like UNICEF’s to end child marriage and UN Women’s
community based advocacy have been advancing the fight against these
practices.
For instance, in rural Kenya, UN funded projects have enabled local leaders
and law enforcement to challenge FGM/C and early marriage through
education and legal support. These initiatives have significantly increased
community awareness and reduced prevalence rates in targeted areas.

5
Key terms
●Harmful Traditional Practices: Cultural practices that infringe on human rights
and disproportionately impact women and girls.
●Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C): Non-medical procedures
involving the partial or total removal of external female genitalia.
●Child Marriage: The union of individuals under 18, often leading to health risks,
early pregnancies, and education loss.
●CEDAW: A UN treaty aimed at eliminating all forms of discrimination against
women.
●Patriarchy: A social system in which men hold primary power, influencing
societal norms and practices that subordinate women.
●Gender-Based Violence (GBV): Any harmful act directed at an individual based
on their gender, including physical, sexual, or psychological abuse.
●Intersectionality: A framework that examines how overlapping social identities
(e.g., gender, race, class) create unique experiences of discrimination or privilege.
●Social Norms: Unwritten societal rules that influence behaviour
●Empowerment: Processes enabling women and girls to gain control over their
lives, including political, social, and economic dimensions.
●Honour-Based Violence: Violence committed to protect or defend family or
community "honour," often involving women who are perceived to have defied
cultural expectations.

6
Major Parties involved

Kenya
●Significant efforts to combat Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C)
and child marriage.
●Community-based projects like those supported by the International
Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) have raised awareness and reduced
these practices in rural areas

Ethiopia
●High prevalence of child marriage, but ongoing government-led programs
aim to reduce it through legal reforms and community education

India
●Challenges with child marriage, dowries, and honor-based violence. Laws
like the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act have been enacted to tackle these
issues

Sudan and Somalia

●Among the countries with the highest prevalence of FGM/C. Efforts
include local and international campaigns to enforce laws and educate
communities.

Bangladesh
●High rates of child marriage despite laws prohibiting the practice. Advocacy
groups work to shift cultural norms and empower young girls

Nigeria
●Significant advocacy against FGM/C and child marriage by local
organizations and global partnerships, but cultural resistance remains strong

UN Women
●Leads efforts to combat harmful practices globally by promoting legal
frameworks, supporting community-based initiatives, and driving cultural
transformation.
7
UNICEF
●Focuses on protecting children from child marriage and FGM/C through
education and health programs

WHO (World Health Organization)

●Advocates for the elimination of harmful traditional practices through public
health interventions and global research initiatives.

CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against

Women)
●Provides a legal framework for addressing gender discrimination and traditional
practices worldwide

Current challenges and opportunities

challenges:
Cultural Resistance: Highly entrenched negative behaviours are difficult to change,
and in many cases are viewed as being embedded in the culture, as being intrinsic
to cultural identity. Attempts to reform are resisted, because reform is seen to be
from elsewhere. Education plays an important role in the prevention of Female
Genital Mutilation (FGM) in outlying groups.

Economic Factors: Economic dependence drives women and girls into degrading
practices such as child marriage, which can be seen as a safety net by families.
Without support, escaping these cycles is difficult.

Geographic & Social Positioning: Women living in rural or marginal areas have
greater risks because of their lack of access to education, health care, and legal
assistance. Social isolation hinders their ability to escape harmful practices.

Weak Legal Framework: Legislation prohibiting practices such as child marriage

and female genital mutilation has insufficient enforcement capacity as a result of
limitations in resource availability, legal education in adequacy and societal bias,
permitting these to continue. 8
Opportunities

International Collaboration and Advocacy: Global efforts can raise awareness and
hold governments accountable. UN and regional agencies have the means to
eradicate harmful practices in the countries that they target.

Community-Led Change: Action for change can be taken locally by community

members working to change damaging practices. Once man and woman are
engaged, the fight goes well against custom.

Technology and Education: Technology, such as mobile phones and social media,
can educate, and also connect victims to support, enabling change.

Legal and Policy Reform: Strong legal frameworks are needed to address harmful
practices. The increase of legislation has a role to play in the fight against gender
inequality and the promotion of gender-sensitive policies.

Gender-Based Violence & Education as Empowerment: Education breaks

traditional practices. Teaching about gender equality and the negative effects and
consequences of child marriage equips women and reinforces communities.

Questions a resolution must answer

●What are the most effective strategies to recognize, understand, and impose
sanctions on those promoting traditional practices that are detrimental to gender
equality and women's rights?
●What should be the roles of education and empowerment in combating these
sociocultural practices, and how do we transfer those facets to people, particularly
girls and women from minority communities?
●What responsibilities should governments, civil society and international
agencies have in curbing hazardous traditional practices that infringe the gender
equality and women’s rights?
●What are the most effective methods to combat and to instigate the effects of
harmful traditional practices on women’s rights and gender equality, and how do
we ensure that these methods are effective?

9
Subtopics:

1) Legal Frameworks vs. Cultural Practices

2) Youth Empowerment and Changing Traditional Practices
3) The Impact of Child Marriage on Education and Empowerment
4) Addressing the Psychological and Emotional Impact of Harmful Traditional
Practices
5) The Global Impact of Traditional Practices on Migrant and Refugee Women

Past resolutions

1.UN General Assembly Resolution 67/146 (2012): Resolution of the UN General

Assembly 67/146 (2012): Intensification of efforts to eliminate female genital
mutilation (FGM): The harmful practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) was
given this focus: one of the most ingrained, harmful traditional practices which
causes severe physical and psychological pain to women and girls. It called upon
states to make laws prohibiting FGM and take measures to prevent this practice,
paying attention to the health and social perspectives of this issue. The resolution
underscored the role which education and social mobilization can play in changing
cultural attitudes towards FGM. On the one hand, focusing on FGM within the
context of gender-based violence underscores the broader problem of TBCs and
gender disadvantage and calls for a comprehensive international response at all
levels to prevent such practices.

2 UN General Assembly Resolution 68/151 (2013): Elimination of practices which

are harmful, and which affect the health, dignity and well-being of women and
girls: This resolution tackled specific gender-based traditional practices including
but not limited to child marriage, dowry-related violence, honor killings and
FGM. It urged states to adopt laws and policies to eradicate these customs and
safeguard the rights of women, while encouraging interstate efforts to learn and
bolster such protections. In that sense, the resolution recognizes the role of
traditional cultural practices in curtailing women’s rights and dignity and calls for
progressive measures by governments without compromising on cultural ethos.

10
.
3 UN Women Campaigns and Commitments on Ending Violence Against
Women (Ongoing Initiatives): The prevention of VAW, as a campaign
intervention strategy, has become a trademark for UN Women. Coordinating
across many global campaigns focusing on the ban of child marriages, female
genital mutilation, forced marriages and other longstanding problematic practices
towards women and girls. The Educate Women campaign and the Safe Cities
Global Initiative are other flagship campaigns of UN Women, which provide
resources, technical help and reform frameworks to apivate networks of
governments and communities. It also works in complement with social normative
change social and legal forms to address the women discrimination issues.

Bibliography
1. UN Women. Engaging faith-based and traditional actors in preventing
violence against women and girls: untf.unwomen.org
2. UN Women. Case Study: Ending harmful traditional practices in rural
Kenya.: untf.unwomen.org
3. UN Women Africa. Engagement with Traditional Leaders and Cultural
Authorities in Ending Harmful Practices Against Women and Girls:
africa.unwomen.org
4. United Nations Women: https://www.unwomen.org/en
5. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals: https://sdgs.un.org/goals
6. Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development:
https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda
7. United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC):
https://ecosoc.un.org/en
8. United Nations E-Subscription - https://esubscription.un.org/en
9. UN Women - Ending Violence Against Women -
https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women
10. United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) -
https://www.un.org/ecosoc/
11. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) -
https://www.ohchr.org
12. UN Women - In Focus: Ending Violence Against Women -
https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/ending-violence-against-women

11
 TOPIC 2:
Addressing the impact of traditional practices on gender
inequality and women’s rights

Introduction
The economic empowerment of rural women is very instrumental in the pursuit of
gender equality and the realization of sustainable development at a global level. It
is therefore important that barriers related to education, finances, and technology
are addressed for rural women, who often suffer from poverty and other
environmental challenges. CSR provides an opportunity through strategic
interventions, including skill development, access to finance on equitable terms,
and environmentally viable agricultural programs. The CSR activities in a gender-
sensitive manner could enable the rural woman to be an active agent in the process
of economic development and build up leadership or entrepreneurial roles. This
can align CSR strategies with Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 5
(Gender Equality) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), for both
social impact and business success. This collaborative approach will go a long way,
wherein the private sector and UN Women come together to create sustainable and
inclusive development, improvement in the economic status of rural women, and
polarization of systemic inequalities.

Analysis
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) provides businesses with a framework to
address societal and environmental issues while maintaining profitability. For rural
women, CSR initiatives offer critical opportunities, including access to education,
resources, and entrepreneurship programs. When companies invest in rural women
through social responsibility programs, they create ripple effects that benefit entire
communities. By focusing on sustainable practices - like smart farming methods
that protect the environment while boosting crop yields - these initiatives give
women the tools to thrive economically. The results are remarkable: as women gain
access to resources and training, they're able to build more resilient businesses
while preserving local ecosystems. These efforts demonstrate the transformative
potential of CSR when aligned with rural women's specific needs.

12
Effective CSR programs tailored for rural women can significantly reduce poverty
and gender inequality, contributing to sustainable development. Such initiatives
strengthen community resilience through multifaceted approaches to economic
development and environmental conservation. Addressing fundamental challenges,
particularly inequitable land distribution and restricted financial access,
necessitates coordinated action between governmental bodies, corporate entities,
and community stakeholders. The successful implementation of these CSR
frameworks serves as a replicable model for sustainable development initiatives
across global contexts, thereby advancing economic progress on an international
scale.

Historical background

CSR initially focused on philanthropy, Over the last hundred years, CSR has
expanded to address systemic social issues, including gender inequality. The role of
corporations in advancing women's rights has been emphasized by global
movements such as the Beijing Platform for Action (1995) and frameworks such as
UN Global Compact (2000). In rural areas, CSR initiatives became prominent with
the rise of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goals 5
(Gender Equality) and 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). Combining CSR
with sustainable development strategies has proven effective in programs like the
Joint Programme on Rural Women's Economic Empowerment (JPR WEE). For
example, JP RWEE in Ethiopia and Rwanda enhanced rural women's access to
land, training, and resources, fostering economic independence and resilience.

Key terms
●Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Voluntary business practices that
contribute to societal well-being beyond profit-making.
●Sustainable Development: Development that meets present needs without
compromising future generations’ ability to meet theirs.
●Economic Empowerment: The process of increasing the ability of individuals,
particularly women, to make economic decisions and access resources.
●Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA): Sustainable farming practices that adapt to

13
climate change while increasing productivity and reducing environmental impacts.
Major Parties involved

Ethiopia:
●Focuses on empowering women in agriculture through CSR-backed programs.
Rwanda:
●Implements gender-responsive policies for women’s land ownership and farming.
Nepal:
●Promotes women entrepreneurs in rural areas with CSR initiatives.
India:
●Uses CSR to support self-help groups and microfinance for women in rural
sectors.
Kenya:
●Engages in CSR for technology access and financial inclusion.

UN Women:
●Advocates for gender equality and supports CSR initiatives targeting rural
women.

FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization):

●Focuses on sustainable agricultural practices and women's role in food security.

IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development):

●Promotes rural development through CSR and gender-sensitive programs.

UNDP (United Nations Development Programme):

●Supports CSR-backed microfinance and entrepreneurship projects.

14
Current Challenges and Opportunities:

Challenges::

Cultural Resistance and Gender Roles: Deep-rooted cultural beliefs in rural areas
restrict women's roles, especially in economic decisions. CSR programs must be
sensitive to these norms to effectively address them.

Economic Dependency: Women in rural areas often depend on kinship structures

with limited access to credit, land, and markets. CSR must address financial
barriers through microfinance and entrepreneurship support.

Geographic and Social Isolation: Rural women face isolation due to poor
infrastructure and limited connectivity. CSR programs must address logistical
challenges like digital literacy, mobile banking, and remote training.

Weak Legal Support: Despite laws for gender equality, rural women face weak
enforcement and lack of legal services. CSR can help by supporting stronger legal
frameworks that ensure women's economic rights.

Opportunities:

International Collaboration: CSR can enable global, business, and government

stakeholders to work together, sharing resources and best practices to empower
rural women through sustainable development.

Technological Solutions: Technology offers opportunities for education and

market access. CSR initiatives that use digital platforms and mobile tech can
significantly boost economic empowerment for rural women.

Community-Led Change: Local authorities and community groups can drive

change. CSR programs involving women's groups ensure initiatives are culturally
appropriate and widely accepted.

CSR and SDGs: CSR can align with the UN’s SDGs, especially SDG 5 (Gender
Equality) and SDG 8 (Decent Work), contributing to rural women's economic
empowerment. 15
Policy Advocacy and Legal Reform: CSR can advocate for policy and legal reforms to
improve women’s access to land, credit, and markets, promoting economic
empowerment.

Education and Capacity Building: CSR can provide education and skills in areas like
agriculture, renewable energy, and digital literacy, enabling rural women to thrive in a
sustainable economy.

Questions a resolution must answer

●What is the potential of education and empowerment in enabling rural women to
capitalize on CSR programmes, and how can these methods be applied at the
community level?
●What responsibilities should governments, civil society, and international agencies
have in ensuring that CSR programs are aligned with the goal of improving the
economic status of rural women through sustainable practices?
●How can we effectively integrate rural women into sustainable development
programmes under CSR models and make sure that these programmes are impactful
and inclusive?

Subtopics:
1) Promoting Women’s Entrepreneurship Through Corporate Investment and
Mentorship
2) Leveraging Technology and Innovation to Empower Rural Women
3) Corporate Contributions to Women’s Education and Skills Development in Rural
Areas
4) Encouraging Corporations to Support Gender-Responsive Public Policies
5) Promoting Gender Equality in Rural Employment through Corporate Initiatives

Past resolutions
1 UN General Assembly Resolution 70/1 (2015): Transforming Our World: The 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development:
In this resolution, the importance of gender equality and women's empowerment has
been underscored as the basis for the attainment of sustainable development goals
(SDGs).
It emphasizes the need for economic empowerment in enhancing the condition of
women, also rural women, and for international cooperation in this field. The
resolution offers a global reference platform to harmonise measures of CSR which
serve to improve rural woman's economic condition by the means of sustainable
practices.
16
2 UN Women Resolution (2016): Strengthening the Role of Women in Sustainable
Development:
This resolution addresses the contribution of women to sustainable development, with
a focus on rural areas. It highlights the importance of gender-responsive CSR
approaches and urges companies to contribute to activities that improve the economic
prospects of rural women by using environmentally wise means.

3 United Nations Global Compact – Women's Empowerment Principles (2010):

These guidelines motivate enterprises to introduce CSR initiatives that contribute to
gender equality and women's empowerment in both the workplace and communities. It
highlights the need for consistency between corporate social responsibility (CSR)
activities and sustainable development that will guarantee rural women to have the
same opportunities for economic activities, resources, and decision-making processes.

4 The 2017 United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Report on
Sustainable Development:.
This paper publicly focussed particularly on the economic empowerment of women in
rural contexts via CSR&sustainable ways. It also brought to light the ways businesses
can support gender equality in agribusiness, renewable energy, and other sectors
offering rural women a sustainable practice of work.

Bibliography

●UN Women: "Rural Women and Sustainable Development Goals" unwomen.org.

●FAO: "Climate-Resilient Agriculture and Gender Equality" fao.org.
●UNDP Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office: "Accelerating Progress Towards Economic
Empowerment of Rural Women" mptf.undp.org.
●International Labour Organization: "Decent Work for Rural Women" ilo.org.
●Oxfam: "Women’s Economic Leadership in Agriculture" oxfam.org.
●The 17 Goals - Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): https://sdgs.un.org/goals
●United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC): https://ecosoc.un.org/en
●UN Women: United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of
Women: https://www.unwomen.org/en
●Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development:
https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda

17
Recommended resources: (For both topics)

United Nations Documents

●UN Women
●UN General Assembly Resolutions and Reports
○UN Treaty Collection

2. International Treaties and Declarations

●UDHR
●SDGs

3. Research Institutions and Think Tanks

●ICRW
●Human Rights Watch
●Amnesty International

4. NGOs and Advocacy Groups

●Girls Not Brides
●End FGM
● The Elders

5. Government and Policy Reports

-World Bank Gender Equality

6. Documentaries and Media Coverage

●Half the Sky and The Girl Rising
●https://www.ted.com/

18