HBHSMUN+UNDP+Madagascar

Courtney Boutwell Tustin High School HIV/AIDS __Background:__ HIV/AIDS has become one of the greatest health epidemics our world faces today. Worldwide there are over thirty-three million people infected with HIV. Sub- Saharan Africa continues to be the region affected most by AIDS, being the main cause of death in the area. In 2007, there was a decrease in the amount of new HIV/AIDS cases reported across the globe. However, Asian countries showed an increasing number of HIV/AIDS cases reported. Those at the greatest risk for being infected, such as sex workers, homosexuals, and drug users, are generally unable to gain access to needed HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care services. HIV is not only harmful to the individual, but devastating to a community. It leads to deepening levels of poverty and interferes with social structure. HIV noticeably reduces life expectancy rates in nations. Human rights violations frequently occur due to an individuals HIV positive status, whether real or suspected, creating discrimination towards women, homosexuals, sex workers, and drug users. Human rights violations also create a barrier worldwide to HIV prevention, treatment, and care services. Countries recently coming out of conflicts can have situations that help HIV spread, such as significant population movements, gender based violence, and lack of health and social services. Studies also show that a uncircumcised male is three times more likely to contract HIV. __UN Involvement:__ The United Nations considers the spreading of HIV/AIDS to be a major issue. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) addresses the effect of AIDS specific to the development planning and the mainstreaming of AIDS into response programs of individual countries. The UNDP also works along with the World Bank and UNAIDS to strengthen the ability to incorporate AIDS response into the preparation and resources use efforts of each nation. The UNDP encourages countries to handle supplementary resources by developing their own ability to cost and budget AIDS responses based on the Millennium Development Goals. The UNDP also funds gender specific analysis and programming in AIDS responses in order to help prevent gender discrimination from being a major factor in contracting the disease. In addition, the UNDP supports countries who adopt legislation to promote the rights of those living with HIV. The UNDP strives to put HIV programs into countries coming out of a conflict of humanitarian crisis in an attempt to increase HIV prevention, treatment, and care services. __Country Policy:__ Madagascar has the lowest HIV rate in Sub- Saharan Africa, with less than one percent of its people infected. However, we are waging an extremely aggressive campaign against AIDS as an example for how to prevent HIV and improve basic health care simultaneously. As a nation with a sudden increase in foreign workers, Madagascar fears a wider spread of HIV will occur. The island is isolated by its location, but if AIDS takes hold in Madagascar, it could explode. Being one of the poorest nations in the world, some citizens take the risk of sex work to make a living. Madagascar takes health care so seriously that the national AIDS office in inside the presidential palace, where the top adviser can report to the president at a moment’s notice. Madagascar believes prevention is the key to helping lower the rate of people living with AIDS, strongly publicizing the use of condoms, screening centers, and mobile testing units. Teachers are trained to convey prevention messages to their students. Young people have access to discounted check-ups. Madagascar is willing and ready to work with other nations in an attempt to solve this great problem facing our world today. __Solutions:__ Madagascar proposes to continue educating people all over the world about the HIV/AIDS epidemic and how to prevent it. More screening centers should be set up, and more tests should be distributed. If people know they are HIV positive, they will be less likely to pass the disease on to another person. Sex work and drug use should also be prevented as much as possible, as these behaviors lead to a higher chance of being infected with AIDS. Male circumcision should also be encouraged, because research shows that an uncircumcised male is at least three times more likely to become infected.

Courtney Boutwell Tustin High School Gender Equality in Education __Background:__ Education is key to the development of people in a society. It helps to create a more productive, successful future. Education helps to end poverty and disease, as well as enhancing lives. A basic education is needed for many jobs in the world. However, numerous children in developing countries begin life without sufficient means of nutrition, learning, and protection. Young women and girls are especially challenged. Globally, about two-thirds of the people that are denied basic education and seventy five percent of the illiterate adults in the world are women. About sixty-seven countries have less than eighty five percent primary school attendance and enrollment rates for girls. As uneducated women, girls will be less likely to be able to support themselves and contribute to society socially and politically. A study from the World Bank concluded that if women received the same education as men, farm yields would rise by anywhere from seven to twenty-two percent. Having gender equality for men and women means both share equal opportunities to enroll in school, participate, and benefit from the variety of subjects and learning experiences offered in a classroom setting. Understanding the rights and equality of men and women is crucial to the survival and development of children, in addition to the base of building healthy families, communities, and countries. __UN Involvement:__ The world has begun to see and understand the importance of gender equality in education. The Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC) set forth provisions including civil rights and freedoms, family environment, basic health and welfare, education, leisure and cultural activities, and special protection measures for all children. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) sets down rights for women. Additionally, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is to promote gender equality and empower women. The United Nation Development Program (UNDP), United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) work with a large amount of local, national, and international partners in order to achieve the third goal of the MDGs. __Country Policy:__ In Madagascar, education is compulsory for children between the ages of six and fourteen. The current education system provides primary schooling for five years, from ages six to eleven. Secondary education lasts for seven years and is divided into two parts: a junior secondary level of four years from ages twelve to fifteen, and a senior secondary level of three years from ages sixteen to eighteen. However, education in Madagascar is a major issue. Two thirds of the population lives in extreme poverty, and many children live too far away from schools to receive a proper education. Madagascar has started broadcasting educational radio programs in hopes of instilling an eagerness to learn into people, particularly children. Gender equality is not common in Madagascar, although we are striving to make it occur. __Solutions:__ Encouraging all people, boys and girls, to receive at least primary education should be emphasized. Teaching about gender equality should be passed down, and people should try to help others understand the role women play in the community. Women should be allowed to receive education and schooling at any age, because we never stop learning and it is never to late to go to school.