United Nations Human Rights Council

Background Guide;

Agenda – Discussing the violations of women’s rights in regions under extremist rule, with
emphasis on access to education and healthcare.​
​
Table of Contents

1.​ Letter from the Executive Board

2.​ Contact Information
3.​ Rules of Procedure
4.​ Foreign Policy
5.​ About the United Nations Human Rights Council
6.​ About the Agenda
7.​ Example Case Studies
8.​ Documentation
9.​ Research Guide

​
LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

Greetings Delegates,

We are honoured to serve in the faculty of the Executive Board for the duration of this simulation
of the United Nations Human Rights Council at Sapphire Mun 2025.
This Background Guide has been meticulously crafted to serve as a catalyst for furthering your
research, and we hope that after perusing this guide, you will be well equipped to delve into the
intricacies of the Human Rights Council, and specifically the complexities of our agenda:
“Discussing the violations of women’s rights in regions under extremist rule, with emphasis on
access to education and healthcare.” Keep in mind that this Background Guide is in no way
exhaustive in nature, and is only intended to provide an elementary understanding of the agenda
at hand.

In addition to this, we would like to stress that while this Guide may prompt you in a certain
direction, by no means does that validate nor does it refute that perspective, and thus as a result
we emphasise on delegates doing extensive research into their foreign policies. While new ideas
are inherently disruptive, they are far less disruptive than a world dominated by stereotypes and
regional instability. We urge delegates to consider this while brainstorming ideas for sustained
improvement of human rights, and to not refrain from proposing innovative solutions, be it
temporary or permanent, due to a fear of it being too disruptive.

Delegates are encouraged to research in much more depth than covered in the Guide, not only in
terms of the agenda, but also in terms of past action by international organisations, action taken
domestically and their country’s policies and perspectives, both domestically and internationally.
This guide cannot and will not be accepted as proof of statements during committee proceedings
under any circumstances whatsoever.

We understand that an MUN can be an overwhelming experience for novices, but it must be
clearly understood that our aspirations from the Delegates. As the Executive Board, we wish to
see delegates manage differences of opinions and conflicts of interest while extending foreign
policy to present comprehensive solutions without compromising on their portfolio’s
self-interests and initiate consensus-building.

We suggest delegates examine each human rights topic they deal with in 4 dimensions:
a)​ Social: Impact on societal norms and relationships
b)​ Political: Effect of power structures and governance
c)​ Economic: Influence of financial systems and wealth inequalities
d)​ Legal: Role of judicial systems and legislature

Hopefully, this will have guided you to a comprehensive understanding of the agenda at hand,
and you will be able to present sensitive and nuanced information in a setting such as this. With
that in mind, we look forward to witnessing invigorating debate and vibrant solutions. All the
best!​
​

CONTACT INFORMATION
CHAIRPERSON: Sai Karthik Sanjeev
[email protected]

VICE-CHAIRPERSON: Verna Chand

+91 9182686551​
[email protected]

RAPPORTEUR: Abhyudit Rajesh

[email protected]
+91 7349797490
For queries regarding the background guide, we would request delegates contact the
Vice-Chairperson or the Rapporteur.

RULES OF PROCEDURE
This section of the Background Guide is aimed at explaining the rules of procedure that we will
be following for the entire duration of the conference. We would like to emphasise that the
deciding authority for the rules of procedure will be the Executive Board. If a delegate is
informed otherwise of any procedure not discussed in the background guide or in committee, we
would request that you clarify immediately with the Executive Board before taking any
substantial action.

Decorum:
Before we begin discussing the rules of procedure, the Executive Board would like to stress that
the maintenance of decorum is of utmost importance. This would include being respectful and
courteous to all Secretariat, Executive Board, Organising Committee and International Press
members as well as your fellow delegates at ALL times. This includes giving the speaker their
due respect by refraining from engaging in parallel discussions, or cross-talk, treating everyone
with respect, using appropriate language both inside and outside the committee, and respecting
personal boundaries.

The following chart details the flow of debate:

Voting:
Before we begin discussing the flow of debate, we must first have a thorough understanding of
the voting procedure. In the UN, we have two types of voting:
a)​ Procedural Voting: ALL delegates MUST vote either in favour (yes) or against (no).
Delegates do not have the option to abstain from this type of voting, regardless of their
voting stance. Procedural voting is used for all matters of procedure, like motions.
b)​ Substantive Voting: ALL delegates MUST vote in. However, in matters of substantive
voting, depending on the delegates’ voting stance, in addition to the options of in favour
and against, delegates may have the additional option to abstain. Substantive voting is
used when the committee is voting to act with a substantial impact on the world as a
whole, like passing documentation.

Roll Call and Voting Stance:

Simply put, roll call is the UN’s way of taking attendance. When answering roll calls, delegates
have two options, which affect their options in substantial voting.
There are two options, called the voting stance available for delegates in roll call:
a)​ Present: This presents the opportunity to abstain from substantive votes
b)​ Present and Voting: This means that the delegate will be taking part in all voting, and as a
result do not have the option to abstain (withdraw/not take part) from taking part in
matters of substantive voting ONLY.

Please note: While your voting stance itself does not affect your marking in any way, your vote
itself could potentially affect your marking, so choose your vote wisely.

Setting the Agenda:

This is a formality during any session of the HRC, usually used when multiple agendas are slated
for discussion. Obviously, in order for fruitful discussion to take place, the Council needs to
focus on one specific agenda item, and thus one agenda item is introduced at a time. This
committee is one of those committees that, like most MUN committees, will have only one
agenda for discussion due to time constraints.

Debate:
There are two types of debate:
a)​ Formal debate: This usually encompasses the General Speakers List, and is used to
discuss the agenda as a whole.
b)​ Informal debate: This is used when the committee wants to discuss specific subtopics
under the agenda, or have informal discussions in general.

General Speaker’s List (GSL) and Caucuses

The GSL is an exhaustive list, with speeches usually used to discuss the agenda as a whole. The
speaking time can be set to any number of seconds, with 90 seconds being the standard.
However, as the Executive Board, we have decided to limit your options to 60 seconds, 90
seconds or 120 seconds, so it is both easily divisible, and at the same time gives everyone a fair
opportunity to speak.
To be recognised for the GSL, a delegate need only raise their placard or send a note addressed to
the EB.

There are two types of caucuses in MUNs, and both are a form of informal debate. They are:

a)​ Moderated Caucuses: these are discussions about a determined subtopic, with a
maximum total time of 20 minutes, and an individual speaker time that is both a factor of
the total time, as well as lesser than or equal to the individual speaker time for GSLs.
Moderated Caucuses will be, as the name suggests, marked and moderated by the EB.
 b)​ Unmoderated Caucuses: these are essentially breaks where delegates may interact with
each other freely and are the most disruptive type of informal debate. They only require
the total duration to be determined. While the EB will not be moderating or marking
Unmoderated Caucuses, the effect of your interaction with other delegates in the
Unmoderated Caucus may be marked. We would recommend that delegates use this time
to lobby, further your research and draft documentation.

Points
In an MUN, points are used to ask questions, express discomfort and communicate with the EB.
They are of 4 types, and have been listed from highest priority of recognition to the lowest
priority of recognition:
a)​ Personal Privilege: This is the only point that can interrupt a speaker. It is used to
express a personal discomfort, of some form. To avoid interrupting the speaker, we would
request anyone who is unable to hear another delegate's speech raise their placard and
place their index finger on their ear to communicate that you are facing audibility issues.
b)​ Order: This is used for highlighting procedural error or a factual inaccuracy. Logical
fallacies will not be entertained.
c)​ Parliamentary Inquiry: This is used to clarify any questions about proceedings or rules of
procedure.
d)​ Information: This is used to ask questions to other delegates in relation to the speech
which they have just made.

Yields
In formal debate, if a speaker finishes their speech within their individual allotted time, and has
some time left over, they can choose to yield that time in the following manners:
a)​ Yield to Another Delegate: Giving the remainder of your time so another delegate can
speak. Note that the speaker would have to speak at that moment, and the time cannot be
added to their individually allotted speaking time. Considering this, to avoid putting
delegates on the spot, delegates need to be informed in advance that time will be yielded
to them by the delegate who is yielding their time to them.
b)​ Yield to Points of Information: Questions will be asked based on the content of the speech
just made.
c)​ Yield to the Executive Board: The EB will absorb the time or allocate at their discretion in
whatsoever manner they so choose.
Yields are protected speech, and as such, once time has been yielded, that time can neither be
yielded again, nor can points be raised on the yielded speech. However points can still be raised
on the original speech.

Motions
Motions are used to, as the name suggests, “move” the committee from one aspect of debate to
another. As they disrupt the committee as a whole, the ENTIRE committee is required to vote
either in favour of the motion or against it. All procedural motions require a simple majority to
pass, i.e 50% + 1 (rounded up in case of an odd number.)

Motions have a predetermined template that must be followed, with certain details that
mandatorily have to be included.

Motions are voted upon based on the Order of Precedence and Order of Disruption.
A more disruptive motion (a motion that involves a higher number of delegates) will be given
priority. In the case where multiple motions are equally disruptive, then the Order of Precedence
comes into play, where the motions are voted upon in the order in which they were introduced.

Chits
Chits are a mode of communication between delegates as well as between the delegates and the
Executive Board.
There are two types of chits:
a)​ Informal Chits: Chits sent from one delegate directly to another delegate without passing
through the Executive Board. While these can be informal in nature, we would request
delegates refrain from discussing matters outside of the committee’s topic of discussion
during committee sessions.
b)​ Formal Chits: Chits sent from one delegate via the EB to another delegate or between a
delegate and the EB. These chits are used for official communication of some sort.

FOREIGN POLICY
Foreign policy is the most important aspect of simulating the United Nations. This, essentially, is
what differentiates Model UNs from other forms of debate. Violating one’s foreign policy
without valid reason is the most grievous mistake any delegate can make.

It refers to how a country aligns with other global powers, the country’s perspectives on
conflicts, both domestic and national, their engagement with accountability mechanisms and
other solution-building initiatives, their views on matters such as sovereignty, accountability and
transparency, among other similar ideas.
Foreign policy is not about who a country supports, although that may be a part of it. Foreign
policy is about what issues that country supports. While a country may have terrible relations
with another country, if they believe in the same issue, they can choose to collaborate on that
front. Essentially, foreign policy is about protecting a country’s self-interests.

So, alliances can be formed between the bitterest of rivals, as long as the outcomes of that
collaboration serve the interests of both countries and do not infringe upon either nation’s core
interests.

We would like to reiterate that delegates must be well versed with their country’s foreign policy.
A country’s foreign policy may be reflected in various manners including in:
I.​ Bilateral relations between countries
II.​ Speeches made by Heads of State, diplomats and other high-ranking officials
III.​ Their vote while passing documentation
IV.​ Agreements signed
V.​ Existence of conflicts
VI.​ Membership in an organisation

A term you may hear frequently in a Model UN simulation is “bloc.” It refers to a group of
countries that share similar interests in relation to the agenda and as a result have chosen to
collaborate on that front.

It is important to keep in mind that blocs are unofficial groups, which mean that they are not
moderated or marked by the Executive Board. However your actions as a result of alignment
with a certain bloc in a committee session will be moderated.

ABOUT THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

The United Nations Human Rights Council is an intergovernmental body within the UN system
responsible for the promotion and protection of human rights around the world. It was
established in 2006 by the UN General Assembly (Under SOCHUM), replacing the former
Commission on Human Rights, to address concerns about credibility and effectiveness.
The Council functions as a platform for dialogue (and monitoring). It investigates allegations of
human rights violations, raises awareness on emerging issues, and pressures states to uphold
international human rights standards. Its Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is considered one of
its most innovative mechanisms — subjecting all UN Member States, regardless of power or
influence, to peer review of their human rights records.

ABOUT THE AGENDA

The agenda; Discussing the violations of women’s rights in regions under extremist rule, with
emphasis on access to education and healthcare, was carefully selected given the room for debate
and following the current global issues.

In regions governed by extremist groups, women’s rights are often among the first to be
curtailed. Extremist ideologies frequently impose restrictive laws and social norms that severely
limit women’s participation in public life, targeting fundamental rights such as access to
education and healthcare. These violations directly contravene international human rights
instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

In the following sessions for the MUN The Human Rights Council will be focused on addressing
the humanitarian, legal, and political dimensions of the agenda. Delegates are tasked with
examining the role of the international community in safeguarding women’s rights under
extremist rule, balancing respect for state sovereignty with the need for decisive action. Key
considerations include supporting education and healthcare initiatives, enabling humanitarian
access, applying targeted diplomatic or economic measures, and promoting local advocacy for
gender equality.

Past International Actions​

The United Nations has addressed violations of women’s rights under extremist rule through
multiple resolutions and initiatives. The UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on
Women, Peace and Security recognized the importance of women’s participation in conflict
resolution and peacebuilding. Follow-up resolutions, such as 1889 (2009) and 2242 (2015),
reinforced these commitments.

The UN Human Rights Council has adopted resolutions condemning gender-based

discrimination in conflict zones, with particular attention to Afghanistan, Syria, and Myanmar.
Fact-finding missions and special rapporteurs have documented abuses, providing evidence for
accountability measures.

UN agencies, including UN Women, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization, have worked
to maintain education and healthcare services in affected regions, often through partnerships with
local NGOs. However, these efforts have faced obstacles such as restricted access, security
threats, and non-cooperation from ruling authorities.​
​
CASE STUDIES​
Keep in mind that these are a few case studies to give you an idea of what referral is expected to
be discussed during committee, however is not limited to the following case studies. You may
bring up anything relevant to the agenda during your committee sessions.
1. Afghanistan – Taliban Rule (2021–Present)

The return of the Taliban to power on 15 August 2021 marked a dramatic rollback of two
decades of progress on women’s rights. Within weeks, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs was
dissolved and replaced by the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice,
which enforces strict interpretations of Islamic law.

Education Restrictions: In March 2022, the Taliban barred girls from secondary schools,
affecting over 1.1 million students (UNICEF, 2022). In December 2022, women were prohibited
from attending universities, effectively ending formal education for all females above grade six.
These bans contradict Afghanistan’s obligations under CEDAW and the International Covenant
on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), both of which it ratified before 2021.

Healthcare Access: WHO data from 2023 shows that 77% of Afghan women struggle to access
healthcare due to both movement restrictions — requiring a male guardian (mahram) — and the
dismissal of female medical staff. Maternal mortality rates, which had declined significantly
between 2001 and 2020, are now projected to rise sharply.

International Response: The UN Human Rights Council convened special sessions in late 2021
and 2022, adopting resolutions urging the Taliban to reverse these measures. However, Taliban
authorities have rejected such appeals, framing them as interference in domestic affairs.
UNAMA (United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan) continues to document violations,
with its 2023 report explicitly describing the situation as “gender apartheid.”

2. Iran – “Women, Life, Freedom” Protests (2022–Present)

On 16 September 2022, Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman, died in custody after being
arrested by Iran’s morality police (Gasht-e Ershad) for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly.
Her death ignited protests across all 31 provinces of Iran, in what became the largest
anti-government movement since 1979.

Protest Scale and Repression: According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency
(HRANA), by December 2022 more than 500 protesters, including at least 68 children, had been
killed, and over 19,000 people arrested. Iranian security forces used live ammunition, mass
arrests, and internet shutdowns to suppress demonstrations.

Systemic Discrimination: Beyond the hijab mandate, Iranian women face legal restrictions in
travel, employment, and family law. The World Bank notes that Iran’s female labor force
participation rate was 14.1% in 2022, among the lowest globally, partly due to structural and
legal barriers.
International Response: In November 2022, the UNHRC voted to establish an independent
fact-finding mission to investigate human rights violations related to the protests. Iran refused to
cooperate. In December 2022, Iran was removed from the UN Commission on the Status of
Women by a vote of 29–8–16 in ECOSOC — a rare punitive measure in UN history.

3. Nigeria – Boko Haram’s Campaign Against Girls’ Education (2009–Present)

Since launching its insurgency in 2009, Boko Haram has targeted schools in northeastern
Nigeria, claiming that Western-style education, especially for girls, is un-Islamic.

Notable Attacks:

●​ 14 April 2014: 276 girls abducted from a school in Chibok, Borno State. As of 2023, over
90 girls remain missing.​

●​ 19 February 2018: 110 girls kidnapped from Dapchi; 104 were eventually released, five
died during captivity, and one Christian girl remains in captivity.​

Impact on Education: UNESCO reports that over 1,400 schools in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa
states have been destroyed since 2009. At least 1 million children are out of school due to
insecurity, the majority of them girls. Fear of abduction has led to families withdrawing
daughters from education altogether, worsening the gender literacy gap.

International Response: The UN’s “Safe Schools Initiative” launched in 2014 with a $20 million
fund supported by Nigeria, Norway, and the UK. However, implementation has been slow due to
continued attacks, with 2022 seeing a resurgence in kidnappings for ransom in rural schools.

4. Syria – ISIS-Controlled Territories (2014–2019)

During its territorial control over large parts of Syria and Iraq, ISIS enforced an extreme
interpretation of Sharia law, with severe restrictions on women.

Restrictions: Women were required to wear the niqab and gloves, prohibited from traveling
without a male guardian, and barred from working outside the home except in narrowly defined
roles such as healthcare for women. Education for girls over the age of 8 was banned.
Punishments for non-compliance included public lashings and, in some cases, execution.

Scale: At its peak in 2014–2015, ISIS ruled over approximately 4 million people, including an
estimated 1.5–2 million women in Syria and Iraq combined. The United Nations documented
widespread sexual violence, including the systematic enslavement of Yazidi women.
Collapse and Aftermath: The fall of ISIS’s last territorial stronghold in Baghuz, March 2019,
ended its governance, but many former ISIS-run areas continue to face gender-based restrictions
from local armed groups. Displaced women in refugee and detention camps, such as Al-Hol, face
overcrowding, limited healthcare, and ongoing radicalization threats.

DOCUMENTATION​
The Human Rights Council does not have the authority to vet or recognise any external
documentation, including any bilateral agreements or Memorandums of Understanding.
Considering this fact, we will only be accepting and discussing documentation in the forms of
Draft Resolutions, Working Papers, Press Releases or Position Papers.

We would also like to make clear that we do not expect any delegate to submit a Position Paper,
though they are still acceptable.

Common Motions
1.​ The delegate of ___________ motions to set the agenda to “Discussing the violations of
women’s rights in regions under extremist rule, with emphasis on access to education and
healthcare.”
2.​ The delegate of ___________ motions to suspend the meeting.
3.​ The delegate of _________ motions to suspend formal debate and move into an
unmoderated caucus for a total time period of _____________ minutes.
4.​ The delegate of _________ motions to suspend formal debate and move into a moderated
caucus for a total time period of _____________ minutes, with an individual speaker
time of _____________ seconds, discussing the topic _________________.
5.​ The delegate of _________ motions to introduce document ___________.

Documentation will be thoroughly explained during the conference, However here is an

overview for preparation beforehand:

In Model United Nations, working papers are informal documents created by delegates to
organize and share ideas during debate. They don’t have to follow strict formatting and can be
used to build consensus before formal drafting begins.

A draft resolution is a formal document that proposes specific actions the committee should
take. It follows a set UN format, uses precise diplomatic language, and is submitted for
discussion, amendment, and voting.

Press releases are short, public statements issued by the committee to inform an outside
audience—such as the media—about the committee’s stance, progress, or decisions during the
conference.
Below, we are attaching an example DR (Draft Resolution) to give you an understanding of how
formatting works.​
Draft Resolution (UNHRC)

RESEARCH GUIDE
Keeping it short and simple, for research–Refrain from using unreliable sources such as
Wikipedia, ChatGPT, or any other websites–You may acquire adequate and informational
research through resources such as official UN websites and official government websites.

Here are a few acceptable researching resources you may use:

●​ Official United Nations (UN) websites, e.g; OHCHR
●​ Official Government Websites (respective to each country) e.g; USA may use U.S
Department of State to back their information.
●​ Official Documentation of governments or the UN

That concludes the Background Guide for UNHRC, we hope that it has been resourceful for your
research. Please note that the background guide is a concise document to help you with research
and the conference, please do not refer to ONLY the background guide throughout your research,
and only refer to it as a guide.​
We wish you all the best for the conference and are esteemed to see you there!​
​
Regards,
Chairperson - Sai Karthik Sanjeev
Vice Chairperson - La Verna Chand
Rapporteur - Abhyudit Rajesh​