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Table of ContentsWelcome Note from the Dais 3Chair Biographies 4Introduction to the Committee 5Topic A: Integration of Refugees into Society 7Topic B: Addressing Food Insecurity and Displacement 21Position Paper Requirements 30Concluding Remarks 30Bibliography 31

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Welcome Note from the DaisDear Delegates, It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for the Nanyang Technological University Model United Nations 2017! We are honoured to be serving as your dais for this conference.

Our world has witnessed, especially with the recent years, significant changes in the population demographics, political structures and even infrastructures as a result of various different factors. It is therefore timely that our committee convenes to discuss the important, crucial, and urgent topics of our discussion. While there has been much debate and discussion, resolving the issues related to refugees and food security cannot be achieved without an active commitment to the provision of solutions and creation of various frameworks. The two topics of discussion are not new; they have persisted through time in varying shape, severity, and circumstance, and we are confident that we can work towards alleviating the issues at hand.

Here at ECOSOC, the dais hopes to facilitate critical thinking and fruitful discussions, so that we can build a community of people, as well as a network of ideas. We believe in the importance of respect and co-operation, and we hope that these are key values with which you are able to excel in our committee. We believe that this conference will be one that is enriching, fascinating, and above all, empowering.

We wish you all the best in your research and preparation for the conference. Please also feel free to reach out to the dais should you have any questions during this time. We look forward to meeting you!

Best,The Dais of ECOSOCNTUMUN 2017

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Chair BiographiesHEAD CHAIRPERSON: BAI WANRUI

Wanrui is in her third year at the School of Design and Environment, National University of Singapore. She is also pursuing a minor in European Studies; other than dreading the eventuality of academic writing in French, she generally loves school.

Her recent Model UN experiences as a delegate include debating in Mandarin at the Citi Pan Asia MUN 2015 held in Taipei, as well as at WorldMUN 2016 held in Rome, so she definitely can relate to the delegate experience! She currently looks forward to serving as the Deputy Secretary-General for Singapore Model United Nations in 2017, as well as serving as Chairperson at UNESCO for Harvard WorldMUN 2017 held in Montreal, Canada.

Currently, Wanrui tries to enjoy any amount of free time she can find – you might find her reading the new books she has recently shipped home from her exchange to the University of Cambridge, or watching FRIENDS in bed. Wanrui can be contacted at wanrui@u.nus.edu, and is very eager to meet all the delegates!

She may be contacted at wanruibai@gmail.com.

VICE-CHAIRPERSON: JERALD TAN

A self-professed nerd, Jerald has been participating in the MUN circuit as delegate, chair and organiser for a little over 5 years. Feeling slightly too old to participate as a delegate, he has joined NTUMUN as a chair aiming to bring a fulfilling MUN experience to all his delegates. During his free time, Jerald enjoys browsing through reddit, playing computer games (favourite genre: grand strategy), football, binging on television series (both the American and Korean variety) and spending time his adorable dog, JJ!

He may be contacted at jerald.tan@ymail.com.

VICE-CHAIRPERSON: WESLEY CHOI

Wesley is currently a year 4 student at Maris Stella High. He hopes to be able to enter his dream junior college, St. Andrews, in 2017. Wesley has been MUNing since he was 14 and NTUMUN will be his 8th MUN. Wesley is an avid gamer, hiding in his cosy hole playing League of Legends and Overwatch. Wesley is often observed in his natural habitat in Starbucks sipping away at his favourite frappuccino while passing judgement on people. Wesley does not care about your points of personal privileges and thinks that you should get your privilege checked.

He may be contacted at wesley9choi@gmail.com.

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Introduction to the Committee

History of Committee

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) was established in 1946 by the UN Charter, with only 18 Member States . Today, ECOSOC has 54 Member States, elected by the 1

General Assembly. According to Article 61 of the UN Charter, 18 members of ECOSOC are elected each year, for a term of three years . 2

ECOSOC is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, and is the principal body for coordination, review, dialogue and recommendations on economic, social and environmental issues. It is also tasked with implementing various internationally agreed development goals . That said, ECOSOC’s roles are constantly being reviewed and 3

renewed. In 2005, the World Summit mandated ECOSOC to convene Annual Ministerial Reviews (AMR) and biennial Development Coopreration Forum (DCF) – these new functions were endorsed by the General Assembly later in 2006 .4

ECOSOC engages a wide variety of stakeholders through dialogues and meetings. Guided by an issue-based approach, each programmatic cycle is accompanied with a theme to ensure a focused and productive discussion . Some of their programmes include the High-5

Level Political Forum (HLPF), the Annual Ministerial Review (AMR), and the Youth Forum .6

Mandate of Committee

Karns, M. P., & Mingst, K. A. (2004). International organizations: The politics and processes of global 1

governance. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner.

United Nations. (n.d.). Retrieved October 29, 2016, from http://www.un.org/en/sections/un-charter/2

chapter-x/index.html

UN economic and social council (n.d.). Retrieved October 20, 2016, from http://www.un.org/en/3

ecosoc/about/index.shtml

UN ECOSOC. (n.d.). About Us. Retrieved October 18, 2016, from https://www.un.org/ecosoc/en/4

FAQ#newfunctionecosoc

UN economic and social council (n.d.). 5

Ibid.6

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Some key aspects of the ECOSOC’s mandate include :7

• Promoting higher standards of living, full employment, and economic and social progress through dialogues and consultations;

• Identifying solutions to international economic, social and health problems, and making recommendations thereon;

• Facilitating international cultural and educational cooperation through meetings, round tables, and panel discussions;

• Facilitating discussions on international economic and social issues, thereby encouraging universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms;

• Formulating policy recommendations addressed to Member States of the United Nations system; and

● Coordinating economic, social, and other related work of the fourteen United Nations specialized agencies, functional commissions and five regional commissions.

UN DESA NGO Branch. (n.d.). About ECOSOC and its Subsidiary Bodies. Retrieved October 20, 7

2016, from http://csonet.org/?menu=123

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Topic A: Integration of Refugees into Society

History and Discussion of Problem

Refugees, as defined by the by the 1951 Refugee Convention, refer to individuals who, “owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence as a result of such events, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it.” .8

The issue surrounding the presence and treatment of refugees is not new, or recent. Refuge events in the 20th century also contributed to countries being wary and unwilling to host refugees in our current age. One such event occurred in 1970s in Jordan during “Black September ”, when conflict arose between Palestinians who had originally arrived as 9

refugees in 1967 and the Jordanian armed forces, leading to intense fighting and many 10

causalities. Over time, the situation has gradually evolved into one where states are unwilling to allow refugees into their countries as they fear that these refugees may become sources of opposition, threatening stability and the security in their countries . That said, it is 11

important to note that refugees in the current age are only refuges by circumstance. For example, 70% of Syrian refugees are fleeing the violence of the Assad regime and its allies and only 8% of refugees as a whole choose to stay in Europe indefinitely . This shows that 12

these refugees only intend on staying temporarily and are not malignant as the far-right claimed.

The events of the recent Syrian refugee crisis and Rohingya crisis are only two of the many examples of refugee crises which are pertinent to the modern world. Due to the Syrian Civil War, 4.8 million Syrians have fled to Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and Iraq, and 8.7 million are internally displaced within Syria . 13

With this huge influx of refugees, many countries are reluctant to take in and allow

integration of these refugees into their society for various reasons. There are various reports

THE REFUGEE CONVENTION, 1951 “http://www.unhcr.org/4ca34be29.pdf” Accessed 5th 8

December 2016

Pierre Tristam “Black September” http://middleeast.about.com/od/terrorism/g/black-september-9

definition.htm Accessed 5th December 2016

Geraldine Chatelard “Jordan: A Refugee Haven” http://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/jordan-10

refugee-haven Accessed 5th December 2016

“The Gulf States refuse to step up and accept their share of refugees” http://news.nationalpost.com/11

full-comment/the-gulf-states-refuse-to-step-up-and-accept-their-share-of-refugees Accessed 5th December 2016

Huffington Post “Care About Syrian Refugees? Listen To Them” 12

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-syria-campaign/what-syrian-refugees-in-europe-want_b_8692520.html Accessed 23 December 2016

UNHCR http://www.unhcr.org/syria-emergency.html Accessed 6th December 201613

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of terrorists posing as refugees , with attempted terrorist plots having taken place following 14

the integration of refugees in Germany. As a result of these acts of terrorism, there are 15

various critics of the integration of refugees, fearing that it will lead to similar attacks in their country. There are also other reasons for countries being reluctant to take in refugees such as xenophobia. From their moment of arrival, refugees compete with the local citizens for scarce resources such as land, water, housing, food and medical services. Over time, their presence may lead to more substantial demands on various resources and services such as education and health care, energy, transportation, social services and employment. As a 16

result, locals are wary of these refugees for they think that these refugees compete against them for jobs and will increase prices of goods due to the increased demands that these refugees brought about. More often than not, such sentiments have culminated in locals pressuring governments into reducing or even stopping the entry of refugees into their countries.

Despite such concerns, the international community recognizes the need and urgency of integrating refugees into host nations they are resettled in. Yet, there is currently no solution at an international level so well-crafted as to be able to move nations for regional or even international cooperation, to fully integrate refugees into host countries, ensuring that they are able to receive appropriate amounts of legal and social rights.

Statement and Discussion of Problem

With countries around the world being involved in numerous conflicts, such as in Syria and Ukraine , millions of citizens have been displaced. This results in refugees 17 18

around the world living year after year with little to no hope of ever returning home to their own countries. In cases where repatriation is not an option, finding a home in the country of asylum and integrating into the local community could offer a sustainable solution to their plight and an opportunity to allow them to restart their lives .19

Integration of refugees into the host countries is a contentious topic globally with

many countries taking on various stances. Generally and traditionally, reintegration of refugees involve the repatriation of refugees back to their countries of origin. Along with such movement, reintegration is a process which calls for the “disappearance of differences in

ALISON SMALE “Terrorism Suspects Are Posing as Refugees, Germany Says” http://14

www.nytimes.com/2016/02/06/world/europe/germany-refugees-isis.html?_r=0 Accessed 6th December 2016

“Germany: Another Refugee-Terrorist Attack” http://newobserveronline.com/germany-another-15

refugee-terrorist-attack/ Accessed 6th December 2016

UNHCR “Social and economic impact of large refugee populations on host developing countries16

EC/47/SC/CRP.7” http://www.unhcr.org/excom/standcom/3ae68d0e10/social-economic-impact-large-refugee-populations-host-developing-countries.html Accessed 23 December 2016

MercyCorps “What you need to know about the Syria crisis” https://www.mercycorps.org/articles/17

iraq-jordan-lebanon-syria-turkey/quick-facts-what-you-need-know-about-syria-crisis Accessed 12th October 2016

UNHRC “Worldwide displacement hits all-time high as war and persecution increase” http://18

www.unhcr.org/news/latest/2015/6/558193896/worldwide-displacement-hits-all-time-high-war-persecution-increase.html Accessed 12th October 2016

UNHRC “Local integration” http://www.unhcr.org/local-integration-49c3646c101.html Accessed 12th 19

October 2016

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legal rights and duties between returnees and their compatriots and the equal access of returnees to services, productive assets and opportunities” . More often than not, however, 20

repatriation and reintegration involves a long and arduous process including the need for – for instance – demilitarization, establishment of new governments and civil services. While reintegration into one’s home country is a preferable end-goal, it is also one that can only be met in the long run. More urgently than ever, we see the need for host nations with immediately or quickly available resources to provide a safe environment for resettled refugees.

For the purpose of our committee’s discussion, the dais would look very favourably upon delegates to focus on the short term solutions (i.e. resettlement into host countries, instead of their countries of origin) which are, at the moment, most urgently needed. That said, the dais would still like to remind delegates to keep in mind the need for long term solutions.

The effects of integration are felt at many levels; at the international level, various international agencies have urged governments to take in and integrate refugees. As a 21

result of this international effort, 1.5 million refugees have managed to successfully claim asylum with member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 2015 alone, almost twice the number recorded in 2014. Despite this milestone, there is still much to be done to ensure that the applications are processed efficiently and fairly to accommodate the growing number of refugees arriving on different shores each day.

Many nations, to date, are reluctant to welcome and host refugees due to a multitude of associated concerns and risks . This public view is often shaped by speculations 22

revolving around safety, as well as economic and social interests – this is especially so within nations which offer welfare benefits to citizens . Even with successful applications, 23

refugees often do not face proper treatment, or are not extended equitable amounts of rights and benefits as compared to the locals. Reportedly, refugees – more so than local residents of host nations – face unemployment, and receive lower levels of income for the same work which locals engage in . This then exacerbates the gap between local citizens and refugees 24

in both economic and social terms, and prevents or slows down the process from and through which refugees can fully integrate into their new homes.

Despite these concerns, critics also argue that there are upsides to integrating refugees into society. An example of the benefits the integration process could provide would

Handbook for Repatriation and Reintegration Activities “http://www.unhcr.org/home/PARTNERS/20

411786694.pdf” Accessed 5th December 2016

William Spindler “OECD and UNHCR back increased refugee integration” http://www.unhcr.org/21

news/latest/2016/1/56aa416a6/oecd-unhcr-increased-refugee-integration.html Accessed 5th December 2016

Evan Bonsall “Are Syrian Refugees Really a Security Risk?” http://harvardpolitics.com/united-22

states/syrian-refugees-really-security-risk/ Accessed 12th October 2016

RICHARD WIKE, BRUCE STOKES AND KATIE SIMMONS “Europeans Fear Wave of Refugees 23

Will Mean More Terrorism, Fewer Jobs” http://www.pewglobal.org/2016/07/11/europeans-fear-wave-of-refugees-will-mean-more-terrorism-fewer-jobs/ Accessed 12th October 2016

Pieter Bevelander “The Employment Integration of Resettled Refugees, Asylum Claimants, and 24

Family Reunion Migrants in Sweden” http://rsq.oxfordjournals.org/content/30/1/22.abstract Accessed 12 October 2016

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be socio-economic prosperity in host nations . The IMF calculates that this additional 25

spending on asylum seekers and refugees will boost EU GDP by 0.09% by 2016 and by 0.13% by 2017. By 2017, the largest impact will be in Austria, where GDP is estimated to be 0.5% higher, followed by Sweden (0.4%) and Germany (0.3%) . That said, the key question 26

here, is how the international community can promote and encourage for the development of plausible frameworks to allow for the integration of refugees.

The real and urgent concern here is that when refugees have been resettled into their host nations but are not extended to them appropriate rights as a new resident of the host nation, these refugees may be systematically prevented from seeking education, employment, receiving basic healthcare services, just to name a few. This can then lead to the adverse result of creating different socio-economic problems, which many host nations were first wary of.

Current Situation

Recent Developments

The international refugee population has been increasing year-on-year, reaching heights of roughly 15.5million refugees in 2015 . This is indeed a worrying trend, and as 27

noted by the then United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and current Secretary-General Designate, Antonio Guterres, “unlike previous years, refugees are now squarely in the centre of international media attention and political agendas.” .28

The massive influx of refugees into the European Union (EU) in recent times is undoubtedly one of the main reasons why much international attention has been focused on dealing with the refugee crisis. While some nations within the EU have adopted a more conciliatory attitude towards these refugees fleeing war-torn states, others have decided that a more discriminatory and less welcoming position suited their national interests better. This position could have been taken after considering the potential negative impacts an influx of refugees could bring into the nation.

In fact, there has been a rise of far-right-wing political parties in Europe, fueled by the xenophobic fears and far-right nationalistic sentiments of the local population. These parties often espouse a narrative that seeks to exploit the fear of refugees in order to gain political currency, with some claiming that Islamic State (IS) militants pose as refugees in order to infiltrate their nation and carry out terrorist attacks. Undoubtedly, such fear-mongering tactics have consequently led to a rise in Islamophobic and xenophobic tendencies among the European populace. Further, some far-right radicals have also claimed that refugees belong to a "backward culture" and their influence would potentially harm "traditional European values".

UNHRC http://www.unhcr.org/excom/standcom/3ae68d0e10/social-economic-impact-large-refugee-25

populations-host-developing-countries.html Accessed 12 October 2016

PHILIPPE LEGRAIN “REFUGEES WORK: A HUMANITARIAN INVESTMENT THAT YIELDS 26

ECONOMIC DIVIDENDS” http://www.opennetwork.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Tent-Open-Refugees-Work_V13.pdf Accessed 6th December 2016

UNHCR. (2015, May 19). Populations | Global Focus. Retrieved October 24, 2016, from http://27

reporting.unhcr.org/population

UNHCR. (2016). UNHCR Global Appeal 2016-2017. UNHCR.28

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Such developments have caused some politicians to enact policies that aim to reduce the visibility and cultural impact of refugees and migrants in the nation, most notably through the ban of Burqa and "Burkinis" in various European nations. These policies have ignited fierce debate within the European community, between the proponents of these assimilationist policies and others who prefer a more multicultural society. Assimilationists argue that their policies would help the nation preserve its own distinct cultural identity and that national security should be placed as the key priority. In contrast, multiculturalists believe that the nation should embrace the cultural diversity brought in by integrating the refugees and that only through promoting tolerance can lasting social harmony be achieved.

Integration should also be discussed from the perspective of the refugees themselves. While many refugees are willing to adopt or at the very least, tolerate the more liberal western values they are now exposed to, integration remains a difficult process for them. Consider the differences in language and basic social customs or values that exist as natural and unavoidable barriers towards direct integration. True integration can only be reached if the refugees can also adapt to the new economy and political climate, in order to find new jobs to earn income and participate constructively in civil society.

Another obstacle preventing successful integration are the refugees themselves as there exists some refugees who simply refuse to assimilate into society, or possess unrealistic expectations of their host country. These maladjusted refugees often exhibit a blatant disregard for the law, committing crimes such as theft or robbery. Some have also been reported to possess prejudicial and predatory attitudes towards European women. Additionally, there have been claims that some refugees have attempted to forcefully impose Sharia laws or fundamentalist beliefs in the Muslim-dominated areas or refugee camps of their host country. Often, these refugees refuse to integrate to the host nation’s culture due to their unwillingness to let go of the original cultural beliefs and traditions. As such, these refugees would often end up forming pocket communities with members of the same national origin or ethnic group, further exacerbating their isolation from the host nation’s mainstream society

Evidently, even if nations make the hard decision to integrate refugees into their nation, their method of doing so might prove to be the harder decision to make. Delegates will need to carefully consider how best they might be able to integrate refugees into their society, taking into account the need for national security and lasting social cohesion.

Case Studies

European Union

The European Union has seen an unprecedented influx of refugees and asylum-seekers in recent years, with 2015 seeing more than 2 million asylum applications lodged in Europe, almost three times the number in 2014 (709,757). These refugees and asylum-seekers mainly originate from Syria (675,668), although significant populations of Afghans (406,300) and Iraqis (253,558) were also noted. Within the EU, Germany received the greatest raw number of refugees (approximately 476,00), while nations such as Hungary and Sweden received the most number of asylum applicants per 100,000 local populations (1,799 and 1,667 respectively). Considering the highly volatile situations in these refugees’ countries of origin, the flow of refugees into the EU is unlikely to be stemmed anytime soon.

The EU’s member states have taken concrete measures to try and integrate some of these refugees into their respective nations, albeit to varying extents and methods. Germany

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passed an integration law in May 2016, determining that refugees and asylum-seekers who wish to settle in Germany must make an active effort to assimilate into German culture. As part of this integration law, refugees must prove elementary German language proficiency, possess a job that covers most of their expenses and take part in so-called “orientation courses” on German culture and society . Similarly, Sweden has a structured plan, 29

“Swedish from Day One”, to help refugees and asylum seekers integrate into their nation, with much emphasis placed on helping them learn the Swedish language. Additionally, as part of this programme, adult migrants can participate in vocational training schemes to help themselves upgrade or learn new skills that would aid them in finding a job while children 30

are enrolled to schools throughout the nation.

While these integration efforts have been met with some success, the influx of migrants have also inevitably brought about a considerable amount of challenges as well. Notably, despite the Swedish integration efforts, only about 28% of low-educated foreign-born men and 19% of low-educated women were in employment one year after the programme . This is mainly due to the Swedish economy being rather focused on high-31

skilled labour, lacking adequate employment opportunities fitting the skillsets possessed by these refugees. These results are especially worrying considering Stockholm’s integration scheme’s US$1.2bn cost, or about 2% of its already tight government budget.

More alarmingly, is the rise of anti-immigrant and Islamophobic sentiments in Europe, leading to the rise of far-right wing groups throughout the EU. In Sweden, the right-wing Sweden Democrats is seeing a surge of support in polls, garnering around 21.7% of votes, trailing the ruling Swedish Social Democratic Party by just 1.8% points. Likewise, Marie Le Pen, leader of the right-wing French nationalist party National Front has seen her rise to become one of the frontrunners of the 2017 French Presidential Election. Whereas Hungary has seen its already right-wing government under Prime Minister Viktor Orban being challenged by the more radical right-wing party Jobbik . Incidents such as the recent 32

Islamic State (IS) terrorist attacks in France and sexual assaults committed in Germany were likely the main reasons for European nationals’ xenophobic sentiments. The Europeans’ increased anxiety over refugee arrivals and support for right-wing populist rhetoric have made it harder for the process of integration to truly take place in European society.

Gulf States

Much attention has also been focused on the Gulf States when it comes to the issue of refugees, with many of the world’s leading humanitarian agencies and NGOs like Amnesty

Delcker, J. (2016, May 25). Angela Merkel to refugees: Integration is a must. Retrieved October 28, 29

2016, from http://www.politico.eu/article/angela-merkel-to-refugees-integration-is-a-must-germany/

Mucci, A. (2016, March 25). Do Sweden's refugee policies work? Retrieved October 28, 2016, from 30

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2016/02/sweden-refugee-policies-work-160229153658044.html

OECD. (2016, May 13). Sweden in a strong position to integrate refugees, but support for the low 31

skilled needs to be strengthened. Retrieved October 28, 2016, from http://www.oecd.org/sweden/sweden-in-a-strong-position-to-integrate-refugees-but-support-for-the-low-skilled-needs-to-be-strengthened.htm

The New York Times. (2016, June 13). Europe’s Rising Far Right: A Guide to the Most Prominent 32

Parties. Retrieved October 28, 2016, from http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/world/europe/europe-far-right-political-parties-listy.html?_r=0

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International and the Human Rights Watch levelling heavy criticism on the rich Arab monarchies’ refusal to accept more Syrian refugees into their countries. This is compared to the fact that five nations, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt, Syria’s other neighbours, have hosted 95% of the Syrian refugee population. Lebanon alone hosts 1.5million refugees, making up around one quarter of its entire population.

On one hand, the Gulf States have made declarations as part of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on the Syrian refugee crisis. They have officially called for “a political solution to the Syrian crisis, and a worldwide effort to address the refugee crisis”. They have also stressed that “from the beginning of the crisis in March 2011, the Syrian brothers were welcomed in the Gulf countries and treated as residents; they could benefit from free health care, education and the right to work”. However, these Gulf states still have no genuine resettlement policy for the Syrian refugees.

The Gulf States have each made claims on how much help they have rendered to the Syrian crisis. In total, the six Gulf states (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman) say they have given over €800 million to help those suffering in the Syrian crisis. Additionally, Gulf states and the G7 group of leading economies have just pledged a further 1.6 billion euros for UN aid agencies that help Syrian refugees.

The UAE allege that they have hosted over 100,000 Syrians by extending their residence permits or renewing their visas and over 17,000 Syrian students have been attending local schools since 2011. They also have financed projects throughout the region, providing food and shelter for Syrian refugees. One example is the Al Mreijeb Fhoud Refugee Camp in Jordan, where around 10,000 Syrian refugees are receiving shelter and care.

Saudi Arabia claim that they have accepted about 2.5 million Syrians but they are not referred to as refugees “to ensure their safety and dignity”. They are not placed in refugee camps either. Further, over 100,000 Syrian youngsters are attending local schools and colleges and it is funding a hospital for refugees in Jordan where “thousands are being given the help they need”.

The issue here lies not in the Gulf states’ financial support but rather their lack of willingness to offer any resettlement plan for the Syrian refugees, while expecting other nations to do so. None of the Gulf States are signatories to the UN Convention and Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, which means that proving their claims on the number of refugees they house in their respective nations practically impossible.

Further, there have been claims that most of the Syrian refugees who have successfully sought refuge in these Gulf states were mostly wealthy Syrians who were able to invest” in the host economy .33

Yet to consider the perspective of these Persian Gulf states, who culturally rarely grant citizenship to foreigners, even wealthy immigrants, due to the belief that they have to protect the rights of the native population to the benefits brought by the respective country’s natural resources. They also view these Syrian refugees as tangible security threats, mostly due to the fact the Sunni Gulf monarchies have actively supported anti-Assad groups during

Euronews. (2015, September 30). Why aren't rich Gulf states welcoming Syrian refugees...or are 33

they? Retrieved December 10, 2016, from http://www.euronews.com/2015/09/30/why-aren-t-rich-gulf-states-welcoming-syrian-refugeesor-are-they

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the Syrian civil war. Thus, it is reasonable to presume that some of these refugees, who might hold pro-Assad loyalties, could look to take some sort of revenge on these Gulf states.

Additionally, these Arab states have an extremely delicate demographic balance which might be threatened should there be an influx of thousands of Syrian refugees at once. Citizens in the UAE and Qatar number a little over 10% of the resident populations in their respective countries. The vast majority of residents are transitory economic workers.

Foreigners are only allowed residency if they or their spouse have full-time jobs - there is no possibility to remain permanently in the Gulf without work - and once their contracts are up almost all migrants return home. The Gulf’s high turnover of low and high skilled labour, allows the native Gulf Arab populations to maintain their dominant status without being overrun by Arabs from other countries, or South Asian labourers. Thus, the idea of thousands of foreigners coming in, without employment or any definite return date, is deeply uncomfortable for Gulf states .34

Cameroon

Cameroon has had considerable success in the integration of Central African Republic (CAR) refugees into their nation. As of 31 December 2015, Cameroon was hosting a total of 459,650 persons of concern to UNHCR, including 342,973 refugees, 5,373 asylum seekers and 92,657 IDPs. The main population trends in Cameroon concerned those of CAR and Nigerian refugees . Refugees from both nations were primarily fleeing from 35

terrorist groups in their respective countries of origin, namely Boko Haram in Nigeria and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in CAR.

Most of Cameroon’s integration of refugees was done mainly through the direction of the UNHCR and its partnering NGOs. According to a report done by the US Department of State in 2014, social and economic integration have been relatively successful with refugees living peacefully among Cameroonians and at a comparable standard of living. This was mainly attributed to the approaches made by the UNHCR and its partner NGOs on four issues. Namely, establishing and maintaining good relations with Cameroonian officials, involving village chiefs in the decision-making process, ensuring that host villages benefit from external assistance and placing a high priority on agricultural and livelihood interventions.’

Social integration has been somewhat natural because of the shared ethnicities and nomadic pastoralist culture which occasioned seasonal migrations across the border for many years. Social integration has been facilitated by the GRC no-encampment policy, respect for refugees’ rights to freedom of movement, and allowing refugees full access to public services, as well as the villages’ goodwill, and the refugees’ efforts to fit in.

In terms of economic integration, there has been progress in moving refugees off external assistance. Agricultural and livelihood support of UNHCR and PRM has been particularly helpful in promoting economic integration. Agricultural support has helped refugees transition from herders to farmers and has included facilitating land negotiations and providing training, hand tools, and seeds. Livelihood support has also been effective

Stephens, M. (2015, September 7). Migrant crisis: Why the Gulf states are not letting Syrians in. 34

Retrieved December 10, 2016, from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34173139

UNHCR. (2015, December 12). Cameroon | Global Focus. Retrieved October 30, 2016, from http://35

reporting.unhcr.org/node/2525#_ga=1.202342801.104651014.1476892434

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because in addition to training for income-generating activities, the assistance has included the necessary tools, equipment, and other inputs to apply the training.

Despite this, there are several threats to the refugees’ peaceful co-existence with local Cameroonians, including security concerns related to the new refugees, agro-pastoral issues, and lack of sufficient infrastructure and services to simultaneously meet the needs of the Cameroonians. Furthermore, as most of the new refugees are subsistence-level farmers, they are unable to earn adequate income to move beyond a hand-to-mouth existence. The lack of education and training, credit, and access to markets (through freedom of movement, good roads, efficient transportation, reliable communication, etc.) will also prevent the refugees – and host communities – from progressing economically.

The main barrier for full integration is an inadequate pathway to citizenship. While legal integration is allowed by law, it is not accessible to the vast majority of refugees because the costs, lack of information about the process, and bias against uneducated subsistence farmers. So far, the GRC has not indicated any interest in facilitating the process, reducing the fees, or changing their expectations about the potential contributions of rural refugees. The refugees themselves have not yet expressed a desire to be naturalized, but the issue may surface if they become more interested in enjoying the same rights as their Cameroonian neighbours, such as unrestricted freedom of movement, holding civil service jobs, obtaining titles for land, or voting .36

Past UN Actions

The UNHCR typically tailors specific solutions in the various countries and regions that they are working in to ensure a more appropriate integration strategy for refugees. One of the most notable frameworks that the UNHCR has designed, with help from the UNDP, participating national governments and various NGOs, would be the “3RP” or Regional Refugee & Resilience Plan in Response to the Syria Crisis, launched in 2014. The 3RP mainly functions in five countries: Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Egypt. It encompasses a comprehensive solution to dealing with the refugee crisis as a whole, from the provision of basic necessities to facilitation for integration efforts.

Much of the integration efforts are implicit in the 3RP, although significant elements to integration can be found through the Dead Sea Resilience Agenda. The Dead Sea Resilience Agenda was adopted during the Resilience Development Forum held in November 2015, which aimed to ensure the that the long-term development needs and priorities of countries impacted by the Syria crisis are accounted for; and establish a lasting and strong partnership between all stakeholders in the private and public sector, including international organizations, civil society, think tanks and donor countries. The Dead Sea Resilience Agenda itself had five core principles:

1. Increasing synergies between humanitarian and development investments and approaches

2. Prioritising the dignity and self-sufficiency of affected populations3. Reinforcing, and not replacing, local capacities4. Generating new and inclusive partnerships to build resilience, foster innovation,

and promote relevance, effectiveness, and efficiency5. Safeguarding social cohesion to foster resilience and cooperation

Development and Training Services, Inc. (2016). Field Evaluation of Local Integration of Central 36

African Refugees in Cameroon. Office of Policy and Resource Planning, Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM), U.S. Department of State.

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While the Dead Sea Agenda itself did not explicitly aim to integrate refugees into their host nations, one should note that the effectiveness of 3RP was measured using the “Resilience Lens” metric. This system measured progress through three main indicators, from both the refugee and resilience (local) standpoint, assessing the extent to which a country: strengthened national or local capacities and institutions; contributed to sustainable benefits; and contributed to social cohesion. In essence, the Resilience Lens helped to identify how well the refugees were integrating into their new host nation in comparison to the locals of the host population themselves. Thus, it would be fair to say that the 3RP, through the Dead Sea Resilience Agenda, did implicitly, but tangibly, aid the integration efforts of refugees into their host nations.

Furthermore, understanding that economic factors are crucial to ensuring the successful integration of refugees into the host nation, the 3RP has also made securing a livelihood and jobs for Syria refugees a priority in its agenda. It notes that while its partners have turned to vocational training and small business development in an attempt to address this core issue, they are limited by doing so both in a piece-meal way and in the absence of a supportive policy environment. Hence it has pointed out three main requirements to secure a stable economy that would be able to support to Syrian refugee influx. The first is essentially a change of perception by the host nations’ governments and citizens towards the Syrian refugees, from an economic burden to the country to an asset that could be tapped onto to stimulate the economy. Second would be the full involvement of the private sector in large scale investment that can make use of both Syrian and host community manpower. The third is the adoption of creative labour policies for Syrian refugees to allow for these investments to operate, such as taking an incremental and adaptive approach to policy development in response to fears that Syrians would be stealing jobs from the local population.

While the larger, more long-term policies are still in the process of formulation and implementation, 3RP itself has led an interim measure, the 3RP Regional Livelihoods Initiative. This initiative sees 3RP actors as well as other stakeholders in the region are working to further policy change, offer life-skill and vocational training as well as support small and medium initiatives that offer refugees and un- or under-employed nationals livelihood opportunities. Based on policy shifts, and in full consultation with governments, funding will be provided to livelihood initiatives. These initiatives may be technical-based skills transfers, support to policy shifts including labour policy analysis and commissioned studies as well as micro, small and medium initiatives that provide cash-for-work or employment to people affected by the crisis .37

Bloc Positions

Host Nations with Robust Systems to Welcome Refuguees

Nations within this bloc have seen, with recent developments in geopolitical relations in surrounding regions, progressive changes within their political systems to lay their foundations for increasingly robust systems to welcome refugees into their economies and societies.

UNHCR. (2016). Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP) 2016-2017 in Response to the Syria 37

Crisis. UNHCR.

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This can be exemplified in the case of Germany, which has taken in more than one million asylum seekers in 2015 alone . Chancellor Angela Merkel pointed out that Germany 38

seeks to not only register, but rather to integrate newcomers into their society – as a historic first, Germany’s new integration bill will provide subsidized courses to help newcomers settle down into their new lives. The bill has also lifted previous legislation preventing asylum seekers from obtaining employment before German or EU workers could be found for the post . 39

Another key example can be seen in the case of Canada, which has had a notable track record in admitting refugees who wish to seek refuge or asylum in this country. In the three short months from November 2015 to February 2016 alone, Canada had admitted and resettled some 25,000 refugees with the help of both government-supported and privately sponsored refugees . The Canadian government has also made several commitments 40

towards welcoming refugees, and has taken steps towards ensuring that refugees may eventually be naturalized and gain Canadian citizenships should they wish to remain in Canada. Beyond this, Canada has also worked closely with the UNHCR to identify vulnerable individuals and groups, such as women and families at risk, and even those from the LGBTQ community. She is steadily and progressively building an increasingly robust system to screen and integrate refugees into her society.

Host Nations Largely Hostile Towards Refugees

There also exist nations which have accepted refugees, but have remained largely hostile toward them for various reasons. Hostility not only exists from the position of the host government, but also from the locals of the nation. According to research, host hostility remains as a problem for many nations due to a combination of factors such as the refugees’ period of stay, rate of inflow, control of camps, and even international factors such as alliances, as well as the presence of international organisations . 41

At a governmental level, refugees may face hostility in the form of restrictive policies targeting at asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants. Citizens and local residents within such host nations typically perceive refugees are economic burdens, rapidly depleting their resources without contributing to the host economy , creating conflicts and clashes between 42

citizens and refugees, and setting the ground for social and political instability. This problem is further exacerbated when refugees may be of similar ethnicity to certain minority groups within the host nation, allowing these ethnic minorities to make demands in conjunction with the refugees, laying down the foundation for further social unrest .43

DPA. (2016, July 08). Germany passes historic law on refugee integration. Retrieved October 25, 38

2016, from http://www.thelocal.de/20160708/germany-passes-historic-law-on-refugee-integration

Ibid.39

Government of Canada. (2016, June 21). Canada welcomes Syrian refugees. Retrieved October 40

14, 2016, from http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/refugees/welcome/index.asp

Murshid, N. (n.d.). Hurting the Host: The Dynamics of Refugee-Related Violence ... Retrieved 41

October 21, 2016, from http://www.rochester.edu/col lege/psc/cpw/pdf/Murshid.pdf?origin=publication_detail

Ibid.42

Ibid.43

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One recent example can be seen in the case of the United Kingdom, where the nation has grown to become increasingly hostile toward refugees, especially after the 2015 Paris Attacks. Reportedly, opposition rose after a fake Syrian passport of a man who may have arrived via a refugee route was found on the body of a suicide bomber . Britain is 44

reported to have accepted a mere 8,000 Syrians since 2011, despite her much stronger economic standing, as compared to other nations which have welcomed refugees in much greater numbers.

Fig 1: Changes in perception towards welcoming Syrian Refugees in 2015 (Source: The Guardian )45

Nations which Lack Resources

“A small number of countries have been left to do far too much just because they are neighbours to a crisis.” – Salil Shetty, Secretary-General of Amnesty International

Nations within this bloc have steadily and progressively accepted refugees, especially in the recent years in response to the Syrian crisis. Reportedly, Jordan is the top refugee hosting country, with more than 2.7 million refugees admitted, followed by Turkey with over 2.5 million refugees, Pakistan with 1.6 million refugees and Lebanon with more than 1.5 million refugees. Reportedly, these ten countries are hosting 56% of the refugees in the world, but they only make up for 2.5% of the global economy -- in other words, these 46

Staufenberg, J. (2015, December 2). Britons twice as hostile as French to Syrian refugees following 44

Paris attacks, YouGov finds. Retrieved October 21, 2016, from http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/britons-twice-as-hostile-to-syrian-refugees-than-french-following-paris-attacks-yougov-finds-a6755821.html

Ibid. 45

Al Jazeera. (2016, October 4). Ten countries host half of world's refugees: Report. Retrieved 46

October 21, 2016, from http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/10/ten-countries-host-world-refugees-report-161004042014076.html

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nations are far below having the means and resources to be able to host such significant numbers, and are unable to continue accepting new refugees onto their soil at a sustainable rate. The unequal share in hosting refugees was exacerbating the global refugee problem, as inadequate conditions in the main countries of shelter push many to embark on dangerous journeys to other areas . 47

Beyond this, in nations which lack the resources to host their refugees, problems are also steadily rising. The Council of Europe, after a visit to Turkey in May and June, noted several issues – only an estimated 20% of Turkey’s refugees have been able to find shelter in dedicated camps; many refugees and asylum-seekers continue to live outside of camps, and face harsh living conditions . Furthermore, child-labour has also seen to have 48

increased exponentially, along with the rise of the number of child brides as families struggle to provide for their children. The lack of adequate education has also been seen to have aggravated the trauma from their displacement for the children – the Council of Europe notes that this may increase the risk of alienation and disaffection, leading to criminality or extremism in severe cases . 49

Legislatively, Turkey is also struggling under the weight of the situation. She simply does not have the resources to process pending registration requests – with a backlog of more than 100,000 pending requests, it was reported that many Turkish public workers were not even aware of their legal obligations with regard to refugees and asylum seekers . As a 50

result, new legislation permitting refugees and asylum seekers to gain employment was only effective to the point of its institution – doors remain closed for refugees in their attempt to access the labour market.

Nations that are Unwilling to House Refugees

Fig 2: Political cartoon criticizing Gulf nations for their inaction, with caption reading: ‘Refugees welcomed by: Saudi: 0, Kuwait: 0, Qatar: 0, Emirates: 0, Bahrain: 0’

(Source: Daily Mail )51

Ibid.47

Eriksson, A. (2016, August 18). Turkey struggling to cope with refugees. Retrieved November 01, 48

2016, from https://euobserver.com/migration/134669

Ibid.49

Ibid.50

Akbar, J. (2015, September 04). Revealed: How the five wealthiest Gulf Nations have so far refused 51

to take a single Syrian refugee. Retrieved November 2, 2016, from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3222405/How-six-wealthiest-Gulf-Nations-refused-single-Syrian-refugee.html

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In the Gulf nations located relatively close to Syria, it was appalling to witness that none of them have taken in any refugees into their countries. Notably, none of these nations have also signed the 1951 Refugee Convention as well. These nations argue that accepting large numbers of Syrian refugees poses a serious threat to their citizens, because of the fear of terrorists hiding among the civilians. That said, many Gulf nations have contributed to the situation in other forms, such as through monetary donations, made to refugee camps established elsewhere. Accordingly, an entire refugee camp was able to be set up because of funding from the UAE. This camp has provided shelter to thousands of Syrian refugees. Saudi Arabia and Qatar are also known to have donated food, shelter, and clothing to refugees in Lebanon, Turkey, and Jordan. Combined, the Gulf states are said to have donated over USD$732,000,000, but this was four times less than what the United States has contributed .52

In more recent news, Australia has made regular headlines with her hard line on immigration and acceptance of refugees. Australia claims that the journey made by asylum seekers are dangerous and are often controlled by criminal gangs, and believes she has a duty to put an end to this situation. Taking power in 2013, the coalition government introduced Operation Sovereign Borders, giving the military control of asylum operations, whereby military vessels would patrol Australian waters and intercept migrant boats, towing them back to Indonesia, or sending asylum seekers back in inflatable dinghies or lifeboats . 53

The Australian government claims their policies have since restored the integrity of her borders, and have have helped prevent deaths at sea . Australia has also been frequently 54

criticized for their treatment of asylum seekers whom they eventually decide to process. While claims for asylum are being processed, asylum seekers will be held in offshore processing centers situated in Nauru, or Manus Island. Reportedly, conditions in these offshore processing centers are exceedingly harsh, with rights groups citing poor hygiene, cramped conditions, unrelenting heat and a lack of basic and necessary facilities . Asylum 55

seekers held at these offshore processing centers are also restricted of their movement, and are not allowed to move out of the centers.

Questions A Resolution Must Answer

1. Are current frameworks sustainable in proving long-term aid for refugees?2. What frameworks or policies can be set up to ensure the integration, resettlement,

and perhaps also the repatriation of refugees?3. Is the 1951 Refugee Convention still relevant in today’s context? Is there a need for

renewal of the Convention, be it in part or in full?4. What frameworks can be set up or revised, to enable countries to balance and/or

prioritize national resources with providing aid to refugees? 5. How can ECOSOC, in the short term, offer assistance to nations which have

accepted significant refugee populations? 6. How can ECOSOC ensure and increase awareness, and therefore encourage wider

acceptance of refugees?

Ibid. 52

BBC (2016, August 03). Australia asylum: Why is it controversial? Retrieved November 3, 2016, 53

from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-28189608

Ibid.54

Ibid.55

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7. How can ECOSOC better work with non-state actors and also governments to improve the current situation?

Topic B: Addressing Food Insecurity and Displacement

DefinitionsFood insecurity

Food insecurity is defined by the The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as “A situation that exists when people lack secure access to sufficient amounts of safe and nutritious food for normal growth and development and an active and healthy life. It may be caused by the unavailability of food, insufficient purchasing power, inappropriate distribution or inadequate use of food at the household level. Food insecurity, poor conditions of health and sanitation and inappropriate care and feeding practices are the major causes of poor nutritional status. Food insecurity may be chronic, seasonal or transitory.”56

Displaced persons

Displaced persons refer to the forced movement of people from their locality or environment and occupational activities. It is a form of social change caused by a number of factors, the most common being armed conflict. Natural disasters, famine, development and economic changes may also be a cause of displacement.57

UndernutritionUndernutrition is defined by the The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) as the

“outcome of insufficient food intake and repeated infectious diseases. Undernutrition includes being underweight for one’s age, too short for one’s age, dangerously thin, and deficient in vitamins and minerals. The term malnutrition refers to both undernutrition and overnutrition.”58

History of Problem

Food insecurity has been an issue in our world since the beginning of time. Vast areas of the world have been plagued by an inequitable distribution of food sources thus led to food insecurity in countries that did not have access to safe and nutritious food. There are

The Food and Agriculture Organisation “Glossary of selected terms” http://www.fao.org/hunger/56

glossary/en/ Accessed 6th December 2016

UNESCO “Displaced Person / Displacement” http://www.unesco.org/new/en/social-and-human-57

sciences/themes/international-migration/glossary/displaced-person-displacement/ Accessed 23 December 2016

The United Nations Children’s Fund “Nutrition, Survival and Development” https://www.unicef.org/58

progressforchildren/2006n4/index_undernutrition.html

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a multitude of factors that contribute to food insecurity in our globalised world, such as climate change, military conflicts, cash crop dependence, corruption and political instability.59

There are various regions which suffer from chronic food insecurity. One such

example is The Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region, which has the highest prevalence of hunger - 1 in 4 people in this region are undernourished. Sub-Saharan Africa is the only region of the world where hunger is projected to worsen over the next two decades unless some drastic measures are taken to ensure peace, improve governance and achieve the economic development required to reverse the current trend . 60

This problem stems from a mix of different economical, political and social problems which eventually culminates in food insecurity, resulting in widespread hunger. Citizens in SSA have low average incomes but still rely on costly food imports which results in many citizens being unable to afford food. This is exacerbated by highly fragmented farming, lack of modern farming and productivity-enhancing techniques as well as weak transport infrastructure, logistics services and distribution channels . All these factors contribute to 61

making the SSA one of the most food-insecure region.

These factors are also applicable to various other food insecure regions, such as Asia, which has ⅔ of its population hungry. There are 490 million people still suffering 62

chronic hunger in the region, and the Asia-Pacific region is home to almost 62 percent of the world’s undernourished. Ironically, the number of people who are overweight or obese is also rapidly increasing in the region, especially in Southwest Pacific Island countries and middle-income countries of Asia . Despite all these, the Asia-Pacific region has achieved the 63

Millennium Development Goals’ hunger target (MDG-1c) of halving the proportion of undernourished people by 2015. The region has also achieved the largest reduction in the absolute number of undernourished people (236 million) . This is the result of policy 64

commitments, and institutional and technological innovations, combined with effective social protection measures.

Food insecurity can, reportedly, result in several devastating consequences, amongst which includes severe undernutrition and even displacement. While food insecurity has most usually called various agencies to attention for the alarming population numbers which are undernourished, it is truly the increasingly growing population of those who are displaced as a result of food insecurity which has called the international community to attention.

Harvest Help African Food Issue “Causes of Food Insecurity in African and Other Third World 59

Countries” http://www.harvesthelp.org.uk/causes-of-food-insecurity-in-african-and-other-third-world-countries.html Accessed 13th December 2016

Food Security and Agricultural Development in SubSaharan Africa “Building a case for more public 60

support Policy Brief No. 1” https://www.oecd.org/tad/agricultural-policies/36784159.pdf Accessed 13th December 2016

The Economist Intelligence Unit “Food security in focus: Sub-Saharan Africa 2014” http://61

foodsecurityindex.eiu.com/Home/DownloadResource?fileName=EIU%20GFSI%202014_Sub-Saharan%20Africa%20regional%20report.pdf Accessed 13th December 2016

World Food Programme “Hunger statistics” https://www.wfp.org/hunger/stats Accessed 13th 62

December 2016

FAO “Regional Overview of Food Insecurity Asia and the Pacific” http://www.fao.org/3/a-i4624e.pdf 63

Accessed 23 December 2016

ibid64

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Along with securing food, it is also important to note that water security is closely intertwined with our topic of discussion. This is especially important for agricultural areas, where water is a precious and important resource not only for personal survival but also for generating wealth and providing sustenance . In regions where water security cannot be 65

achieved, food security is usually also affected and with it, the livelihood and survival of whole communities. While it is important to recognize the need for water security, the dais would like to remind delegates that the focus of the discussion should be on food security and the resultant displacement of peoples.

Statement and Discussion of Problem

Food insecurity is still a prominent issue in our globalised world. Even though progress continues in the fight against hunger, an unacceptably large number of people still lack the food they need for an active and healthy life. The latest available estimates indicate that about 795 million people in the world – just over one in nine people – were undernourished in 2014–2016. . Furthermore, more than 90 million children under the age 66

of five are undernourished and underweight.

�Fig.3: Changes in numbers and prevalence of undernourishment worldwide from 1990-2016

(Source: FAO )67

United Nations Water for Life Decade “Water and food security” http://www.un.org/65

waterforlifedecade/food_security.shtml Accessed 13th December 2016

The Food and Agricultural Organisation “The State of Food Insecurity in the World” http://66

www.fao.org/3/a-i4646e.pdf Accessed 6th December 2016

Ibid.67

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That said, there is, recognizably, a severe disparity between the information present and the actual amount of information collected. There are currently no internationally published statistics on the amount of displaced persons as a result of food insecurity. Without the availability of information, it is difficult for governments and international organisations to come up with a comprehensive framework to tackle displacement as a result of food insecurity.

Food insecurity has many devastating consequences especially in Less Economically Developed Nations (LEDCs). Due to food insecurity, 66 million primary school-age children attend school hungry across the developing world – in Africa alone, 23 million children attend classes while hungry. As a result, the World Food Programme estimates that US$3.2 billion each year is needed to reach all 66 million school-age children. 68

Across all countries the percentage of undernourished people has dropped over the

years but it is still not at a satisfactory level. Currently the percentage of undernourished people is at 10.9% globally, far above the 5% deemed as “very low” by the Millennium Development Goal hunger target. More measures and policies must be implemented in 69

order to ensure that more countries and people are food secure.

Delegates must take note that national self-sufficiency is neither necessary nor sufficient to guarantee food security at the individual level. For example, countries like Hong Kong and Singapore are not self-sufficient (agriculture is nonexistent) but their populations are food-secure, whereas India is self-sufficient but a large part of its population is not food-secure. As a result, about 21% of India’s population are suffering from undernutrition ; an 70 71

outcome of long term food insecurity as they continuously lacked access to sufficient amounts of safe and nutritious food. This thus shows that a country’s agricultural assets do not often directly relate to its food security and displacement rates, and instead depends on a multitude of intertwined economical, political and social problems which remains to be resolved.

Current Situation

The World Food Programme (WFP) has characterized hunger, or food insecurity, to stem from 6 key factors; the poverty trap, lack of investment in agriculture, climate and weather, war and displacement, unstable markets and food wastage. Each of these factors clearly affect at least one of the four key aspects of food security: availability, access,

World Food Programme “Hunger Statistics” https://www.wfp.org/hunger/stats Accessed 13th 68

December 2016

Food and Agricultural Organisation “The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2015” http://69

www.fao.org/hunger/en/ Accessed 6th December 2016

Global food security under climate change http://www.pnas.org/content/104/50/19703.full Accessed 70

12th December 2016

William Thomson “India’s Food Security Problem” http://thediplomat.com/2012/04/indias-food-71

security-problem/ Accessed 12th December 2016

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stability and utilization in some way . Recently however, much focus on dealing with food 72

security has been poured into the study of climate change and its effects on food security.

Climate change poses serious threats to agriculture and food security globally. Its impacts on agriculture include, but are not limited to, heat waves, pests, drought, desertification, freshwater decline, and biodiversity loss. The global poor, who are most dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods, are most vulnerable to climate change impacts on agriculture. They are also the most likely to be forced from their homes when a drought or flooding wipe out agricultural resources on which they depend, effectively becoming food insecure and displaced .73

A recent study concluded that if climate change continued on the path it is on, its impact on food security would lead to approximately 529,000 deaths by 2050 . While there 74

are no reliable global estimates for the number of people uprooted each year due to food insecurity brought on by drought, severe flooding, or other climate-related disasters, there are numerous tragic examples of the propensity of climate change-related effects to displace significant numbers of poor and vulnerable people.

Examples of these include the 2011 drought and famine in the eastern Horn of Africa, killing an estimated 260,000 Somalis and driving a quarter of the country’s population from their homes. Even today, and despite the fact the Somali government has now gained control of large parts of the country, one in ten Somalis remains displaced either within Somalia or abroad, many of whom are food insecure . In 2014-2015, the Andhra Pradesh 75

and Tamil Nadu floods in India displaced over 1.8mil people in the Tamil Nadu state , with 76

millions of hectares of crops destroyed, exacerbating the food security situation in India.

Climate-induced migration and displacement surfaced as a key concern at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (known as COP21) that took place in early December. In his opening remarks, President Obama noted the possible futures we face if climate change remains unaddressed: “Submerged countries. Abandoned cities. Fields that no longer grow. Political disruptions that trigger new conflict, and even more floods of desperate peoples seeking the sanctuary of nations not their own.” . Some reports even 77

suggest that climate change could cause the creation of a new type of refugee, appropriately named “climate refugee”, of which populations in low-lying coastal regions, such as in Bangladesh or the Maldives, are most likely to become a part of.

World Food Programme. (2016). What causes hunger. Retrieved 12 12, 2016, from https://72

www.wfp.org/hunger/causes

Pulaski, T. (2016, March 8). Food Security and Displacement in a Warming World. Retrieved 73

October 30, 2016, from http://www.refugeesinternational.org/blog/2016/3/7/foodsecurity

Springman, M. (2016). Global and regional health effects of future food production under climate 74

change: a modelling study. The Lancet.

Pulaski, T. (2016, March 8). Food Security and Displacement in a Warming World. Retrieved 75

October 30, 2016

IDMC. (2015). Disaster Induced Displacement Dataset. IDMC's Global Internal Displacement 76

Database. IDMC.

Heimann, L. (2015, December 10). Natural Disasters Displace Millions, Affect Migration Flows. 77

Retrieved October 30, 2016, from http://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/top-10-2015-issue-7-climate-change-and-natural-disasters-displace-millions-affect

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Widely cited estimates show that over the period 1980 to 2008 there was a 5.5 percent drop in wheat yields and a 3.8 percent drop in maize yields globally, compared to what they would have been had climate remained stable . Additionally, the IPCC Fifth 78

Assessment Report provides new evidence that crop yields are expected to decline in areas that already suffer food insecurity. Climate change also affects livestock production in multiple ways, of which the most important impacts are on animal productivity, animal health and biodiversity, the quality and amount of feed supply, and the carrying capacity of pastures.

Having understood the threats that climate change can pose to both food security and mass displacement of human populations, the UN Paris Climate Change Agreement was adopted by national governments. Even though the Paris Agreement did see nations commit to cutting greenhouse gas emissions to prevent a 2-degree Celsius increase in global temperatures, it is clear frameworks that deal with food security and climate-induced displacement require much more international support.

Case Studies

For India, food security continues to be high on its list of development priorities because the country's relatively high rates of economic growth have not led to a reduction in hunger and undernutrition. India's gross domestic product at factor cost and per capita income grew at seven percent and five percent per annum, respectively, from 1990-91 to 2013-14. However, the incidence of undernutrition has dropped only marginally from 210.1 million in 1990 to 194.6 million in 2014, and India has failed to meet the Millennium Development Goal of halving the proportion of people who suffer from hunger. About 12 Indian states fall under the 'alarming' category of the Global Hunger Index. According to the National Family Health Survey 2015-16, the proportion of children under five years who are underweight is significantly high in states such as Bihar (43.9 percent), Madhya Pradesh (42.8 percent) and Andhra Pradesh (31.9 percent) .79

Even so, the FAO has rated the overall food security situation in India is to be satisfactory. This is mainly due to ample food stocks and the provision of highly‑subsidized rice, wheat and coarse grains through distribution programmes, especially for the below‑poverty line families through the National Food Security Act (NFSA). Still, it acknowledges that India is prone to floods during the monsoon season, which normally affect large numbers of people. In recent years, recurrent floods and landslides mostly concentrated in the northeastern pasts of the country, affected at least 5.9 million people in Assam and Bihar alone, causing deaths and injuries, mass displacement (1.8mil), loss of livestock and flood supplies .80

Past UN Actions

The UN FAO acts as the main UN body dealing with issues relating to food security, while the UNHCR deals with climate-induced internally displaced persons (IDPs). Both

Lobell, D., Schlenker, W., & Costa-Roberts, J. (2011). Climate Trends and Global Crop Production 78

since 1980. PubMed.

Chakrabarty, M. (2016). Climate Change and Food Security in India. ORF.79

FAO. (2016, August 24). GIEWS Country Briefs on India. Retrieved October 30, 2016, from http://80

www.fao.org/giews/countrybrief/country.jsp?code=IND&lang=en

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organisations have a variety of different programmes and framework aimed towards dealing with the issues of concern, often tailored to a particular region or nation.FAO Mitigation of Climate Change in Agriculture (MICCA) Programme

The MICCA programme strengthens FAO’s longstanding work to address climate change in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors and supports countries participating in the climate change negotiation processes within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change . 81

The MICCA programme generates technical knowledge, working on the ground and with partners to:

1. Monitor and assess greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the mitigation potential in agriculture;

2. Develop the capacity of stakeholders working on national GHG inventories and farmers using Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices;

3. Carry out life cycle assessments to guide decision making; 4. Give guidance on climate change mitigation & adaptation options, including

for peatlands and organic soils;5. Mainstream gender in CSA; facilitate online communities of practice; and run

online learning events.

MICCA implemented two pilot projects in the United Republic of Tanzania and Kenya in 2011-2014 providing evidence that climate-smart agricultural practices can reduce GHG emissions, improve farmers’ lives and make local communities better able to adapt to changing climatic conditions.

In Kenya, the four-year pilot project involved smallholder dairy producers in Kaptumo in the Nandi South District of the Rift Valley Province. The pilot project, which interacted with over 4 500 male and female farmers, was carried out within the framework of the East Africa Dairy Development Project (EADD).

In this pilot project, the MICCA Programme, ICRAF and smallholder dairy producers used a life cycle assessment, EX-ACT tool and other approaches to test technical alternatives for reducing the climate change ‘footprint’ of the dairy industry.

As part of its work to support farmers in raising climate-smart cattle and to improve the overall greenhouse gas balance of the farming systems, the pilot project was looking at ways to enhance fodder production and livestock management and to improve the management of manure to produce fertilizers and biogas. The project resulted in reduced GHG emissions from the farm systems and enhanced sinks . 82

MICCA played a significant role in enriching the general body of knowledge on key GHG sources in the Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector, and enables a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms that cause emissions. Additionally, farmers who participated in the MICCA pilot projects reported that the main benefits of CSA were higher yields, greater farm income and increased food availability. These results

FAO. (2016). Mitigation of Climate Change in Agriculture (MICCA) Programme. Retrieved October 81

30, 2016, from http://www.fao.org/in-action/micca/en/

FAO. (2016). Kenya | FAO | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 82

October 30, 2016, from http://www.fao.org/in-action/micca/on-the-ground/africa/kenya/en/

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indicate that CSA can be an effective pathway for improving food security, alleviating poverty and building more resilient livelihoods.

Perhaps the main criticism that could be levelled against MICCA would be the current small take-up rate of the programme globally, with less than 10 countries implementing the suggestions made by MICCA into its national agricultural development policy. This demonstrates that without proper whole-of-government support for genuine investment in the agricultural sector, true food security still remains elusive for much of the rural world. Furthermore, while MICCA does well in targeting the pillars of food availability and stability in ensuring food security, it fails to address the pillars of proper access and utilization of food which collectively also make-up food security.

It is perhaps key to note that food security is not an exclusively rural problem and developed countries also have much to do in gradually improving global food security. In particular, most of the developed world have not done much in ensuring that food wastage, which accounts for one-third of all food produced and is a key contributor to global food insecurity, is significantly reduced.

Bloc Positions

Despite having much attention paid to developing countries, developed countries have also faced problems in achieving food security. In dealing with this topic, therefore, it is important to note the diverse nature of different nations, in relation their production, acquisition or sale of food products.

Europe and North America

Both regions are performing well in terms of ensuring food security. Notably, Europe has presented a set of comprehensive safety-net programmes to ensure food security within the region, and to ensure that food price inflation is not too drastic . Both Europe and North 83

America has been seen to rank first and second of all regions in the world in terms of achieving adequate and optimal availability, as well as affordability.

That said, both regions are facing the problem of a highly volatile production and low urban absorption capacity. Urban absorption capacity is defined as the ability of a country to absorb urbanizing populations and to support their food needs.

These two regions also tend to be large contributors to food aid internationally. Significant amounts of food aid received in the Sub-Saharan African region tend to be contributed by this bloc, as these nations often possess both agricultural strength and also financial strength to offer such assistance.

Asia, Middle East, Central and South America, North Africa

These regions comprise of a mixture of developed and developing countries, each varying in terms if economic and political structures. In these regions, income levels are closely tied to food security. There can thus be observed the trend that the more developed a country is, the better they fare in terms of food security.

The Economist. (2014). Food Security in Focus: Europe 2014 (Rep.). Retrieved November 2, 2016 83

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That said, corruption is a problem that greatly affects food distribution, and significantly distorts the price of the food products – this is seen especially in the regions of Central and South America. Despite so, however, the regions have performed well in dealing with price and supply volatility, despite failures in crop harvests.

Several Middle Eastern and North African countries are also performing well in terms of ensuring food security. States such as Turkey and Morocco are self-sufficient in almost all agricultural products. That said, Gulf Nations remain heavily reliant on food imports, but this reliance is tempered with reduced agricultural tariffs to ensure affordability.

Sub-Saharan Africa

This region has been reported to constantly face an inability to meet the factors of: affordability, availability, as well as quality and safety. Part of this is due to the large percentage of low-income countries within the region – it is reported that of the 28 countries within the region, 18 of them are considered to be of low-income and are unable to ensure constant ability to afford for food products.

The main problem faced by SSA is a widespread poverty and reliance on food imports that are often too costly for the locals. Moreover, populations in the SSA sprawl over large areas which, more often than not, face weak infrastructures which make food distribution exceedingly difficult. Political and social unrest is also rampant within this region, and frequently affect food distribution. This has resulted in a surge in the number of refugees and internally displaced people.

That said, SSA has also experienced a rapid and significant economic growth in the recent years, and this has resulted in an overall strengthening of food security in the region. It should also be noted that the SSA has an abundance of natural resources, and local authorities often thus seem to focus their policies on the agricultural sector so as to increase affordability and availability of food products.

Overall, this region is the largest recipient of food aid.

Questions a Resolution Must Answer

1. Can current levels of production meet future food needs?2. Is national food security still critical given global trade? Are agricultural agreements

still relevant?3. Will relying on external trade for food affect food security in a nation by reducing

employment?4. Does free trade of food products benefit those most likely to suffer from food

insecurity?5. What is the role of food aid, given the increasing prominence of trade? (Note: aid is

increasingly being thought of as distorting markets of recipient states. NGOs have, very often, pushed for a “trade, not aid” approach. However, trade subjects nations and/or regions to volatility and uncertainly – are there ways to go about solving this problem? How then to ensure that trade will not only facilitate the continued dominance of oligopolies?)

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Position Paper RequirementsAll delegates are required to submit a position paper detailing their background

research, country’s stance as well proposed solutions. This background research is to be additional to the study guide content, so as to avoid repeating information.

Only a single document is required for the delegate, which should content research, stances as well as solutions for both topics, with a maximum of three pages (maximum of 1.5 pages per topic). Please submit this document in .word or .pdf format.

All position papers should state their country’s position in relation to the topics to be discussed in the council, to be supported by any additional background information they have researched. If your country does not have a specific stance, your position paper may be written from a neutral perspective. The background information ought to be useful for your stance as well as proposed solutions in the later part of the paper. Solutions should be reasonable and feasible for the council, as well as from your country’s stance.

Position papers should be in Arial (font size 12), single spaced and justified. All references must be cited in either the MLA or Chicago style. Your committee, country, and name should be included in the position paper as well. Please avoid using images unless necessary, even state symbols and flags, so as not to clutter up the paper. Your country’s stance and proposed solutions ought to be the main focus.

No plagiarism is tolerated, and any delegate found to be plagiarising will automatically be disqualified from any and all awards. Please avoid submitting late without a valid reason, as this may also lead to award disqualification. Any extensions with valid reasons are to be requested by contacting your chairpersons.

The Position Paper is due 7th February, 2017.

Concluding Remarks

Congratulations! You have come to the end of the study guide!

We hope that this study guide has helped to give you a better understanding of the topics, and have served as a useful springboard to help you develop your own unique arguments and ideas on the topics at hand. Keeping in mind this purpose of the study guide, we wish to draw attention to the fact that your understanding of the issues at hand would come largely from your own research, and from the actual debate.

The dais encourages you to give some thought to your approach to committee discussions during NTUMUN 2017 – we hope to witness some engaging, fun, but yet grounded discussions, all of which made possible through critical and comprehensive analyses of your country’s stance, as well as the discussion topics.

Above all, the dais would like to remind delegates that this conference is a simulation of multi-lateral diplomatic negotiations. As you will be representing member states of the international community, the dais looks very favourably upon delegates who are able to observe decorum and remain respectful of differences both in conduct and speeches, whether in- or outside of the committee venue.

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Feel free to contact the dais should you have any queries. We look forward to meeting you and in the meantime, good luck!

Bibliography

Introduction to Committee

Karns, M. P., & Mingst, K. A. (2004). International organizations: The politics and processes of global governance. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner.

United Nations. (n.d.). Retrieved October 29, 2016, from http://www.un.org/en/sections/un-charter/chapter-x/index.html

UN economic and social council (n.d.). Retrieved October 20, 2016, from http://www.un.org/en/ecosoc/about/index.shtml

UN ECOSOC. (n.d.). About Us. Retrieved October 18, 2016, from https://www.un.org/ecosoc/en/FAQ#newfunctionecosoc

UN DESA NGO Branch. (n.d.). About ECOSOC and its Subsidiary Bodies. Retrieved October 20, 2016, from http://csonet.org/?menu=123

Topic A

Akbar, J. (2015, September 04). Revealed: How the five wealthiest Gulf Nations have so far refused to take a single Syrian refugee. Retrieved November 2, 2016, from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3222405/How-six-wealthiest-Gulf-Nations-refused-single-Syrian-refugee.html

Al Jazeera. (2016, October 4). Ten countries host half of world's refugees: Report. Retrieved October 21, 2016, from http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/10/ten-countries-host-world-refugees-report-161004042014076.html

BBC (2016, August 03). Australia asylum: Why is it controversial? Retrieved November 3, 2016, from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-28189608

Delcker, J. (2016, May 25). Angela Merkel to refugees: Integration is a must. Retrieved October 28, 2016, from http://www.politico.eu/article/angela-merkel-to-refugees-integration-is-a-must-germany/

Development and Training Services, Inc. (2016). Field Evaluation of Local Integration of Central African Refugees in Cameroon. Office of Policy and Resource Planning, Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM), U.S. Department of State.

DPA. (2016, July 08). Germany passes historic law on refugee integration. Retrieved October 25, 2016, from http://www.thelocal.de/20160708/germany-passes-historic-law-on-refugee-integration

Eriksson, A. (2016, August 18). Turkey struggling to cope with refugees. Retrieved November 01, 2016, from https://euobserver.com/migration/134669

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Euronews. (2015, September 30). Why aren't rich Gulf states welcoming Syrian refugees...or are they? Retrieved December 10, 2016, from http://www.euronews.com/2015/09/30/why-aren-t-rich-gulf-states-welcoming-syrian-refugeesor-are-they

Government of Canada. (2016, June 21). Canada welcomes Syrian refugees. Retrieved October 14, 2016, from http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/refugees/welcome/index.asp

Mucci, A. (2016, March 25). Do Sweden's refugee policies work? Retrieved October 28, 2016, from http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2016/02/sweden-refugee-policies-work-160229153658044.html

Murshid, N. (n.d.). Hurting the Host: The Dynamics of Refugee-Related Violence ... Retrieved October 21, 2016, from http://www.rochester.edu/college/psc/cpw/pdf/Murshid.pdf?origin=publication_detail

OECD. (2016, May 13). Sweden in a strong position to integrate refugees, but support for the low skilled needs to be strengthened. Retrieved October 28, 2016, from http://www.oecd.org/sweden/sweden-in-a-strong-position-to-integrate-refugees-but-support-for-the-low-skilled-needs-to-be-strengthened.htm

Staufenberg, J. (2015, December 2). Britons twice as hostile as French to Syrian refugees following Paris attacks, YouGov finds. Retrieved October 21, 2016, from http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/britons-twice-as-hostile-to-syrian-refugees-than-french-following-paris-attacks-yougov-finds-a6755821.html

Stephens, M. (2015, September 7). Migrant crisis: Why the Gulf states are not letting Syrians in. Retrieved December 10, 2016, from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34173139

The New York Times. (2016, June 13). Europe’s Rising Far Right: A Guide to the Most Prominent Parties. Retrieved October 28, 2016, from http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/world/europe/europe-far-right-political-parties-listy.html?_r=0

UNHCR. (2015, May 19). Populations | Global Focus. Retrieved October 24, 2016, from http://reporting.unhcr.org/population

UNHCR. (2015, December 12). Cameroon | Global Focus. Retrieved October 30, 2016, from http://reporting.unhcr.org/node/2525#_ga=1.202342801.104651014.1476892434

UNHCR. (2016). Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP) 2016-2017 in Response to the Syria Crisis. UNHCR.

UNHCR. (2016). UNHCR Global Appeal 2016-2017. UNHCR.

Topic B

Pulaski, T. (2016, March 8). Food Security and Displacement in a Warming World. Retrieved October 30, 2016, from http://www.refugeesinternational.org/blog/2016/3/7/foodsecurity

Springman, M. (2016). Global and regional health effects of future food production under climate change: a modelling study. The Lancet.

IDMC. (2015). Disaster Induced Displacement Dataset. IDMC's Global Internal Displacement Database. IDMC.

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Heimann, L. (2015, December 10). Natural Disasters Displace Millions, Affect Migration Flows. Retrieved October 30, 2016, from http://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/top-10-2015-issue-7-climate-change-and-natural-disasters-displace-millions-affect

Lobell, D., Schlenker, W., & Costa-Roberts, J. (2011). Climate Trends and Global Crop Production since 1980. PubMed.

Chakrabarty, M. (2016). Climate Change and Food Security in India. ORF.

FAO. (2016, August 24). GIEWS Country Briefs on India. Retrieved October 30, 2016, from http://www.fao.org/giews/countrybrief/country.jsp?code=IND&lang=en

FAO. (2016). Mitigation of Climate Change in Agriculture (MICCA) Programme. Retrieved October 30, 2016, from http://www.fao.org/in-action/micca/en/

FAO. (2016). Kenya | FAO | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved October 30, 2016, from http://www.fao.org/in-action/micca/on-the-ground/africa/kenya/en/

World Food Programme. (2016). What causes hunger. Retrieved 12 12, 2016, from https://www.wfp.org/hunger/causes

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