SOCHUM

General Assembly: Social, Cultural, and Humanitarian Committee

Background guide available now. SBIMUN XIV will not be collecting position papers from delegates.

Topic A: Yemen Humanitarian Crisis

Yemen is currently facing a rapidly intensifying humanitarian crisis, with an urgent requirement for assistance by a staggering 21.6 million individuals. The situation is deteriorating daily, making Yemen one of the most pressing humanitarian challenges globally. In 2023, approximately 80 percent of the country's population is grappling with severe difficulties accessing vital services and meeting their basic nutritional requirements. Two-thirds of all Yemenis are experiencing hunger, and nearly half are uncertain about their next meal. The prevalence of child malnutrition within Yemen is one of the highest worldwide. Furthermore, with the looming threat of COVID-19, the virus is anticipated to spread more rapidly, extensively, and with more devastating consequences than in almost any other part of the world. The conflict has also disrupted essential services, leaving millions without access to clean water, healthcare, and food.

Topic B: Women's Access to Education in Developing Countries

According to UNESCO, there are 129 million girls not enrolled in formal education, 32 million in primary school, and 97 million in secondary school, the majority coming from developing countries. In areas with constant violence, civil war, and poverty, rates are higher due to a lack of access and inequality, as girls are 2.5 times more likely to be out of school than their male counterparts. Even when they are in formal education, the bias persists, and inequality soars as technology and gender stereotypes persist. According to UNESCO, women are more likely to face poverty, and 60 million girls are sexually assaulted during transportation to or from school, causing mental health problems. In addition, according to a report by the World Bank in 2017, 41,000 girls under the age of eighteen are married every day. The 2014 Ebola outbreak in 2013-2016 and the current COVID-19 pandemic brought school closures in developing nations. As classes became remote, areas without technology furthered the divide and caused harm to access to education for women.

Staff

Chair

Jacob Evleth

Jacob Evleth is a third-year student at UCSB majoring in Actuarial Science from Huntington Beach, California. He did MUN for four years in high school, and this is his second year in collegiate MUN. He's competed at TrojanMUN, CHOMUN, and LAMUN, and has been a chair at SBIMUN and GauchoMUN. He loves to play soccer, watch hockey, and do photoshoots with his close friend weekly at the beach. He also has a ton of celebrity gossip that he knows personally. After college, he plans on becoming an actuary at an insurance firm or anywhere else hiring for one.

Co-Chair

Nancy Lopez

Nancy is a third-year sociology major from the Bay Area, California. She can be found in a library or a Starbucks. She enjoys exploring new places, hanging out with friends, and watching the sunset. Shopping is another hobby of Nancy's and downtown Santa Barbara is the perfect place for it. One of the coolest facts about Nancy is that she has had hearing loss since birth and uses Sign Language. She loves to give back to her community through volunteering and doing community service makes her feel great. Nancy looks forward to SBIMUN XIV.