UNIFEM/UN WOMEN

Topic Summary

Gender inequality in the workplace and the lack of participation in politics are two pervasive issues impacting women on the global stage. Worldwide, 95 countries still do not guarantee equal pay for the same work, while challenges like negative stereotypes and nonexistent childcare provisions continue to present barriers. Further, 22 nations' parliaments only have 10% (or less) of their seats allocated to women.

While some countries have made progress, from Gabon giving women the same living, working, and property rights as men, to India passing a bill that reserves 33% of lower house and state assembly seats to women, there is much work to be done. Delegates will debate cross-cutting solutions to these challenges with respect to specific local contexts, including gender quotas, reformed regulatory frameworks, collaboration with NGOs, power-sharing mechanisms, and the use of the Internet to foster gender-responsive environments.

Director’s Letter

Dear Delegates,

It is my pleasure to welcome you to UN Women for the 2024 session of Harvard National Model United Nations! As your Director, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with you and look forward to our time together.

My name is Alison Forchoh. I am a senior living in Lowell House, and I am a Molecular and Cellular Biology concentrator with a secondary in Global Health and Health Policy. My first introduction to model UN was as an Assistant Director of UNHRC for HNMUN 2023. I found the experience to be very rewarding and this year I will be an ECOSOC & RB Director at HNMUN 2024. I am very excited to use my unique skill set to create an experience that is enriching and rewarding.

Aside from model UN, I have experience conducting biological research on lipopolysaccharide synthesis in E. coli. In the Harvard University Band’s prop crew I help build props for halftime shows and I have also designed props for various student-run theatrical productions. As for performance, I love singing and am a soprano in both the Kuumba Singers of Harvard College and the Radcliffe Choral Society, which I planned a two week South Korea tour for this past summer. I also love to dance and have been in a few hip hop shows on campus. Recently I have been exploring the intersection of healthcare and business and will be working as a life science consultant at ClearView Healthcare Partners after graduation. Outside of Harvard, I enjoy reading young adult fiction (mainly science fiction and fantasy), watching musicals, reading Webtoons, trying new foods, and spending time with friends and family.

Our session will delve into crucial issues surrounding gender inequality in the workplace and the participation of women in politics. As a woman, I am drawn to issues that impact how safely and productively women can move through the world, whether in the home, in the workplace, or simply out in public. Uplifting the voices of gender-marginalized individuals trying to obtain the same opportunities afforded by their male counterparts is no easy feat and it takes the collective effort of the global community to ensure that opportunities for participation in society, the workplace, and politics are dispersed across all members of our communities.

As your Director I am committed to supporting you through each stage of your HNMUN journey, and I am always available to discuss any questions or concerns you have. I look forward to our insightful discussions and interacting with you all!

Sincerely,

Alison Forchoh