Name: Emily Kong Delegation: Hunterdon Central Regional High School

Country: Somalia Committee: Social, Cultural, Humanitarian Committee

Part I – Country Information

The Jamhuuriyada Demuqraadiga Soomaaliyeed, or Somalia, is located in Eastern Africa,
bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. It is the Horn of Africa. With a population of
10,112,453 people, it ranks as the 83rd largest population in the world. Somalia has no
permanent government—only a transitional, parliamentary federal government. Its chief of state
is elected by vote by the Transitional Federal Assembly. Although the interim government was
created in 2004, regional and local governing bodies continue to exist and directly control
various regions of the country. This includes the self-declared Republic of Somaliland in NW
Somalia, as well as the semi-autonomous State of Puntland in NE Somalia. Despite the lack of
effective national governance, Somalia has been able to maintain a healthy informal economy—
livestock, remittance and money transfer companies, and telecommunications are its largest
sectors. However, Somalia has one of the lowest Gross Domestic Products per capita in the
world, ranking 155th. Its estimated that 71% of its labor force works in agriculture, while a
remaining 29% work in industry and services. However, its unemployment rate is unknown.
Somalia is a member of several international organizations, including the African Development
Bank, Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, Council of Arab Economic Unity, Food
and Agriculture Organization, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World
Bank), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, United Nations Educational,
Scientific, and Cultural Organization, World Federation of Trade Unions, and the World Health
Organization. (World Fact Book)

Part II – Positions on Topics: Social, Cultural, Humanitarian Committee

Topic 1: Female Infanticide
Somalia as a whole is a conservative country. With this in mind, it is easy to see that the
women there “view their roles chiefly in relation to child-bearing, child rearing and tasks around
the home” (Mire). It is common for decisions to be made by the male head, who serves as both
the arbiter in disputes and the custodian of family properties. This being said, it is also common
for “Women plunge deep into an ocean of self-whispering in hopes of giving birth to baby boys”
(Mire). If a woman has a baby boy, she receives abundant and pleasant coddling, executive
care and mercy; bullets are fired into the sky with glee and happiness. The man whose wife
gives birth to a son becomes very satisfied. A male child is equal to “blood money”, a word often
used to refer to boys. But if a girl is born, the girl’s mother is bitterly loathed during her post-
natal period, and her husband anxiously awaits for the time his wife can resume her daily
household chores. Because of an instable government, Somalia has not officially made
infanticide illegal. The harsh conditions Somalians live under (the difficulties of carrying a child
during warfare, giving birth, and the shortages of income and food) make a male child much
more desirable than a female.
Somalia would like to ask from the other nations in the Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural
committee to help solve this crisis of female infanticide, especially in its own country. Ideally not
harsher punishments, but rather aid for the creation of orphanages and shelters so that mothers
with a female child do not have to kill her. Somalia would also like aid in the education of its
citizens, especially its female citizens, in the options and rights they hold for their children.
The United States support would be monumental to Somalia, as they not only are
strongly against infanticide and an established orphanage and foster care system, but have
large resources in aid that would greatly benefit Somalia. Support from India and China, the
highest nations with issues regarding infanticide, would also have a huge impact as well. In
India, “the number of female children per male children in India has dropped from 972 girls per
1000 males in 1901 to 929 girls per 1000 males in 1991, and continues to decrease” (Women).
Though the Indian government legally condemns infanticide, it is unable to properly enforce this
because of undocumented births and the difficulties in changing the traditions of rural people.
China’s “One Child” policy, though somewhat successful in controlling the population growth,
has furthered the imbalance between males and females. “China has maintained a high male-
to-female ratio at birth since the 1980s, and stood at 116.9 in 2000 and 119 in 2005. The sex
ratio even reached the 130 mark in some provinces in 2005, seriously deviating from the normal
level of 103 to 107” (China’s). However, since the start of China’s “Care for Girls” campaign, the
male-female ratio has, for the first time, declined in 2009. If they continue this campaign,
Somalia believes that as a rising world power, China will greatly help stop female infanticide.

Topic 2: Literacy Promotion

Somalia fully supports the mission of the Literacy Decade, founded by the united Nations
Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2003. Its mission, to promote
and increase literacy in all nations, is of the highest priority in Somalia (aside from peace and
nutrition). In 2008, Somalia took part in “World’s Biggest Lesson”, a unique event sponsored by
UNICEF. “Every child must learn to read and write. Children must go back to school and parents
must go visit the schools to see how their children are learning,” said the Director of Planning in
the Ministry of Education in Somalia, Abdi Abdillahi. Over 70% of the children in Somalia have
been denied a quality education as a result of poverty, gender, and conflict (Johnson). The
Ministry of Education has pledge to not only increase school enrolment by 75%, but to construct
more schools and double the number of teachers on its payroll by 2011; its goal is to see all
school-age children in school and be able to read and write by 2015. Somalia is very motivated
to promote literacy not only in its own country, but worldwide.
In Somalia, the distribution of classrooms is more or less even, with a slightly more
students and teachers in urban areas. However, the literacy rate in Somalia is a dismal 24%--
Somalia is determined to improve this through the increase in children schooling. In fact, about
15% of the government budget is directed toward scholastic instruction (WEP). Nevertheless,
issues still remain. The threat of violence and conflict deter many parents and children from
attending school. Reoccurring famines also undermine a child’s ability to read/write, as the
chance of death remains high. Many children are also forced to work instead of attend school,
because their family needs the support. As of 2005, only “13 per cent of boys are enrolled in
primary school. For girls, that number is barely 7 per cent” (Communities). Somalia is of the
opinion that efforts to improve relative peace in the country will not only ensure the increase in
literacy rates, but a more stable government and a more productive economy. Monetary and
food relief would also lessen the burden of the children of Somalia, therefore increase the
opportunity to attend and stay in school.
Somalia acknowledges that it faces many challenges in the pursuit of literacy, the most
prominent being the constant violence and conflict afflicting its people, another being the gender
and economic strife. However, Somalia believes that, through effort, these issues can be
overcome. Somalia is confident that though its neighboring countries, Kenya, Ethiopia, and
Djibouti face similar problems, they will support. Therefore, Somalia is asking the UN to focus its
effort not only in the continued proliferation of literacy programs, but on providing relief and
perhaps even military involvement to stop the violence that plagues Somalia and its neighboring
countries. Somalia gives its full support to the United Nations’ efforts to improve and promote
literacy throughout the world.

Topic 3: Freedom of Information

Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights stipulates that, “Everyone has
the right to freedom of opinion and expression” (United Nations). Somalia supports this
declaration, but only if the information holds no threat to its government and its people. The
Somalia Information Minister, Asharq Al-Awsat, has stated that his country will “provide what is
necessary to ensure freedom of expression” (Mahmoud). However, this is within reason.
Publishing or broadcasting controversial political news is a threat not only to the government
currently in place, but to the people of our warring factions (Filizolia). If information went
unregulated, fear and corruption will continue to spread throughout the country. Therefore, there
must be a limit to the information released to the public--if not, chaos will ensue.
Somalia urges the United Nations to comply with its position on the doctrine regarding
practical limits. A government constantly attacked by the media not only undermines the
government’s control and power, but further destabilizes an already fragile government such as
the one in Somalia. Therefore, Somalia believes that, though there is the people’s right to
information and expression, it must not come at the cost of damaging the government. Somalia
asks the Freedom of Information committee to take in these considerations, and not merely look
at maximization of a person’s rights, regardless of its effects on the government.
Somalia is confident that many countries around the world will agree with its viewpoint,
especially in the African region. Zambia, Mozambique, Guinea, Zimbabwe, and Sudan in
particular have similar attitudes toward the Freedom of Information. Somalia argues that it is in
the best interest of all countries to provide freedom for the press and information within limits.
These limits ought to be set by the government. Zimbabwe passed the “Access to Information
and Privacy Protection Act” in 2002, allowing journalists to supply information, but only within
the limits set by its government (Banisar). This is all for the well-being of its government and its
citizens. Somalia points out that it does not encourage cruel punishment of journalists; it only
seeks to protect itself and its people.

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