World Conference on Women
Topic A: Reproductive, Sexual, and Maternal Health
Topic B: Increasing Access to Education
Topic Area A: Reproductive, Sexual and Maternal Health
The scope of this issue is quite large, both in the sub-fields it addresses and the number of people it impacts. The WHO estimates that only half of pregnant women receive recommended standards of health care and 800 pregnant women die every day due to preventable causes. Abortion is illegal (or only legal in cases where the mothers’ life is at stake) in countries that comprise 25% of the world population. Every day, 1 million people acquire a sexually transmitted infection. Over 125 million women and girls alive today are victims of female genital mutilation.
These numbers are startling, but they do not need to be. STIs have known preventions and treatments, and family planning has established methods so it does not require “reinventing the wheel,” so to speak. The problem is access, which in itself is not a simple challenge to tackle because of the political, social and cultural barriers that stand in its way. Access to reproductive healthcare is limited not just for women, but also for members of the LGBTQ population, which is another aspect of the issue that should be taken into account.
Topic Area B: Increasing Access to Education
Education is considered a human right by so many international treaties, conventions and documents, yet women comprise over 60% of the global illiterate population. Increasing access to education is of utmost importance because it has the potential to serve as a pathway for many different forms of progress. Well-educated women tend to have increased levels of political participation, and as women have a greater political voice, women’s issues (like access to education) are more openly discussed. By contrast, inequities in education perpetuate sexist stereotypes, gender discrimination in the workplace, and prejudice in the domestic sphere.
While strides to empower and educate women are being made, they are often not being made quickly enough. The issue of education does not simply end with increasing enrollment in schools, as even in growing economies, the skills learned in schools do not always translate well into the workforce. The challenge the committee faces requires extensive deliberations to propose ways in which female access to education can be increased and sustained in the long run.
Director's Letter:
Dear Delegates,
Welcome to the World Conference on Women for Harvard National Model United Nations 2022! My name is Lena Lofgren, and I will be your Director for this committee, addressing reproductive, sexual and maternal health and increasing access to education. I am excited to meet to you all at conference and begin discussing the various aspects of these topics through nuanced debate. I expect this to be an enriching experience for both you the delegation and me as your Director. I look forward to seeing this committee come to life in February!
At Harvard, I am currently a Junior studying Government and Middle Eastern Studies. Although, I am originally from Swathmore, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia. I have been heavily involved with the various Model UN programs on campus and have previously directed at HNMUN, HNMUN, WorldMUN and competed for Harvard’s Intercollegiate Model UN team. Outside of MUN, I am the Director of Diversity and Outreach at the Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics, a member of the debate team, and teach civics to elementary school students in the Boston area. In my free time, I enjoy binging reality TV, taking naps, and cuddling with my cat, Rascal.
Whilst at conference, I encourage you to engage in debate, collaborate with your peers, and broaden your perspectives on these international issues. I also hope that you use this opportunity to have fun and meet some new people within the Model UN circuit. In the meantime, if you have any questions, concerns, or want to introduce yourself, feel free to reach out!
Sincerely,
Lena Lofgren
Director of the World Conference on Women
Harvard National Model United Nations 2022