Deliberation on the Systematic Suppression of the Human Rights of Women and Girls in Contemporary Conflict Zones.
The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is one of the UN’s main bodies responsible for promoting and protecting human rights worldwide through mechanisms such as investigations, fact-finding missions and the Universal Periodic Review. This year, the agenda for the committee is “Deliberation on the Systematic Suppression of the Human Rights of Women and Girls in Contemporary Conflict Zones.” In conflict, the rights of women and girls are often among the first to be pushed aside and among the last to be restored. Homes disappear, families are separated, essential services collapse, and the systems meant to provide justice and protection may cease to function altogether. The challenge before this committee is therefore not simply to recognise these violations, but to confront the conditions that allow them to continue. Delegates must develop solutions that can survive the realities of conflict, solutions that strengthen protection, ensure humanitarian access, pursue accountability and give women a meaningful role in shaping peace.
Paridhi Yadav & Darsh Sitlani
Co-Chairpersons, UNHRC
This year, we, Paridhi Yadav and Darsh Sitlani, will be serving as the Co-Chairpersons of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). We’re two 12th graders who somehow manage to balance academics, conferences, and the occasional existential crisis. Between physics, economics, literature, technicalities, business, and geopolitics, our interests cover a rather questionable range. When we’re not debating, finding a creative solution to a million managerial problems, we can usually be found plane spotting, discussing our careers as food critics, arguing about Formula 1, or getting overstimulated by an extensive array of challenges. Somewhere between the festivity, we’ve found ourselves quietly leading the EHIS Press, exploring ideas, and, most importantly, yapping our way through senior year.
Armed conflicts have always had devastating consequences for civilian populations. However, women and girls often face additional and unique challenges during periods of war, political instability and displacement. Beyond the immediate dangers of armed conflict, they may experience restrictions on their education, movement, freedom of expression and participation in society. The agenda before us calls upon delegates to examine these challenges from multiple perspectives. The issue is not limited to the protection of women and girls during active conflict; it also concerns their access to justice, safety, education, healthcare, legal identity and meaningful participation in rebuilding societies after conflict.