HRC

Institutional Violence and Young Black People: The Impacts of “War on Drugs” Policies and Police Militarization in the Americas

Simulation model: Delegation

About the Topic

In recent decades, the “War on Drugs” policy has shaped public security strategies across much of the Americas, driving a significant militarization of police forces. The initial goal of dismantling large drug trafficking networks, however, has turned into a profound human rights crisis. Data from the region alarmingly show that police lethality and mass incarceration do not affect society uniformly; they target specific groups based on race, age, and social class. Young Black people, predominantly from peripheral areas, have become the primary victims of this institutional violence, exposing the open wounds of structural racism rooted in the workings of the state.

The Human Rights Council is now called upon to debate the human cost of this war-like approach. The crux of the discussion lies in the recognition that militarized tactics have failed to reduce drug use and trafficking, resulting instead in the criminalization of poverty and the systematic extermination of Black youth.

The debate in the committee will demand answers to complex questions: How can states be held accountable for violations committed by their own security forces? Is it possible to reform current police institutions, or is a complete restructuring of the security model necessary, treating the drug issue no longer as a criminal war but as a public health and social justice challenge? The challenge will be to confront the past and the present to propose resolutions that guarantee the right to life and dignity in the Americas.

Plenário lotado da Assembleia Geral da ONU durante um discurso, representando a magnitude dos debate

Salão principal do Conselho de Direitos Humanos da ONU em Genebra, destacando o icônico teto colorid

Your role as a Delegate

As a delegate to the Human Rights Council, you are not debating personal opinions, but rather representing the foreign policy, legislation, and social reality of the state to which you have been assigned. The HRC is the primary global forum on this issue, and your role will require a constant balance between defending fundamental rights and preserving your country’s national sovereignty.

The dynamics of this committee will be marked by diametrically opposed positions. Depending on the nation you represent, your stance may be to advocate for tougher security policies, arguing that strong-handed measures are the only way to ensure order and combat the parallel power of cartels that threaten state stability. On the other hand, your delegation may lead the progressive vanguard, vehemently denouncing necropolitics, demanding the immediate demilitarization of police forces, an end to racial profiling, and the adoption of policies of historical reparations.

Your role will require excellence in public speaking, deep sociological knowledge, and mastery of international norms, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. You will need to build support blocs, draft working documents, and negotiate resolutions that condemn abusive practices without, however, harming the geopolitical interests of your allies. It will be a test of diplomacy, empathy, and strategy.