2026 Committees
ALTMUN high School Conference | Oct. 30 – Nov. 2 2026 |
This page contains all the committees that will be present at the 2026 ALTMUN High School Conference. This year we have seven standard committees and two advanced committees, ICJ and SecCo, which both require special registration. Our three '2026 Ad Hocs,' or special guest committees, are ITU, UNOOSA and UNDRR. Use the buttons below to help jump to the various committees.
DISEC
Disarmament & International Security
Organized to combat the growing need for cooperation regarding security and disarmament after World War Two, DISEC focuses on “disarmament, global challenges and threats to peace that affect the international community.” This Committee’s jurisdiction includes the governance of disarmament and regulation of armaments, as well as the promotion of cooperation in the maintenance of international peace and the strengthening of stability through disarmament.
Regulating the Proliferation and Modernization of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs)
Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are capable of travelling distances of over 3400 miles to deploy nuclear warheads, rendering every country vulnerable to being a target of nuclear warfare. Since the first ICBM was launched in 1957, the US, Russia and China have spearheaded ICBM development, with many large countries following suit. International treaties like the Non-Proliferation Treaty and attempted bans of ICBMs have proved ineffective as major global powers continue to develop and acquire nuclear weapons. This situation has escalated with North Korea and China testing new ICBMs and the START II treaty limiting the amount of ICBMs Russia and the US could access expiring this year. Due to the surplus of nuclear weapons in powerful countries, non-nuclear nations are especially at risk. The DISEC committee must convene to determine how to regulate the proliferation of ICBMs to protect international security, seeing as there are no current restrictions on these weapons.
Mitigating the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Military Logistics
Developed countries have begun implementing AI into managing military logistics– using autonomous systems to predict supply shortages, strategies, or keeping surveillance. Supporters believe that AI reduces costs and the manpower needed for military operations. However, the actions of autonomous AI in drones and analysis technology in countries such as Israel, Russia, and Ukraine has raised demands for clear regulations on the use of AI for military purposes. The EU (European Union) and NATO (North American Treaty Organization) recommend AI be used for logistics and decision support, but many less-developed countries are hesitant towards any AI implementation. While the UN passed a resolution in 2024 on maintaining transparency towards AI usage and supports logistical AI, it does not address to what extent AI can be used in the military. The DISEC committee must convene to decide how AI should be integrated into military logistics, keeping in mind to focus on defining the limits of military AI use.
ECOFIN
Economic and Financial Committee
Operating since the United Nations formation, ECOFIN has served as a forum for topics pertaining to global economics, finance, growth, and development. This Committee’s jurisdiction is according to the concepts above, with more recent issues being globalization/interdependence, financing development, and agricultural and sustainable development.
Excessive Financial Speculation on Global Commodity Prices and Food Security
Many developing countries are major exporters of commodities, which are agricultural products and raw materials. In recent years, the price of commodities has been artificially inflated by speculative trading through futures contracts– selling a set amount of commodities at a predetermined date, usually when the price of a commodity is about to rise or fall. Instead of farmers being able to ensure stable commodity prices, speculative commodity trading has led to events such as the 2007-2008 food price crisis and prices that shoot up before war or natural disasters actually hit. While developed countries host large commodity exchanges and argue that speculation leads to high liquidity, the social and financial security of developing countries is heavily impacted by rising food prices. Additionally, trading algorithms and AI only complicate the equation, increasing the instances of price spikes or crashes before people can react. The ECOFIN committee will gather to find a solution to excessive financial speculation on commodities causing price and food instability, using market regulations and financial contracts to guide their decision-making.
International Taxation Frameworks for the Digitalized Economy
Multinational and digital corporations such as Google and Amazon are able to avoid taxes in foreign countries, as many do not have physical locations in all of the countries users access them. This is especially harmful to developing countries, who miss out on billions of potential tax dollars from being unable to tax these corporations. While the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) has imposed a global minimum tax and the UN is creating a global tax framework, there is still friction between tech giants and the governments of developing nations. Developing nations have started implementing Digital Services Taxes to generate revenue for government and public funding, but face threats of trade sanctions and tariffs in response. Therefore, the ECOFIN committee will meet to decide how multinational corporations without physical locations should be taxed in a way that prevents tension between developed and developing countries.
ICJ
International Court of Justice (Advanced)
Established as the principal judicial body for the United Nations, the ICJ aims to settle international disputes between two sovereign states and provide legal consultation for other committees. This committee’s jurisdiction does not extend to enforcing laws, but rather developing the precedence other committees work to administer. The ‘How to ICJ’ tab above contains more information relating to the court’s rulings and criteria of jurisdiction.
United States v. Honduras
There has been a significant increase in the number of deportations in the United States, with many immigrants being sent back to Latin America, specifically a dangerous area of the region known as the Northern Triangle– Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. This behavior, deporting immigrants to a country where they may face harm and persecution, is known as refoulement. However, the United States maintains their deportations are legal and a matter of state sovereignty, despite adopting the 1951 Refugee Convention which declares refoulement as illegal under international law. El Salvador supports the actions of the United States, while Honduras continues to oppose mass deportation from the United States as a violation of International Humanitarian Law (IHL). As gang violence intensifies in the area, the ICJ must decide why the deportation out of the US and into the Northern Triangle is or is not legal under IHL.
Ethiopia v. Sudan
The fertile land of the al-Fashaga border region between Ethiopia and Sudan has been highly contested between the two countries since the nineteenth century. A 2008 treaty between the countries dictated that Sudan had control over the border but the Amhara people of Ethiopia would be allowed to remain in the area. However, the Ethiopian government is now claiming that Sudan broke the treaty by sending troops to the border, and that the treaty itself is invalid. The militarization of the border and attacks by both countries have intensified since 2020, raising the stakes for agricultural and trading partners of both countries. Inflation and mass migration have also increased from this dispute and other internal conflicts in Sudan and Ethiopia. The ICJ needs to act quickly to determine the validity of the 2008 border treaty, and most importantly who has a legal claim over the al-Fashaga border area.
Yemen
The majority of Yemen has been occupied by Houthi rebels for over a decade, who claim governing power and authority over the country. The Houthi rebels are a radical group of the Islamic branch Zayidism backed by Iran, seeking to restore the country to Zayid Imamate religious rule. However, the Yemeni government insists it is still able to represent the country at the international level. Some countries agree with Iran that the Houthi rebels should receive international recognition as the ruling group of Yemen, but others like the United States reiterate that the Yemeni government is still in power. It is important to note that the United Nations Security Council recognized the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) as the official government of the country in 2022, but recent attacks by the rebels in Israel and the dissolution of the anti-Houthi Southern Transitional Council (STC) suggest new developments in the situation. The judges of the ICJ will meet to decide if Yemen can represent itself internationally, and if the Houthi-instated government is considered an “occupying force” over the country.
ITU
International Telecommunication Union
Established in 1865 as the International Telegraph Union and later becoming a specialized agency of the United Nations, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) focuses on global information and communication technologies. This Committee’s jurisdiction includes the development of international telecommunications standards, regulation of radio frequency spectrum and satellite orbits, and the expansion of digital access to underserved communities. Through promoting cooperation between actors, the ITU works to strengthen global connectivity.
Coordinating Repairs at Submarine Cable Junctions
99% of intercontinental data travels through fiber optic submarine cables between states. These cables branch out or extend at coastal meeting points known as junctions. While submarine cables are regulated by multiple UN conventions like the Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), there is currently no universal infrastructure for ensuring rapid repair of submarine cable junctions. Damage to these junctions is usually accidental, but leads to loss of internet, digital transactions, and emergency services. Because submarine cable junctions are situated or impact multiple countries, member states disagree on how to best secure and repair cables. Intentional attacks to cable junctions in the past have made the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and some other countries increase surveillance near cables, while many in the European Union call for more coordination and repair efforts instead. The ITU committee must determine how the submarine cable junction repair process can be streamlined, while respecting national sovereignty and considering new technological developments.
Coordinating 5G and 6G deployment to Reduce the Global Digital Divide
In 2024, the ITU reported that about 2.6 billion people remained offline despite talks about rolling out the sixth generation of cellular network (6G) by 2030 already in progress. This highlights the global digital divide, or the disparity between countries that can afford widespread internet and technology access and countries that cannot. This divide leads to billions being offline while living in areas with mobile broadband coverage. The European Union and African Union thus claim that expanding access to the current generation of cellular network (5G) is imperative, while major developed countries want to expedite the deployment of 6G instead. Continuing the development of 6G would accelerate global connectivity, but an uneven expansion of 5G and 6G would only worsen the digital divide. The ITU committee must determine how to coordinate the global deployment of 5G and 6G networks to make internet connection as accessible, affordable, and advanced as possible.
Legal
Legal
Handling legal issues within the United Nations in addition to general matters of international law, the Legal committee was established to promote international cooperation by solving prominent legal issues. Whether by policy, treaties, or legislation, this committee has the power to set ideas and standards for what is acceptable for the United Nations to do, with either the revision of old laws or the creation of new laws.
Specifying the Impact of Electoral Manipulation on State Sovereignty Under International Law
Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter prevents member states from forcefully threatening sovereignty and political independence. As electoral manipulation remains the leading cause of international decline in Global Freedom, the extent to which methods of foreign election interference violate national sovereignty remains undefined. The generalized wording of Article 2(4) has led some countries to declare that weaponizing social media to sway elections is not a “use of force” that would violate Article 2(4). Additionally, there is confusion as to what extent foreign actions must infringe on state sovereignty in order to be considered electoral manipulation. Although electoral manipulation first exploded during the Cold War, the rise of cyber-assisted interference and misinformation by countries such as Russia and China means the impact on political independence and response methods to foreign election interference must be redefined. The Legal Committee will meet to differentiate legal foreign election influence from electoral manipulation under international law.
Establishing Norms for Viable Digital Evidence in Legal Disputes
The ICC (International Criminal Court) currently leaves the admissibility of digital evidence in court up to the discretion of individual judges, despite international guidelines for handling digital evidence being published in 2012. These guidelines highlight the process for verifying digital evidence, but are not internationally binding nor set requirements for what forms of digital evidence can be considered in the first place. Because digital evidence can be easily manipulated or forged, some countries are calling for the standardization of digital evidence. However, others believe that enforcing these standards internationally would be a violation of state sovereignty. Determining standards for digital evidence also poses a challenge within itself, as not every country has the same access to technology that may be used to validate evidence. The Legal Committee will meet to define the criteria and verification process digital evidence must pass in order to be considered viable for use in court.
SecCo
Security Council (Advanced)
Established in Westminster, London with the duty to maintain peace and security around the globe, the Security Council achieves this while focusing on internationally condemned policies and minimizing their economic and demographic impact. Composed of five permanent residents and ten assembly-elected members, the council has the ability to administer their goals with ceasefires or dispatching military personnel or peacekeeping forces. Using this ability to foster international cooperation in peace and security, the council may enforce diplomatic, economic, travel, or militaristic penalties through various means.
Assessing the Effectiveness of Sanctions on North Korea
The United Nations first levied sanctions banning missile supplies and technology in North Korea in 2006 after the country expelled International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors from its reactors and became the only country to withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Although a second set of sanctions were placed in 2016 and 2017 to target non-nuclear sectors, North Korea has continued to develop and test nuclear weapons, raising doubt on the sanctions’ effectiveness. 62 countries were found in violation of the sanctions in 2020. Moreover, in 2024 Russia and North Korea signed a treaty pledging to provide military assistance to each other, with North Korea supplying Russia weapons in the Russo-Ukrainian war. The second set of sanctions has also caused economic and food instability for North Korean civilians, with humanitarian aid also plummeting rapidly. As North Korea refuses to denuclearize, the Security Council’s objective is to decide what changes, if any, need to be made to the sanctions on the country.
Conflict and Instability in Ethiopia
Ethiopia has been in crisis ever since the 2020-2022 Ethiopian Civil War, sparked by an attack on an Ethiopian military base by the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), a nationalist political party representing the Tigray ethnic group. Although the Pretoria Agreement was signed between Ethiopia and the TPLF in 2022 to end the conflict, human rights violations in the Tigray region have not ceased. The Ethiopian government and other aligned forces have cut connection to the Tigray region through blackouts, intentionally destroyed healthcare facilities, committed ethnic cleansings, and expelled Tigrayans from the region. The TPLF and Eritrean forces are also accused of numerous crimes against humanity in Ethiopia, although the Eritreans are not held accountable under the peace treaty. Countries such as Russia and China maintain the situation in Ethiopia as a domestic issue, while billions of dollars in humanitarian aid sent by concerned states have been stolen by Ethiopian forces. Besides the threat of civil war breaking out once again, Ethiopia is also facing a refugee and drug crisis. The Security Council must find a way to stabilize the disastrous situation in Ethiopia through creating peace frameworks to maintain human rights.
SOCHUM
Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Issues
Engaging with special rapporteurs, independent experts, and chairs of treaty bodies, SOCHUM is designated to discuss questions relating to the advancement of women, the protection of children, the promotion of fundamental freedoms, and more. This committee is tasked with reviewing human rights questions across the globe, along with reports of the special procedures of the Human Rights Council.
Establishing Standards for Assisted Dying
Countries have polarizing policies on assisted dying (AD), where medical professionals administer a lethal substance to patients (euthanasia) or allow patients to self-administer (assisted suicide). The argument for AD stems from allowing people with terminal illness or debilitating conditions to “end their suffering,” and the practice itself has only become prevalent in the 20th and 21st centuries. The majority of countries where AD is legal are located in Europe, while many Asian and African nations oppose the notion entirely. People fear that expanding who is allowed to qualify for AD to groups such as minors or the mentally will pressure already vulnerable populations like the disabled and elderly into ending their lives. The UN has acknowledged AD as a human rights issue but has not defined any limitations or safeguards. The SOCHUM committee is therefore tasked with creating an international regulatory framework for assisted dying that prevents human rights violations while protecting the autonomy of patients.
Addressing the Systemic Destruction of Civilian Housing
Domicide refers to the systematic and intentional destruction of civilian housing, seen in the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine. Not only does this cause displacement and property loss, but also social effects such as the fracturing of community and identity. Domicide is currently defined as a violation of the right to adequate housing, but the UN Special Rapporteur on adequate housing has been pushing for domicide to be categorized as a separate international crime due to the extent of the socioeconomic damage it causes. Moreover, countries have differing opinions on post-conflict housing restitution, or the threshold that housing and land restoration must meet to mark an area as “recovered” from a conflict. For example, the African Union and developing countries under the G77 (Group of 77) believe in national sovereignty and regional efforts for restitution, while the West wants housing and social protection systems. Due to the unclear classification of domicide and post-conflict restitution, the SOCHUM committee is tasked with deciding if the intentional destruction of housing is a distinct international crime, and defining standards for housing restitution.
UNDRR
UN Office for Disaster Relief Reduction
Established in 1999 in response to the growing concerns of disasters threatening social and economic stability, UNDRR is mandated “…to serve as the focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of disaster reduction and to ensure synergies among disaster-reduction activities of the United Nations systems.” As detailed in the Strategic Framework 2026-2030, UNDRR is tasked to improve four areas: risk knowledge, locally-led disaster risk reduction, financing for DRR, and recovery readiness. This committee focuses on coordination, guidance, and advocacy ensuring that disaster risk reduction is integrated into global strategies.
Disaster Preparedness in Informal Settlements
Mass urbanization and high housing prices has led to the expansion of housing being built on land that has not been legally authorized, known as informal settlements. Just last year, 2.8 billion people did not have access to adequate housing and 1.1 billion lived in informal settlements. These settlements are often crowded, unsafe, and unhygienic. Informal settlements are disproportionately vulnerable to casualties and displacement from natural disasters such as floods, fires, and earthquakes. As a result, governments have forcefully displaced residents in response to natural disasters, but this removes access to previous housing and employment. While some countries provide development projects and city services for informal settlements, current frameworks for disaster risk reduction like the Sendai Framework are not on target and do not address community-based solutions. Aligning to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 11 to “make settlements…resilient and sustainable,” the UNDRR committee is tasked with developing inclusive disaster preparedness frameworks for informal settlements.
Continuing Education Following Natural Disasters
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights mandates that everyone has the right to education, yet many are unable to receive or continue their education due to natural disaster or armed conflict. In 2024 alone, the education of 242 million children was impacted by climate disasters. Developing nations often face challenges with sustaining education due to lack of infrastructure and high instances of natural disaster. This has led to rising illiteracy rates in children and massive financial losses for education systems. Although many developed countries have integrated remote and online learning programs to combat this, other regions suffer from little access to digital resources or resilient school buildings. The UN does endorse frameworks for education continuity, but it is still imperative for countries to address the security of learning facilities and educate students on disaster risk reduction. The UNDRR committee is thus tasked with creating preparedness frameworks for education continuity, focusing on disaster risk reduction instead of education reform or humanitarian aid.
UNEP
UN Environment Programme
Created following the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, UNEP was created to address issues such as increased pollution levels, biodiversity loss, and climate change. Working to help achieve the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, this committee works to create resolutions that set the priorities and policies for member states to foster a sustainable future.
Evaluating the Impact of Lithium Mining for EV Batteries
Electric vehicles (EV) have become popular in the renewable energy movement, and demand for the lithium that powers EVs is expected to increase 40 times by 2040. As EVs become subsidised and fossil fuels are being replaced with renewable alternatives, many countries have expressed interest in lithium as a renewable energy source. However, lithium extraction sparks controversy with its drastically negative effects on water supply, local ecosystems, and indigenous people that live on the land lithium is being mined on. This is especially prevalent in South America’s lithium triangle of Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile. The increased pressure for EVs and lithium creates a dilemma of how to outweigh the environmental and social negatives of lithium mining with the positives of renewable energy. The UNEP committee will convene to determine the environmental impact of lithium mining for electric vehicle batteries and develop solutions for sustainability extracting lithium.
Transitioning into Agroecology to Combat Industrial Agriculture
The mechanization of farming came with today’s industrial agriculture, which prioritizes yield and efficiency over environmental health. Industrial agriculture practices include monocropping, pesticide and fertilizer dependence, and unsustainable livestock farming. Agriculture now accounts for over a third of all greenhouse gas emissions, and also leads to water pollution and biodiversity loss. Thankfully these effects can be reversed through agroecology, an ecological approach towards agriculture; for example, farming practices that focus on reduced chemical usage and soil preservation. Because large countries and also corporations depend economically on agriculture and thus industrial farming, many are hesitant or oppose the transition to sustainable farming methods at the potential cost of productivity and profit. However, the Food and Agriculture Organization and some countries recognize the need for new ways of farming in order to protect the environment and support local farmers. The UNEP committee will convene to discuss how to transition from industrial agriculture to agroecology to prevent further land degradation and incentivize ecosystem restoration.
UNODC
UN Office of Drugs and Crime
Established in 1997 through a merger between the UNDCP and the CICP, the UNODC aims to provide coordinated and comprehensive global action to address the intertwined issues of drugs, crime, corruption and terrorism. Working to support its three core pillars of analysis, international standards, and technical assistance, this committee assists member states in strengthening legal frameworks, enhancing criminal justice systems, and promoting the rule of law.
Countering Child Sexual Exploitation Online
Online technology and social media platforms have only exacerbated the issue of child sexual exploitation, acting as dangerous new avenues without current international regulations. Groomers can use social media to form sexual connections to minors, young girls disproportionately face sextortion, and child sexual abuse material (CSAM) can be found and spread online. The advent of artificial intelligence is also a threat to the safety of children, with the appearance of AI-generated CSAM posing serious implications for the future. Because of technology gaps between countries, the UN has been unable to enforce widespread standards on addressing this issue, and countries disagree whether to focus more on prevention agencies or prosecuting offenders. Although the UN has conventions and resolutions on the importance of preventing and punishing child exploitation, current guidelines are broad and do not directly address the issue. The UNODC committee will convene to discuss internationally-adaptable solutions and frameworks for preventing online child sexual exploitation, centering on the technology and organized crime aspects of this topic.
Addressing the Synthetic Drug Trade in the Pacific Ocean
The creation and distribution of synthetic drugs has exploded in the Pacific region, heavily impacting the health and economy of Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs). The spread of these drugs through organized crime groups has led to extreme socioeconomic decline and an increase in crime. Synthetic drugs are usually transported across the Pacific using vessel-to-vessel transfers and undetected aircraft. Additionally, the importance of the Pacific in the international drug market makes every state a stakeholder in this topic; all nations serve as source, transit, or destination states for these drugs. The UN has previously passed maritime guidelines such as the Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), but regulations on synthetic drug trade specifically have been hindered due to the amount of disputed territories and Exclusive Economic Zones in the Pacific. The UNODC committee will convene to create regulations on synthetic drug trade in the Pacific Ocean without infringing on border disputes, economic frameworks, or national sovereignty.
UNOOSA
United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs
The United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) was established on December 13th, 1958 by the General Assembly. Currently located at the United Nations Office at Vienna, UNOOSA convenes to discuss vital administrative questions about human activity in outer space. The overall responsibility of the committee is to promote sustainable, equitable, and cooperative uses and exploration of space by enforcing international space legislation and facilitating global development of the space sector. Some topics that UNOOSA deals with include space debris, distribution of technology, clarifying space law, general space education, and even asteroid impact threats.
Establishing International Standards for Asteroid Mining
M-type asteroids contain valuable metals, such as nickel, iron, and platinum, which can be mined for use in electronics and catalytic converters. Although the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 prohibits states from national appropriation, taking any objects from outer space for their own use, countries such as the United States and United Arab Emirates have passed legislation permitting private companies to extract resources from space. This loophole avoids the uncertainty surrounding what actions are constituted as appropriation. However, the economies of platinum-producing countries, especially developing nations in the African Union, would likely collapse if replaced by the asteroid mining endeavors of developed countries. While asteroid mining could be a great material and economic asset, guidelines on resource allocation and the abilities of mining companies are needed. With NASA’s Artemis Accords, proposed laws NASA wants nations to adopt, determining that outer space resource extraction is not considered appropriation, industrial asteroid mining seems closer than ever. The UNOOSA committee is tasked with finding an equitable solution to the extremely lucrative although legally grey potential of asteroid mining, which has the power to fuel or destabilize the global economy.
Determining Guidelines to Deal With Space Debris in Low Earth Orbit
Once manmade space technology orbiting the earth or re-entering the atmosphere becomes nonfunctional, it is defined as space debris. Currently, there are 141 million pieces of space debris within 2000km of Earth, also known as Low Earth Orbit (LEO). This number is set to expand exponentially according to Kessler Syndrome, the theory that a high enough density of space debris in LEO will cause a chain reaction of collisions that generate yet more debris. Space debris has caused damages to spacecraft, increased fuel usage, and crash landings in residential areas in recent years. While international organizations agree that space debris is a pressing issue, not much has been done by the United Nations except for making states liable for damage caused by their space debris, and for states to register objects launched into space. Developing and developed nations also disagree on whether to reduce space debris through preventative measures, or to use technology to remove space debris. The UNOOSA committee is therefore responsible for creating effective guidelines and actionable solutions to halt the exponential buildup of space debris in LEO.
WHO
World Health Organization
Founded in 1948 to “promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable,” WHO acts as a global authority on an expansive range of health related issues, such as emerging diseases and their global awareness. Helping to educate and aid the public in their everyday lives, this committee covers disease outbreak, research, care and prevention, sanitation, resource access, environmental factors, etc.
Assessing the Global Burden of Dengue Due to Urbanization
Dengue is a vector borne disease spread by the bites of Aedes aegypti mosquitos that has caused deaths in 97 countries. Symptoms of dengue can mimic those of the flu, but there is no specific vaccine or medication to treat this viral infection. While dengue is most common in tropical and sub-tropical areas, the dense population and poor hygiene in highly urbanized areas act as perfect conditions for the spread of the disease through infected carrier mosquitos. Tourism to urban areas has led to outbreaks in non-tropical areas such as the European Union, and lack of sanitation has also increased the prevalence of dengue in Africa. Although the World Health Assembly has previously adopted a global vector control response for member states to increase research and intersectoral collaboration into addressing vector borne diseases, socioeconomic differences between developed and developing countries prove finding solutions difficult. The WHO committee is tasked with finding treatments and preventative measures to mitigate the spread of dengue caused by urbanization.
Combatting the Rise in Adolescent Overnutrition
Overnutrition is a form of malnutrition less well-known than its counterpart, undernutrition, and is defined as the accumulation of body fat from excessive intake of nutrients or calories. Nearly 400 million adolescents are overweight, making adolescent overnutrition more prevalent in the majority of the globe compared to undernutrition. The rise in adolescent overnutrition can be traced back to economic disparities, high accessibility of calorically dense food, cultural customs, geographic location and more. Overweight and obese teens are more susceptible to noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes, as well as mental health issues stemming from negative social or academic experiences. The UN has marked obesity as a societal issue due to food marketing, distribution, and family dynamics determining the diet and activity levels of adolescents. With the World Health Assembly aiming to stop the rise of obesity by 2030, it is up to the WHO committee to find a holistic approach to addressing adolescent overnutrition, considering the sociocultural and economic factors behind it.