General Assembly Fourth Committee

Ideas and thoughts are often formed by diverse individuals all around the world; however, they’re barely able to transform these thoughts into reality, which isn’t because their ideas are fragile, but instead it’s because other voices are elevated over theirs. To amplify their voices, they’re required to resonate with diverse individuals, where resonance is a phenomenon that occurs when two distinct sources are combined to create a higher outcome when they vibrate at the same frequency. To be able to reach the same frequency, our delegates are encouraged to exchange ideas with one another to ultimately elevate their voices and translate thoughts into reality. This indicates that Resonance, which is the theme of HIAMUN 26, illustrates a fitting reflection of what this highly anticipated conference strives to achieve.

The Fourth General Assembly, also known as SPECPOL (Special Political and Decolonization Committee), was established in 1993. It expanded its responsibilities to discuss issues that were handled by the Special Political Committee. As of today, it addresses issues related to peacekeeping, human rights, decolonization, and outer space. 

Standing before you as the President of the Fourth General Assembly in this year’s long-awaited conference, alongside my distinguished Chair, Layla Diab, I am honored to chair a committee with growing significance in the world, given the speed at which conflicts are emerging. Layla and I selected three different topics that are of utmost significance and pose major obstacles to a safe and equitable world. 

Our first topic is “Implementing international frameworks to protect freedom of expression in oppressive regimes.” Its relevance is illustrated clearly due to the global decline in press freedom brought on by the threats looming over journalists, like arresting, harassing, torturing, or even killing them, which implies that it becomes necessary for international organizations to intervene. As for our second topic, “Regulating the role of Private Military Companies in Contemporary Conflict,” from combat operations to security services, the influence of PMCs in modern warfare is constantly growing, ultimately raising concerns about accountability, legality, and ethical implications. Our last topic but most definitely not the least, we will be “Ensuring Legal Accountability for Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Committed by Peacekeeping Forces in Conflict Zones,” a weighty concern that appears to worsen because of the ongoing sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers, and the weak accountability mechanisms, which continue to undermine human rights, justice for victims, and the credibility of UN peacekeeping missions.

Layla and I are honored to chair the first Fourth General Assembly in HIAMUN history and are looking forward to HIAMUN ‘26. We’re also excited to witness your constructive debates and to see you flourish through our journey together in making this a memorable conference.

Yassin Hegazy, President of the General Assembly Fourth Committee

Topics

1. Implementing international frameworks to protect freedom of expression in oppressive regimes

2. Regulating the Role of Private Military Companies in Contemporary Conflict

3. Ensuring Legal Accountability for Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Committed by Peacekeeping Forces in Conflict Zones