Established in 1945, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) serves as a leading organization of international cooperation and sustainable development, with its mandate spanning from safeguarding cultural heritage sites to promoting equitable access to education. Today, UNESCO comprises 194 member states, working to advance peace through collaboration, information sharing, and the creation of robust projects worldwide. Although the majority of its policy remains non-binding, UNESCO has been able to influence international standards, coordinate global initiatives, and bring cultural preservation to the forefront of international affairs.
This committee welcomes both beginner and experienced delegates. Although strongly encouraged and required for an award, position papers are not mandatory. Those who wish to be considered for awards must submit their position papers by January 22, 2027, at 23:59 PST. More information about position papers can be found in the Position Paper Guide, on the Delegate Resources Page.
Topic A: Advancing Gender Equality in STEM (Click to show summary)
Globally, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields see a disproportionate amount of men for every woman at each stage of education and employment. This STEM disparity is rooted in systemic factors. Early social conditioning and gender stereotypes steer young girls away from math and science, while implicit bias in hiring and academic promotion suppresses female advancement into post-secondary fields. Furthermore, hostile workplace environments, unequal access to mentorship, and the lack of visible female role models create an isolation effect, perpetuating a cycle of underrepresentation in STEM workplaces. Combined with inadequate family-leave policies and inequities in research funding, these barriers force many qualified women out of technical fields entirely.
Topic B: Preserving Global Linguistic Diversity (Click to show summary)
Preserving global linguistic diversity involves protecting vulnerable spoken languages to safeguard minority languages and promote cultural heritages. Today, roughly half of the world’s 7,000 languages are threatened with extinction. Systemic pressures across global, regional, and communal levels due to colonial mindsets, historical demographic destruction, forced cultural assimilation, and social stigma against minority dialects have oppressed these languages. Additionally, legal and educational barriers, such as prohibiting printing in certain languages or their use in public governance, have accelerated intergenerational language loss. Current globalization increases economic pressures to adopt dominant tongues, and digital technology disparities marginalize rural groups, preventing them from accessing digital solutions such as language-learning apps. This crisis disproportionately impacts Indigenous populations whose cultural identities depend on oral communication.
Juliet Mabasa | Director
In her senior year at Little Flower Academy, Juliet is pleased to serve as Director of UNESCO at VMUN 2027. Since raising her first placard with a trembling hand in grade 9, Juliet has fallen in love with everything that Model UN has to offer. Over the years, she has learned to cherish the long-lasting memories of late night research sessions, waiting half an hour for an elevator to the 34th floor, out-of-the-box adjectives, but most of all, the everlasting friendships she’s made along the way. When not dressed in Western Business Attire, Juliet can be found yelling “WALKING!” on the pool deck, singing her heart out in the bathroom shower, or attempting to sort out all her assignments on a single whiteboard. Juliet is extremely excited to witness the passionate debate that will unfold at VMUN 2027, and looks forward to meeting all of the delegates!
Cindy Zhu | Chair
In her senior year at John Knox Christian School, Cindy is excited to serve as the Chair of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization at this year’s iteration of VMUN. Over the course of her high school experience, Model UN has become a significant part of Cindy’s life, giving her the opportunity to explore global issues while meeting some of her closest friends along the way. She especially enjoys the mix of serious discussion and lighthearted moments that comes with every conference. Outside of the committee room, she can be found at Starbucks, taking pictures at English Bay, or baking absurd batches of cookies to give out in her community. She looks forward to meeting everyone and hopes to make this an experience everyone can look back on fondly!
Bella Liu | Assistant Director
A Junior at Crofton House School, Bella is beyond excited to serve as Assistant Director of UNESCO for VMUN 2027. She still remembers her very first conference in Grade 8, where she spent nearly 10 minutes giving herself a pep talk before trembling her way through a 30 second speech. What began with nerves and a stress induced stomachache turned into a profound passion for the fast paced, enrapturing world of Model United Nations. Beyond the clogged elevators, frantic note passing, and the endless Starbucks line, you can find Bella on the field hockey pitch, perfecting her Call of Duty gameplay, or chugging Costco sized bottles of coke. Bella looks forward to meeting all delegates and wishes them the best of luck in their preparation!
You can contact the Director at unesco@vmun.com. Any questions regarding the committee or its debate procedures will be answered by email. Position papers must also be submitted to this address.