UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

Topic Summary

Chechnya and Xinjiang underscore the intricate challenges of the modern human rights arena, with striking similarities in their struggles for religious freedom and the pervasive human rights violations they face. The Chechen crisis traces its roots to longstanding antagonisms between Chechen nationalists and Russian military might, culminating in heinous acts of violence and extrajudicial killings. The ensuing humanitarian catastrophe has seen countless traumatized Chechens seeking refuge in adjoining territories, further compounding regional destabilization. In Xinjiang, over a million Muslims, predominantly Uyghurs—a Turkic-speaking ethnic group—have been reportedly detained without clear justification. The Chinese government's extensive campaign against them exceeds mere "reeducation centers," with numerous Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities having faced imprisonment without the legal means to challenge their detentions.

Director’s Letter

Dear Delegates,

Welcome to the Human Rights Council! My name is Namira Mehedi and I am extremely excited to be your director at HNMUN 2024!

I am a junior at Harvard living in Winthrop House concentrating in Chemistry with a secondary in Sociology. I grew up in Queens, New York. In high school, I was a part of my high school’s MUN team for three years. I also was an Assistant Director for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization committee at HMUN 2022 and the Director of the Social Cultural and Humanitarian Committee at HMUN 2023. Being a part of MUN has impacted my understanding of international relations and made me more aware of the situation in our current world. It has taught me about the international process of multilateralism and has gotten me very interested in foreign policy.

At Harvard, regarding my experience with MUN, I was an Assistant Director for UNESCO at HMUN 2021, Assistant Director for UNHRC at HNMUN 2021, Director of SOCHUM at HMUN 2023. Outside of MUN, I serve as the outreach director and advocacy project leader for the Menstrual Equity Coalition. I am the president of the Bengali Association of Students at Harvard, BASHA, where I help cultivate a welcoming Bangladeshi community. I am also the co-director for Indigo Peer Counseling. Lastly, I am an editor for the blog of The Crimson, the Harvard newspaper. In my free time, I enjoy trying new food places and exploring Boston with my friends. My favorite thing in Boston is walking or biking near the Charles River.

Last year, Model UN was such an incredible experience and I trust that you partake in your time at HNMUN this year as we will handle the important issues that we will tackle together as a committee in ECOSOC. In Model UN you will learn and practice many life skills such as the ability to think on your feet and to be confident about your ideas. You will also learn how to listen to other people’s ideas and how to incorporate them into a solution that helps further the committee. Remember that a large part of how well those solutions are written hinges on you doing the research before the conference.While committee sessions seem stressful or overwhelming, remember that HNMUN will permit you to flourish while making some amazing friends along the way.

I am so excited about the conference and am looking extremely forward to meeting all of you in February! If you have any questions or concerns, whether it is about HNMUN, life at Harvard, or otherwise, please feel free to reach out. I want to make the conference this year the best that it can be!

Sincerely,

Namira Mehedi