BMUN LXIX WHO

 We will be hosting optional Office Hours for delegates who submitted their paper by the research deadline (2/3, or according to your extension if applicable), on Friday 2/19 and Sunday 2/21, from 5-6 and 5-7PT, respectively. You and your partner can sign up for a 15-minute slot using this Calendly link . At these sessions, we will provide position paper feedback and answer other questions you may have.

Ever since their ratification more than seventy years ago, the tenets of the Geneva Conventions have been integral in protecting the rights of all those affected by international armed conflict. They have often been acclaimed for laying the foundation for the international community to have a guide to properly advocate for those affected by violent conflicts. However, in recent years, the principles of the Conventions have been left violated routinely to the dismay of humanitarians and lawmakers alike.  One reason for this crisis is the way in which war tactics have evolved beyond the traditional armies and battlefields. Now, battles are being fought for the sole purpose of gaining the upper hand over the enemy side, irrespective of location or civilian presence. Even more alarming is the purposeful targeting of sanctuaries such as hospitals and schools by warring factions. This is particularly reprehensive as it goes against the very foundations of the Geneva Conventions that stre...

As COVID-19 vaccination campaigns have begun in countries around the world, there finally appears to be an end in sight for the pandemic. However, one of the primary concerns that has emerged regarding vaccination has been racial inequities in vaccination rates. The pandemic has hit communities of color in the United States particularly hard, with Black, Hispanic and Native American people dying from COVID-19 at almost three times the rate of white people. However, newly released vaccination data shows that in all places, Black people are being vaccinated at rates below their percentage of the population. For example, in Maryland, Black people comprise 30% of the population but only 16% of those vaccinated. White people make up 55% of the population, but 67% of those vaccinated. Some factors being cited by experts for this disparity include poor access to the vaccine in neighborhoods with higher non-white populations, mistrust among Black Americans due to historical medical discriminat...

Hello delegates! Just as a reminder, tomorrow is the final day to submit your position papers to ensure your delegation is eligible for any  committee awards. Delegations that have not submitted a position paper by 2/9 will not be eligible for committee awards. If you have any questions or need an extension, please email whobmunlxix@bmun.org.

Hello delegates! My name is Kevin Tuok and I'll be your head chair for WHO this year! I'm a third-year at Cal majoring in Molecular & Cellular Biology. I'm originally from Philadelphia, PA, and I've been doing MUN for about 7 years now. I'm ecstatic to have this chance to lead a committee at BMUN, the oldest and one of the most prestigious Model United Nations conferences in the world. I'm also really excited to be leading WHO; public health has long been a passion of mine and the current pandemic has highlighted the need for a robust international health response. Despite our unfortunate circumstances, we have an exciting experience in store for y'all this year! Outside of BMUN, I enjoy binge-watching TV shows (The Expanse, Start-Up, and many others), hiking, cooking, and gaming. I'm also the UC Global Food Initiative Fellow at the Berkeley Food Institute, a public policy research institution at Cal that does work in sustainability, public health, a...

 Hey!! I am Sinchana Srinivas and I am super excited to be one of your Vice Chairs this BMUN conference! I am currently a first year studying Public Health and Political Economy and can't wait to see how each of you handles discussions and debates regarding health and healthcare.  Outside of BMUN, I am involved in  Coalition of Concerned Medical Professionals (CCMP) where I work to help low-income communities in the Oakland-SF area gain access to healthcare and other resources. I am deeply passionate about bridging the gap in healthcare outcomes, especially when it pertains to those that harm vulnerable populations. After graduation, I hope to go on to graduate school and help facilitate the creation of new healthcare policy frameworks or work in the healthcare business space. In my free time, I love having my own Bollywood dance parties, making pasta at least once a week, driving to random places and learning way too much celebrity gossip. Please feel free to reach me at...