[MUNUC 34] Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee SOCHUM

Established in 1945, the United Nations General Assembly third committee meets annually in early October, serving as a forum for discussions of social, humanitarian, and cultural issues, including human rights and social matters. SOCHUM also considers the advancement of women, the protection of children, the protection of indigenous populations, the treatment of refugees, issues related to racism and discrimination, the promotion of fundamental freedoms, crime prevention, and more in its discussions.

Topic A: Historic, Cultural, and Natural Preservation
All civilizations populating the Earth have their unique cultural heritages and historical narratives. Cultural and Historic Preservation is an initiative that aims to protect, preserve, and repurpose cultural and historic heritage, so that stories are told and remembered, and that places are appreciated and respected. Currently, there are 1121 heritage preservation properties in 167 countries across the globe, including cultural and natural sites. This committee hopes to discuss topics such as the process and plan for cultural preservation, maintenance of historic sites, and the balance between real estate development and preservation of cultural and historic heritage.

Topic B: Limits of Free Speech
Freedom of speech entails and ensures that it is an inherent human right to voice one’s opinions publicly without fear of retaliation or suppression. Though this right is preserved under the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, in many nations, particularly authoritarian ones, government censorship is enforced. Of course, limitations and censorship also apply to hate speech, slander, incitement, copyright violation, etc. In this committee, we hope to discuss the proper boundaries of freedom of expression, as well as the appropriate regulation to rights of speech.

Documents