TOPIC A: EXPLOITATION ON MEDITERRANEAN COAST MIGRATION ROUTES 

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The African Mediterranean Coast is a cultural melting pot that spans 5,000 kilometers and 5 countries, encompassing Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt. It hosts interconnected migration networks plagued by an extreme desert climate, maritime dangers, and deadly trafficking. Refugees and migrants endure passage along the Central Mediterranean, Western Mediterranean, and Atlantic Routes to seek social and economic asylum—though it may cost them their lives. The UNHCR reports that at least 1,750 people perished on journeys in 2018 and 2019 alone, yet unrecorded smuggling and trafficking cases suggest a significantly higher death count. Women and girls are especially susceptible to gender-based violence and rape, and the perpetrators range from traffickers to police officials. Further, it is perilous to travel in the open sea. In 2020, over 6,200 refugees and migrants were rerouted to Libya by the Libyan Coast Guard, with many taken to official and unofficial detention centers. Migrants are exploited by border guards and criminal groups alike, and torture survivors are forced to grapple with the severe trauma left behind. The UNHCR must collaborate to unravel this multi-layered cycle of abuse. 

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TOPIC B: DISPARITIES AND BARRIERS TO ADEQUATE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTHCARE 

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Refugee and migrant populations suffer a disproportionate number of maternal and newborn health complications. Migrant women and children face xenophobic policies that limit their access to timely and adequate healthcare, and financial, linguistic, and social barriers further reduce health outcomes. Immigration centers often lack sufficient screening equipment, technology, and medical staff to accommodate women and children, and fear of deportation diminishes patients’ willingness to seek the care that they need. Women on migration routes are particularly vulnerable, as pregnant women in transit are more susceptible to complications. Moreover, women who endure sexual violence are at a greater risk of unwanted pregnancy, causing heightened risks of perinatal and postpartum depression. It is imperative that the UNHCR protects both the physical and mental health of mothers and infants. Developing a framework for inclusive and all-encompassing healthcare systems is essential to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates.​​

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CHAIR: Shaila Man