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STUDY GUIDE
World Health Organization
Haseeb Zafar Gondal and Saad Shakil
The World Health Organization-Study Guide

THE DELEGATES SHOULD KNOW THAT:

The Position Papers are due on the 8th of November 2012 till midnight they are to be sent on the following mailing address: who.rymun@gmail.com All delegates are requested to bring Hard copies of the Position Paper on the 1st committee session. Bear in mind that position papers are extremely important those who do not submit them would not be eligible for an award. Your research SHOULD NOT be restricted to the study guide. You should be clear about your countries stance. There is no limit to researching the more you know the better. If you have any queries just ask away we will be more than happy to help you. SEE YOU AT THE CONFERENCE THEN!!

Happy Preparing Haseeb Zafar Gondal and Saad Shakil Directors World Health Organization RYMUN12

The World Health Organization-Study Guide

THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION AN INTRODUCTION The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that is concerned with international public health. It was established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and is a member of the United Nations Development Group. Its predecessor, the Health Organization, was an agency of the League of Nations. The constitution of the World Health Organization had been signed by all 61 countries of the United Nations by 22 July 1946, with the first meeting of the World Health Assembly finishing on 24 July 1948. It incorporated the Office International d'Hygine Publique and the League of Nations Health Organization. Since its creation, WHO has been responsible for playing a leading role in the eradication of smallpox. Its current priorities include communicable diseases, in particular, HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis; the mitigation of the effects of non-communicable diseases; sexual and reproductive health, development, and aging; nutrition, food security and healthy eating; occupational health; substance abuse; and drive the development of reporting, publications, and networking. WHO is responsible for the World Health Report, a leading international publication on health, the worldwide World Health Survey, and World Health Day(7th-April of every Year). Its work even though being important has been criticized by many social bodies.

The World Health Organization-Study Guide

TOPIC ARE A: SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE IN CONFLICT ZONES

STD-THE MEANING Sexually transmitted diseases (STD), also referred to as sexually transmitted infections (STI) and venereal diseases (VD), are illnesses that have a significant probability of transmission between humans by means of human sexual behavior, including vaginal intercourse, oral sex, and anal sex. While in the past, these illnesses have mostly been referred to as STDs or VD, in recent years the term sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has been preferred, as it has a broader range of meaning; a person may be infected, and may potentially infect others, without having a disease. Some STIs can also be transmitted via the use of IV drug needles after its use by an infected person, as well as through childbirth or breastfeeding. Sexually transmitted infections have been well known for hundreds of years, and venereology is the branch of medicine that studies these diseases THE CONCERN The traditional focus of international and local relief agencies during complex emergencies has always been the provision of adequate food, water, shelter and basic health care, specifically mortality reduction through control of infectious diseases and promotion of child health. However, In 1994 International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo and the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing highlighted the needs of displaced populations. A landmark study, published in 1994, showed the scope and coverage of atrocities, particularly sexual violence, committed during the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia and in Rwanda. Several characteristics of refugee life would logically increase exposure to STDs. Zwi and Cabral identified five ways in which populations become high-risk during low-intensity conflict: 1. Displacement
The World Health Organization-Study Guide

2. 3. 4. 5.

Military activity Economic Disruption Psychological stress Increased Migration

Surprisingly, all five of these reasons can be some way or the other linked with Rape and STD as a chain reaction. Several assessments of the point prevalence of HIV and other STDs have been done in refugee settings for e.g. a 1989 prospective study of 179 pregnant Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong found 3% prevalence of syphilis and no gonorrhea. The same syphilis rate was found in 1998 in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya, among 876 Sudanese and Somali clients attending an antenatal clinic. In a 1992-1993 study of 1,728 displaced pregnant women in Mozambique's Zambezia Province, researchers confirmed syphilis in 12% and HIV in 2%. The authors note the relatively low HIV infection rate (which is surprising in view of the high syphilis rate) and offer as possible explanations the recent introduction of HIV or the absence of cofactors for transmission. Dozens of researches as such were done throughout the refugee camps of the world and alarming results were obtained. A number of studies have linked the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections to conflicts and the population shifts they propel. A 1990 examination of the distribution and spread of HIV infection in Uganda during the 1980s linked the pattern of military recruitment in the post-Amin years and the geographic spread of the epidemic. The researchers noted the historic link between servicemen, commercial sex workers and STD transmission in the West as well as in several parts of Africa, and conclude that to a large extent the association between war and disease accounted for the geographic distribution of AIDS cases in Uganda. The importance of STDs and their association with war and movement is noted not only by researchers but also by community members. In a qualitative study of reproductive health in communities affected by war in southern Sudan in 1999, STDs were the problem most consistently identified by community members. The
The World Health Organization-Study Guide

importance of STDs was confirmed by health statistics: STDs accounted for 13% of consultations at the main hospital and were the fourth most common reason for attendance. Men and women in all age-groups attributed STDs to "movement of people and the war." It may be said that conflict increases the spread of STDs at least through displacement and military presence, which are the inevitable result of war. The war-affected include not only refugees and the displaced but also local residents in the host community. Furthermore, it is important to note that the direction of spread will depend on the relative prevalence levels in the areas of origin and destination.

WHY DO STD LEVELS INCREASE DURING WARS IN CONFLICT ZONES-THE REASON War rapes Rapes committed by soldiers, other combatants or civilians during armed conflict or war, or during military occupation, distinguished from sexual assaults and rape committed amongst troops in military service. During war and armed conflict, rape is frequently used as means of psychological warfare in order to humiliate the enemy. War rape is often systematic and thorough, and military leaders may actually encourage their soldiers to rape civilians. War rape may occur in a variety of situations, including institutionalized sexual slavery, war rapes associated with specific battles or massacres, and individual or isolated acts of sexual violence. War rape may also include gang rape and rape with objects. Such rape increases the risk of STDs in THE victim (men, women or children) and the rapist soldiers as well. Deployment of Soldiers in Conflict zones for an extended time Periods i. Sexual frustrations and Prostitution: According to researchers, prostitution rate spikes during conflicts. Prostitutes being involved in

The World Health Organization-Study Guide

ii.

sexual activities with both the soldiers and the natives increases the risk of contracting and transmitting STDs increasingly. Sexual frustrations and Homosexuality: Soldiers deployed in war zones may indulge in promiscuous activities with fellow soldiers. According to a research conducted by Oxford, Homosexuals are more susceptible to STDs.

Sexual Activities amongst Natives Hetero and Homo sexual activities along with rape drastically increase in refugee camps amongst natives. In a Psychological survey, Physical and emotional stress i.e. during wars has a significant effect on sexual behavior.

PAST UN ACTIONS In 1993, the UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women offered the first official definition of the term Gender-based Violence: Any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivations of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life. UN-Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security Essential and fundamental UN-resolution about that topic impact of armed conflict on women and girls, with proposals how to realize targets. - UN 2000 http://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/WPS%20SRES1820.pdf UN-resolution 1820 on sexual violence against civilians in conflict zones Essential UN-resolution, with proposals how to monitor and how to realize targets. - UN 2008

The World Health Organization-Study Guide

http://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/WPS%20SRES1820.pdf Combating Gender Based Violence Millennium Development Goals Gender-based violence seen in different contexts, with the goal to present an advocacy kit for some of the most important topics: in combination with poverty, reproductive health, HIV, in conflict situations. Issues and challenges with all these topics. - UN Population Fund, 2005 Gender based violence in conflict zones - Rape as a tool of war Discussion of GBV, with focus on some thoughts about the necessity of prevention, psychosocial support, preventive actions, protection of women etc. UNFPA 2004 http://www.irinnews.org/InDepthMain.aspx?InDepthId=20&ReportId=62817

Expectations Out of the Debate 1. Highlighting issues (physical ,emotional and sexual) in natives and soldiers in conflict zones, analyzing them and mechanisms to solve them 2. Ethics of war and the rights of refugees 3. Care and isolation of STDs affectees 4. How to discipline refugees , teaching them about STDs and its prevention 5. Comments on War-rape 6. Implementations of the previous UN resolution 7. What further steps would be adopted?

The World Health Organization-Study Guide

Research Head start: http://www.lawschool.cornell.edu/research/ILJ/upload/Manjoo-McRaithfinal.pdf http://hivinsite.ucsf.edu/InSite?page=kb-08-01-08 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_rape http://www.un.org/popin/popis/journals/network/network163/astd163.html http://www.hhri.org/thematic/gender_based_violence.html

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TOPIC AREA B: PROVIDING HEALTH FACILITIES TO UNDER DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

Developmental and reproductive health indicators in developing countries are still typical of a sub - Saharan Africa where mass poverty, illiteracy, ignorance, disease, low status of women, unrestricted sexual behavior resulting in high population growth rate, harmful traditional practices and poor social amenities all combine to nurture reproductive ill health and developmental backwardness. Africa accounts for 25% of the worlds landmass but more than 70% of the approximately 50 poorest countries of the world are in Africa. Adverse health consequences have been linked to poor socio - economic growth and development; it is therefore not surprising that these poor developmental indicators are impacting negatively on health. In developing countries, the average life expectancy is 40 years, with the lowest in Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland (35 years); Nigeria has a life expectancy of 44 years(compare this with life expectancy of 82 in Japan and 80 in Switzerland) (Population Reference Bureau, 2007). Not Only Africa many rather all developing countries are deprived of decent medical facilities.

The Concern Due to lack of Medical facilities in under developed countries: 1. A woman in a developing country is 97 times more likely to die as a result of pregnancy than a woman in a developed country. 2. More than two-thirds of deaths worldwide are in developing countries, yet little is known about the causes of death in these nations 3. The numbers of people dying from non communicable diseases such as heart disease and cancer are growing
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The Mortality rate in developed countries is way less then developing countries because: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Dirty, unreliable water supplies Poor housing conditions Poor access to medical services Endemic disease in some countries Diets that are short in calories and/or protein

The rates of death in developing countries are still quite high and are to be looked into.

Expectations out of the Debate: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Identifying the difficulties faced by developing countries for treatments How the masses would be made aware of this situation How the conditions of these countries can be made better How the world can help the under developed countries The mechanism through which developed nations would help Productive surety to be discussed by the under developed countries

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Research Head start: http://econ.ucsb.edu/~jabirche/Papers/development.pdf http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/Factsheet31.pdf http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/01/060108221105.html http://www.worldpress.org/Africa/3834.cfm http://www.apfmj.com/content/10/1/11

The World Health Organization-Study Guide