World Conference on Women

 
 

Topic A: Educational Equity for Girls

Topic B: Women's Health and Reproductive Rights


In the pursuit of global development and sustainable progress, ensuring educational equity for girls stands as a cornerstone imperative. Across the world, millions of girls face systemic barriers hindering their access to quality education as a result of gender inequality, perpetuating cycles of poverty and inequality. To address this, comprehensive strategies encompassing policy reforms, community engagement, and nuanced action are paramount.

International cooperation is indispensable in realizing such educational equity for girls. Collaborative efforts between governments, NGOs, and international organizations can facilitate resource-sharing, capacity-building, and knowledge exchange, with the potential for such efforts to play a pivotal role in mobilizing funds and expertise to bolster educational initiatives worldwide.

A rigorous discussion of this topic will explore solutions to eliminate existing barriers and empower girls and young women to take advantage of available resources for their academic development. The goal of each delegate should be to formulate solutions that ensure educational equity through the most substantive methods, acknowledging that by prioritizing girls' education as a fundamental human right and a catalyst for sustainable development, we pave the way for a more inclusive and prosperous future for all.

The protection and advancement of women’s health and reproductive rights represent essential components of gender equality and human dignity. Yet, millions of women worldwide continue to face formidable obstacles in accessing comprehensive healthcare services, including reproductive healthcare, maternal care, and family planning. Addressing these challenges requires a holistic approach that prioritizes women’s autonomy, bodily integrity, and equitable access to healthcare services.

Central to securing women’s health and reproductive rights is the guarantee of comprehensive healthcare services. Accessible and affordable healthcare facilities, particularly in underserved areas, are imperative to ensure that no woman is left behind. Moreover, combating stigma and discrimination surrounding women’s reproductive choices is paramount. Education campaigns and community outreach initiatives can challenge harmful misconceptions and cultural taboos, fostering an environment of acceptance and support for women’s reproductive autonomy.

A comprehensive discussion of this topic will include solutions that address the multi-faceted challenges of this issue. The goal of each delegate should be to engage in conversation that prioritizes actionable, effective policies, with a concerted effort to uphold women’s autonomy, eliminate stigma, and ensure equitable access to comprehensive healthcare services.


 

Dear Delegates,

Welcome to the World Conference on Women Committee at HMUN 2025! I am excited to work with you over the course of the conference!

My name is Avani Rai, and I am a sophomore from Bloomington-Normal, Illinois (a very corn country part of the state, two hours south of Chicago) studying Economics and Statistics. While I did not participate in Model UN in high school, I did compete in Impromptu and Extemporaneous Speech, and I’ve loved finding a community on campus where I can continue to practice the skills I love! I really enjoy working with others and international affairs, which is why I joined Harvard’s Intercollegiate MUN team last semester, competing in GA. I’m excited to work with all of you to have a great conference together next year.

Outside of MUN, I am a reporter for the Harvard Crimson, our independent student newspaper, and am very involved with one of Harvard’s consulting clubs on campus. I also conduct economics research and am involved in a few other IR-related organizations on campus. I’m also a pre-law student and want to work in public policy long-term.

I can’t wait for what is sure to be a fun weekend as we work to find some challenging topics and create innovative, rewarding solutions for them. Since 1975, the World Conferences on Women (and additionally five-year reviews) have cultivated real, impactful change. Yet, there’s still work to do, and I hope to see you engage with the available topics with care and grace.

Please do reach out with any questions you may have — I can’t wait to see you soon!

Best,

Avani Rai

Director, World Conference on Women

wcw@harvardmun.org

Harvard Model United Nations 2025