Topic A: Access to Education in Regions of Conflict
According to UN News Article 28 of the United Nations Convention of The Right To Child states that every child has a right to education. A report by UN News states that out of 324 million school children affected by conflict, 85 million are completely out of school. In regions of conflict attending school provides a sense of normalcy in an otherwise chaotic environment. Furthermore, a child's access to education is especially critical in these regions because children are at risk of exploitation and recruitment to militia groups. Delegates in the UNICEF Committee will explore how to protect children's access to education in conflict zones and prevent exploitation of children.
Topic B: Health and Sanitation in Conflict Zones
As of 2026 there are currently 460 million children living in conflict zones. According to UNICEF Knowledge, children who are under the age of 15 are 3 times more likely to die from sanitation issues than conflict itself. Destruction of property causes the absence of sanitation services and impedes access to clean drinking water exponentially increasing the spread of disease. Families and children have no other option but to rely on unsafe drinking water. The need for healthcare soars in regions of conflict while many healthcare facilities and hospitals stop operating. Delegates in this committee will collaborate to create solutions to prevent the spread of disease and have access to clean drinking water.
Meet your Dias!
Shristi Dua, Director
Shristi is a sophomore studying Neurobiology and Physiology with a minor in Cellular and Molecular Biology. In high school Shristi was the president of her school's Mock Trial Club and attended Harvard Model United Nations all four years of high school. This is Shristi’s second year at UCMUN and she will be serving as director for the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF). Last year she was an assistant director for the World Health Organization (WHO). Shristi is an active member on campus as part of UNICEF Club, Knit for NICU, and UCMUN. Outside of UCMUN Shristi likes to play the guitar, crochet, and lifting. Please reach out with any questions or concerns at xof24005@uconn.edu