INTERNATIONAL YOUTH EMPOWER SUMMIT

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INDEPENDENT COMMITTEES. COLLECTIVE GLOBAL VISION.

AN INDEPENDENT YOUTH PLATFORM
FOSTERING DIALOGUE, LEADERSHIP, AND
GLOBAL THINKING.
INTRODUCTION

The Commission plays a critical role in shaping global standards on gender equality
and in monitoring the implementation of international commitments, including the
Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995), a visionary blueprint for
advancing women’s rights. Each year, representatives of UN Member States gather
at the annual CSW session in New York to assess progress, share best practices, and
adopt Agreed Conclusions and resolutions on priority themes related to gender
justice and women's rights.

The UNCSW operates on the principle that women’s full and equal participation in all
spheres of life is a fundamental human right and essential to sustainable
development, peace, and democracy. It provides a forum for governments, civil
society organisations, and UN entities to come together and collaborate on
accelerating gender-responsive policymaking and action.

The United Nations Commission on the

Status of Women (UNCSW) is a functional
commission of the United Nations Economic
and Social Council (ECOSOC), established in
1946. It serves as the principal global
intergovernmental body exclusively
dedicated to the promotion of gender
equality and the empow
erment of women.
FUNCTION

UNCSW's core functions include:

Holding annual two-week sessions to review progress on women's rights,

discuss thematic priorities (e.g., 2023-2024 focus on accelerating gender
equality in the context of climate change), and adopt agreed conclusions.

Preparing reports for ECOSOC and the General Assembly, including the
Secretary-General's reports on women's status.

Collaborating with UN entities like UN Women, UNICEF, and the World Health
Organization to implement programs.

Facilitating expert inputs, NGO participation, and intergovernmental

negotiations.
In MUN contexts, functions simulate real UNCSW by debating topics, drafting
resolutions, and role-playing delegates from 54 member states.

FUNDING AND SOURCE OF FUNDING

UNCSW is funded through the UN's regular budget, administered by the UN

Secretariat. Key details:

Source: Contributions from UN member states via assessed dues (based on GDP
and other factors), as outlined in the UN Charter (Article 17). No separate budget
exists; costs are integrated into ECOSOC's operations.

Annual Allocation: Approximately $10-15 million USD for ECOSOC commissions,

including UNCSW, covering staff, meetings, and travel (per UN budget reports,
e.g., 2023-2024 budget).

Additional Sources: Voluntary contributions from member states or foundations

for special initiatives, but core funding is mandatory and assessed. UN Women
provides technical support but does not fund UNCSW directly.
TYPES OF DOCUMENTS ACCEPTED

In official UNCSW sessions and MUN simulations, the committee accepts and
processes various documents to facilitate debate and decision-making. Common
types include:

Resolutions: Formal proposals adopted by consensus or vote, outlining actions for

member states (e.g., calls for policy changes or reporting requirements).

Agreed Conclusions: Non-binding outcomes from sessions, summarizing discussions

and recommendations.

Reports: Submissions from the UN Secretary-General, member states, or experts on

specific topics (e.g., progress reports on CEDAW implementation).

Working Papers: Draft documents circulated during sessions for negotiation

(common in MUN).

Statements and Amendments: Oral or written inputs from delegates, NGOs, or experts.
Procedural Documents: Motions for debate, points of order, or caucuses.

AGENDA

Protection of Women in the “Metaverse” :Establishing Global Jurisdiction for Virtual

Harassment and Digital Identity Theft.

The Twist : This addresses the legal vacuum of virtual reality, focusing on how
international law applies to avatars and digital trauma.
BACKGROUND GUIDES

1. UN & International Framework on Violence Against Women

(Including Digital)

1.a UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW)

The CSW is the UN’s main body advancing gender equality and
women’s rights. It identifies gaps, sets global standards, and
recommends policies.

1.b UN Women: Online & Technology-Facilitated Violence

UN Women defines violence against women online as gender-based

abuse occurring via digital platforms — including harassment,
stalking, doxing, hijacking accounts, and non-consensual sharing of
intimate material.

1.c UN GA Resolution A/RES/79/152 (2024)

Recognizes that women and girls experience gender-specific

violations offline and online, including discrimination of privacy online.
It urges States to strengthen protection mechanisms.

1.d UN Human Rights Council & Special Rapporteur Reports

HRC reports stress that digital violence against women is a direct

human rights issue, not simply cyberspace misconduct. They identify
the need for protection, prosecution, redress, and prevention
mechanisms under international law
2. Key Issues in the Metaverse for Women

2.A. Virtual Harassment & Sexual Violence

Women report avatar-based harassment including verbal abuse,

offensive gestures, unwanted approaches, and simulated groping or
assault which may cause real psychological trauma due to VR
immersion.

Such experiences have been documented as effectively analogous to

physical assault in terms of impact on victims.

2.B. Digital Identity & Avatar Theft

In virtual platforms, identity theft can mean hacking an account or

impersonating someone’s avatar potentially for coercion, fraud or
reputational damage.

2. C. Jurisdictional Vacuum

Since the metaverse transcends borders, traditional conflict-of-law

and jurisdiction rules don’t easily apply. Current legal systems may
assign jurisdiction based on where the server is located or where the
victim resides, but no uniform global standard exists yet.

2.D. Platform Immunity & Accountability

In many countries (e.g., the U.S.), platform providers may be immune

from liability for user actions under laws like Section 230 complicating
enforcement and victim redress.
3. Legal & Policy Gaps

No Explicit Virtual Reality Jurisdiction

No UN treaty or convention yet defines how international law applies to

avatar conduct, metaverse harassment, or digital identity crimes.
States have sparse and inconsistent frameworks for cyber harassment
and digital violence, not tailored to immersive VR contexts.

2. Online Violence Often Excluded from National Laws

Even where cyber harassment is recognized nationally, it tends to
address text-based or social media abuse, not embodied VR
harassment.

4. Core Points for Your Model UN Speech

You can structure your arguments around three segments:

A. What’s the Problem?

Metaverse Harassment Is Real & Harmful

[Link] face virtual harassment, avatar assault, sexualized abuse, and

psychological trauma.

[Link] Identity Theft Poses Unique Risks

Bad actors impersonate avatars for harmful activities, with no clear
legal deterrent.

[Link] Vacuum at International Level

Current international law doesn’t explicitly protect women in virtual
environments
B. Why International Law Must Act

1. niversal Human Rights Apply Online

UN resolutions affirm that rights offline must be protected online.

2. Digital Violence Is Gendered

Women experience disproportionate levels of digital abuse globally.

3. Transnational Nature of VR

Jurisdictional ambiguity prevents accountability urging a global legal framework.

C. What Solutions to Propose?

1. UNCSW Draft Declaration on Virtual Gender Safety

Endorse a resolution recognizing virtual harassment and identity theft as extensions of

gender-based violence.

2. Global Metaverse Jurisdiction Protocol

States agree to a framework assigning cross-border jurisdiction for virtual crimes (could
mirror cybercrime conventions).

3. International Reporting & Enforcement Body

Create a UN-affiliated mechanism to investigate, mediate, and enforce transnational

virtual misconduct.

4. Platform Accountability Standards

Mandate compliance with international safety standards for immersive platforms.

5. Capacity Building & State Cooperation

Assist low-resource States in legislating and prosecuting VR crimes.

SOURCES

Official Resolutions / Reports

A/RES/79/152 – Intensification of efforts to prevent and

eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls: the
digital environment (UN General Assembly)

UN Women Global Strategy on Technology-Facilitated Violence

against Women and Girls (UN Women)

UN Women Repository on Technology-Facilitated Violence

(Knowledge hub)

[Link]
on-the-status-of-women

[Link]
attack-we-must-fight-back-says-un-chief-2025-03-07/

[Link]
facilitated-violence-against-women-and-girls