SOCHUM

Social, Humanitarian & Cultural Issues

About SOCHUM

SOCHUM and five other committees are committees under the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA or GA). After World War II ended, the GA was founded in 1945 under the Charter of the United Nations as the main organ. The General Assembly’s purpose is to discuss and consider general matters relating to maintaining international peace and security, occupying the position as the UN’s deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ. Weary from the experience of the previous world wars, all the countries agreed to make a document stating the basic principles of inherent human rights while setting up a common standard for all nations. The General Assembly held its inaugural meeting on January 10, 1946, establishing its major committees, including SOCHUM, and creating the draught of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. On September 24, 1948, during the 142nd GA meeting, SOCHUM started writing for further debate. The following eighty-one meetings were devoted to SOCHUM revising and going through the draught. Later, with a resounding majority voting in favour, the draught was approved as a Declaration at the committee's 178th meeting.

Almost all of the General Assembly's powers are vested in the Third Committee. While SOCHUM cannot compel other countries to keep their word or take certain steps, it can develop internationally accepted standards and make recommendations. In order to improve the global community, it is important to keep in mind that the UN is not a higher authority or government, but rather more like an exclusive conference to find solutions to shared problems.

SPAMUN SOCHUM ‘24 Topic

  • Ever since its inception in 1945, the Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee (SOCHUM) is one of six General Assemblies of the United Nations. The 193 nations in the committee debate and act on important humanitarian issues, safeguarding prosperity and liberty throughout the world. In more recent years, the committee has paid special attention to children, women, indigenous groups, refugees, and the elimination of racial discrimination.


    The relevant, and highly urgent, issue of upholding human rights in occupied zones throughout the world will present delegates with a complex issue as well as a nuanced geopolitical situation. This topic is one that is both simple, and easy to understand, but also has incredible potential for constructive debate among the nations of the world. Moreover, as the recent conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan have deprived innocent civilians of the rights to basic necessities, including running water, electricity, and adequate nutrition, urgent action must be taken by delegates in order to protect the individual liberties of civilians under military administration.


    Given the broad and exciting nature of this topic, as well as the general pace of debate in SOCHUM, this committee is recommended to delegates of all experience, ranging from first-timers to veterans.


Get Ready For SOCHUM

Read the backgrounder, write position papers, and have fun!

Please send position papers to sochum.spamun24@gmail.com. Include your surname, forename, and delegation in the subject.

Meet Your Dais

Lucas Liu

Assistant Director

Justin Guo

Director

Jora Bains

Chair

  • Director

    A ninth grader at Saint George’s Senior School, Justin is ecstatic to be directing the Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee at SPAMUN 2024. Ever since his first speech back in grade six, he has always embraced the Model UN experience wholeheartedly. From the countless sleepless nights researching sources and practicing speeches, to the chaos that unfolds in crisis committees, the non-spectator sport has always had a special place in his heart. Away from the conference floors, he can be found tinkering, often haphazardly, in the chemistry lab, swimming laps in the pool, or binge reading political articles. Justin is incredibly excited for the fast-paced debate and diplomacy that will happen on the conference floor in this iteration of SPAMUN.

  • Chair

    Jora is entering grade 12 at Southpointe Academy and is very excited to be chairing the Social, Humanitarian, & Cultural committee at SPAMUN 2024. After giving his first speech filled to the brink with personal pronouns and nervous pauses two years ago at SPAMUN 2022, Jora developed an appreciation for debate and global affairs, winning multiple awards at various conferences throughout the Lower Mainland. Outside the committee room, Jora can be found playing Basketball at the oval or sulking about his favourite Hockey team, the Boston Bruins' most recent playoff defeat. Jora is looking forward to meeting all of you, and hopes that SPAMUN is a transcendent experience such as the one he had two years ago!

  • Assistant Director

    As a current grade 11 student at Southpointe Academy, Lucas is thrilled to serve as the Assistant Director for the Social, Cultural, Humanitarian Committee at SPAMUN 2024. Attending his first conference at the International Energy Agency in Grade 10 ignited within him a deep passion to discuss solutions to ongoing global issues through Model UN. Outside of MUN, Lucas thoroughly enjoys pouring hours into his VEX Robot, working on his 3D modeling skills and travelling around the world. He is eagerly looking forward to meeting all the delegates and having an exciting day filled with intense debate at SPAMUN 2024!