United Nations Human Rights Council Delegate Guide

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The Human Rights Council (HRC) is a specialized committee focused on the protection, promotion and investigation of human rights issues worldwide. Delegates should work to draft diplomatic, human-rights-centred solutions which respect international human rights and laws.

As a delegate in HRC you represent a Member State, UN agency, or accredited NGO. Your responsibilities before and during the conference include researching your country/organization’s human rights record and policies, preparing an opening speech, drafting and negotiating clauses for draft resolutions, lobbying for support, and participating actively in 

moderated/unmoderated caucuses.

The Chairing Panel (President, Vice-President(s), and Rapporteur/Directing Chair) enforces MMUN rules, manages the speakers' list, rules on points and motions, facilitates caucuses, assesses procedural motions, and assists delegates in drafting and submitting amendments. Chairs should be impartial, clear, and consistent in applying procedure.

• Diplomatic language and mutual respect are mandatory at all times. Personal attacks or discriminatory remarks are prohibited.

• Formal business attire is required during committee sessions.

• Electronic devices are allowed for research and note-taking only. Social media during sessions is discouraged.

• Delegates must accurately represent their assigned country/organization policy and interests.

Roll Call: The Chair conducts roll call at the start of each session. Delegations answer "Present" or "Present and Voting." "Present and Voting".

Setting the Agenda: If relevant, the committee may vote to select the order of topics using a simple majority. In HRC, the agenda is often set in advance, but Chairs should clarify any session-specific rules at opening.

Speakers' List: The primary form of debate. Delegates raise placards to be added to the list; speeches should be substantive and focused on the agenda topic.

Moderated Caucus: Requested for focused, time-limited debate on a sub-issue. A motion must specify total time, speaking time per speaker, and a clear purpose. Requires a second and a simple majority.

Unmoderated Caucus: Informal negotiation time for delegates to draft resolutions and lobby. A motion must specify the total time. Requires a second and a simple majority (or Chair approval).

• Points must be raised and wait to be recognized by the Chair before being stated.
• A Point of Personal Privilege regarding audibility may interrupt the speaker; other points may not.
• A Point of Order must reference a specific recent procedural error to be in order.

HRC outputs are best framed as diplomatic, human-rights-focused draft resolutions or working papers. Resolutions should be inclusive, actionable, and grounded in human rights law.

Preambulatory Clauses:
Start with participles or descriptive phrases that recall background, legal instruments, or previous UN actions. Examples: 'Bearing in mind', 'Recalling', 'Recognizing', 'Deeply concerned by'.

Operative Clauses:
Begin with action verbs in the third person present: 'Calls upon', 'Urges', 'Encourages', 'Requests', 'Recommends'. Operative clauses should be numbered, clear, and implementable.

Friendly Amendments:
• Small changes agreed to by the sponsors of a draft resolution.
• With Chairs’ confirmation these are adopted without debate or vote in many MMUN procedures.
 

Unfriendly Amendments:
• Changes which alter or remove clauses without sponsor agreement.
• Must be submitted in writing, declared in order by the Chair, debated, and put to a vote before being incorporated.

Substantive votes (e.g., passing a resolution or unfriendly amendment): Simple majority of present and voting delegations unless the committee or conference rules specify otherwise. Abstentions are allowed unless a delegation answered 'Present and Voting' during roll call, in which case abstention is waived. Procedural motions generally require a simple majority.

Voting methods include placard vote (standard) and roll call vote (if requested and granted).

• Focus on human-rights-based approaches: centre the dignity, rights, and protection of individuals and groups rather than geopolitical advantage.
• Reference international human rights instruments (e.g., UDHR, ICCPR, ICESCR) and relevant treaty bodies or Special Procedures where appropriate.
• Consider vulnerable groups and intersectional impacts when drafting clauses.
• Propose monitoring, capacity-building, reporting mechanisms, and international cooperation rather than punitive unilateral measures which HRC cannot implement alone.

• Bearing in mind

• Recognizing with deep concern

• Recalling

• Noting with appreciation

• Deeply concerned by

• Guided by

• Having considered

• Noting further

• Calls upon

• Urges

• Encourages

• Requests

• Recommends

• Calls for

• Affirms

• Decides to establish

• Research your delegation’s existing human rights record and publicly stated priorities.
• Build regional and cross-regional coalitions: human rights issues often require broad support.
• Draft realistic, evidence-based operative clauses that can attract co-sponsors.
• Use unmoderated caucuses strategically to write and refine draft resolutions.
• When speaking, be concise, reference legal frameworks, and offer practical implementation steps.

• Proposing vague or unenforceable actions.
• Using accusatory or politicized language that alienates potential co-sponsors.
• Submitting late or poorly formatted amendments.
• Confusing procedural points with substantive debate points.

• 'I move to open a moderated caucus of 15 minutes with a speaking time of 1 minute per speaker to discuss [sub-topic].'
• 'I move to enter an unmoderated caucus for 20 minutes for the purpose of drafting a resolution on [topic].'
• 'I move to close debate and move to voting procedure on the draft resolution.'

Topic 1: Combating Refugee Trafficking Across the Mediterranean: Establishing

Mechanisms for Safe Migration and Developing Sustainable Solutions to the

Root Causes of Forced Migration

1.Detailed Topic Overview

The Mediterranean migration crisis has emerged as one of the defining humanitarian

challenges of the 21st century. Over the past decade, hundreds of thousands of migrants and

refugees have crossed from North Africa and the Middle East into Europe, often risking their

lives aboard unseaworthy vessels. This migration surge is fueled by multiple factors:

protracted conflicts in Syria, Libya, and Sudan; political instability; economic hardship; and

climate-related displacement. The lack of legal migration pathways and the restrictive

asylum policies of some European nations have pushed many to rely on dangerous

smuggling and trafficking networks.

Human trafficking across the Mediterranean is a multidimensional issue—combining

humanitarian, security, and developmental dimensions. The Human Rights Council must

balance state sovereignty and border security with international human rights norms,

particularly those enshrined in the 1951 Refugee Convention, the Palermo Protocol, and the

principle of non-refoulement.

2. Key Nations and Blocs

Understanding national stances is crucial for effective bloc-building and resolution drafting.

Below are the main positions:

**Pro–Safe Migration / Humanitarian Approach:**

1. Germany – Strong advocate of burden-sharing and humanitarian protection, funding

resettlement programs under the EU and UNHCR.

2. Italy – Frontline EU state managing most maritime arrivals; pushes for equitable EU

responsibility-sharing.

3. Spain – Supports legal migration channels and enhanced Frontex cooperation.

4. Sweden – Consistently prioritizes refugee rights and integration frameworks.

5. Canada – Promotes anti-trafficking initiatives and refugee sponsorship programs globally.

**Restrictive or Sovereignty-Based Approach:**

1. Hungary – Strongly opposed to EU quotas, emphasizing border control and national

sovereignty.

2. Poland – Restricts asylum intake, prioritizing internal security and cultural integrity.

3. Libya – A key transit country; weak governance has allowed trafficking networks to

thrive.

4. Turkey – Hosts millions of refugees but leverages migration policy in diplomatic

negotiations.

5. Russia – Advocates non-interference, arguing migration management is a domestic

matter.

3. Historical Context and Timeline

• 2011 – Arab Spring uprisings trigger civil unrest and conflict across North Africa and the

Middle East.

• 2013 – Lampedusa tragedy results in over 360 deaths, drawing global attention to

Mediterranean crossings.

• 2015 – European Migrant Crisis peaks; over 1 million people arrive in Europe by sea.

• 2016 – EU–Turkey Agreement established to stem irregular migration through the

Aegean.

• 2018 – Reports emerge of widespread abuse in Libyan detention centers, prompting UN

investigations.

• 2020 – COVID-19 disrupts migration flows; worsened humanitarian conditions in camps.

• 2023–2025 – Continued debates on EU asylum reform and funding for African

development programs.

4. Key Issues and Debate Angles

Delegates should consider multi-pronged solutions addressing both humanitarian

protection and root causes. Possible areas include:

• Strengthening search-and-rescue operations under international coordination.

• Expanding legal migration and resettlement channels.

• Combatting organized crime and trafficking through intelligence sharing.

• Supporting sustainable development programs in origin countries.

• Ensuring human rights monitoring in detention centers.

• Enhancing international cooperation under UNHCR and IOM frameworks.

5. Key International Instruments

• 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol

• UN Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (2018)

• Palermo Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons (2000)

• EU Dublin Regulation and European Asylum System

• UNHCR and IOM policy frameworks on mixed migration.

Topic 2: Protecting Human Rights in Resource Extraction Industries and

Preventing Abuses Against Local and Indigenous Communities

1.Detailed Topic Overview

The global demand for minerals, oil, and gas continues to grow, yet resource extraction

often occurs in regions characterized by weak governance and fragile institutions. Mining

and drilling projects have been linked to environmental damage, forced displacement, and

violence against local and Indigenous peoples. These abuses frequently stem from the lack

of oversight, corruption, and limited enforcement of corporate accountability standards.

The Human Rights Council aims to ensure that economic development aligns with human

rights obligations. Central to this are the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human

Rights (UNGPs), which outline the responsibilities of states and corporations to respect,

protect, and remedy human rights violations. Delegates must evaluate how to strengthen

compliance, empower affected communities, and promote sustainable alternatives.

2. Key Nations and Blocs

**Pro–Human Rights and Accountability-Focused States:**

1. Norway – Emphasizes ethical investment and transparency in state-backed enterprises.

2. Canada – Implements corporate responsibility measures through the Extractive Sector

CSR Strategy.

3. Germany – Supports mandatory human rights due diligence laws within the EU.

4. Chile – Advocates sustainable lithium mining and protection of Indigenous land rights.

5. Peru – Promotes dialogue between government, industry, and Indigenous communities.

**Resource-Dependent or Sovereignty-First States:**

1. China – Prioritizes access to natural resources abroad, often opposing external scrutiny.

2. Russia – Focuses on state sovereignty and rejects international monitoring of domestic

industries.

3. Saudi Arabia – Prioritizes economic diversification under Vision 2030, often sidelining

rights concerns.

4. Brazil – Under certain administrations, weakens environmental protections for the

Amazon.

5. Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) – Dependent on mining exports; faces chronic

child labor and conflict mineral issues.

3. Historical Context and Timeline

• 1948 – Universal Declaration of Human Rights establishes global human rights norms.

• 1970s–1980s – Expansion of multinational mining operations across Africa and Latin

America.

• 1990s – Global awareness of corporate complicity in rights abuses rises.

• 2000 – Kimberley Process launched to curb trade in conflict diamonds.

• 2011 – UNHRC adopts the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

• 2016 – Standing Rock protests in the U.S. highlight Indigenous rights in pipeline projects.

• 2022–2025 – Growing calls for legally binding international instruments on corporate

accountability.

4. Key Issues and Debate Angles

Delegates should explore both preventive and remedial mechanisms, such as:

• Implementing Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) for Indigenous communities.

• Creating international monitoring mechanisms for corporate behavior.

• Linking human rights compliance to trade agreements and investment incentives.

• Supporting green energy transitions that respect community rights.

• Enhancing access to legal remedies for affected populations.

• Promoting technology transfer for sustainable extraction practices.

5. Key International Instruments

• UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (2011)

• International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 169 on Indigenous and Tribal

Peoples

• Paris Agreement (2015) – climate-linked obligations in industrial activity

• OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises

• Inter-American Court of Human Rights rulings on Indigenous land rights.