Fair Lawn Model United
Nations Conference IV
2015
World Health
Organization
Chairs:
Jane Lee
Brianna Pascua
Dan Lishven
Greetings Delegates,
Welcome to Fair Lawn’s Fourth Annual Model United Nations Conference! My name is
Jane Lee and I will be chairing the World Health Organization committee. I’m currently a senior
at Fair Lawn High School and I’ve been involved with Model UN since my sophomore year- in
fact, my first MUNC was FAIRMUNC two years ago! Since then, I’ve grown so much as a
public speaker and debater and have become so much more educated in international current
events and global issues. I have been to several conferences in the past and this will be my
second year in a row chairing a committee at FAIRMUNC. Make sure you come well-versed in
not only the viewpoints of the country you are representing, but in that of other countries as well
for it will come in handy during the debate! Most importantly: don’t be nervous to speak!
Proudly represent your country and voice its viewpoints- speaking up and contributing to the
debate will only help you improve! I’m so excited to meet all of you and I look forward to the
productive and stimulating debate that this committee will bring!
Hello and welcome delegates to FAIRMUNC IV! My name is Brianna Pascua and I am
also a senior at Fair Lawn High school. I joined Model UN last year as a junior, and though I
wish I joined sooner, being a part of Model UN has been one of the most rewarding experiences.
I have learned many lasting skills through the conferences I have attended and have become
much more perceptive and knowledgeable of the world around me. I am incredibly excited to be
a chair of the World Health Organization for the first time and to witness how all of you will
grow as successful debaters as our conference unravels. I am eager to see you all there and am
looking forward to having a successful committee!
Welcome to Fair Lawn’s fourth Model U.N Conference. My name is Daniel Livshen and
I will be a chair of the World Health Organization committee. I am somewhat of a rookie when it
comes to Model U.N.. I have just started my second year of both high school and M.U.N. and I
am looking forward to seeing the debate unfold from a third party perspective for the first time.
In my minute experience, I have already learned many problem solving and public speaking
skills from many conferences like this one. M.U.N. has showed me different perspectives of
what I thought to be one sided issues and educated me current events. Debating has become a
passion of mine and I would not trade the time I have spent here for anything else. I hope what
you bring to the table of diplomacy will be very insightful and will shape the outcome of this
committee.
While this background guide provides a solid foundation to start with, come fully
prepared with extra research and your position papers. The topics for the FAIRMUNC IV World
Health Organization are Violence Against Women and Combating Non-Communicable
Diseases. Both are highly debated topics within WHO and we’re very excited to see what you
can bring to the discussion and which resolutions will be made.
If you have any questions, feel free to email us with the links on our website!
All the best,
Jane, Brianna, and Dan
TOPIC 1: VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
Introduction:
Violence against women is defined
as "any act of gender-based violence that
results in, or is likely to result in, physical,
sexual or mental harm or suffering to
women, including threats of such acts,
coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty,
whether occurring in public or in private
life." Women have been faced with both
intimate partner violence and sexual
violence. Intimate partner violence is
defined as any behavior by an intimate
partner or ex-partner that causes physical,
sexual or psychological harm. This can
include physical aggression, sexual
coercion, psychological abuse and
controlling behaviors. Sexual Violence
refers to any sexual act or any attempt
towards a sexual act with the use of coercion
to any person regardless of their relationship
or setting; this includes the act of rape.
In 2005, the report of “WHO Multicountry study on women’s health and
domestic violence against women”, found
that between 0.3-11.5% of women aged 1549 have reported experiencing sexual
violence since the age of 15 years in 10
mainly low- and middle- income countries.
In a more recent population-level report,
WHO with the London School of Hygiene
and Tropical Medicine and the Medical
Research Council, found that based on data
from over 80 countries, 35% of women have
experienced either physical and/or sexual
intimate partner violence or non-partner
sexual violence; this violence consisting of
mainly intimate partner violence. On a
global level, nearly one third or 30% of all
women who have been in a relationship
many as 38% of all female murders are
have experienced physical and/or sexual
committed by intimate partners.
violence by their intimate partners, and as
Factors and Consequences
Risk factors that are associated with intimate
●
having multiple partners or
partner and sexual violence happen from
suspected by their partners of
within individuals to wider societies. Risk
infidelity (perpetration); and
factors for both include:
●
lower levels of education
(perpetration of sexual violence
and experience of sexual
violence);
●
exposure to child maltreatment
(perpetration and experience);
●
witnessing family violence
(perpetration and experience);
●
antisocial personality disorder
(perpetration);
●
harmful use of alcohol
(perpetration and experience);
●
attitudes that are accepting of
violence and gender inequality
(perpetration and experience).
However, some are restricted to intimate
partner violence: past history of violence,
marital discord and dissatisfaction, and
difficulties in communicating between
partners. Some specific to sexual
violence include: beliefs in family honor
and sexual purity, ideologies of male
sexual entitlement, and weak legal
sanctions for sexual violence.
Consequences of intimate partner and
sexual violence range from serious short-
to long-term physical, mental, sexual and
violence. They are also twice as
reproductive health problems for not only
likely to have an abortion.
survivors, but also for their children.
●
Intimate partner violence in
These consequences include the
pregnancy also increases the
following:
likelihood of miscarriage,
stillbirth, preterm delivery and
●
42% of women who experience
low birth weight babies.
intimate partner violence report
●
These forms of violence can lead
injuries as a result of partnership.
to depression, post-traumatic
●
Intimate partner violence and
stress disorder, sleep difficulties,
sexual violence can lead to
eating disorders, emotional
unintended pregnancies, induced
distress and suicide attempts. The
abortions, gynaecological
same study found that women
problems, and sexually
who have experienced intimate
transmitted infections, including
partner violence were almost
HIV. The 2013 analysis found
twice as likely to experience
that women who had been
depression and drinking
physically or sexually abused
problems. The rate was even
were 1.5 times more likely to
higher for women who had
have a sexually transmitted
experienced non partner sexual
infection and, in some regions,
violence.
HIV, compared to women who
●
Health effects can also include
had not experienced partner
headaches, back pain, abdominal
●
pain, fibromyalgia,
It can have social and economic costs
gastrointestinal disorders, limited
that affect society as a whole as women
mobility and poor overall health.
may suffer isolation, inability to work,
Sexual violence, particularly
loss of wages, lack of participation in
during childhood, can lead to
regular activities and limited ability to
increased smoking, drug and
care for themselves and their children. It
alcohol misuse, and risky sexual
can also have a lasting impression on the
behaviors in later life. It is also
youth, as children who are raised in
associated with perpetration of
families with violence present may suffer
violence (for males) and being a
a range of behavioral and emotional
victim of violence (for females).
disturbances.
Violence against women can even end
fatally, resulting in homicide or suicide.
Prevention
Since there are limited interventions
within dating relationships have shown
whose effectiveness has been proven,
effectiveness in primary prevention.
more resources are needed to strengthen
However, this evidence is limited to
the prevention of intimate partner and
high-income countries. Thus, it needs to
sexual violence. In high-income
be assessed for use in resource-poor
countries, school-based programs
settings. There have been several other
promoting the prevention of violence
promising primary prevention strategies;
however, they need to be evaluated
further. In order to have a lasting change,
●
help to move towards more
peaceful cultural norms.
it is important to enact legislation and
An appropriate response from the health
develop policies that:
sector can play an important role in the
prevention of violence. Sensitization and
●
address discrimination against
education of health and other service
women;
providers is therefore another important
●
promote gender equality;
●
support women; and
strategy.
UN Involvement
The United Nations Secretary-General’s
multi-sectoral national action plans that
campaign, UNiTE to End Violence against
emphasize prevention, the establishment of
Women, was launched in 2008. The goals of
data collection and analysis on the
this campaign included raising public
prevalence of the various forms of violence,
awareness and increasing political will and
and the systematic efforts to address sexual
resources for the prevention and termination
violence in conflict situations and to protect
of all forms of violence against women and
women and girls from rape as a tactic of
girls around the world. The goals of the
war. All governments, civil society,
UNiTE campaign also includes the adoption
women’s organizations, men, young people,
and enforcement of national laws to address
the private sector, the media and the entire
and punish all form of violence against
UN system must join forces to address the
women and girls, the implementation of
global pandemic of violence against women
and to fulfill the UNiTE campaign’s goals.
● Strengthening research in order to
The campaign is currently working to
assess interventions to address
mobilize individuals and communities and is
partner violence
looking to partner with men, young people,
● Distributing information and
celebrities, artists, athletes, private sectors
supporting national efforts to
and many more. WHO, in collaboration with
advance women’s rights and the
a number of partners, is:
prevention of and response to
● Building the evidence base on the
size and nature of violence against
women to understand the magnitude
and nature of the problem at a global
violence against women
● Working with international agencies
and organizations to
reduce/eliminate violence globally
level and to initiate action in
countries
Questions to Consider:
1) How prevalent is violence against women
in your country?
2) What are the different types of violence
4) What is required of the global community
to fight against violence against women?
5) How can violence against women
against women that occur within your
influence your country’s future (i.e. the
country, if any?
youth).
3) How does violence against women affect
your country economically, socially,
culturally, and politically?
6) How can you assist to address the issue of
violence against women?
7) How does your country’s social culture
affect the presence or lack of presence of
8) What action has your country taken in
regards to violence against women?
violence against women?
References:
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/f
s239/en/
http://www.un.org/en/women/endviolence/a
bout.shtml
http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/infocus/end-violence-against-women/violence
TOPIC 2: COMBATING NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
Introduction
Of all deaths worldwide, over half
decades, the WHO observed significant risk
are caused by non-communicable diseases.
factor modifications of improved blood
(NCD) An NCD is a noninfectious, non-
pressure control and decreased smoking rate.
transmissible disease. There are major
However, hypertension and cigarette
groups of NCDs: cardiovascular disease,
smoking remained the most contributable
cancer, diabetes, and other non transmissible
factors of NCDs in the Korean population.
diseases. 80% of all deaths caused by NDCs
Moreover, other major modifiable risk
are from underdeveloped countries. The
factors show no improvement or even
World Health Organization's World Health
worsened results. The current status and
Report 2002 identified that the most
trends in major modifiable risk factors
important risk factors for NCDs are tobacco
reinforce the importance of prevention,
use, alcohol consumption, obesity, physical
detection, and treatment of risk factors in
inactivity, high blood pressure, and high
reducing the burden of NCDs on individuals
cholesterol. Accordingly, the present report
and the society. The underlying horrible
set out to review the prevalence and trends
truth is that this colossal killer is largely
of these modifiable risk factors in the
preventable or easily cut enormously
Korean population. Over the past few
(WHO).
Cancer
Of the major NCDs, cancer is the most
●
Develop and distribute
arduous to combat. According to the
comprehensive guidelines for
Webster dictionary, cancer is a serious
controlling cervical cancer.
disease caused by cells that are not normal
●
Support Bolivia and the U.S.
and that can spread to another part of the
Affiliated Pacific Islands to
body. This definition may seem nonchalant,
improve access to cervical
but cancer is a deadly disease that comes in
cancer screening by using a
many different varieties and always requires
process called visual inspection
extensive care. Each year about 14 million
with acetic acid.
people are diagnosed with cancer. Of those
●
Study women’s knowledge and
14 million, 8 million die every year. Cancer
attitudes about cervical cancer
kills more people than any other disease in
prevention, screening, and
the world. Luckily, long strides have been
treatment practices in Brazil and
made to prevent cancer. In most cases
Kenya.
cervical cancer is preventable by a
●
Test tools to assess the cost of
vaccination against human papillomavirus
operating cancer registries in
(HPV). Indoor tanning beds have either
Colombia, India, and Kenya.
strict regulations or have been completely
●
Train healthcare workers to
banned. Brazil was the first country to ban
introduce HPV testing for
indoor tanning on 2009. (CDC)
cervical cancer screening
At the moment the CDC is doing the
programs in Thailand.
following to prevent cancer:
●
Support cervical cancer
●
Setup cancer registry support
screening programs through the
centers to strengthen registries in
Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon
Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean
program in Botswana, Tanzania,
and Zambia.
Cardiovascular disease
Heart and blood vessel disease —
America, one in every four deaths is caused
also called heart disease — includes
by cardiovascular disease. Every 29
numerous problems, many of which are
seconds, someone will suffer a coronary
related to a process called atherosclerosis.
event in the United States. Every 60
Atherosclerosis is a condition that develops
seconds, someone will die from such an
when plaque builds up in the walls of the
event (Stanford Health Institute).
arteries. This buildup narrows the arteries,
making it harder for blood to flow through.
If a blood clot forms, it can stop the blood
What is being done at the moment?
In 2002, the CDC funded
flow. This can cause a heart attack or stroke.
cardiovascular disease prevention programs
A heart attack occurs when the blood flow to
in 29 states in the US and the District of
a part of the heart is blocked by a blood clot.
Columbia. The Heart Disease and Stroke
If this clot cuts off the blood flow
Prevention Program is designed to reduce
completely, the part of the heart muscle
disparities in treatment, risk factors, and
supplied by that artery begins to die. In
disease; delay the onset of disease; postpone
death; and reduce disabling conditions. The
funding for every state.
goal is a national program with sufficient
Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease in which blood sugar

Weight loss
(glucose) levels in your body are too high
●
Blurry vision
and your body cannot process them.
●
Sores that do not heal
Diabetes can cause serious health problems,
●
Tingling/numbness in the hands and
including heart attack or stroke, blindness,
feet
problems during pregnancy, and kidney
●
Increased thirst
failure. More than 29 million people have
●
Increased hunger
diabetes. A quarter of people who have
●
Having to urinate more often –
diabetes are undiagnosed.
Some Symptoms are:
especially at night
●
Feeling very tired
Country Positions:
Western bloc-
population leading to more cases of NCDs.
Most western countries have
Most western countries generally have
departments or bureaus prepared to prevent
plenty of regulations on smoking and
NDCs. These Countries are better equipped
alcohol.
but suffer from over indulgence of their
African blocAfrica contains 54 low- and middle-
suffer not from chronic diseases but
hyperacute conditions. The combatting of
income countries; it is expected to have the
NDCs in the Middle East is fairly lackluster
world’s largest increase in NCD deaths over
and needs to be strengthened.
the next decade. In northern Africa, 75% of
Asian / Pacific bloc-
deaths are caused by NDCs.
A coalition of 25 countries has been
made to combat NCDs in the region.
Middle Eastern blocIran has trouble getting the required
Countries like Australia have approximately
91% of all their deaths coming from NDCs.
tools and medicine for its patients due to the
Most of these countries that are in the
rigorous sanctions instilled by the US, UN,
coalition have over 50% of their population
and EU. Many Middle Eastern countries
dying every year to NDCs.
UN Involvement:
The General Assembly has previously
environment, and how they contribute to the
passed Resolution 65/238 regarding the
growing obesity rates. The United Nations is
regulation of obesity and its contribution to
currently working to tackle the issue of
non-communicable diseases. These diseases
obesity alongside the issue of malnutrition
are most often predecessors of obesity, and
and of diseases deriving from both.
can contribute to early deaths. Resolution
According to WHO about 35 percent of all
65/238 established the High- Level meeting
deaths of children of five years and younger
which led to a discussion on limits of
are due to lack of nutrition, yet around 43
alcohol, tobacco, diet, exercise, and the
million children under the same
demographic are considered to be either
implementation of prenatal, neonatal, and
overweight or obese. Both obesity and
post natal birthing methods, as well as
malnutrition help increase the likelihood of
promotion of specific criteria of food for
NCDs. To aid nations, prominently low and
young children. The initial purpose of the
middle income countries where the issues
nutrition package is to promote a standard
are unexpectedly just as prevalent, WHO
for nutrition while working on decreasing
established a “24 essential nutrition actions”
the obesity, child mortality, and nutrition
package. This package regards the
related deaths in the world (PRB).
Questions To Think About
1) Is your nation affected by NCDs? How
4) What else could be done to prevent
much has your nation suffered?
NDCs?
2) Approximately how much of your
5) How should the UN address the countries
resources are spent preventing and
that are underdeveloped but still affected by
researching NDCs?
this issue?
3) What has your nation done to place
6) Can NGOs be useful in combating NCDs,
regulations on smoking or other causes of
If so how?
NDCs?
References
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed
http://www.cdc.gov/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/