Model UN Scenario

The scenario is the central theme or problem that sets the stage for the Model UN diplomacy roleplaying simulation. It serves as a focal point for delegates, guiding their position paper, resolutions, and negotiations. The scenario is selected by Model UN organizers and faculty advisors.

TU-BCPS Model United Nations 2024-2025 Debate Scenario 
 “Global Forced Migration and Refugee Crises”  

The world is currently experiencing the highest levels of forcible displacement in recorded history. As of June 2024, an unprecedented 122.6 million people have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict, violence, climate change, and persecution. Of those, 43.7 million are refugees and 72.1 million are internally displaced people (UNHCR, Figures at a Glance). The 1951 Refugee Convention defines a refugee as “someone who is unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion” (UNHCR, What Is A Refugee). Internally displaced people (IDPs) have been forced from their homes due to similar circumstances but have not crossed an international border to seek safety. Unlike refugees, IDPs resettle within their own countries (UNHCR, Internally Displaced People).

Refugees flee from various threats, including persecution, conflict, violence, and human rights violations which endanger their lives and safety. Many are forced to escape due to wars, ethnic or religious discrimination, political oppression, or environmental disasters, such as droughts and floods, that disrupt their livelihoods. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), these individuals are often left with no choice but to leave their homes to seek safety and protection in other countries (UNHCR, Global Trends).

IDPs face similar challenges. The UNHCR explains, “IDPs are among the most vulnerable people in the world, and many are trapped in protracted displacement for years or even decades. Uprooted from their homes and livelihoods, they often face dangerous conditions and continue to face risks even after fleeing for safety. National governments have the primary responsibility to protect and assist their displaced citizens and residents, but they may be unable or unwilling to do so.” (UNHCR, Internationally Displaced People). Although this group of people may face fewer cultural issues, they can be forced into areas controlled by hostile ethnic, racial, and/or religious groups. Thus, countries with significant IDP and/or refugee populations may have additional hurdles to peace, prosperity, stability, and security due their roles as host countries.

Children are among the most vulnerable victims of forced displacement as they face significant threats to their safety, well-being, and development. According to the UNHCR, children comprise over half of the world’s forcibly displaced population. Many children grow up away from home, often separated from their families. They may have endured or witnessed acts of violence and, while in exile, confront dangers such as abuse, neglect, exploitation, trafficking, violence, or being recruited into armed groups. The displacement of children disrupts their emotional, educational, and social development, leaving lasting psychological and physical scars. Further, almost half of forcibly displaced children are not in school, which means that they lose time in their education as well as other health and social services which many schools offer (UNHCR, Children).

Women are particularly vulnerable to violence, abuse, and exploitation in situations of displacement and conflict. In addition to economic losses from their displacement and limited job options, displaced women often face gender-based violence, including sexual assault, harassment, and trafficking, both during their journey and in refugee camps or host communities as they may also be seeking protection and resources for their children. Limited access to healthcare, legal protection, jobs, and support services exacerbates their vulnerabilities, leaving many without the means to seek justice or recover from trauma. Additionally, cultural and systemic barriers can prevent women from reporting abuse or accessing resources for themselves and their families (UNHCR, Women).

Refugees face significant obstacles when they enter host countries. They usually have little time to prepare to leave their home, arrive with few personal belongings or resources, and may not speak the host country’s primary language. They may experience difficulty assimilating into local culture, finding housing and employment, and providing for their basic needs. Children often fall behind in school as they try to assimilate. Families can encounter toxic public attitudes and political narratives that incorrectly define and wrongly vilify refugees (Amnesty International, Refugees, Asylum Seekers, and Migrants).

Meanwhile, host countries and communities face substantial economic, social, and political costs and challenges when accommodating large numbers of refugees. The influx often strains public services such as healthcare, education, and housing, creating financial burdens for governments and local communities. Competition for jobs, especially in low-skill sectors, can lead to tensions between refugees/IDPs and host populations, while cultural and linguistic differences pose barriers to integration. Additionally, ensuring the safety and security of refugees/IDPs and addressing xenophobia or discrimination require coordinated efforts. These challenges highlight the need for international cooperation and support, as emphasized by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in its Global Compact on Refugees.

Notable points regarding forced displacement (See UNHCR Figures at a Glance; UN Refugee-Statistics Page; UNHCR Education)

• Every day, 25,000 people are forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution

• Two-thirds of refugees come from four countries: Syria, Venezuela, Ukraine, and Afghanistan

• Sixty-nine percent of refugees live in countries neighboring their countries of origin

• Top refugee host countries: Iran (3.8M), Türkiye (3.1M), Colombia (2.8M), Germany (2.7M), and Uganda (1.7M)

• Refugee children are five times more likely to be out of school than their non-refugee peers

• Close to half of all refugee children – 49 per cent – remain out of school

Given that these examples represent only a few of the many challenges associated with forcible displacement, please consider the following: 

1. How is corruption connected to forced migration? What is the connection between human rights violations, corruption, and transnational organized crime? What is the relationship between the factors that lead to displacement and finance from illicit sources? How does corruption intensify existing displacement? What policies can be instituted that will reduce corruption and also forced migration? How does corruption at border crossings exacerbate forced migration issues?

2. How does forced displacement impact the current and future economic and social development of a country and its population? How can the UN address these issues? How does forced displacement affect existing UN development programs? What additional measures could be taken? How are these measures better than existing measures? Why?

3. What are some of the challenges faced by the UN in creating legal solutions to address forced displacement? What specific legal issues do refugees and IDPs face once they have fled their homes? How can these challenges for the UN, states, local communities, and refugees/IDPs be overcome? Which current UN programs are most/least successful in dealing with and assisting these categories of people, and why? Are new strategies needed? Which and why?

4. What links are there between forced displacement and human rights? How can the UN protect member states from the negative impacts of forced displacement while also protecting an individual’s human rights? Should security be placed above human rights, such as freedom of movement, the right to life, and the right to pursue economic freedom? Why or why not?  Where can/should compromises be made and why?  What is the UN doing about problems connected to forced displacement, such as forced prostitution, slavery, and forced labor?  What can/should be done about this type of migration and human trafficking across borders? 

5. Should children be treated differently from other categories of forced displaced persons? Why/why not? What unique challenges do child refugees and IDPs face? Why and how seriously do these challenges impact children’s futures? States’ current and future security, stability, and prosperity? How can the UN best help children and states address these challenges and build positive futures for children and states? 

6. What is the connection between forced displacement, corruption, and organized crime? What is the relationship between forced displacement and finance from illicit sources? What can the UN do to mitigate the relationship between human traffickers, refugees/IDPs, and organized crime? What about so-called ‘everyday corruption’ at or near border crossings, which may exacerbate forced displacement issues? 

7. How does forced displacement impact the physical and mental health and well-being of a state’s adults and children?  What health challenges arise amongst refugees/IDPs, and what are the short-term and long-term costs and effects? Do these health issues impact the local or global population? Who should pay for associated costs and arrange for care? Why? How do these physical and mental health issues affect a state’s ability to recover from conflict? Can the UN help? If so, how and why? If not, why not?

8. How is forced displacement driven by environmental issues? Does forced displacement impact the global, regional, national, and local environment? If so, how? What kinds of global, national, and local solutions exist to combat the environmental impacts of overcrowded IDP and refugee camps?  What impact might sustainable development initiatives have on forced displacement? Why?

9. How is forced displacement connected to sustainable communities? How are rural communities in poor countries impacted by forced displacement? What resources do rural, undeveloped areas need to host displaced persons, and who should supply and control these resources? How can urban areas to host displaced persons, and who should supply and control these resources? How can developing states adequately address the needs of displaced people? What should be the role of the UN in all of these situations? Of developed vs developing states?

10. What global, regional, national, and local security challenges are connected to forced displacement? Does conflict over refugees/IDPs trigger violence, and if so, how and why? Do current security protocols provide an appropriate response to states and non-state actors that cause or fuel conflicts over forced displacement? Why or why not? What global, state, and local measures might be more effective? How would these measures impact a displaced person’s access to refugee status? Does the UN have a role when the conflict over forced displacement or consequences of forced displacement conflicts are internal to a state? If so, what is that role and how might it be improved? If not, what can or should the UN do in these cases? 

11. How does forced displacement relate to science and technology? Do science and technological developments lead to more or less forced displacement and why? How can the international community harness science and technology to improve the conditions that trigger forced migration and the conditions that refugees and IDPs face when forced to migrate? Can science and technology help to sol local communities decrease conflict and problems associated with forced migration?

12. How is forced displacement connected to trade and development between and within countries and regions? How can the UN decrease the likelihood that forced displacement negatively impacts global, regional, national, and local trade and development? What are the challenges of these approaches, and how can they be effectively addressed? How does (or not) promoting trade between developed and developing countries positively or negatively impact issues of forced displacement and opportunities for those forcibly displaced and the communities that host those forcibly displaced?

References 

UN High Commissioner for Refugees, “Internally Displaced People,” accessed 3 December 2024 at https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/internally-displaced-people.html

UN High Commissioner for Refugees, “Figures at a Glance,” accessed 3 December 2024 at https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/figures-at-a-glance.html

UN High Commissioner for Refugees, “What is a Refugee?” accessed 3 December 2024 at https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/what-is-a-refugee.html

USA for UNHCR, “Statistics,” accessed on 3 December 2024 at https://www.unrefugees.org/refugee-facts/statistics/

UN High Commissioner for Refugees, “Mid-Year Trends,” accessed 3 December 2024 at https://www.unhcr.org/us/mid-year-trends

UN High Commissioner for Refugees, “Children,” accessed 3 December 2024 at https://www.unhcr.org/us/what-we-do/how-we-work/safeguarding-individuals/children

UN High Commissioner for Refugees, “Internally Displaced People.” accessed 3 December 2024 at https://www.unhcr.org/about-unhcr/who-we-protect/internally-displaced-people

UN High Commissioner for Refugees, “Convention and Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees,” accessed 3 December 2024 at https://www.unhcr.org/media/convention-and-protocol-relating-status-refugees   

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