African Union AU

African Union

The African Union (AU) is a continental union and comprises 55 African countries with the purpose of providing a space for these nations to come together and tackle regional issues and crises. The AU promotes economic development in the region through international cooperation and pushes for the unity of African member states. The union’s mission of diplomacy also extends to mediating territorial, civil, and regional conflicts.

At MUNUC, this committee will run as a regional body with traditional Model UN elements. This being said, there will be “topic updates” incorporated into the committee. These updates will not entail crisis arcs or other crisis elements but will serve to maintain engagement with the topics and spark new ideas for debate.

Topic A: Maleducation of Children and Consequent Child Labor
The normalization and practice of child labor in Africa is a prevalent issue, and tackling it is critical for making sociocultural and economic development in the region possible. While child labor itself is often debated from an economic perspective, its sociocultural impacts are given less attention: particularly, the manner in which the maleducation of children in Africa relates to the practice of child labor, and how this phenomenon ultimately leads to social stagnation. Delegates will be expected to address this connection and tackle the issues of child maleducation and child labor concurrently, ultimately suggesting solutions that serve an overarching economic purpose while remaining rooted in the values of child welfare and education.

Topic B: Hunger and Poverty in the AU
Hunger and poverty crises have been escalating in Africa for some time, and have left millions of people at risk of starvation and even more at risk of malnutrition. These dilemmas have been exacerbated by recent droughts and torrential rains which affect crops, and poor individuals are often left with no reliable means of accessing food. The combination of hunger with the cyclical nature of poverty and steep class divisions makes these disasters particularly tense and complex. Delegates must address a multifaceted issue which has plagued the region for decades, and suggest comprehensive, practical, and applicable solutions.

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