Challenge Model UN Rights

Student delegates participating in the Challenge Model UN created two bills of rights: one for refugees and one for host countries receiving refugees. Here are the results that they came up with and voted on. (To see photos from the event, please click here)

Rights of Host Nations: (Vote was Yes = 35, No = 6)

1. Host countries have the right to refuse to accept refugees.
2. Host countries can refuse to accept refugees based on, but it will be reviewed by the UN:

• Economic Issues
• Ethnic Assimilation Issues
• Cultural Assimilation Issues
• Safety Issues
• Population/Support Issues
• Or if admitting refugees would be harmful to the refugees themselves

3. Host countries have the right to receive funding from the UN if they accept refugees
4. After a significant period of time, the right to close existing refugee camps, if the UN provides support for relocation.

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Rights of Refugees: (Vote was Yes=36, No=3)

The UDHR states that humans have the right to privacy, education, health care, employment, return to home country, and to identify as a nationality.

Article 1: All refugees have the right to be identified, recognized as, and to be clearly informed of their specific rights as refugees.

Article 2: All refugees have the right to safety and protection while in & while traveling to a host country.

Article 3: All refugees aged 17 and under have the right to adequate child care and supervision.

Article 4: All refugees have the right to not be denied access based on religious affiliation.

Article 5A: All refugees have the right to knowing the time frame of maintaining temporary residency.

Article 5B: Refugees have the right to legal counsel and defense to alter the time frame. The UN will review the decisions.

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UN Priority List

The three things the UN should be focused on in 2017-2018 are

1. Human Rights (35 votes)
2. Climate Change (31 votes)
3. Corrupt Regimes/Unfit Leadership (8 votes)