United Nations Economic and Social Council Topic I:

Protecting the Human Rights of Refugees

Topic Overview:

In recent years, many individuals and families have fled their home countries, seeking a

better life abroad. They leave areas plagued with violence and political uncertainty. The Syrian

Civil War has produced the largest number of refugees in recent years, many of whom have fled

into neighboring Turkey and Lebanon. Other conflicts such as the South Sudanese Civil War

have also displaced millions. Refugees desire a new life in a new country, but many countries

remain skeptical on resettling large numbers of refugees within their borders. This has especially

been evident in Europe, where several countries have temporarily closed their open borders to

deter the influx of refugee migrants.

Historical Background:

How to deal with the people displaced by warfare has been a central question for the

United Nations since its inception. The sixty million refugees created by the Second World War

demanded a new dedicated international agency to manage them. The previous agencies that had

assisted with relocation and migrant services were the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation

Administration (UNRRA), which was heavily funded by the United States and worked

throughout World War 2 and up until 1950 to redistribute those displaced in the war. The

UNRRA was replaced in 1946 by the International Refugee Organization (IRO), to create a truly

international refugee agency that for the first time in the history of the international community,

would be entirely focused on refugee issues. In 1951, the IRO was replaced by the International

Organization for Migration (IOM), and The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

(UNHCR), created by the General Assembly as a part of the 1951 Refugee Convention. The

UNHCR serves as the “guardian” of the rights of refugees, who under the Refugee Convention

and it’s follow­up in 1967, are guaranteed rights to asylum and protection against repatriation.

The UNHCR and IOM have continued to work tirelessly to advocate for the rights of refugees

and migrants around the world and to guarantee their rights under the Universal Declaration of

Human Rights and the Refugee Convention.

Some notable refugee crises in the past include the war for independence in Bangladesh

in 1971 displaced nearly 10 million people into neighboring India and the Soviet occupation of

Afghanistan that began in 1979 displaced over 6 million Afghanis into Iran and Pakistan. After 1

the end of the Cold War, millions were displaced by the breaking up of the Soviet Union.

Civil War in Syria

The plight of refugees has been brought back into widespread international attention after

the start of the civil war in Syria. The Arab Spring, a movement that transformed several Islamic

countries into democracies, spread to Syria in 2011. However, the conflict was prolonged and

now involves a complex blend of several sides, including the Islamic State and Western

countries.

As the years progressed, the people of Syria and Northern Iraq have seen horrific

destruction and violence. As a result, many have given up on life in their home countries and

have fled into other countries. Many refugees have travelled north into Turkey. In response, the

Turkish government and international humanitarian organizations have established numerous

refugee camps along the border with Syria and Iraq to provide support and relief to refugees.

1 https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/world/historical­migrant­crisis/

Refugee Situations in Other Parts of the World

After years of fighting, South Sudan gained its independence in 2011. At the time, it was

believed that independence would finally bring peace to the region. However, a political power

struggle in 2013 became violent, resulting in a civil war. Social groups quickly chose sides in the

conflict, and the war escalated into a religious and ethnic battle. Though a peace deal was signed

in 2015, one in five South Sudanese remain displaced. The national economy has also been in 2

freefall since the start of the conflict, and food insecurity has become a pressing issue that affects

just under half of the population. The national government has been unable to deal with the

situation, and much of the aid currently is provided and distributed by other countries and

international organizations.

In Myanmar, the military government had long refused to grant certain minority groups

status as ethnic groups. The government had not conferred on them citizenship, and they lacked

legal protection by the national government. In recent years, persecution and violence against

these minority groups has increased, causing many to flee their homes from 2013 to 2015 . Many 3

travelled by boat to Southeast Asian countries including Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia,

causing international media to call them “boat people.” Many of these refugees continue to be

dependent on international aid and fear being repatriated back to Myanmar.

Current Situation:

Refugees in Turkey

As the situation in Syria continues, more and more Syrians are giving up and fleeing to

other countries. Many of these refugees are choosing to go north into Turkey, viewing the

2 https://www.oxfam.org/en/emergencies/crisis­south­sudan 3 http://thediplomat.com/2015/10/myanmars­refugee­problem­its­not­just­the­rohingya/

country as a gateway to a new life in Europe. The continuous influx of refugees has strained the

resources of the Turkish government, and the country now claims that it lacks the funds and

resources necessary to provide adequate aid to all refugees entering the country. Some refugees

come from violent and disastrous situations, and require access to health and psychiatric care in

Turkey. However, it has been difficult for Turkey to provide these required services to so many

refugees.

Turkey has seen that many refugees have chosen not to live within formal refugee camps,

and have instead gone to other areas of Turkey. It has been difficult to keep track of these

refugees, and little humanitarian aid and relief has reached these individuals. Additionally, many

of these refugees lack proper documents, and thus are unable to access education and healthcare

services in their new communities. The status of refugees outside of formal camps has caused a 4

constant tension between Turks and the refugees.

In March, Turkey and the European Union signed a landmark deal that would involve

Turkey taking back refugees from the Balkans and Greece. In return, the European Union would

resettle refugees on a one­to­one basis elsewhere in Europe . The hope was that this would 5

decrease the instability migrants were causing in the Balkans and dissuade refugees from making

the dangerous journey into Europe. However, the crackdown by the Turkish government after an

attempted coup d’état in July has weakened the relationship between Turkey and Europe, putting

the refugee deal in jeopardy. 6

4 http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/country.php?id=224 5https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/18/europe­relocates­177­syrian­refugees­turkey­eu­deal 6 https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order­from­chaos/2016/07/29/turkeys­failed­coup­could­have­disastrous­consequences­for­europes­migrant­crisis/

The recent coup d’état attempt also highlights the instability within Turkey itself, and

raises questions on whether the Turkish government is stable enough to properly deal with the

refugee crisis.

Europe’s Migrant Situation

In Europe, anti­migrant sentiment is growing in response to the refugee crisis. Under the

Schengen Agreement, many European countries have open border policies with their neighbors,

eliminating the need for passport and document checks. In the past, this has allowed refugees to

enter the Schengen area in Southeastern Europe and travel north to countries such as Germany

and Sweden, where they then claim asylum.

However, refugees tend to favor certain countries over others, leading to an unequal

distribution of refugees across Europe. This has led some countries to close their open borders,

and limit the entry of migrants into their countries. Several countries have seen the rise of

far­right politics, building on the anti­migrant

fears of the public. This sentiment was seen in

June, when the United Kingdom voted to leave

to leave the European Union. In Austria,

anti­migrant sentiment has led its far­right

anti­EU presidential candidate Norbert Hofer to

become a serious contender for the presidency.

The outcome of the Austrian election and aftermath of the British referendum could also

influence far­right parties in French and Dutch elections that will take place in 2017. 7

7 http://www.bbc.com/news/world­europe­34190359

The first stop in Europe for migrants coming from Turkey is the Balkan Peninsula.

However, apart from Greece, the Balkan states are not part of the Schengen Area, and can’t

move refugees from their borders to elsewhere in Europe. As countries in the Schengen area

begin to refuse migrants, these Balkan countries, among the poorest in Europe, are forced to

deport the migrants back to Turkey or process the migrants themselves. 8

Without the full support of the European Union, the Balkan states have struggled to deal

with the situation. Several Balkan countries have attempted to close their borders with one

another, but these countries lack the resources and personnel to make this a long term solution to

the problem . Additionally, the Balkan countries have been historically plagued with political 9

and ethnic instability, and the refugee crisis threatens to bring back the chaos they have tried so

hard to forget.

This uncertainty in Europe will create a new challenge for migrants fleeing violence in

their home country. Anti­migrant sentiment has already posed obstacles for refugees, but

elections that put far­right political movements in power could eliminate any chance of refugees

to create a new life in Europe.

Discussion Questions:

1. How can governments be better assisted to provide adequate assistance to refugees?

2. Should neighboring countries be responsible for providing the resources necessary to

accommodate refugees?

3. What can be done to help refugees bring stability to their lives in new homes?

8 http://ec.europa.eu/echo/files/aid/countries/factsheets/turkey_syrian_crisis_en.pdf 9 http://www.reuters.com/article/us­europe­migrants­idUSKCN0WA1D4

4. Is repatriation an option for refugees in other countries after a political solution in their

home countries?

5. How can the open border agreements accommodate influxes of refugees?

6. What can be done to ensure that aid reaches those who need it?

7. How can refugee camps be improved to better provide the assistance and society that

refugees seek?

8. How can the safety of migrants be protected as the travel away from conflict?

9. What can be done to ease uncertainty among refugees as a result of changing political

climates?

Key Terms

Undocumented Migrants: Persons of concern who are not necessarily fleeing from

violence or persecution, but often fleeing economic hardship or lack of economic

opportunity. Migrants are vulnerable to exploitation and smuggling, but without the

international protections provided to refugees and asylum­seekers.

Asylum: The legal protection afforded to recognized refugees under the 1951 Refugee

Convention. Signatory nations are required to provide this protection to those fleeing

persecution or violence that cannot return to their home nations.

Repatriation: The movement of refugees or asylum­seekers back to their home countries

Schengen Agreement: The international compact that allows EU citizens to travel and

work visa­free throughout Western European and some of Eastern Europe. Switzerland is

the only non­Schengen state in Western Europe.

Resources:

http://www.unhcr.org/45a7acb72.pdfhttp://www.unhcr.org/45a7acb72.pdf

https://www.amnestyusa.org/our­work/countries/middle­east­and­north­africa/syria

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/world/historical­migrant­crisis/

http://ec.europa.eu/echo/files/aid/countries/factsheets/turkey_syrian_crisis_en.pdf

http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/country.php?id=224http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefug

ees/country.php?id=224

http://www.bbc.com/news/world­europe­34190359

http://www.reuters.com/article/us­europe­migrants­idUSKCN0WA1D4

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/18/europe­relocates­177­syrian­refugees­t

urkey­eu­deal

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/order­from­chaos/posts/2016/07/29­turkey­coup­europe­

refugees­brandt

https://www.oxfam.org/en/emergencies/crisis­south­sudan

http://thediplomat.com/2015/10/myanmars­refugee­problem­its­not­just­the­rohingya

http://thediplomat.com/2015/10/myanmars-refugee-problem-its-not-just-the-rohingya

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United Nations Economic and Social Council Topic II:

Strengthening the Developing World against Epidemic Disease

Topic Overview:

In the modern world, it is exceedingly rare to encounter a market that functions entirely

within the borders of a single nation. Technology enables businesses to cross international

borders with relative ease and perpetuates the trend towards globalization. The resulting

aggregation of individual/domestic economies is referred to as the global economy.

The financial benefits of the global economy are apparent: decreased production costs,

expanded markets, increased variety of products in the market, etc. But the effects of a global

market are far reaching, and many less obvious that the surface­level financial gains. For the

purposes of this committee, it is necessary to understand two consequences of the globalization

of the economy. First, the increased exchange of both products and persons across borders allows

for the unobstructed spread of disease across those same borders. Second, as economies become

increasingly intertwined and interdependent, they take on risk and become more susceptible to

foreign fluctuations in the market. Those most at risk are developing nations, especially the

sector of developing nations referred to as Least Developed Countries (LDCs). These two ideas

are clearly demonstrated in the 2014 Ebola Epidemic in West Africa, and extremely relevant to

the current spread of epidemic diseases, including the Zika virus.

Historical Background:

Disease Profile: Ebola Virus Disease

Infectious agent: Ebola Virus

Transmission: person­to­person via body fluids

Treatment: no cure, supportive care

Countries affected: Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, United States, Mali, United

Kingdom, Italy, Senegal, Spain

Number of cases*: 28, 616

Number of deaths*: 11,310 10

*Numbers as of May 11, 2016

Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), previously named Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever, was first

discovered in 1976 with outbreaks of the disease generally confined to isolated areas within the

African continent. In February 2014, the largest recorded outbreak of the disease began in

Guinea and quickly spread to neighboring countries. These countries were susceptible targets for

the spread of disease due to the substantial migration of rural populations fleeing war, famine

and religious prosecution to the city centers. The rapid spread of the deadly virus triggered an

international response resulting in massive spending on humanitarian and medical aid, as well as

regional economic stricture.

Humanitarian Efforts to Address Ebola in West Africa

The international community provided monetary and humanitarian aid in abundance to

attempt to stop the spread of the disease. The WHO alone received nearly $460 billion in

donations to fund their efforts to stop the disease . What international aid workers found when 11

they arrived in West Africa, was that addressing the spread of disease in a developing national

10 https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/transmission/index.html 11 http://www.who.int/csr/disease/ebola/funding/en/

required a multilateral approach.

Aid workers could not effectively

address the disease due to a lack

of developed infrastructure, so

funding had to be used to update

computer systems, build clinics,

develop roadways, etc. Treating

Ebola abroad was also problematic as international workers had to quickly develop treatment

strategies that could transcend the cultural barriers, as they did by changing policy surrounding

patient burial practices.

International Travel and the Spread of Ebola 12

The 2014 epidemic resulted in widespread fear that the Ebola virus would be transmitted

across borders and grow the epidemic. This fear resulted in countries issuing travel bans to the

region. Were these fears justified? Perhaps. Although both the CDC and WHO determined that

there was a low risk of Ebola transmission via travel, there were some isolated and highly

publicized cases of the disease spreading due to travel . Perhaps most notable was the case of a 13

man that travelled from Liberia to Dallas, Texas via multiple international airports. Due to a

combination of international efforts and the low­risk of transmission, Ebola did not become

widespread outside of West Africa.

Economic Impact of the Spread of Ebola

12 http://www.who.int/csr/disease/ebola/infographic/en/

13 http://www.who.int/csr/disease/ebola/one­year­report/factors/en/

The spread of EVD in West Africa resulted in what was termed an “economic blockade”

by the President of Sierra Leone . In the spirit of disease prevention and out of fear of spreading 14

the contagion, movement of both products and people in the region was restricted via travel bans

and quarantines. The result to the West African economies was devastating. Investors withdrew,

tourism stopped, and native industries stalled production. Predicted rises in GDP were quickly

revised downwards. Of the ten nations affected by this specific outbreak of Ebola, five were

listed as Least Developed Countries by the United Nations in 2014 . The United Nations 15

Development Group estimated a minimum regional loss of $3.6 billion . The economic impact 16

of Ebola outside of West Africa was limited, but no doubt would have been significant had the

disease spread.

The crisis surrounding the recent Ebola outbreak resulted in a global conversation about

foreign intervention, as well as the need for international disease prevention and implementation

strategies. Today, this conversation must continue. The movement of products and people across

international borders as a result of the globalization of trade contributed to the spread of Ebola in

2014, and currently contributes to the spread of many other diseases internationally ­ including

tuberculosis, Coronavirus, a Zika virus. The international community must heed this spread as a

call to action, and arrive at a global reckoning to prevent an international epidemic.

Current Situation:

14https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa­in­focus/2014/10/01/understanding­the­economic­effects­of­the­2014­ebola­outbreak­in­west­africa/

15 http://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/ldc2014_en.pdf 16

http://www.africa.undp.org/content/rba/en/home/library/reports/socio­economic­impact­of­the­ebola­virus­disease­in­west­africa.html

Disease Profile: Zika Fever

Infectious agent: Zika Virus

Transmission: mosquitos

Treatment: no cure, supportive care

Countries affected: see map below 17

Number of cases in the United States*: 2.920 (international numbers unavailable)

*Numbers as of September 7th, 2016 18

International media has been closely covering the outbreak of the Zika virus since its

emergence in Brazil in 2014. While much of that news coverage has been sensationalized and

fear­mongering, the outbreak does merit the press and the attention of the international

community.

International Transmission of Zika Virus

The Zika virus was first

identified in Uganda in

1947, but was only

documented in humans

14 times between its

discovery and a 2007

outbreak in the Western

17 http://www.cdc.gov/zika/geo/active­countries.html

18 http://www.cdc.gov/zika/geo/united­states.html

Pacific. This outbreak spread to the South Pacific, and then to Brazil in May 2014. The spread to

Brazil likely occurred during the World Cup or an international canoe race ­ South Pacific

athletes participated in both events. The virus has since continued to spread internationally via

travel and sexual contact. As of August 31st, 2016, 58 countries and territories have been

affected by Zika . The disease is endemic in Brazil due to the prevalence of mosquitoes ­ the 19

aedes aegypti mosquito that transmits the virus thrives in tropical and sub­tropical climates. The

Rio Olympics triggered contentious debate as to whether or not the disease would result in a

further international outbreak, with some advocating to move or cancel the event. Whether or not

the predicted outbreak will occur will be determined over time, but the international community

cannot ignore the threat that international travel will spread the disease ­ as of July 31st, 2016

1,657 cases of Zika have been associated with travel . Travel advisories were issued by the 20

United States and several other nations.

Effects on Vulnerable Populations

Only 20% of those infected with the Zika virus will be symptomatic. The disease

commonly presents as a mild fever, possibly accompanied by a rash, joint pain, or conjunctivitis

. The effects of the disease are much more pronounced when the virus is transmitted from an 21

infected woman to her developing fetus: Zika virus has been linked with the development of

microcephaly . Microcephaly is a birth defect characterized by an abnormally small head due to 22

19 http://www.cdc.gov/zika/geo/active­countries.html

20 http://www.cdc.gov/zika/geo/united­states.html

21http://nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/WorkplaceSafety/Healthy­Work­Environment/DPR/Zika­Virus­Information/Symptoms­Diagnosis­Treatment

22http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/in­babies­with­microcephaly­unique­damage­wreaked­by­zika

underdeveloped brain structures . The condition is not generally lethal, but is associated with 23

multiple other long­term health consequences, including seizures, developmental delays,

intellectual disability, feeding problems, and vision and hearing loss. There is no cure for the

condition, and children affected will require extensive and expensive supportive treatments and

therapies. This particular complication of the disease has opened the floodgates to international

debate on the topics of women’s rights, abortion access, contraception, religion, etc. in affected

nations. For now, affected countries have advised women to avoid becoming pregnant until viral

transmission subsides.

Economic Ramifications

The World Bank announced the initial estimate of the international cost of Zika virus in

2016 at $3.5 billion . This cost mainly was covered the estimated number of people avoiding 24

travel to affected regions, but did not cover many of the other costs that will incur as a result of

Zika. Vaccine development to prevent transmission of the disease will likely cost many millions

of dollars, and could take up to ten years to develop and test thoroughly. The systemic cost of

disability in caring for children born with microcephaly will add to the total, as each child will

need extensive therapy and medical intervention, and there have already been over 2.500

children born in Brazil alone with the condition . Further costs will incur as a result of mosquito 25

control programs, loss of tourism and decreased productivity. The total cost to the global

economy is staggering, and will continue to grow.

23 http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/microcephaly.html

24http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20160720/NEWS/160719976/costs­of­zika­among­the­many­unknowns­of­the­virus

25http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20160720/NEWS/160719976/costs­of­zika­among­the­many­unknowns­of­the­virus

Conclusion:

The emergence of Zika virus risks tumbling a fragile situation into acute crisis, as the

previously little known disease poses a serious risk to pregnant women and appears to spread

extremely fast in the marginal urban areas common in the global south, where a lack of

sanitation and access to reliable clean water makes mosquitos based illnesses a part of daily life.

The disease poses a threat to the economic and social fates of the Americas and possibly

subtropical regions of Europe and Asia, as large scale response to epidemics could stretch the

already strained resources of nations reeling from low commodity prices and political instability.

Bloc Positions:

Bloc positions regarding this topic are not clearly defined, and will vary by country’s

individual foreign policy and how the country is directly affected by an individual disease. Bloc

divisions may be determined by some of the following factors:

Interventionism vs. Isolationism

Developed nations vs. LDCs

Affected nations vs. unaffected nations

Discussion Questions:

1. What specific strategies should be used to contain the spread of disease across

international borders? Have those strategies been effective in the past?

2. Is the international community morally obligated to intervene and treat those affected by

a global epidemic? Who is responsible for providing treatment?

3. How an international disease prevention strategy by would funded? Are individual

nations obligated to fund disease prevention?

4. Which characteristics of developing countries make them vulnerable to disease outbreak?

5. Which other diseases have the potential to spread and cause an international outbreak

similar to those of Ebola or Zika?

Key Terms:

Epidemic: An episode of disease or infection that spreads a large portion of a certain

population, community, or region at the same time.

Epidemiology: The study of how diseases move through populations quickly and how to

stop their spread.

Drug resistance: The phenomenon where the overuse of antibiotics encourages the

growth of drug­resistant bacteria.

Microcephaly: A birth defect wherein the child’s head does not grow large enough,

causing developmental delays, seizures, and other medical complications.

LDC: The United Nations designation for Least­Developed Country, signifying a

member­state with the lowest scores on the Human Development Index

WHO

CDC

Global economy

Resources:

Six Modern Plagues and How We Are Causing Them by Mark Walters

CDC Website

http://www.cdc.gov/zika/index.html

WHO Website

Frontline Website

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/investigation/the­zika­outbreak/

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/map­how­zika­spread/

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/ebola­outbreak/

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/video/mosquito­hunter

Economic Impact of Ebola:

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa­in­focus/2014/10/01/understanding­the­ec

onomic­effects­of­the­2014­ebola­outbreak­in­west­africa/

http://www.newyorker.com/news/daily­comment/ebola­cost­fear

Zika

http://www.reuters.com/article/us­health­zika­usa­idUSKCN1012YL

http://nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/WorkplaceSafety/Healthy­Work­E

nvironment/DPR/Zika­Virus­Information

http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20160720/NEWS/160719976/costs­of­

zika­among­the­many­unknowns­of­the­virus

https://www.awhonn.org/?ZikaVirus

http://www.voanews.com/content/un­says­women­rights­key­to­stopping­microce

phaly­outbreak/3178376.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/04/world/americas/zika­virus­brazil­abortion­la

ws.html?_r=0

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United Nations Economic and Social Council Topic III:

Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Topic Overview:

As the central organization responsible for UN development policy, The Economic and

Social Council (ECOSOC) coordinates the work of the 14 UN specialized agencies, ten

functional commissions and five regional commissions. It receives reports from nine UN funds

and programs, in addition to issuing policy recommendations to the other UN organs and directly

to Member States. Under Chapter X of the UN Charter, ECOSOC is responsible for promoting 26

higher standards of living, full employment, and economic and social progress. ECOSOC’s 27

central purpose to craft recommendations to resolve international economic and social issues,

promoting international cultural and educational cooperation; and encouraging universal respect

for human rights and fundamental freedoms. ECOSOC's purview extends over 70 percent of 28

the human and financial resources of the entire UN system. The committee’s work is split

between six key themes:

Humanitarian Coordination

Public­Private Partnerships

Development Cooperation

Joint UN Action

Financing Sustainable Development

Sustainable Development 29

26 http://www.un.org/en/ecosoc/about/ 27 http://www.un.org/en/sections/un­charter/chapter­x/ 28 See 1 29 https://www.un.org/ecosoc/en/home

ECOSOC’s work in 2016 is focused on using the three pillars of sustainable development

to guide all international economic and social decision­making: Economic Development, Social

Development, and Environmental Protection. Through these principles, ECOSOC is dedicated to

freeing the world from poverty and bringing about lasting peace and prosperity. As a hub for the

exchange of knowledge and mutual learning. ECOSOC has an instrumental role in examining

lessons learned from the numerous successes and key limitations of the Millennium

Development Goals (MDGs), developed in the year 2000 to guide development policy. The 30

purpose this brief is to cover the basic tenets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs.) It is

the goal of ECOSOC to develop new approaches and methods for the implementation of the

2016 SDGs. Achieving progress on the SDGs is central to the transition into the post­2015

agenda and to the eventual success of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 31

Historical Background:

In the year 2000, the member nations of the United Nations came together to create a new

framework for UN development, one with 8 massive goals: eradicating extreme poverty and

hunger, achieving universal

primary education, empowering

women’s education and

women’s economic opportunity,

reducing child mortality,

30 http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/goals/ 31 http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/sustainable­development­goals.html

improving maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS and other epidemic disease, ensuring

environmental sustainability, and finally developing a global partnership for development

between nations, UN agencies, and private philanthropic sources. In the fifteen years since the

MDGs were created, there have been significant successes. Since 1990, The number of people in

the developing world living on less than $1.25 a day has been slashed from 50 percent to 14

percent. The number of children not in school has been cut in half since 2000, and finally, the 32 33

global child mortality rate has been cut in half. Secretary­General Ban Ki­Moon noted in the

2015 report : 34

“The MDGs helped to lift more than one billion people out of extreme poverty,

to make inroads against hunger, to enable more girls to attend school than ever

before and to protect our planet. They generated new and innovative

partnerships, galvanized public opinion and showed the immense value of

setting ambitious goals. By putting people and their immediate needs at the

forefront, the MDGs reshaped decision­making in developed and developing

countries alike.”

Although there are concrete successes to the MDGs, there is still significant work to be

done. Gender inequality continues to hinder development throughout the world, women are still

more likely to live in poverty than men. Income inequality and geographic inequality is still 35

rampant, as about 50% of rural people lack access to proper sanitation facilities. Finally, the 36

advancement of the developing world has been hindered overwhelmingly by conflict since 2014,

32http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/2015_MDG_Report/pdf/MDG%202015%20rev%20(July%201).pdf 33 See 7 34 See 7 35 http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/reports/256/hdr_1995_en_complete_nostats.pdf 36 http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/2015_MDG_Report/pdf/MDG%202015%20rev%20(July%201).pdf

with 60 million people displaced from their homes, the largest number of refugees since the

Second World War. 37

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) along with 169 specific targets have a

broader focus and aim further than the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by addressing

the deep­rooted causes of global poverty and the urgency of development goals that work for

developed as well as developing countries. This work is shaped by the three dimensions of

sustainable development: efficient production/consumption with environmental protection in

mind, social inclusion, and economic prosperity. Taking the MDGs in mind, the new global

goals strive to cover more breadth, addressing the basics of human economic health: economic

growth, decent jobs, cities and human settlements, ecosystems, industrialization, energy,

ecosystems, climate change, law and order with peace and justice. A crucial feature of the

Sustainable Development Goals is their heavy concentration on means of implementation— the

mobilization of financial resources—­ increasing an efficient relationship between technology

and production, as well as data and institutions . Sustainable Consumption and Production 38

(SCP) is recognized as a way of addressing environmental and development challenges,

simultaneously, by decoupling

economic and population

growth from non­sustainable

practices and taking

environmental and social factors

into account when producing

37 http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/2015_MDG_Report/pdf/MDG%202015%20rev%20(July%201).pdf 38 http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/70/1&Lang=E

and consuming products. Sustainable practices go beyond thinking about the “greening effect” of

a particular product to include how the procurement of resources reduces waste. Sustainable

procurement or green procurement allows a city, government, or organization to allocate the

needs of their constituents while minimizing harm to the environment. 39

Current Situation:

These seventeen Sustainable Development Goals were decided by the United Nations

General Assembly on August 15, 2015:

1. No Poverty: Ending Global Poverty

2. Zero Hunger: Achieving food security for the developing world and an end to world

malnutrition.

3. Good Health and Well­being: Ensure healthy lives for all ages and people.

4. Quality Education: Ensuring inclusive and equal educational opportunities.

5. Gender Equality: Achieve gender equality in economic and social opportunities.

6. Clean Water and Sanitation: Access to clean water and sanitation facilities are vital to

the empowerment of rural people and developing economies.

7. Affordable and Clean Energy: Access to affordable and sustainable energy sources.

8. Decent Work and Economic Growth: Sustainable development is centered around

ensuring economic development benefits every member of society and class, bringing an

end to exploitation and slavery throughout the world.

39 http://eprints.soas.ac.uk/16774/1/S0140673610611968.pdf

9. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: This goal is to build resilient and

environmentally friendly infrastructure to ensure industrial growth that benefits all

classes and parts of civil society.

10. Reduced Inequalities: Reduce inequality within and among member nations.

11. Sustainable Cities and Communities: Make cities and human settlements safe,

inclusive, and sustainable, with focus on slum reduction and development of periurban

areas where sanitation and development is scarce.

12. Responsible Consumption and Production: Ensure sustainable resource management

and production.

13. Climate Action: Take action to reduce or stop the effects of man­made climate change.

The Paris 2015 Climate Change Conference agreement is central to this goal.

14. Life Below Water: Conserve ocean resources to sustain the world’s marine resources.

15. Life on Land: Protect the ecosystems of the world and promote sustainable use of land

resources.

16. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: Promote peace through strong investment in

civil society and rule of law.

17. Partnerships for the Goals: Achieve these goals through global partnerships with

private and public institutions around the world. 40

Challenges of Implementation:

Although all seventeen sustainable development goals possess a particular aim, there are

a few SDGs that are substantially more of a challenge to implement properly. For instance, the

40 http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/sustainable­development­goals.html

implementation of the fifth SDG, which is to achieve gender equality and empower all women

and girls, requires the abolishment of all forms of discrimination against all women and girls

everywhere.

For example, Saudi Arabia has made slow progress to these ends, slowly empowering

women and girls with greater autonomy and voice in the public sphere. In the Arab world in

general, UN women has been successful in working with member nations to improve the

participation and education of women. King Abdullah, under pressure to close the gap between 41

an aging royal family and a young population clamoring for change, has been an advocate of

women’s education and employment. Saudi Arabia had historically lagged behind its Persian

Gulf neighbors in women’s education, but in recent decades, it has sharply reduced female

illiteracy, virtually eliminating it among women ages 15 to 24, according to the World Bank. 42

Despite these gains, more must be done by the government in order to allow women equal

opportunities in education. If the government creates an educational reform strategy for women

at an early age that incorporated changes in the educational system that will help address the high

demands and priorities of the Saudi Arabian economy. Unemployment among Saudi women

who want to work is 34 percent — almost five times as great as the 7 percent unemployment rate

for men, according to government figures. Those unemployed women are disproportionately

college­educated. Of Saudis receiving unemployment benefits, 86 percent are women, and 40

percent of those women have college degrees. As women develop skills, the development of 43

human capital will lead to a more diverse and robust economy. The education system in Saudi

41http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2015/12/un­women­statement­on­the­municipal­elections­in­saudi­arabia 42 http://spring­forward.unwomen.org/en/countries/saudi­arabia 43https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/saudi­arabia­struggles­to­employ­its­most­educated­women/2012/11/12/b8f30c34­2a87­11e2­96b6­8e6a7524553f_story.html

Arabia has pushed women to become graduates and seek employment. The good news is that

there is still strong support for the program by the government.Under his reign, Abdullah has

created more funding for the Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission which provides scholarship

programs for students who wish to study abroad. They have already inducted the newest group of

students who are not scheduled to graduate until 2020. Saudi Arabia will continue to benefit 44

from this program culturally and educationally. By strengthening the education system for

women and girls at all levels, and improving the access to high quality education, women will be

empowered to participate in labor force, political, and social opportunities.

Since 1990, India has grown into an economic powerhouse, and will prove to be an

important guidepost for sustainable development in the developing world, as well as an example

on bridging the divide between rural and urban populations. India’s population currently

encompasses about 1.2 billion people and is expected to grow by another 300 million people by

the 2030s. With cities generating two thirds of country’s economic output, an increasing 45

number of Indians are leaving rural areas to seek employment in cities. By 2030, it is predicted

that sixty­eight Indian cities will have more than one million inhabitants and six megacities with

more than ten million each. The rapid growth of cities causes a large number of challenges, 46

including insufficient power, the development of slums, unreliable public transport, and limited

access to adequate medical treatment. To meet the challenges of continuing growth without

destroying environment and social harmony, city planning for sustainable development is

crucial. The polarization of growth towards metro cities and mega cities poses a greater

challenge to provide housing in urban areas, which are rapidly becoming areas of crowded

44 http://www.mei.edu/content/article/education­key­women%E2%80%99s­empowerment­saudi­arabia 45 http://www.wri.org/blog/2013/04/5­keys­sustainable­development­indian­cities 46 http://www.mckinsey.com/global­themes/urbanization/urban­awakening­in­india

habitations without basic amenities. The slum population faces challenges ranging from insecure

tenure and poor shelter conditions to the lack of access to basic infrastructure facilities like water

supply, sanitation and solid waste disposal. This is likely to intensify as over 70 million new

urban housing units will be needed over the next 20 years in India. Prime Minister of India,

Narendra Modi, has dedicated his government to achieving the goals of the SDGs, at the

inauguration of the 2030 development agenda conference, Modi committed his government to

progressive steps towards sustainable development, including taxing coal to pay for the

development of cleaner fuel and poverty reduction programs, education programs for all Indians

regardless of class, and “climate justice for 3 billion poor people of the world.” 47

Bloc Positions:

Large Developing Nations: China, India, Indonesia, Brazil, South Africa, etc. The economic

livelihood of the largest developing world nations relies on burning dirty energy sources and the

production of goods for the developed world. Although sustainable energy programs are being

implemented in these nations as part of the movement to a consumption­based economy, that

transition is not fully completed. These nations have been dedicated to a world consensus on

sustainable development and the fight against climate change, however they believe all nations

of the world need to share the burden of moving to clean energy. They see the developed world

as hypocritical in asking them to curtail emissions without the developed world agreeing to

similar emissions taxes and other ways to lower fossil fuel consumption.

Developed Countries: United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France. Overwhelmingly

members of the global north, these nations are dedicated to global consensus on climate change

47 http://fortune.com/2015/11/30/narendra­modi­climate­justice/

and the importance of Sustainable Development, but skepticism of the importance of global

action is growing in Europe and the United States, as there is growing discontent with a

perceived economic weakness and lack of economic opportunity in the globalized world. Growth

of these global skeptic groups in Germany, The United States, France, and a post­EU United

Kingdom jeopardizes the consensus that has been the hallmark of global development in the past

15 years.

Least Developed Countries: Chad, Niger, Mauritania, Micronesia, Maldives, and other nations

threatened directly by climate change. The nations directly affected by the rising tides of

man­made climate change have a strong voice in this discussion, as they are fighting for the

existence of their nations in the case of Pacific islands, and for prosperity in the case of the Sahel

nations like Chad and Niger, where desertification is a driver of internal displacement and

economic loss.

Discussion Questions:

1. As the international community considers how to guide future development actions

through creation of the post­2015 development agenda, how can the efficient use of

resources in urban development be integrated into the broader goals of poverty

eradication and environmental sustainability?

2. If resource efficiency is incorporated into the post­2015 development agenda, is there

a way to create financial structures for supporting resource efficiency between the

public sector, private sector, and civil society?

3. How can resource efficiency become more interconnected with existing frameworks?

4. Can the definitions of resource efficiency and SCP be clarified, and if so, how?

do they need specific, individual frameworks to implement them?

5. How will sustainable development goals be monitored on an international and

domestic level?

Key Terms:

The 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda: Adopted by the General Assembly in

September 2015, the 2030 Agenda is focused on the next 15 years of UN development,

focused on ending extreme poverty, inequality, and injustice around the world. 48

Inclusive development: According to Oxfam, Inclusive development is a “pro­poor”

approach that incorporates marginalized peoples and groups as equal stakeholders in

development program implementation.

The Addis Ababa Action Agenda: A roadmap to identify, attract, and access diverse

sources of development finance to aid the realization of the 2030 Agenda. 49

Inter­Agency and Expert Group: IAEG is responsible for the preparation of data and

analysis to monitor progress towards the MDGs. The Group also reviews and defines

methodologies and technical issues in relation to the indicators, produces guidelines, and

helps define priorities and strategies to support countries in data collection, analysis and

reporting on MDGs. 50

48 https://www.whitehouse.gov/the­press­office/2015/09/27/fact­sheet­us­global­development­policy­and­agenda­2030 49 See 22 50 http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/Host.aspx?Content=IAEG.htm

Sustainable Development Goals (SDG): The SDGs are the center point of the 2030

agenda, the seventeen broad goals and 169 specific targets to guide the United Nations

Development agenda for the next fifteen years. 51

Means of Implementation (MOI): Means of Implementation in a Sustainable

Development context describes the “interdependent mix of financial resources,

technology development and transfer, capacity‐building, inclusive and equitable

globalization and trade, regional integration, as well as the creation of a national enabling

environment required to implement the new sustainable development agenda, particularly

in developing countries.” 52

Universality: In the context of Sustainable Development, universality defines three

notions: recognition that local, national, and global interests are interconnected and

therefore all nations and stakeholders must address them; acceptance that sustainable

development issues exist in all countries; and that the members of the world community

are committed to leaving no nation behind on the journey to a sustainable future.

Resources:

http://www.un.org/en/ecosoc/about/

http://www.un.org/en/ecosoc/docs/res2014.asp

http://www.un.org/pga/70/events/sdgs/

http://unstats.un.org/files/IAEG­SDGs%20­%20Terms%20of%20Reference%20(April%

202015).pdf

51 https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?menu=1300 52https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/2079Issues%20Brief%20Means%20of%20Implementation%20Final_TST_141013.pdf

http://www.un.org/esa/ffd/ffd3/wp­content/uploads/sites/2/2015/07/Addis­Ababa­Action­

Agenda­Draft­Outcome­Document­7­July­2015.pdf

http://www.mei.edu/content/article/education­key­women%E2%80%99s­empowerment­s

audi­arabia

http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/development­agenda/

https://www.iisd.org/blog/implementing­sustainable­development­goals­home

http://www.cfr.org/global­governance/sustainable­development­goals/p37051