The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) was established in 1945 via the establishment of the UN Charter at the end of World War II. As one of the UN’s six principal organs, the Security Council is unique among the committees offered at NHSMUN in its membership, scope, and power. The UNSC has a unique, preventive, and reactionary role in the UN—it is meant to respond to international crises and maintain international peace. In response to such crises, the Council can mandate decisive actions such as peace talks, mediations, negotiations, and meetings. Additionally, according to Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, the Council can approve the use of force if there is no other way to maintain international peace. The Security Council can also deploy UN peacekeeping operations and impose sanctions on states. Only the Security Council has this power.

In 2021, President Roch Marc Kaboré and his administration struggled to maintain control of Burkina Faso’s government. Violence escalated from armed Islamist groups, state security forces, and pro-government militias. President Kaboré’s administration struggled to manage these crises. This led to the massacre of over 135 civilians in Solhan, prompting public protests. Despite attempts to hold Islamist fighters accountable, justice for past abuses by security forces remained far out of reach. Attacks from Islamist groups have displaced over 237,000 people, increasing the total displaced population to over 1.4 million. International partners like the European Union, France, the United States, and the United Nations condemned this violence and called for the return of a constitutional government. These actors have attempted to provide funding and training for justice reform and humanitarian aid to bolster Burkina Faso’s response to terrorism and its humanitarian crisis. Delegates of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) must help to ensure accountability for these human rights abuses. The UNSC must move to help deliver humanitarian aid and logistical support to restore stability and protect civilians in Burkina Faso.

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s (BiH’s) political atmosphere is characterized by intense partisan gridlock among nationalist leaders from the Bosniak, Serb, and Croat communities. This has led to limited political participation from other ethnic groups and has made room for corruption. The 2022 general elections were shrouded in media bias, electoral irregularities, and growing ethnic segregation, all of which undermined Bosnian democracy. The state’s complex political structure includes a three-party presidency representing the three major ethnic groups (Serbs, Croats, and Muslims), a Council of Ministers, and a two-part Parliamentary Assembly. However, a lack of ethnic representation persists as a major concern. Despite the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights, some non-voter ethnic groups are still excluded from political offices. Discrimination against minorities, including Roma, Bosniak returnees, and LGBTIQ+ individuals, is widespread and unaddressed. BiH’s political and social landscape is marred by ethnic divisions and systemic corruption. In 1995, the Dayton Agreement united the state and ended the Bosnian War. To this day, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is meant to help in upholding this peace. However, with corruption, exclusion, and tensions running rampant, it has become an even larger issue. Delegates of the Security Council must figure out how to balance minority rights, political equity, and human rights to protect the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina.