United Nations Children's Fund

The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, is a United Nations agency dedicated to protecting children’s rights and improving the lives of young people around the world. Its work focuses on children who face the greatest risks, especially those affected by poverty, conflict, displacement, and limited access to basic services. In this committee, delegates will address two issues that directly threaten children’s safety and development: preventing the recruitment and use of children by armed groups in Haiti and combating child malnutrition in Africa. Both topics ask delegates to consider how the international community can protect children not only during moments of crisis, but also through long-term systems that give them stability, health, and opportunity.

Topic A will focus on how children in Haiti become vulnerable to recruitment and use by armed groups during periods of violence and instability. As communities face insecurity, school closures, displacement, and economic hardship, children can be placed in situations where armed groups appear to offer protection, income, or belonging. Delegates will be asked to look beyond the surface of the issue and consider why children are targeted in the first place, as well as how families, schools, communities, and international partners can help prevent recruitment before it happens. For children who have already been affected, the committee will also consider how rehabilitation, education, and community reintegration can give them a real chance to rebuild their lives.

Topic B will examine child malnutrition in Africa as a crisis shaped by many overlapping pressures rather than hunger alone. In many communities, children’s nutrition is affected by conflict, climate shocks, rising food costs, displacement, and weak access to healthcare. Delegates will consider how these conditions affect children from early childhood onward and how malnutrition can limit not only physical growth, but also education, development, and long-term opportunity. This topic will challenge delegates to balance immediate humanitarian needs with lasting solutions that strengthen food security, healthcare access, and community resilience.

Chair

Topics

1. Preventing the Recruitment and Use of Children by Armed Groups in Haiti

2. Combating Child Malnutrition in Africa

Rules and Procedure

This committee follows parliamentary procedure as defined in our Standard Committee Parley Pro Document. However, procedure during committee may be modified at the Chair’s discretion.

Position Paper

All delegates wishing to be considered for an award must submit a position paper before the start of conference. Position paper quality will be included in consideration of awards, however paper quality will not hold as much weight in award consideration as actual committee performance. Position papers are meant to ensure a basis for delegate research and help delegates feel confident while participating during the conference.

Detailed instructions for writing and submitting Position Papers can be found in the Position Paper Guidelines Document.

Questions

If you have questions about committee content or the format of your committee, please contact your Chair at contact@ctmun.org with “UNICEF” in the subject line.

For questions about CTMUN conference and logistics, please contact contact@ctmun.org.