Commission on the Status of Women

Topic: Gender-Based Violence in Conflict Zones in the Middle East and North Africa

Content Warning: This committee will deal with sensitive issues relating to sexual and gender-based violence. Delegates in this committee should be prepared to discuss sensitive topics respectfully while promoting diplomacy and debate.

The Commission on the Status of Women has been key to the advancement and incorporation of women's rights in the area of international diplomacy, and his year's CSW will tackle a variety of complex and nuanced issues central to the discussion on gender equality. First, the committee must address the epidemic of gender-based violence in conflict zones, producing solutions to limit and prevent occurrences of gender-based violence such as arbitrary killings, abductions, forced marriage and sexual violence. Both state and non-state actors are responsible for perpetuating violence during armed conflict, and the CSW must regulate this atrocity. As well, the CSW will be working towards increasing gender representation within politics, exploring solutions to increase women in public service and government positions, and encouraging the presence of women in decision-making and policy-drafting. The United Nations has made great strides towards a diverse slate of social issues, but we have yet to achieve full gender equality, and this iteration of the CSW will play a vital role in rectifying that.