World Food Programme

Topic A:  Strengthening Short-Term Economic Mechanisms for Food System Resilience in the Aftermath of Natural Disasters

Topic B: Exploring Long-Term Agricultural Reconstruction, Rural Livelihood Recovery, and Structural Food Insecurity on Disaster-Hit Economies

Every child has the right to a proper education—not only for their personal benefit by fostering critical thinking and skill development, but also for the enhancement of civic engagement, improvement of societal living standards, and macroeconomic growth.

Nowadays, the Latin American continent faces significant challenges that impede children from attaining this basic human right, therefore impairing their present, their future, and that of their communities. From a historical standpoint, disparities based on income, geographic location (urban as opposed to rural zones), and ethnicity (particularly targeting indigenous communities and those of Afro-American descent) have been long standing and often rooted in the colonialism background that characterizes Latin American countries. Enduring structural inequalities, along with marginalization of communities, and the lack of proper infrastructure and qualified teachers have contributed to the 9.6 million children and adolescents in the region who are out of school, according to a 2024 UNESCO report. In Guatemala (2021), over 50% of indigenous children were unable to complete primary school, due, among other factors, to language barriers. In Brazil, unequal funding disproportionately affects students of Afro descent in the Favelas. In Peru, there is poor access to education and high rates of child labor in remote mountain regions of los Andes.

Likewise, widespread violence from drug cartels, gang warfare (e.g., MS-13 and Barrio 18 in Central America), and paramilitary groups has made attending school unsafe in parts of Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, Colombia, Venezuela, and Brazil. Children are often forced to drop out of school due to fear, displacement, or because families flee their hometowns (toward the U.S. or within Latin America), creating education disruptions among migrant and refugee children, as well as severe psychological traumas and the endangering of their wellbeing. 

The purpose of this UNESCO committee is to Bridge Educational Gaps for Marginalized Communities and Protect the Right to Education Amid Violence and Displacement in Latin America. Delegates will focus on studying the present and analyzing the past in order to create innovative and feasible solutions. Receiving an education characterized by quality and inclusivity is a cornerstone for building a better future—one where a child’s smile can thrive.