UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
Background Guide
A Letter from the Executive Board
United Nations Human Rights Council
Agenda: Ensuring the Protection and Empowerment of Women and Girls under De Facto
Regimes, with Special Emphasis on Afghanistan
Greetings Delegates,
It gives us immense pleasure to welcome you to the United Nations Human Rights Council at
the Primus Model United Nations 2025. The agenda at hand - Ensuring the Protection and
Empowerment of Women and Girls under De Facto Regimes, with Special Emphasis on
Afghanistan - is both timely and urgent. It calls for a nuanced understanding of human rights,
international law, and the socio-political realities that shape lived experiences on the ground.
The issue is dire and must be addressed at the earliest opportunity. As the Executive Board of
the UNHRC, we expect a productive and fruitful debate on integral topics such as education,
reproductive rights, independence, free speech, and various other areas that require urgent
attention.
This background guide will provide a starting point for your research; however, we strongly
encourage you to expand on it. Explore recent developments, country positions, and legal
frameworks. Try to understand not just the policies, but the people they affect.
We expect this committee to reflect the seriousness of the topic. Debate should be thoughtful,
respectful, and solutions-oriented. At the same time, we encourage you to challenge
assumptions and engage critically with the material.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. We’re here to support your
preparation and ensure you have a valuable experience.
We look forward to seeing the perspectives you bring to the table and the diplomacy you
exercise in building toward meaningful and implementable resolutions. Happy researching!!
All the best,
Tulip Sinha & Ahaan Mittal-Co-Chairpersons,
Aaryaehi Purwar– Vice-Chair
Aakanksh B Daniel– Moderator
Committee Overview
The Human Rights Council (HRC) is a UN subsidiary body established under the UN
Charter. It is the main organ of the United Nations (UN) responsible for strengthening the
promotion and protection of human rights around the globe. The HRC is mandated to respond
to urgent human rights crises and make pertinent recommendations for the cessation of
human rights violations prevalent around the world. It has a global scope and works to
promote all human rights and uphold the integrity of International Conventions and
Covenants on Human Rights. As a part of the treaty-based mechanisms, the Universal
Declaration for Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted by the General Assembly as a “common
standard of achievement” for all peoples and countries to pursue the protection and
promotion of human rights. After decades of standing alone as the only landmark document
on human rights, it was joined by the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights (ICESCR), and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
(ICCPR) and its two Optional Protocols to comprise the International Bill of Rights. It is
composed of 47 seats, which UN members occupy for a 3-year term; the distribution of
members is as follows:
➔ 13 members from Africa
➔ 13 members from Asia
➔ 6 members from Eastern Europe
➔ 8 members from Latin America and the Caribbean
➔ 7 members from Western Europe and Other Groups
The HRC continues to spearhead global efforts in upholding human rights by forging
partnerships and providing assistance to non-governmental organisations (NGOs), National
Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) of member nations, and other civil society actors playing
a role in safeguarding and promoting human rights.
These partnerships facilitate many of the HRC’s major initiatives, including providing
humanitarian assistance and aid through programs or frameworks targeting groups deprived
of their access to fundamental human rights and freedoms. NGOs that have received
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) consultative status and NHRIs can directly address
the HRC during discussions and debates and inform it of situations occurring in their home
states. Groups and NGOs that have not achieved ECOSOC consultative status can also
provide written documents on a Member State as part of the Universal Periodic Review
(UPR), which serves to assess the human rights situations in all United Nations Member
States.
Agenda
The agenda that will be discussed in the committee is “Ensuring the Protection and
Empowerment of Women and Girls under De Facto Regimes, with Special Emphasis on
Afghanistan”.
A "de facto government" refers to a regime that holds actual power and control over a
territory, even if it hasn't been formally recognised or established according to the existing
legal or constitutional framework. Essentially, it's a government that's in power as a matter of
fact, rather than by legal right.
"De jure" refers to something that is legally recognised, while "De facto" refers to something
that exists in reality, even if not legally recognised.
This agenda is centred around the urgent need to safeguard the rights, dignity, and well-being
of women and girls living under de facto regimes - it encompasses important areas of
discussion such as:
• Violence, Exploitation and Abuse of Rights
→ Since the Taliban took full power in 2021, Afghan women have suffered extreme domestic
abuse and human rights violations. Many families say domestic violence has surged because
there is no legal protection: courts and shelters have been shut down, so abuse at home goes
unpunished. The Taliban enforce a strict version of Sharia under their “virtue and vice” law.
Women must be fully covered, stay silent in public, and have a male guardian to leave the
house. They are barred from education beyond age 11, from work, and even from speaking or
singing out loud. Public floggings are common: over 200 women have been whipped for
minor "violations" like being outside without a male guardian. This crisis affects every part of
daily life: at home, at school, and in society, women live in fear and have virtually no rights.
• Access to Education
→ In Chad, one of the poorest countries in the world, girls face many barriers to getting an
education. Poverty is the biggest issue—families often cannot afford school fees, uniforms, or
supplies. When resources are limited, boys are sent to school first, while girls are expected to
help at home or work. Early and forced marriage is another major problem. Many girls are
married by the age of 15, which usually ends their education. Some parents believe school is
not important for girls or worry that education will make them disobedient. Others fear for
their daughters’ safety, especially on long walks to school where girls risk harassment or
assault. Schools in Chad also lack basic resources like toilets and sanitary pads, which causes
girls to miss class during their periods or drop out entirely. There are very few female
teachers, making parents hesitant to send daughters to schools where only men teach. In
conflict-affected areas, education becomes even harder to access due to violence,
displacement, and destroyed infrastructure. All these issues combine to keep many girls in
Chad out of the classroom, limiting their future opportunities and rights.
• Access to Healthcare and Maternal Care
→ In Gaza, the collapse of healthcare services has created a dire crisis for women,
particularly those who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or suffering from chronic illnesses. With
over two-thirds of hospitals and clinics no longer functioning and clean water production at
just 5% of normal levels, pregnant women are forced to give birth without pain relief, proper
nutrition, or medical support. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)
reports that severe food insecurity has weakened the immune systems of pregnant and
lactating women, putting them at greater risk of anaemia, pre-eclampsia, haemorrhage, and
other life-threatening complications, leading to increased maternal and infant mortality. The
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) estimates that 45,000 pregnant and 68,000
breastfeeding women are directly affected. Moreover, over 162,000 women in Gaza are living
with or at risk of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease,
and cancer, with older women being especially vulnerable. Disruption of basic medical care
has made these conditions more dangerous, and over 5,000 female cancer patients now face
the complete suspension of life-saving treatment. Interviews with patients reveal that none
have access to medication. This health emergency underscores an urgent need for
humanitarian aid, restoration of medical services, and protection for women’s health and
rights.
• Legal Status and Civil Liberty
→ In Iran, women have poor legal status and limited civil liberties. Under strict Sharia law,
women are treated unequally in many areas. In court, a woman’s testimony counts as half of a
man’s, and daughters inherit only half of what sons do. Women also need permission from
their husbands or fathers to get a passport or travel abroad. Civil liberties are tightly
controlled. Women must wear the hijab in public or face arrest, fines, or beatings. Peaceful
protests and calls for equal rights are treated as security threats. (In 2022, Mahsa Amini died
after being arrested by the “morality police” for not wearing her hijab properly, sparking
major protests. The government cracked down, arresting many women and activists.)
• Employment
→ According to the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), Somalia is one of the
most gender-unequal countries in the world. Women face major challenges in many areas of
life, including work, education, and politics. They are under-represented in better-paying jobs
and are often pushed into informal or risky work, especially if they are from poor urban
families. These jobs can make them vulnerable to exploitation. If a woman is divorced or
loses her husband, she may fall into poverty due to limited economic opportunities. They are
also largely excluded from the legal system. Women are also banned from many leadership
roles in government, the judiciary, and some university programs. There are very few female
lawyers, judges, or prosecutors, and women often cannot go to court or seek justice on their
own. They must be represented by a male relative such as a father, brother, husband, or uncle,
because of cultural and social norms. It is considered shameful for a woman to speak for
herself in front of a male-dominated court system.
• Humanitarian Access and International Aid
→ In Yemen, women face major barriers to receiving humanitarian aid under the control of
the Houthi de facto authorities. These groups often block or delay aid meant for women,
especially in areas they control. Female aid workers are frequently banned from working or
need a male guardian (mahram) to travel, making it hard to deliver support to women in
remote areas. Cultural restrictions and armed conflict make it risky for women to access
health services, food aid, or shelter support. In some areas, women must get permission from
male family members to visit aid centers. The Houthis have also interfered with international
NGOs, demanding control over aid distribution or blocking programs they see as “Western”
or against Islamic values, especially those focused on women’s rights. This results in fewer
female-friendly services, like maternal healthcare, trauma support, or education programs.
Despite international efforts, the combination of political control, gender discrimination, and
security concerns means that women in Yemen are often left behind in crisis response.
QARMA (Questions A Resolution Must Answer)
1. What are the most urgent human rights violations faced by women and girls under de facto
regimes, especially in Afghanistan?
2. What specific legal, social, and economic barriers prevent the protection and empowerment
of women and girls?
3. What obligations do de facto authorities have under international law, and how can these
be enforced?
4. What mechanisms can be established or supported to ensure women’s access to education,
healthcare, and participation in public life?
5. How can the international community and UN bodies hold de facto authorities accountable
for violations?
6. What immediate and long-term measures are needed to empower women and girls under
de facto regimes?
7. How can the resolution ensure the inclusion and voices of Afghan women and girls in all
decision-making processes?
8. What monitoring and reporting mechanisms should be established to track progress and
violations?
Sources to Start Researching
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
still-fighting-inside-the-fight-for-rights-under-taliban
[Link]
by-new-afghanistan-morality-law
UN Organisations:
UN Women: [Link]
UNRWA: [Link]
UNFPA: [Link]
CSW: [Link]
UNDP: [Link]
Other UN organisations to refer to include UNICEF, UNESCO, OCHA, OHCHR and ILO
We look forward to having a productive committee with insightful and exciting debate.
Happy researching, we’ll see you in committee,
The Executive Board