GLOBAL NORMS & VALUES

The Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee (SOCHUM) is the United Nations’ third committee, offering delegates a platform to engage with the normative foundations of the international system. As a General Assembly committee, SOCHUM centers debate on principles, accountability, and the role of states in shaping global standards that influence behavior far beyond the conference room. It is a forum where diplomacy is driven not by power alone, but by legitimacy, persuasion, and moral authority.

At HarvardMUN Canada 2026, SOCHUM provides delegates with the opportunity to explore how international norms are constructed, contested, and applied in practice. Rather than prioritizing strategic rivalry, this committee emphasizes academic rigor, coalition-building, and the careful navigation of competing values. Delegates must consider how international commitments translate into real-world obligations, particularly when political interests conflict with humanitarian expectations.

This committee challenges delegates to think critically about the limits of international action and the responsibilities that accompany global influence. Through structured debate, SOCHUM encourages delegates to refine their advocacy abilities and is ideal for delegates who are interested in the power of ideas, the evolution of international norms, and the role of diplomacy in shaping collective global standards.