Erfur t, Germany
24 November - 1 December 2019nmun.org/conferences/germany.html

General Assembly Plenary Committee
Background Guide 2019
Written by: Jeffrey A. Thorpe II, Director;
Norovsuren Enkhbaatar, Assistant Director

NATIONAL MODEL UNITED NATIONS© 2019 NMUNNATIONAL MODEL UNITED NATIONS
THE WORLD’S LARGEST UNIVERSITY-LEVEL SIMULATION • SINCE 1927
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www.nmun.org • info@nmun.or g • 612.353.5649
Dear Delegates,
Welcome to the 2019 National Model United Nations Conference in Erfurt, Germany (NMUN • Germany)!
We are pleased to introduce you to our committee, the General Assembly Plenary. This year’s staff is:
Director Jeffrey Thorpe and Assistant Director Norovsuren "Noro" Enkhbaatar. Jeffrey has a Master of
Public Administration and his B.A. in Political Science and International Studies from Georgia Southern
University. He works as a Research Analyst for the Judicial Council of Georgia Administrative Office of
the Courts in Atlanta, Georgia, US. Noro holds a B.A. in Economics, Law and Social Sciences from the
University of Erfurt. Additionally, she acts as the current treasurer of the Model United Nations project at
the University of Erfurt.
The topics under discussion for the General Assembly Plenary are:
I.
II.

Women in Development
Meeting the Fast-Track Commitments to Eradicate HIV/AIDS

As one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, the General Assembly is the main deliberative,
policymaking, and representative body of the organization. With universal membership, the General
Assembly provides a global forum for world leaders to discuss a variety of topics across the United
Nations system. In order to accurately simulate the committee, it will be key for delegates to focus onconsensus building and best practice-setting approaches of the General Assembly, as opposed tooperational work.
This Background Guide serves as an introduction to the topics for this committee. However, it is notintended to replace individual research. We encourage you to conduct additional research, explore yourMember State’s policies in-depth, and examine the policies of other Member States to improve yourability to negotiate and reach consensus. In preparation for the conference, each delegation will use theirresearch to draft and submit a position paper. Guidelines are available in the NMUN Position Paper
Guide.
The NMUN website has many additional resources, including two that are essential both in preparation
for the conference and as a resource during the conference. They are:
1. The NMUN Delegate Preparation Guide, which explains each step in the delegate process, frompre-Conference research to the committee debate and resolution drafting processes. Please takenote of the information on plagiarism, and the prohibition on pre-written working papers andresolutions. Delegates should not discuss the topics or agenda with other members of theircommittee until the first committee session.
2. The NMUN Rules of Procedure, which includes the long and short form of the rules as well as an
explanatory narrative and example script of the flow of procedure.
In addition, please review the mandatory NMUN Conduct Expectations on the NMUN website. They
include the conference dress code and other expectations of all attendees. We want to emphasize that
any instances of sexual harassment or discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, national
origin, religion, age, or disability will not be tolerated. If you have any questions concerning yourpreparation for the committee, please contact the Deputy Secretary-General Marleen Schreier at
dsg.germany@nmun.org.
We wish you all the best in your preparations and look forward to seeing you at the conference!
Sincerely,
Jeffrey Thorpe, Director
Norovsuren Enkhbaatar, Assistant Director

Table of Contents
Committee Overview ........................................................................................................................... 3
Introduction......................................................................................................................................... 3
Governance, Structure, and Membership .......................................................................................... 3
Mandate, Functions, and Powers ...................................................................................................... 4
Recent Sessions and Current Priorities ............................................................................................. 6
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................... 7
Annotated Bibliography ...................................................................................................................... 7
Bibliography........................................................................................................................................ 8
I. Women in Development ................................................................................................................. 10
Introduction....................................................................................................................................... 10International and Regional Framework ............................................................................................ 10
Role of the International System ...................................................................................................... 12
Economic Challenges and Intersectionality ..................................................................................... 13
Conclusion........................................................................................................................................ 14
Further Research ............................................................................................................................. 15
Annotated Bibliography .................................................................................................................... 15
Bibliography...................................................................................................................................... 16
II. Meeting the Fast-Track Commitments to Eradicate HIV/AIDS .................................................. 21
Introduction....................................................................................................................................... 21
International and Regional Framework ............................................................................................ 22
Role of the International System ...................................................................................................... 23
Challenges to Eradicating HIV/AIDS Globally ................................................................................. 25
Conclusion........................................................................................................................................ 26
Further Research ............................................................................................................................. 26
Annotated Bibliography .................................................................................................................... 26
Bibliography...................................................................................................................................... 27

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Committee Overview
Introduction
In 1945, following the conclusion of the Second WorldThe General Assembly Plenary has six
War, the United Nations (UN) was founded to maintain
Main
Committees. A report is issued to theinternational peace and security, foster diplomatic
General Assembly Plenary for each item
relations between states, achieve international
allocated to a Main Committee.
cooperation in addressing global problems and promoting
human rights, and harmonize state actions towards theseends.1 Article 7 of the Charter of the United Nations (1945) establishes six principal organs: the General
Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, theInternational Court of Justice, and the Secretariat.2 Of these, only the General Assembly has universal
membership, rendering it a unique forum for discussion within the UN system.3 As the normative center of
the UN, the General Assembly is a generator of ideas, a place of international debate, and a hub for new
concepts and practices in the political, economic, humanitarian, social, and legal spheres.4
Governance, Structure, and MembershipAll 193 UN Member States are represented in the General Assembly, with each Member State having
one vote.5 The General Assembly may grant Observer status to intergovernmental organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and non-Member States or entities, which allows them to participate insessions but does not grant them voting rights. 6 The General Assembly makes the majority of its
decisions via consensus.7 When a vote is held, regular decisions require a simple majority of memberspresent and voting, while important decisions require a two-thirds majority of members present andvoting.8
The General Assembly has six Main Committees that are topically organized around the General
Assembly’s main fields of responsibility: the Disarmament and International Security Committee (First
Committee); the Economic and Financial Committee (Second Committee); the Social, Humanitarian andCultural Committee (Third Committee); the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (FourthCommittee); the Administrative and Budgetary Committee (Fifth Committee); and the Legal Committee(Sixth Committee).9 The Main Committees discuss agenda items assigned to them, adopt draft
resolutions, and submit a report on their work to the Plenary. 10 The Plenary then considers these reports
and “proceeds without debate to the adoption of the recommended resolutions and decisions. If adopted
by consensus in the committee, the Plenary decides by consensus as well; likewise, if adopted by a votein the committee, the Plenary votes on the resolution or decision in question.”11 The Plenary may alsodecide to address an issue without prior reference to a committee.12
Each year, the General Assembly’s regular session begins on the Tuesday of the third week in
September.13 Since its 44th session in 1989, the General Assembly has been considered in session

1 Charter of the United Nations, 1945, Art. 1.
2 Ibid., Art. 7.
3 UN General Assembly, General Assembly of the United Nations.
4 Thakur, The United Nations, Peace and Security, 2006, pp. 91, 162; UN General Assembly, Functions and powersof the General Assembly.
5 Charter of the United Nations, 1945, Art. 18.
6 Switzerland, The PGA Handbook: A practical guide to the United Nations General Assembly, 2011, p. 30.
7 New Zealand, United Nations Handbook 2017-2018, 2017, p. 12.
8 Ibid.
9 Switzerland, The PGA Handbook: A practical guide to the United Nations General Assembly, 2011, p. 18.
10 New Zealand, United Nations Handbook 2017-2018, 2017, p. 23.
11 Smith, Politics and Process at the United Nations: The Global Dance, 2006, p. 161; Switzerland, The PGA

Handbook: A practical guide to the United Nations General Assembly, 2011, p. 62.
12 New Zealand, United Nations Handbook 2016-2017, 2015, p. 23.
13 Ibid., p. 17.

3

throughout the year.14 The busiest period, otherwise known as the “main part of the General Assembly,”
lasts from the start of the session in September until the end of December; it includes the general debate
and most of the Main Committees’ work.15 The remainder of the year, or the “resumed part of the General
Assembly,” involves thematic debates, consultation processes, and working group meetings.16 In addition
to the regular session, the General Assembly may also hold special sessions on individual issues at therequest of either the Security Council or a majority of Member States. 17
The President of the General Assembly (PGA) is the largely ceremonial head of the General Assembly,
elected each year by a simple majority of Member States to a nonrenewable one-year term.18 The PGA’s
duties are to facilitate Plenary sessions by directing discussion, managing the administration of meetings,
and enforcing the General Assembly Rules of Procedure. 19 The PGA does not preside over all six
General Assembly committees separately; rather, Chairs and Vice Chairs are the facilitators of individualcommittees.20 The PGA also performs executive duties, such as meeting regularly with the SecretaryGeneral, the President of the Security Council, and the President of the Economic and Social Council;
communicating with the press and the public; and organizing high-level meetings on certain thematic
issues.21
As a main organ of the UN, the General Assembly does not report to any other organ. 22 It receives
substantive and organizational support from two important entities: the General Committee and theDepartment for General Assembly and Conference Management (DGACM). 23 The General Committee iscomprised of the PGA and the 21 Vice-Presidents of the General Assembly, as well as the Chairpersonsof the Main Committees; all position-holders are elected each session on a nonrenewable basis.24 The
General Committee’s main duty, aside from making recommendations on organizational issues, is toallocate agenda items to the Plenary and the Main Committees from a preliminary list received from the
UN Secretariat.25 The DGACM acts as the intersection between the General Assembly and the Economic
and Social Council (ECOSOC) and provides valuable technical secretariat support, mainly through its
General Assembly and ECOSOC Affairs Division. 26 Within the UN Secretariat, other departments andoffices offer both substantive and technical support to each of the six Main Committees. 27
Mandate, Functions, and Powers
The mandate of the General Assembly is defined in Chapter IV (Articles 10-22) of the Charter of theUnited Nations.28 As stipulated by Article 10, the General Assembly is broadly tasked with discussing “anyquestions or any matters within the scope of the [Charter] or relating to the powers and functions of any
organs provided for in the [Charter],” and it may make relevant recommendations to Member States or to
the Security Council.29
Functions and powers of the General Assembly include the following:

14 Switzerland, The PGA Handbook: A practical guide to the United Nations General Assembly, 2011, p. 14.
15 Switzerland, The PGA Handbook: A practical guide to the United Nations General Assembly, 2011, p. 14.
16 Ibid.
17 Ibid.
18 Ibid., p. 16.
19 Ibid.
20 Ibid., pp. 15 & 18.
21 Ibid., pp. 16-17.
22 Charter of the United Nations, 1945, Art. 98.
23 Switzerland, The PGA Handbook: A practical guide to the United Nations General Assembly, 2011, p. 17.
24 Ibid., p. 18.
25 Ibid., p. 17.
26 Ibid., p. 24; UN DGACM, Functions of the Department.
27 Switzerland, The PGA Handbook: A practical guide to the United Nations General Assembly, 2011, pp. 63-68.
28 Charter of the United Nations, 1945, Ch. IV.
29 Ibid., Art. 10.

4

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








While the General Assembly may address matters of international peace and security,
any such matters requiring action must also be referred to the Security Council.
Further, the General Assembly may not make recommendations related to any disputeor situation in respect of which the Security Council is exercising its functions. 30 The
only exception is if the Security Council fails to reach a decision on an issue due to lackof consensus among its permanent members, at which point the General Assembly
may convene an emergency special session within 24 hours to address the issue inquestion.31
The General Assembly may initiate studies and make recommendations to promoteinternational cooperation in the political, economic, social, cultural, educational, or
health fields; the development and codification of international law; or the realization of
fundamental human rights and freedoms.32
The General Assembly may make recommendations “for the peaceful adjustment of
any situation, regardless of origin, which it deems likely to impair the general welfare orfriendly relations among nations.”33
The General Assembly may create subsidiary organs “as it deems necessary for the
performance of its functions.”34 Main Committees are therefore capable of introducing
resolutions that can lead to the creation and funding of agencies or meetings, as wellas ad hoc committees or working groups, that consider a particular question with the
purpose of reporting to the General Assembly. 35
The General Assembly receives and considers regular reports from the Security
Council and from other UN organs.36
The General Assembly considers and approves the UN’s budget and apportions
expenses to be borne by individual Member States. 37
The General Assembly “elects the 10 non-permanent members of the Security Council
and the 54 members of the Economic and Social Council. Together with the Security
Council, but voting independently, it elects the members of the International Court ofJustice.”38
The General Assembly also elects the members of its subsidiary bodies, such as the
Human Rights Council and the Peacebuilding Commission.39
Based on the recommendation of the Security Council, the General Assembly appoints
the Secretary-General.40

Only resolutions adopted by the Plenary are put into effect as official resolutions of the General
Assembly.41 However, unlike Security Council resolutions enacted under Chapter VII of the Charter,
General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding on Member States even after adoption by the
Plenary.42 Nonetheless, General Assembly resolutions represent policy norms reached by consensus
among Member States, and they often lead to concrete action by the international community.43

30 Ibid., Arts. 11-12.
31 Switzerland, The PGA Handbook: A practical guide to the United Nations General Assembly, 2011, p. 15.
32 Charter of the United Nations, 1945, Art. 13; UN General Assembly, Functions and Powers of the General

Assembly.
33 Charter of the United Nations, 1945, Art. 14.
34 Ibid., Art. 22.
35 Weis, The United Nations and Changing World Politics, 2004, p. 161.
36 Charter of the United Nations, 1945, Art. 15.
37 Ibid., Art. 17.
38 New Zealand, United Nations Handbook 2017-2018, 2017, p. 12.
39 Switzerland, The PGA Handbook: A practical guide to the United Nations General Assembly, 2011, pp. 72-73.
40 New Zealand, United Nations Handbook 2017-2018, 2017, p. 12.
41 UN General Assembly, Functions and Powers of the General Assembly.
42 Ibid.
43 Ibid.

5

Recent Sessions and Current Priorities
The following priorities for the UN were adopted for the period 2018-2019 in the General Assembly
resolution 71/6 of 27 October 2016:
1. Promotion of sustained economic growth and sustainable development in accordance withthe relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and recent UN conferences;
2. Maintenance of international peace and security;
3. Development of Africa;
4. Promotion of human rights;
5. Effective coordination of humanitarian assistance efforts;
6. Promotion of justice and international law;
7. Disarmament;
8. Drug control, crime prevention, and combating international terrorism in all its forms andmanifestations.44
For the biennium 2020-2021 the priorities have not yet been adopted by the General Assembly. The
Committee for Programme and Coordination, which set the priorities for the current biennium 2018-2019,
recommended that the General Assembly review all 28 program plans of the proposed programmebudget for 2020, ranging from security- and human rights-related to social and economic topics, at its 74th
session.45 The latest 73rd General Assembly session (UNGA73) opened on 18 September 2018 and was
followed by high-level meetings and the annual general debate from 24 September – 1 October 2018.46
During the high-level meetings of UNGA73, the UN General Assembly came together for the Nelson
Mandela Peace Summit, a high-level plenary meeting on global peace, as well as a high-level meeting on
the fight against tuberculosis; a review of progress towards preventing and controlling non-communicablediseases, and a high-level meeting on the Secretary-General’s Action for Peacekeeping initiative. 47 The
latest General Assembly Plenary sessions took place in June and July 2019. During the 95 th and 96th
meeting the body concluded a two-day debate on responsibility to protect, prevention of genocide, andcrimes against humanity.48 In addition to that it adopted three draft resolutions: on assisting victims ofterrorism, commemorating the anniversary of the International Conference on Population andDevelopment and on torture-free trade.49 In its 101st meeting on 25 July 2019 the General Assembly
Plenary adopted five resolutions including to establish the 2021 International Year for Ending Child
Labour, to promote cooperation with regional partner organizations, and to foster a culture of peace and“respect and acceptance of differences, tolerance, peaceful coexistence and cohabitation and respect forhuman rights, to reject the spread of hate speech, that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility
and violence.”50
The 74th session of the General Assembly (UNGA74) is scheduled to begin on 17 September 2019.51 The
President of UNGA74 will be Nigeria's Permanent Representative to the UN, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande
who stated that “Peace and security, poverty eradication, zero hunger, quality education, climate action

44 UN General Assembly, Programme planning (A/RES/71/6), 2016, para. 4.
45 UN General Assembly, Report of the Committee for Programme and Coordination (A/74/16), 2019.
46 UN General Assembly, High-level meetings of the 73rd session, 2019.
47 Ibid.
48 UN DPI, General Assembly Adopts Texts on Torture-Free Trade, Assisting Terrorism Victims, Anniversary of Cairo

Population Conference (GA/12160), 2019.
49 Ibid.
50 UN DPI, General Assembly, Adopting 5 Texts, Establishes 2021 International Year for Ending Child Labour,

Promotes Cooperation between United Nations, Regional Organizations (GA/12167), 2019; UN General
Assembly, Resolutions of the 73rd session, 2019.
51 IISD, 74th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 74), 2019.

6and inclusion will constitute a major priority of [his] presidency.”52 He also put the promotion of humanrights, women’s and youth empowerment, and gender parity within the UN system at the top of his
agenda.53 UNGA74 will also commemorate the founding of the UN 75 years ago being “a unique
opportunity for us to reduce the trust deficit between nations.” 54 The general debate and high-level
gatherings will commence on 24 September 2019 and include the High-Level Political Forum on
Sustainable Development which will take place at the level of heads of states and governments thisyear.55 It is the first SDG Summit since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in2015.56 The same week will also see the Climate Summit focusing on “energy transition, climate financeand carbon pricing, industry transition, nature-based solutions, cities and local action, and resilience.”57
Other high-level meetings include the High-Level Dialogue on Financing for Development, the High-levelmeeting on Universal Health Coverage, as well as the high-level meeting to review progress made in
addressing the priorities of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) through the implementation of the
SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway. 58
Conclusion
As the “chief deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ of the UN,” the General Assembly
plays a key role in the UN system as “a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum ofinternational issues covered by the Charter.”59 Outcomes reached by the General Assembly may define
new norms that can promote peace, human rights, and development.60 Going forward, the General
Assembly will continue to be a cornerstone of international efforts towards a better world. 61

Annotated Bibliography
New Zealand, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. (2017). United Nations Handbook 2017-2018.
Retrieved 30 July 2018 from: https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/peace-rights-and-security/work-with-the-unand-other-partners/unhandbook-2017-18/
This handbook, published annually by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New
Zealand, is an effort to improve the information available to the international community
on the UN system. It provides extensive information on the structure and membership as
well the purpose of UN organs. As such, it represents the perfect introduction to the UN
system as a whole for individuals less familiar with its complexity. Therefore, delegatesshould consider this a must-read during preparation for the conference.
Sciora, R., & A. Stevenson. (2009). Planet UN: The United Nations Confronting the Challenges of the
21st Century. Geneva: Editions du Tricorne.
Inspired by the documentary Planet UN, this book offers an in-depth analysis of the roleof the United Nations and its challenges for the 21st century. It gives special attention to
three pillars: peace, development, and human rights. It also stresses the importance of
the UN’s ability to adapt itself to our changing world and to react to new threats such as
terrorism or nuclear risks. An account of the genesis of the UN also allows delegates tounderstand how the UN was started with the intent of creating a system to maintainpeace and security and to become the organization it is today. Furthermore, this book

52 UN News, Newly-elected Nigerian UN General Assembly President pledges focus on ‘peace and prosperity’ formost vulnerable, 2019.
53 Ibid.
54 Ibid.
55 IISD, SDG Summit, 2019.
56 Ibid.
57 IISD, Climate Action Summit 2019, 2019.
58 IISD, 74th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 74), 2019.
59 UN General Assembly, Functions and powers of the General Assembly.
60 Thakur, The United Nations, Peace and Security, 2006, p. 162.
61 Sciora & Stevenson, Planet UN: The United Nations Confronting the Challenges of the 21 st Century, 2009.

7

contains a series of testimonies of important personalities such as the last five
Secretaries-General of the UN.
Switzerland, Permanent Mission to the United Nations. (2011). The PGA Handbook: A practical guide to
the United Nations General Assembly. Retrieved 13 July 2016 from:https://www.eda.admin.ch/content/dam/eda/en/documents/publications/InternationaleOrganisationen/Uno/UN-pgahandbook_en.pdf
This publication by the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN is anothercontribution by a Member State of introductory information about the UN system. The
General Assembly is a central focus of this handbook. A detailed description of its
organization, structure, rules, and working methods can be found. Further providing
information specific to all six Main Committees, this handbook offers a unique source of
information to delegates to understand the work of the General Assembly and its place
within the UN system.
Thakur, R. (2006). The United Nations, Peace and Security. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Ramesh Thakur, a renowned commentator on the UN, examines the UN from acontemporary perspective in the context of factors such as human security. The author
focuses on questions related to international peace and security. By doing so, he criticallyanalyzes the use of force by the UN with the intention of making it more effective in thelight of today’s threats and with a particular focus on security and how it has evolved over
the years and the role of the UN system including the General Assembly. His book is avaluable guide to the UN and offers an interesting perspective on international peace.
Weis, T., et al. (2004). The United Nations and Changing World Politics. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
This book aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of international governanceand the UN, human rights and humanitarian affairs, and building peace throughsustainable development. While the authors outline the failures of collective security andthe problems that the UN is facing when maintaining peace by military means, they
address the role played by other UN entities such as the General Assembly ininternational security. As such, this book questions and analyzes how the international
community governs itself by outlining its successes and failures.

Bibliography
Charter of the United Nations. (1945). Retrieved 25 July 2018 from:http://www.un.org/en/documents/charter/index.shtml
International Institute for Sustainable Development. (2019). 74th Session of the UN General Assembly(UNGA 74) [Website]. Retrieved 31 July 2019 from: http://sdg.iisd.org/events/74th-session-of-the-ungeneral-assembly/
International Institute for Sustainable Development. (2019). Climate Action Summit 2019 [Website].
Retrieved 31 July 2019 from: http://sdg.iisd.org/events/un-2019-climate-summit/
International Institute for Sustainable Development. (2019). SDG Summit [Website]. Retrieved 31 July
2019 from: http://sdg.iisd.org/events/un-high-level-political-forum-on-sustainable-development-underunga-auspices/
New Zealand, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. (2017). United Nations Handbook 2017-2018.
Retrieved 30 July 2018 from: https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/peace-rights-and-security/work-with-the-unand-other-partners/un-handbook-2017-18/
Sciora, R., & A. Stevenson. (2009). Planet UN: The United Nations Confronting the Challenges of the 21stCentury. Geneva: Editions du Tricorne.

8Smith, C. (2006). Politics and Process at the United Nations: The Global Dance. Boulder, CO: Lynne
Rienner Publishers.
Switzerland, Permanent Mission to the United Nations. (2011). The PGA Handbook: A practical guide to
the United Nations General Assembly. Retrieved 13 July 2016 from:https://www.eda.admin.ch/content/dam/eda/en/documents/publications/InternationaleOrganisationen/Uno/UN-pga-handbook_en.pdf
Thakur, R. (2006). The United Nations, Peace and Security. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
United Nations, Department for General Assembly and Conference Management. (n.d.). Functions of the
Department [Website]. Retrieved 25 July 2017 from: http://www.un.org/Depts/DGACM/functions.shtml
United Nations, Department of Public Information. (2019, July 25). General Assembly, Adopting 5 Texts,
Establishes 2021 International Year for Ending Child Labour, Promotes Cooperation between United
Nations, Regional Organizations [Meetings Coverage]. Retrieved 31 July 2019 from:https://www.un.org/press/en/2019/ga12167.doc.htm
United Nations, Department of Public Information. (2019, June 28). General Assembly Adopts Texts on
Torture-Free Trade, Assisting Terrorism Victims, Anniversary of Cairo Population Conference [Meetings
Coverage]. Retrieved 31 July 2019 from: https://www.un.org/press/en/2019/ga12160.doc.htm
United Nations, General Assembly. (n.d.). Functions and powers of the General Assembly [Website].
Retrieved 25 July 2018 from: http://www.un.org/en/ga/about/background.shtml
United Nations, General Assembly. (n.d.). General Assembly of the United Nations [Website]. Retrieved
25 July 2018 from: http://www.un.org/en/ga/
United Nations, General Assembly, Seventy-first session. (2016). Programme planning (A/RES/71/6)[Resolution]. Retrieved 30 July 2018 from: http://undocs.org/A/RES/71/6
United Nations, General Assembly. (2019). High-level meetings of the 73rd session [Website]. Retrieved
31 July 2019 from: https://www.un.org/en/ga/73/meetings/index.shtml
United Nations, General Assembly, Seventy-fourth session. (2019). Report of the Committee for
Programme and Coordination (A/74/16). Retrieved 31 July 2019 from: https://undocs.org/A/74/16
United Nations, General Assembly. (2019). Resolutions of the 73rd session [Website]. Retrieved 31 July
2019 from: https://www.un.org/en/ga/73/resolutions.shtml
United Nations News. (2019, June 4). Newly-elected Nigerian UN General Assembly President pledges
focus on ‘peace and prosperity’ for most vulnerable [News Article]. Retrieved 31 July 2019 from:https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/06/1039801
Weis, T., et al. (2004). The United Nations and Changing World Politics. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.

9I. Women in Development“Investing in women and respecting their human rights is the surest way to lift communities, companies
and countries, and to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The longer we put off
gender equality, the more we lose.”62
Introduction
To this date, all countries have yet to achieve full gender equality; not a single nation improves the lives ofwomen and girls sufficiently.63 While gender parity has been realized in primary education and more
women are participating in the labor market and politics, inequality remains a barrier to a sustainable
future.64 Socioeconomically, not only do women still earn only 77 cents on the dollar compared with men
and make up just 13% of agricultural landholders but are also disadvantaged as they do the majority of
unpaid care and domestic work.65 2.7 billion women are still legally barred from having equal
opportunities to choose jobs as men, further proving that inequality and discrimination are systemic.66
Within political leadership, women make up on average 24% of national parliamentarians, with somecountries having no female representation.67 Furthermore, women suffer from structural gender-based
discrimination in developing and developed countries as women lack protective regulations on inheritancerights, sexual and reproductive health, and physical and/or sexual violence. 68 Movements such as
MeToo, NiUnaMenos, and Time’s Up made evident that sexual harassment and discrimination is auniversal phenomenon that occurs in all private and public spheres with insufficient or non-existing laws
protecting women and girls.69
While gender equality and the empowerment of women is a human right and a standalone Sustainable
Development Goal in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, it is also a prerequisite foradvancing sustainable development, as women make up half of the world population and need toparticipate fully to achieve global progress. 70 Integrating gender-sensitive perspectives into all phases ofpolicy and program implementations (gender mainstreaming) allows for a better evaluation of theramifications for both women and men and improvements in practice. 71 The United Nations (UN), under
Secretary-General António Guterres, prioritizes gender mainstreaming by establishing gender parity andequality in all policies and development efforts among staff members at all levels by 2028. 72
International and Regional Framework
The 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights laid the foundation for international efforts in support forequal rights of women and men.73 Another milestone was the legally binding 1979 Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) which commits States Parties to

62 UN Secretary-General, Secretary-General’s remarks on International Women’s Day 2019 on 8 March 2019, in New

York, 2019.
63 UN-Women, United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women): Strategic

Plan 2018-2021, 2017, p. 7.
64 UNDP, Goal 5: Gender equality, 2019.
65 Ibid.; UN DESA, Progress of goal 5 in 2019.
66 World Bank, Despite Gains, Women Face Setbacks in Legal Rights Affecting Work, 2019.
67 UN DESA, Progress of goal 5 in 2019.
68 UN-Women, Women and Health, 2014; UN, Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls,

2019.
69 UN-Women, Towards an end to sexual harassment: The urgency and nature of change in the era of #MeToo,

2018.
70 UN ECOSOC, Women’s empowerment ‘essential to global progress’, 2019.
71 UN DESA, Gender Mainstreaming An Overview, 2002, p. v.
72 UN-Women, One year into UN Secretary-General’s System-wide Strategy on Gender Parity, 2018; UN-Women,

Gender Mainstreaming.
73 UN General Assembly, Universal Declaration of Human Rights (A/RES/217 A (III)), 1948.

10

eliminate discrimination against women.74 The Convention provides an internationally recognizeddefinition of what is considered discrimination against women, as well as recommendations for States
Parties on how to end gender-based discrimination.75
In 1992, the UN Conference on Environment and Development was held in Rio de Janeiro adopting theAgenda 21, a global action plan towards achieving global sustainable development. 76 In the Agenda 21
women were directly linked to sustainable development within a UN context for the first time, calling forthe full, equal, and beneficial integration of women in all development activities. 77 At the Fourth World
Conference on Women in 1995, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA) established 12
areas of concern in advancement of women and girls: poverty, education and training, health, violence,
armed conflict, economy, power and decision-making, institutional mechanisms, human rights, media,
environment, and the girl child.78 The Declaration further states that equality between women and men isa matter of human rights and a prerequisite for equality, development, and peace. 79 Also, gendermainstreaming was first established within the BPfA as a major global strategy. 80 The Declaration wasconsidered the “most progressive blueprint ever for advancing women’s rights” and is still an essential
document today.81
The 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) concluded with the outcome document
The Future We Want advocating for “an economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable future forour planet and present and future generations” and encouraging social protection for all people
regardless of gender.82 It is considered a significant step towards inclusive development and efforts toinclude women in decision-making processes.83 Within Rio+20, the UN High-Level Political Forum on
Sustainable Development was established as the main UN platform on sustainable development. 84 In
2015, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 70/1 “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development.”85 It includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the standalone
goal on gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls (SDG 5). 86 The 2030 Agenda also
mainstreams gender across several SDGs as the achievement of many development objectives depends
on women’s involvement.87 The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 of 2015 isanother fundamental pillar recognizing women’s roles in sustainable development reducing disaster risk
and mitigating the negative impacts of disasters that can undo strides of developmental progress. 88
Women and girls are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change and disasters, with a higher
likelihood of loss of life and livelihoods.89 In peace- and resilience-building as well as disaster response
and recovery, women’s transformative and leadership potential remain under-utilized.90

74 UN General Assembly, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women(A/RES/34/180), 1979.
75 UN General Assembly, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women(A/RES/34/180), 1979.
76 UN Conference on Environment & Development, Agenda 21, 1992.
77 Ibid.
78 UN Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, 1995.
79 Ibid.
80 UN DESA, Gender Mainstreaming An Overview, 2002, p. v.
81 UN-Women, The Beijing Platform for Action: inspiration then and now; UN-Women, The Beijing Declaration andPlatform for Action Turns 20, 2015.
82 UN General Assembly, The future we want (A/RES/66/288), 2012, p. 1.
83 Association for Women’s Rights in Development, Rio+20 Outcomes: What Was Agreed and What This Means for

Women’s Rights Going forward, 2013.
84 UN General Assembly, Format and organizational aspects of the high-level political forum on sustainable

development (A/RES/67/290), 2013, p. 1.
85 UN General Assembly, Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (A/RES/70/1),

2015, p. 1.
86 Ibid.
87 UN-Women, SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
88 UNISDR, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, 2015, p. 1.
89 UN-Women, Promoting women’s leadership in Disaster Risk Reduction and resilience, 2019.
90 Ibid.

11

Role of the International System
A step the UN General Assembly has taken to monitor development efforts and to control the“effectiveness, efficiency, coherence and impact” was the implementation of the Quadrennial
Comprehensive Policy Review of Operational Activities for Development of the UN System (QCPR),
which also assesses the progress of the development of women and girls. 91 Under the leadership of the
UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), the QCPR calls upon the
UN development system to enhance gender mainstreaming and the full implementation of the UN
System-wide Action Plan on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women introduced in 2006.92
In 2018, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 72/147 on the “Follow-up to the Fourth World
Conference on Women and full implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and theoutcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly.”93 It reiterates the importance of full
implementation of the BPfA and calls for national, regional, and global reviews on the gender-responsive
implementation of the 2030 Agenda.94 The session further deliberated on Women in Development,
adopted in resolution 72/234, on the achievements that have been made since the BPfA in closing gender
gaps, especially in health and education. 95 It also highlights the importance to promote formal economic
and political participation of women and girls including equal access to economic resources andeducation and reducing the disproportionate burden of unpaid care and domestic work, which enables
sustained and inclusive economic growth, poverty eradication, and sustainable development. 96 Other
relevant UN General Assembly resolutions in the same year were 72/148 on “Improvement of thesituation of women and girls in rural areas” and 72/149 on “Violence against women migrant workers.”97
In 2019, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 73/148 and 73/149 addressing sexual harassment
as a form of violence against women and girls and female genital mutilation, highlighting the importanceof bodily autonomy and mental health for women in achieving equality. 98
UN-Women is an essential body to advance women’s development and their role in development. 99 Its
current Strategic Plan for 2018-2021 focuses on development programming targeted at women in thecontext of poverty eradication, climate change, and improving adolescent and maternal health. 100
Furthermore, it is in charge of improving statistical capacity in regards to gender-disaggregated data,
which is crucial to address women’s needs and involve men and boys as allies for gender equality.101
In September 2018, UN-Women’s Global Innovation Coalition for Change, a coalition of partners
consisting of private sector stakeholders, non-profit organizations, and academic institutions, launched
the Gender Innovation Principles initiative providing benchmarks on the inclusion of women in the field ofinnovation and technology. 102

91 UN System, Chief Executives Board for Coordination, Enhancing the effectiveness, efficiency, coherence andimpact of United Nations operational activities for development, 2016; UNDP, Gender and crisis response
and recovery, 2019.
92 UN General Assembly, Quadrennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities for development of theUnited Nations system (A/RES/71/243), 2016, p. 5.
93 UN General Assembly, Follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and full implementation of the Beijing
Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General
Assembly (A/RES/72/147), 2017, p. 1.
94 Ibid., p. 2.
95 UN General Assembly, Women in development: Report of the Secretary-General (A/72/282), 2017, p. 3.
96 Ibid., pp. 2-16.
97 UN General Assembly, Improvement of the situation of women and girls in rural areas (A/RES/72/148), 2017, p. 1;
UN General Assembly, Violence against women migrant workers (A/RES/72/149), 2017, p. 1.
98 UN General Assembly, Intensification of efforts to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against women andgirls: sexual harassment (A/RES/73/148), 2018; UN General Assembly, Intensifying global efforts for theelimination of female genital mutilation (A/RES/73/149), 2018.
99 UN-Women, About.
100 UN-Women, UN Women Executive Board endorses the new Strategic Plan, 2018 – 2021, 2017.
101 UN-Women, United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women): Strategic
Plan 2018-2021, 2017, pp. 1-8.
102 UN-Women, Gender Innovation Principles.

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In 2018, the 62nd session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW62) emphasized theempowerment of rural women and girls to accelerate collective action towards the SDGs. 103 Rural womenare essential for transformational change, as they are the main caretakers of families and communities
and make up 43% of the agricultural workforce in developing countries.104 They play a key role insupporting their households in achieving food and nutrition security, generating income, and improving
rural livelihoods and overall well-being.105 CSW63 focused on “Social protection systems, access to public
services and sustainable infrastructure for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls”
and “Women’s empowerment and the link to sustainable development.” 106 It emphasized that women’s
full and equal participation and leadership are fundamental for achieving sustainable development andcalled for improvements in infrastructure, mobility, and access to basic services such as sanitation, water,and health facilities.107 In 2019, CSW also put the follow-up of the BPfA on its agenda.108 Gaps andchallenges were analyzed, but the lack of data on women hindered sufficient findings.109 Therefore, a callfor better statistical data collection was made.110 Moreover, men and boys are encouraged to takeresponsibility and challenge discriminatory norms and stereotypes and foster positive patterns on genderequality, non-violence, and respect.111
The work of civil society organizations is also fundamental when it comes to the advancement of womenand girls.112 Girl Up, a global movement by the UN Foundation, empowers young women leaders throughleadership training to fight for social change.113 To advance sustainable development, the women-led
Women’s Major Group, created in 1992 at the Earth Summit, facilitates women’s civil society active
participation, sharing of information, and advises the UN on policy implementation. 114 The Women’s
Environmental & Development Organization (WEDO) is another leading organization that strives forsocial, economic, and environmental justice for women.115 One of its early achievements was theinclusion of gender equality in Agenda 21 and the Rio Declaration.116 Today, it still advocates for diversity
in leadership and effective implementation for gender-mainstreamed sustainable development policies
and practices.117 WEDO is supported by various UN bodies and sponsored by several ministries offoreign affairs and foundations.118
Economic Challenges and Intersectionality
Women’s economic potential is left untapped, and too few countries are adapting to changes needed to
implement gender parity within the world of work and follow the path to economic equality and theimplementation of equal pay. 119 With less income and fewer assets than men, women, particularly singlemother households, are more likely to live below the 50% threshold of median income.120 Furthermore,

103 UN CSW, Challenges and Opportunities in Achieving Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Rural Womenand Girls: Report of the Secretary-General (E/CN.6/2018/3), 2017, pp. 4-9.
104 UN-Women, Statement on the International Day of Rural Women, 15 October, 2018.
105 UN Women Watch, Facts & Figures: Rural Women and the Millennium Development Goals, 2012.
106 UN CSW, Social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure for gender equality

and the empowerment of women and girls (E/CN.6/2019/L.3), 2019, p. 1; UN CSW, Report on the sixty-third
session (E/2019/27-E/CN.6/2019/19), 2019, p. 37.
107 UN CSW, Report on the sixty-third session (E/2019/27-E/CN.6/2019/19), 2019, p. 8.
108 UN CSW, Women’s empowerment and the link to sustainable development (E/CN.6/2019/15), 2019, p. 1.
109 Ibid., pp. 10-16.
110 Ibid., pp. 10-16.
111 Ibid., p. 106.
112 UN-Women, Civil society.
113 UN Foundation, Girl Up – About, 2019.
114 Women’s Major Group, About Us.
115 WEDO, Vision & Mission.
116 Ibid.
117 Ibid.
118 WEDO, HerStory.
119 UN-Women, Equal pay for work of equal value; World Economic Forum, Closing the Gender Gap.
120 UN-Women, SDG 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries.

13

inequality between women and men in a household is a strong contributing factor to overall income
inequality in society.121 The World Economic Forum points out that with current rates of progress, it willtake the international community 202 years to close the economic gender gap fully. 122 On average,
women spend approximately three times as many hours in unpaid domestic and care work as men, andsignificantly more if they have children.123 Such uneven distribution of responsibilities between womenand men is a significant constraint for women’s completion of, or progress in, education and training, on
entry and re-entry and advancement in the paid labor market, and on their economic opportunities andentrepreneurial activities, which can result in gaps in social protection, pay, and pension. 124 The
international community combats these circumstances with a plethora of projects: the UN Development
Programme implemented the Gender Equality Seal Certification Programme for Public and Private
Enterprise.125 It aids to set standards for gender equality in the workplace and reduce gender gaps.126
The Women’s Empowerment for Resilience and Adaptation Against Climate Change Initiative in Uganda,
established by various UN bodies, leveraged more than a quarter million women into economic
independency by generating a pool of funds women can borrow and invest.127The Women
Entrepreneurship Development Project by the International Labour Organization and the Women
Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative by the World Bank are just two examples of efforts by institutions thatstrive to advance women’s economic power.128
An aspect that has only recently been highlighted when discussing gender inequality in sustainable
development is intersectionality, defined as “the interaction of multiple identities and experiences of
exclusion and subordination.”129 CSW points out that gender inequalities always intersect with other formsof discrimination or disadvantages, leaving progress for women and girls unequal. 130 Multiple andintersecting discriminations, such as class, ability, ethnicity, sexual orientation, migration status, andothers, need to be considered and addressed in gender-sensitive policies and programs.131 Collecting
disaggregated data has the potential to reveal these intersections and challenges of different women in
the context of sustainable development and needs to be increased. 132
Conclusion
While significant international frameworks such as CEDAW, BPfA, and the 2030 Agenda have allowed forprogress towards fulfilling equal rights and women’s and girls’ empowerment, women still face many
challenges and obstacles in participating in their own development. Many are still deprived of their basic
human rights and opportunities in terms of palpable change in economic and social development. 133 It isevident that a significant number of gaps and challenges to achieving gender equality and theempowerment of women and girls in sustainable development remain and will only be eliminated with theinclusion of women in all development efforts.134 Long-term integrated approaches on improving thecollection and analysis of gender data and statistics are required, as well as gender-sensitive programs
and policies and the monitoring thereof. 135 The advancement of women also needs to be addressed from121 Ibid.
122 World Economic Forum, Closing the Gender Gap, 2019.
123 UN DESA, Gender equality and women’s empowerment in numbers, 2019.
124 UN CSW, Social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure for gender equality

and the empowerment of women and girls (E/CN.6/2019/L.3), 2019, p. 6.
125 UNDP, Gender Equality Seal for Public and Private Organizations, 2019.
126 Ibid.
127 UNFCCC, Women's Empowerment for Resilient and Adaptation against Climate Change | Uganda, 2019.
128 ILO, Women's Entrepreneurship Development (WED) Programme; World Bank, Women Entrepreneurs FinanceInitiative Allocates Second Round Funding; Expected to Grow 70,000 Women’s Businesses, 2019.
129 UN-Women, Turning Promises into Action, 2018, p. 31.
130 UN CSW, Women’s empowerment and the link to sustainable development (E/CN.6/2019/15), 2019, p. 23.
131 UN-Women, Turning Promises into Action, 2018, p. 16-17.
132 Ibid., p. 142.
133 UN DESA, Gender equality and women’s empowerment in numbers, 2019; UN-Women, Facts and Figures:

Economic Empowerment.
134 UN-Women, Op-ed: Closing the gender gap in politics, 2018.
135 UN-Women, Turning Promises into Action, 2018, p. 254.

14

the perspective of men and boys.136 To achieve parity in global leadership and make gender equality an
institutional priority, men and boys need to be encouraged to include a gender perspectives indevelopment and be agents of change for women.137 Gender equality is not only a development objective
in itself but also a strategy to achieve overall sustainable development for all. 138
Further Research
When researching the topic and preparing for the conference, delegates may consider questions such as:
What regional or national plans have been effective in the advancement of human rights for women andgirls, and do they meet the needs of women in development? In what ways can the UN General
Assembly help promote women in development in addition to their current efforts? How can the UN
General Assembly ensure sustainable funding for the advancement of women? How can the international
community produce synergies to make the UN more efficient?

Annotated Bibliography
United Nations, Commission on the Status of Women. (2019). Women’s empowerment and the link tosustainable development (E/CN.6/2019/15) [Chair’s Summary]. Retrieved 20 July 2019 from:https://undocs.org/en/E/CN.6/2019/15
Delegates will find this source helpful as it is the latest document of CSW and shows theinterlinkages between women’s empowerment and sustainable development. It will aid in
finding information on topics such as normative, legal, and policy frameworks, fostering
enabling environments for gender-responsive financing, strengthening women’s
leadership and participation in decision-making, and strengthening gender-responsive
data collection.
United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. (2015). The Beijing
Declaration and Platform for Action Turns 20 [Summary Report]. Retrieved 20 July 2019 from:http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/1776The%20Beijing%20Declaration%20and%2
0Platform%20for%20Action%20turns%2020.pdf
This report reviews the progress of 20 years of BPfA, a landmark for achieving genderequality. Accomplishments and challenges of the empowerment and realization of
women’s and girls’ human rights are examined. It will aid the delegates in understanding
the importance of the Beijing Declaration, even today. The document inspects each of thetwelve critical areas and points out prognoses and gives explanations for current trends.
United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women. (2017). United Nations Entity for
Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women): Strategic Plan 2018-2021(UNW/2017/6/Rev.1). Retrieved 20 July 2019 from: http://undocs.org/en/UNW/2017/6/Rev.1
The strategic plan gives outlines, directions, objectives, and approaches to support
efforts to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Delegates may
benefit from the vision UN-Women has for 2030. It builds on recommendations from the
20-year review and appraisal of the BPfA, highlights UN-Women’s contribution to thegender-responsive implementation and strong collaboration among UN bodies.
United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women. (2018). Turning Promises into
Action: Gender Equality in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development [Report]. Retrieved 20 July
2019 from: http://www.unwomen.org//media/headquarters/attachments/sections/library/publications/2018/sdg-report-gender-equality-in-the2030-agenda-for-sustainable-development-2018-en.pdf?la=en&vs=4332
The document gives detailed information on the progress and current difficulties in
implementing the 2030 Agenda with focus on gender equality. This is the first report that

136 UN-Women, HeForShe Global Champions for Gender Equality.
137 Ibid.
138 GIZ, Promoting gender equality and women’s rights.

15

looks at the Agenda from a gender perspective. Key components are data challenges
and monitoring of gender equality. The flagship report also focuses on theintersectionality of issues that women and girls face and offers strategies for action.
United Nations, General Assembly, Seventieth session. (2015). Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development (A/RES/70/1). Retrieved 20 July 2019 from: http://undocs.org/A/RES/70/1
The resolution is the pivotal intergovernmental agreement that acts as the post-2015
development agenda, succeeding the Millennium Declaration and Millennium
Development Goals focusing on a sustainably developed future. Within the 17
Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets, gender equality is not only astandalone SDG but a prerequisite to achieving all the SDGs by 2030. It is the essential
document to be referenced by delegates as they analyze the needs of women indevelopment.

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20II. Meeting the Fast-Track Commitments to Eradicate HIV/AIDS“Friends, we know what it takes to turn the tide against this epidemic. It requires every president andprime minister, every parliamentarian and politician, to decide and declare that 'AIDS stops with me. AIDS
stops with me.’”139
Introduction
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a disease that is transmitted through certain bodily fluids andworks by attacking the human immune system.140 Left untreated, HIV will weaken the body’s immune
system, making a person susceptible to other infections and diseases. 141 Over time, an untreated person
will progress to the last stage of HIV called acquired immunodeficiency virus (AIDS). 142 To illustrate theharmful effects of HIV/AIDS on the body’s immune system, in 2015, 1.2 million of the reported 10.4 million
people who were HIV-positive were diagnosed with tuberculosis. 143 In that same year, 390,000 of those
1.2 million people died due to HIV-related tuberculosis.144
The ever-enduring threat of HIV/AIDS has plagued the global community since the disease’s firstdiagnosis in 1981.145 HIV/AIDS is a major disease that affects everyone regardless of age, sex,orientation, and social and economic status.146 In 2017, the number of people reported living with HIV was
35 to 36.9 million worldwide.147 However, at the height of the epidemic, the number of people living withHIV was 78 million, and almost 35 million died of AIDS-related reasons since the first diagnosis. 148
Although the international community saw a decline of those deaths to about one million worldwide in2016, there is still an average of 1.6 million new infections reported annually. 149 Currently, the global goal
set forth by the United Nations (UN) is to reduce the number of new infections to 500,000 by the year
2020.150
In June 2016, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 70/266, “Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS:
On the Fast Track to Accelerating the Fight against HIV and Ending the AIDS Epidemic by 2030.” 151 In
this resolution, the UN General Assembly establishes the Fast-Track Commitments to Eradicate
HIV/AIDS and within those commitments created the “90-90-90” treatment targets to be completed by
2020.152 The goal of the targets is the following: (1) to have 90% of people, of all ages, living with HIV
know that they have HIV; (2) to have 90% of people, of all ages, who know they are living with HIV to be
actively receiving treatment; and, (3) to have 90% of people, of all ages, who are actively receiving
treatment to have suppressed viral loads. 153 However, the fast-track strategy has other targets such as:
ensuring that 90% of young people are empowered to protect themselves from HIV with access to healthservices; providing social and legal services for those living with HIV; and assisting with the treatment ofdiseases associated with AIDS such as hepatitis B and C, syphilis, and tuberculosis.154 The Joint UN
Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Executive Director, Michel Sidibé, stated, “we have bent the
trajectory of the epidemic. Now we have five years to break it for good or risk the epidemic rebounding

139 UNAIDS, Update: Kofi Annan’s AIDS legacy, 2018.
140 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, About HIV/AIDS, 2019.
141 Ibid.
142 Ibid.
143 WHO, 10 Facts on HIV/AIDS, 2009.
144 Ibid.
145 Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, The Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic, 2019.
146 UN General Assembly, Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS (A/RES/S-26/2), 2001, p. 1.
147 UNAIDS, AIDS, 2019; UNAIDS, Global HIV & AIDS statistics- 2018 fact sheet, 2019.
148 UNAIDS, AIDS, 2019.
149 UNAIDS, United Nations Member States stress that critical efforts must be scaled up to end AIDS, 2018.
150 Ibid.
151 UN General Assembly, Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS: On the Fast Track to Accelerating the Fight against HIV

and Ending the AIDS Epidemic by 2030 (A/RES/70/266), 2016.
152 Ibid.
153 Ibid.
154 UNAIDS, Fast-Track Commitments to Ending the AIDS Epidemic by 2030, 2014.

21

out of control.”155 If successful, UNAIDS believes that 28 million new HIV infections and 21 million AIDSrelated deaths will be averted between 2015 and 2030.156 However, though the goal of reducing new
infections is possible with recent treatment advances and a functional cure to HIV/AIDS making thedisease un-transmittable, many regions, specifically sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe, and Central
Asia are still plagued by HIV/AIDS.157
International and Regional Framework
In June 2001, the UN General Assembly convened for its twenty-sixth special session to discuss the
HIV/AIDS epidemic.158 The special session was the result of the UN General Assembly resolution 55/13
of 2000, “Review of the problem of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndromein all its aspects,” that required the UN to put special focus on HIV/AIDS and emphasized a need foraction in the coming years. Most importantly, the special session led to the adoption of UN General
Assembly resolution S-26/2 of 2001, “Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS.”159 The Declaration is themost foundational document outlining the commitment of the UN to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic
worldwide.160 Also, the Declaration most notably announces HIV/AIDS as a “Global Crisis.” 161
Within the Declaration, the UN General Assembly outlines goals and initiatives, much like what was
outlined in the UN Millennium Declaration of 2000 and the Abuja Declaration and Framework for Action
for the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and other related infectious diseases in Africa of 2001, thatare centered around regional and international efforts for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. 162
Furthermore, the Declaration emphasizes the need for gender equality and the empowerment of womenas a means to give them the tools to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS as women and girls are identified asvulnerable groups that are susceptible to contracting HIV/AIDS. 163 Also the Declaration identifies the needto educate and reduce the infection rate by 25% in young men and women ages 15-24 in the mostinfected areas of the world, as it is critical to the prevention and the spread of HIV/AIDS. 164 To tackle
these issues, the Declaration outlines topical areas to focus on that include leadership on the regional,
national, and global levels; prevention; reducing vulnerability; assisting orphaned children due to
HIV/AIDS; research and development; and follow-up on the progress of implementation on all levels. 165
The Millennium Declaration was the UN’s response to globalization and recognition of the international
community’s responsibility to ensure global growth was positive and peaceful for all. 166 The Declarationcommitted Member States to achieve specific targets by 2015, known as the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs).167 The Millennium Declaration’s specific emphasis lied on providing assistance toorphaned children and helping Member States in Africa in their attempts to halt the spread of
HIV/AIDS.168 The MDGs highlighted HIV/AIDS as Goal 6 to actively combat and reduce the number of
new infections and co-infections of other diseases by the 2015 deadline. 169 Although the global
community did not reach complete eradication of the disease, the UN made substantial strides to reachits three targets connected to Goal 6, which emphasized the ideas of treatment and prevention.170 After

155 UNAIDS, Fast-Track strategy to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030, 2019.
156 UNAIDS, Fast-Track Commitments to Ending the AIDS Epidemic by 2030, 2014.
157 UN DPI, Almost 8 Million AIDS-Related Deaths Averted since 2000, Yet Fight Against Global Killer Still Far from

Over, Speakers Tell General Assembly (GA/12148), 2019.
158 UN General Assembly, Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS (A/RES/S-26/2), 2001, p. 1.
159 Ibid., p. 1.
160 Ibid., p. 1.
161 Ibid., p. 1.
162 Ibid., p. 2.
163 Ibid., p. 2.
164 Ibid., pp. 3 & 7.
165 Ibid., pp. 5-15.
166 UN General Assembly, United Nations Millennium Declaration (A/RES/55/2), 2000.
167 UN, Millennium Development Goals and Beyond 2015: Background, 2019.
168 UN General Assembly, United Nations Millennium Declaration (A/RES/55/2), 2000.
169 UN, Millennium Development Goals and Beyond 2015: Background, 2019.
170 UN, Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Other Diseases, 2019.

22

the MDGs concluded, the UN refocused and adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development andthe Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).171 Unlike the MDGs, the SDGs do not have a specific goal
focused on the eradication of HIV/AIDS.172 However, the HIV/AIDS goals were included as targets under
SDG 3: “Good Health and Well-Being.”173 Specifically, target 3.2 seeks to end the AIDS epidemic by
2030.174
In June 2006, the UN General Assembly convened to review the progress made by the UN with thetargets established within the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS.175 Recognizing that the HIV/AIDS
epidemic had grown, especially in the female population, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution
66/262 of 2006,“Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS,” which reaffirmed its commitment to combating thedisease globally.176 In addition to addressing gender issues with the rising HIV/AIDS rates, the UN
General Assembly emphasized: the need to recommit to prevention, treatment, care, and support for
those infected with HIV/AIDS; helping to support national and regional policies that empower
governments to meet international commitments; reducing the resource gap by assisting with domestic
and international funding that is predictable and sustainable; and consistent follow-up on the work of the
UN on these commitments.177 In June 2011, the UN General Assembly met again to discuss the progress
made in eradicating HIV/AIDS and adopted resolution 65/277, “Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS:
Intensifying Our Efforts to Eliminate HIV and AIDS.”178 Within the new Declaration, the UN General
Assembly affirms the tremendous work of the global community to reduce the number of new infections of
HIV/AIDS by 25%, while noting that as a community there is still much work to be done. 179 In the
Declaration, the UN General Assembly stated that programs must become more cost-effective because
their current spending trajectory is not sustainable. 180 To intensify the efforts that the UN General
Assembly committed to, it established the fast-track commitments that were more focused on
implementation and results to achieve the once articulated goals established by the Declaration ofCommitment on HIV/AIDS.181
Role of the International System
Since the outbreak of the epidemic, the UN General Assembly has made HIV/AIDS a focal point in its
work, first through the MDGs and again through the SDGs.182 At its 70th session in 2016, the UN General
Assembly reviewed its overall progress towards the implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on
HIV/AIDS as previous political declarations dictated.183 Disheartened and alarmed by the growth of
infections, but encouraged by the innovations made in treatment, the UN General Assembly adopted
resolution 70/266 which established the fast-track commitments and the 90-90-90 targets for theeradication of AIDS.184

171 UN, Millennium Development Goals and Beyond 2015: Background, 2019.
172 UN General Assembly, Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (A/RES/70/1),

2015.
173 UN, Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, 2019.
174 UN General Assembly, Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (A/RES/70/1),

2015.
175 UN General Assembly, Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS (A/RES/60/262), 2006.
176 Ibid.
177 Ibid.
178 UN General Assembly, Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS: Intensifying Our Efforts to Eliminate HIV and AIDS

(A/RES/65/277), 2011.
179 Ibid.
180 Ibid.
181 Ibid.
182 UN, Millennium Development Goals and Beyond 2015: Background, 2019; UN, Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria

and Other Diseases, 2019.
183 UN General Assembly, Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS (A/RES/60/262), 2006; UN General Assembly, Political

Declaration on HIV/AIDS: On the Fast Track to Accelerating the Fight against HIV and Ending the AIDS
Epidemic by 2030 (A/RES/70/266), 2016.
184 UN General Assembly, Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS: On the Fast Track to Accelerating the Fight against HIV
and Ending the AIDS Epidemic by 2030 (A/RES/70/266), 2016.
23

UNAIDS was created by the Economic and Social Council in 1994. 185 It was created to lead the UN’s
initiatives to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic.186 Without UNAIDS, the UN or the global community would
not have a strategic plan towards combating the disease.187 Although the UN General Assembly adopted
the Fast-Tracking Commitments, UNAIDS was the leading agency developing the targets and goals of
the 90-90-90 treatment targets.188 Along with the many projects and programmatic areas of UNAIDS, theorganization, through the Fast-Track Network and other support, such as the International Association ofProviders of AIDS Care and the UN Human Settlement Programme, works to help a network of over 300
cities worldwide with their fast-track commitments.189 UNAIDS notes that cities are integral in the fightingof HIV/AIDS as the majority of people live in urban areas.190 With more than half the population of theworld living in urban areas, the risk of infection of HIV/AIDS and other diseases grows.191 Though thethreat grows, UNAIDS attributes cities as being major leaders in the combat of HIV/AIDS as they are
typically seen as areas of positive social change, innovation, and sustainable development.192
The World Health Organization (WHO) is the UN’s leader in health initiatives worldwide, working under
the guiding principle that good health and access to health services is a fundamental human right. 193
Since 1948, WHO has worked to combat diseases worldwide, including communicable diseases like
HIV/AIDS.194 As a co-sponsor of UNAIDS, the WHO works within UNAIDS with a primary focus ontreatment, care, and co-infections of HIV, such as tuberculosis. 195 At its 69th assembly in 2016, WHOendorsed its Global Health Sector Strategy on HIV for 2016-2021, which outlines five strategic
objectives.196 Those objectives include information on knowing the epidemic, covering services needed,focusing on who needs the services, financing the services, and looking towards the future.197
Organizations like Avert, a United Kingdom charity, have worked for 30 years or more to fight the growing
epidemic.198 Avert’s primary vision is to see a world with no new HIV infections and for people to havesafe and healthy sex lives.199 Between 2017-2018, Avert has reached over 13.5 million people
worldwide.200 Avert is a contributing organization to the work on the ground to achieve the 90-90-90
targets.201 Alongside that commitment, Avert leads many programs worldwide focused on HIV prevention,
treatment, and testing.202 At the heart of the work that Avert does, the goal is to change people’s behavior
to empower individuals to make choices for their self, their sexual health, and healthier sexual
practices.203

185 UN ECOSOC, Joint and co-sponsored United Nations programme on human immunodeficiency virus/acquired

immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) (E/RES/1994/24), 1994.
186 Ibid.
187 UNAIDS, About Saving lives, leaving no one behind, 2019.
188 UNAIDS, 90-90-90: Treatment for all, 2019.
189 UNAIDS, Fast-Track Cities, 2019.
190 Ibid.
191 Ibid.
192 Ibid.
193 WHO, Constitution, 2019.
194 WHO, About WHO, 2019.
195 WHO, HIV/AIDS, 2018.
196 Ibid.
197 Ibid.
198 Avert, Who we are, 2019.
199 Ibid.
200 Ibid.
201 Avert, Global HIV Targets, 2019.
202 Ibid.
203 Avert, What we do, 2019.

24

Challenges to Eradicating HIV/AIDS Globally
At a conference in 2016, WHO articulated four significant obstacles that contest the global community’s
ability to eradicate HIV.204 Those challenges were: Prevention, Treatment, Drug Resistance, andFinancing for a sustainable response.205 Some populations have a higher risk of acquiring HIV, such as
people who inject drugs, men who have sex with men, transgender women, and female sex workers.206
However, young women are generally more at risk with approximately 7,000 women aged 15–24 years
becoming infected with HIV worldwide every week and that in sub-Saharan Africa 75% of newly infected
between the age of 15-19 are female.207 Nevertheless, medicine has made innovation in preventative
measures for HIV/AIDS with the creation of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).208 PrEP is a preventativethat has seen success rates of up to 92% preventing people from becoming infected with HIV. 209 In
October 2016, an estimated enrollment of persons on PrEP was reported as 100,000 people, mostly
living in the United States.210 Two years later, an estimated 380,000 people were reported to use PrEP
globally of which 59% reside in North America and 27% in sub-Saharan Africa, namely Kenya, South
Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Lesotho.211 Many countries have not yet introduced any policies orprograms regarding PrEP while WHO has set a target for three million PrEP users by 2020. 212
Treatment saves lives.213 Although there are proven and sufficient treatment options for people living with
HIV/AIDS, there are still challenges faced with providing that treatment to everyone.214 It is proven thatbeing treated for HIV reduces a person’s viral load to an undetectable status. 215 Once an individual’s viralload has been suppressed to undetectable levels, the virus is untransmittable. 216 In addition to a
suppressed viral load, an individual is less prone to new infections because their body’s immune system
is less compromised by the HIV infection.217 One of the biggest problems with treatment is that people
who are living with HIV may not be aware of their positive status.218 In 2016, it was estimated that 40% of
people living with HIV were not aware of their status. 219 Despite accessibility to testing, both private andpublic options, many people chose to not get tested from a fear of living with HIV, people learning theirstatus, or miseducation about condom usage.220
Drug Resistance and Financing a sustainable response are the other two factors WHO has expressed as
significant challenges to eradicating HIV/AIDS. 221 About 5% of people who are on antivirals for HIV/AIDS
were resistant to at least one of the antiretroviral drugs in 2016. 222 That year, WHO developed the Global
Report on Early Warning Indicators of HIV Drug Resistance, which defines indicators that measure theprogrammatic quality of HIV treatment identifying factors that reduce or increase the likelihood of drug
resistance, such as viral load suppression and on-time appointment keeping.223 The growing economic
agenda and the continually switching priorities of donors are a threat to financing efforts. 224 Currently,

204 WHO, WHO flags key challenges to global HIV response at International AIDS Conference, 2016.
205 Ibid.
206 UNAIDS, Global HIV & AIDS statistics- 2018 fact sheet, 2019.
207 Ibid.; WHO, WHO flags key challenges to global HIV response at International AIDS Conference, 2016.
208 WHO, WHO flags key challenges to global HIV response at International AIDS Conference, 2016.
209 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV/AIDS: Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), 2019.
210 UNAIDS, Update: Pre-Exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), 2016.
211 Pebody, 380,000 people on PrEP globally, mostly in the USA and Africa, NAM, 2018.
212 Ibid.
213 WHO, WHO flags key challenges to global HIV response at International AIDS Conference, 2016.
214 Ibid.
215 UNAIDS, Undetectable=untransmittable, 2018.
216 Ibid.
217 UNAIDS, Undetectable=untransmittable: Public Health and HIV Viral Load Suppression, 2018, p. 2.
218 WHO, WHO flags key challenges to global HIV response at International AIDS Conference, 2016.
219 Ibid.
220 Humphrey, 5 reasons why people put off HIV testing according to Google, Avert: Professional Resources, 2017.
221 WHO, WHO flags key challenges to global HIV response at International AIDS Conference, 2016.
222 Ibid.
223 Ibid.; WHO, Global Report on Early Warning Indicators of HIV Drug Resistance: technical report, 2016, p. 9.
224 WHO, WHO flags key challenges to global HIV response at International AIDS Conference, 2016.

25

there is a financial mechanism available, but as Member States grow economically and begin to lose
funding from external sources they require that more domestic funds be utilized for HIV/AIDS-focused
products, while they may be faced with financial hardships as external funds are decreased or
removed.225 One recommendation WHO poses is to have more countries move towards universal healthcoverage and access to social protection.226
Lastly, a contributing challenge to combating HIV/AIDS is defeating the negative stigma associated withthe disease.227 The fear and sometimes hatred geared towards people living with HIV/AIDS makes people
more vulnerable to the disease.228 In some cases of discrimination, people living with HIV have been
prevented from receiving life-saving treatments due to their status with a study stating that in 50 countries
one in eight individuals were denied health care due to discrimination in 2015. 229 Additionally, somecountries have discriminatory policies preventing entry, travel, and residency of people living with
HIV/AIDS.230
Conclusion
The threat of HIV/AIDS has been an influence on global policy since the 1990s.231 Although the world has
seen a decrease of over 40% in new infections, HIV/AIDS persists as a global epidemic. 232 Recent
advances in treatment and prevention allow people to live normal lives and helps reduce the number of
new infections.233 The UNAIDS Executive Director stated: “Every five years we have more than doubled
the number of people on life-saving treatment. We need to do it just one more time to break the AIDS
epidemic and keep it from rebounding.” 234 The international community has to look at how to successfully
implement the Fast-Track Commitments, so that the world may see the prevention of new HIV infections
and the eradication of AIDS.
Further Research
As delegates move forward with researching the topic, they should consider these questions: How can
the UN General Assembly address the need for financing? Can the UN General Assembly enlist moreassistance from private-sector entities to fighting HIV/AIDS? In what ways can the UN General Assembly
leverage the successes of UNAIDS in the 90-90-90 targets to move towards eradication of HIV post2030? How can the UN General Assembly further assist with empowering young persons, male andfemale, to ensure sustainable preventative and treatment initiatives? How can the UN General Assembly
address stigmatization around HIV/AIDS? How can the UN General Assembly increase public knowledge
on prevention and treatment?

Annotated Bibliography
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. (2014). Fast-Track Commitments to Ending the AIDS
Epidemic by 2030 [Report]. Retrieved 13 June 2019 from:https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/JC2686_WAD2014report_en.pdf
UNAIDS is the main agency responsible for implementing the General Assembly’s
HIV/AIDS initiatives. This report produced by UNAIDS outlines some key statistics andinformation concerning the implementation of the Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS:
On the Fast Track to Accelerating the Fight against HIV and to Ending the AIDS

225 Ibid.
226 WHO, WHO flags key challenges to global HIV response at International AIDS Conference, 2016.
227 Avert, HIV Stigma and Discrimination, 2018.
228 Ibid.
229 Ibid.
230 Ibid.
231 UNAIDS, Global HIV & AIDS statistics- 2018 fact sheet, 2019.
232 Ibid.
233 UNAIDS, Undetectable=untransmittable, 2018.
234 Avert, Global HIV Targets, 2019.

26

Epidemic by 2030. Most importantly, this source will serve as a visual aid to help shape
the gravity of HIV/AIDS worldwide and the universal attempts to eradicate the disease.
United Nations, General Assembly, Twenty-sixth special session. (2001). Declaration of Commitment on
HIV/AIDS (A/RES/S-26/2). Retrieved 10 May 2019 from: http://undocs.org/A/RES/S-26/2
In response to the Millennium Development Goals, the General Assembly adopted the
Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS. The declaration is a foundational document
outlining the immense burden that HIV/AIDS has put on the international community bydescribing the disease as a “Global Crisis.” The declaration continues to outline theneeds for stable leadership, treatment, care for those inflicted, and prevention.
United Nations, General Assembly, Seventieth session. (2015). Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development (A/RES/70/1). Retrieved 10 May 2019 from: http://undocs.org/A/RES/70/1
The 2030 Agenda is one of the most essential UN documents of modern time as it
establishes the majority of initiatives internationally for which the UN is involved. At isrelates to the topic of HIV/AIDS, Goal 3 most aligns with international efforts and provides
the most legitimacy of the UN’s work towards eradicating HIV/AIDS internationally. After
reviewing the targets of General Assembly resolutions focused on HIV/AIDS and theFast-Tracking Commitments, parallels can be drawn between the high-level priorities of
the SDGs and the more detailed commitments of all declarations.
United Nations, General Assembly, Seventieth session. (2016). Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS: On theFast Track to Accelerating the Fight against HIV and to Ending the AIDS Epidemic by 2030
(A/RES/70/266). Retrieved 14 May 2019 from: http://undocs.org/A/RES/70/266
Attempting to reaffirm its commitment to the Millennium Development Goals, theSustainable Development Goals, and the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, theUnited Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 70/266 to increase its efforts toeradicate HIV/AIDS. The political declaration calls for international support andleadership on the entire international community. In fear that the successes seen thus far
would face a rebound of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in some regions of the world, the United
Nations agency UNAIDS urged a fast track response to the global epidemic. Contained
within the fast track response, UNAIDS outlines the 90-90-90 treatment targets that aim
to decrease transmission, increase treatment, and minimize the other disease associatedwith HIV/AIDS such as Hepatitis A.
World Health Organization. (2016). Global Report on Early Warning Indicators of HIV Drug Resistance:technical report. World Health Organization. Retrieved 13 June 2019 from:https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/246219/9789241511179eng.pdf;jsessionid=EA605F9209A74E4211D5DFDDC022AAB5?sequence=1
The World Health Organization has contributed research and innovations in providing asustainable approach to the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. One of the largest
challenges expressed by this organization is drug resistance to HIV antivirals andtreatment of HIV/AIDS. WHO has taken account of various factors associated with that
resistance. This report is instrumental in providing background information for an
approach to creating policies focused on addressing this major challenge.

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