Letter from the Secretary General

Dear Delegates and Faculty Advisors,

It is with great pleasure and excitement that I warmly welcome everyone to the second
edition of Ulima Model United Nations (ULIMAMUN). I am Gabriela Villacorta, your Secretary-
General for ULIMAMUN 2024, currently a 10th-semester student of Law, specializing in
Labor and Social Security Law. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to host this large-scale
conference and for the trust you have placed in me.

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks not only to my Study House (Universidad de Lima)
for allowing us to hold this exciting model conference for a second time, but also to the
Secretariat and our talented team of staff who have worked diligently to bring you the best
conference possible.

My journey in Model United Nations (MUN) began seven years ago, in 2017, when I
transitioned from parliamentary debate to attending my first MUN conference. Despite the
initial challenges I faced, including getting lost more than once, I realized that I wanted
to delve deeper into this field, excel in articulating my ideas, and deliver them effectively.
My enthusiasm and research helped me navigate each conference at both the school and
university levels, and allowed me to meet many friends and colleagues who have become
like family. Reflecting on how I started and how far I have come in MUN truly resonates
with my growing ambition to further immerse myself in MUN and to seize opportunities to
improve my skills.

However, my involvement in MUN did not end there. In 2020, I joined the Peruvian University
(PU) as a delegate, where I gained extensive experience in both national and international
conferences. Later, in 2023, I joined the Faculty Advisor team for Peruvian Universities,
where I gained valuable insights into the Model United Nations experience from a different
perspective. As your Secretary-General, it is both an honor and a remarkable opportunity
to apply all of my experience to this great conference, which the University of Lima has
graciously allowed us to hold again.

One last message I would like to impart is that MUN provides a platform for personal growth
and debate, emphasizing diplomacy and the delicate balance between soft skills and
substantive knowledge. As Secretary-General, I aspire to provide each participant, regardless
of their level of MUN experience, with an enriching and transformative experience. I believe
there is no such thing as an ideal delegate; rather, it is about cultivating a mix of qualities
tailored to the situation. Strive for excellence in content, hone your soft skills, and find the
right balance—this is what will make you the best delegate you can be.

See you soon!

Gabriela Villacorta Holguín

Secretary General
Letter from the Director
Dear delegates,

I am very excited to welcome you to UNWOMEN committee, addressing the topic of “Gender
violence in cyberspace and metaverse”. This study guide has been prepared by all of us
with the goal of providing you with a general understanding of the current situation.

My name is Ibeeth Dalí, and I’m a student of International Relations at PUCP. My areas of
interest are Southeast Asian studies at the political, economic, and international cooperation
levels. During my time at the university, I have received various recognitions, the most
recent being for Academic Excellence. I have also had the opportunity to participate in
diverse projects and activities that have enriched my academic and personal development.
Among them, I have been a part of the Young Leaders Network of the Instituto Peruano de
Economía (IPE) and served as vice president of the PUCP Parlamento Andino Universitario,
among others. Currently, I am the Director of Events at the civil association Internacia. This
is one of the activities I enjoy the most as I have had the pleasure of organizing events with
diplomats, internationalists, nationally renowned economists, and even with figures from
other countries.

My MUN journey began at the end of 2022, and since then I have had the privilege of learning
about a wide range of topics, developing valuable skills, and meeting extraordinary people.
I had the pleasure of being Vice President at SIMOEA USIL 2023. This year, I was AD at
HNMUN-LA in the SOCHUM committee, working with delegates from various countries in
the region and experiencing different MUN debate styles. I’m also Faculty Advisor for the
Independent Students’ Delegation (ISD). Additionally, this year I’m Logistics Director for the
Model United Nations of the University of the Andes in Colombia (MONUA).

I invite all of you to thoroughly research and prepare well for this debate. Personally, I highly
value knowledge, understanding, and coherence on the topic during the debate. I also want
to encourage you to enjoy this experience. MUN, aside from being a competition, is an
opportunity to learn, grow, and meet amazing people. I hope the committee will be very
productive for all of you. Good luck and enjoy the process! I am available for any questions
that may arise.

Ibeeth Dalí,
[email protected]
Letter from the Assistant Director
Dear delegates,

Welcome to the UNWOMEN Committee and the second edition of ULIMA MUN! My name
is Mathias Mitre and I have the pleasure of being a member of the dais this time around.
Before starting with the introduction to the committee, let me present myself. I’m 20 years
old and I’m currently studying Law at the University of Lima, this being my fourth year here.
I’m also a member of and the Director of the Model United Nations Department of the
“Círculo de Debate y Argumentación de la Universidad de Lima” (CEDAR). Aside from law
and the numerous pages I have to read each day, I have many passions, like politics, a topic
I have written numerous articles about; music and cinema.

My experience in the Model United Nations had a start in the 2018 edition of UPC MUN,
where I represented Dominica in the SOCHUM committee. This experience was crucial
in helping me realize that debate was always going to be one of my passions, laying the
foundations to expand my knowledge on many topics. Regarding the dais, this will be my
second experience being part of one at a conference, but I have the experience of having
been a member of the dais in the numerous simulations carried out by CEDAR, where I have
been able to learn everything necessary to be a good Assistant Director.

Regarding the debate, let me offer you certain recommendations. Some of the aspects that
I value most are public speaking and negotiation skills. In reference to the first, I like to be
able to observe good development by the delegates throughout the committee, being clear
and concise about their projects and positions of the country they represent. Regarding
negotiations, I highly value carrying out active negotiations and the leadership capacity of
each of the delegates, to be able to guide their bloc to a successful result.

I trust that each of you will be able to achieve each of the objectives you set and I wish you
the best in this conference. Raise your placards, delegates!

Mathias Mitre,
Assistant Director
[email protected]
Letter from the Assistant Director
Dear delegates,

Welcome to Ulima Mun! My name is Mariana Vilca and I am very happy to be able to
accompany you during two intense days of debate and negotiation about gender-based
violence on the internet, an important issue to develop and analyze the consequences of.
To begin with, I would like to tell you a few facts about myself. I am 20 years old and I am
currently a law student at the University of Lima. Also, I belong to the debate circle of my
university since last year. I also belong to a magazine created by students of the Ulima law
school.

From school I began to know more about the United Nations Model and I knew it would be
one of my great passions. Since 2023 I began to participate continuously in various models
organized by USIL, UPN and PUCP. I remember my first participation in the DISEC committee,
since I discovered that debating was much more than seeking information on the selected
topic, it is also important to know how to negotiate and look for realistic alternatives and
according to the policy of your country. It is my first time as assistant director, but I will put
all my effort into making sure that you can enjoy this competition, and guide you along this
beautiful path of debate.

With regard to the debate, I would like to point out important aspects. It is of the utmost
importance that they prepare themselves days in advance, so that they remain to seek
information from their countries and their potential allies. Also, for my part I will evaluate
the development every time they go out to expose and how they arrive to negotiate with the
other delegates.

I’m sure this will be an amazing experience for each of us and I know they will give the best
of each one. Good luck!

Mariana Vilca Olazabal,

Assistant Director
[email protected]
Introduction to the Committee
a. Committee presentation:
UN Women is the United Nations entity to gender equality and the empowerment of women.
Its creation was driven by the need to advocate for women and girls of their needs worldwide.

For many years, the United Nations faced significant challenges in its efforts to promote
gender equality worldwide. Among these challenges were insufficient funding and the lack
of a recognized leadership to guide its activities in this area. In July 2010, the United Nations
General Assembly established UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and
the Empowerment of Women, to address these issues. With this action, the Member States
of the United Nations took a historic step towards accelerating the Organization’s goals on
gender equality and women’s empowerment. The creation of UN Women was part of the
United Nations reform program, which united resources and mandates to generate a greater
impact. This new entity builds on the important work of four previously independent entities
within the United Nations system, which were exclusively focused on gender equality and
women’s empowerment.

b.Objectives of the committee

UN Women is the UN organization delivering programs, policies, and standards that uphold
women’s human rights and ensure that every woman and girl lives up to her full potential.
UN Women supports UN Member States in establishing international standards to achieve
gender equality. To this end, it collaborates with governments and civil society in creating
the necessary laws, policies, programs, and services to ensure that these standards are
effectively implemented and truly benefit women and girls worldwide. Additionally, UN
Women works globally to make the Sustainable Development Goals a reality for women
and girls, promoting their participation on equal terms in all areas of life. The entity focuses
on five priority areas:

• Increasing women’s leadership and participation.

• Ending violence against women.
• Involving women in all aspects of peace and security processes.
• Improving women’s economic empowerment.
• Integrating gender equality into national planning and budgeting for development.

Furthermore, UN Women coordinates and promotes the work of the United Nations system
on gender equality and in all discussions and agreements related to the 2030 Agenda. The
entity strives to achieve a more inclusive world, with gender equality as a central element of
the Sustainable Development Goals.

With the overarching goal of empowering and realizing the rights of women and girls
worldwide, the main tasks of UN Women are:

• Supporting intergovernmental bodies, such as the Commission on the Status of

Women, in formulating policies, norms, and global standards.
• Collaborating with Member States in implementing these standards by providing
technical and financial assistance to countries that request it, and forging effective
partnerships with civil society.
• Leading and coordinating the work of the United Nations system on gender equality,
promoting accountability, including through ongoing monitoring of progress throughout
the system.

Introduction to the topic

a. Definition of gender - based violence
Gender-based violence refers to acts of violence or abuse against an individual or group
of individuals based on their gender. This form of violence can manifest in various ways,
such as physical, sexual, psychological, economic, or emotional violence. The term is used
to underscore that structural power imbalances based on gender place women and girls at
risk of various forms of violence. While it is typically directed towards women and girls due
to their gender, men and boys can also be affected by this violence.

b.Evolution of Cyberspace and the Metaverse

The evolution of cyberspace and the metaverse has been a dynamic process that has
transformed our social relationships. Cyberspace refers to the non-physical world in which
people, software, and the internet interact through technological devices and connected
networks. In recent decades, it has experienced exponential growth and evolution.
This process has had a significant impact on how we communicate, interact, consume
information, and relate to the world around us.

The metaverse is a virtual universe that merges physical reality with digital virtuality,
allowing users to interact immersively and interactively. “Meta” means “beyond” and “verse”
means “universe”. Together, this refers to a virtual world parallel to the real world thanks to
augmented reality technologies. (Vidal, 2023). Hence, the advancement of the metaverse
is being driven by technological advancements such as the Internet, artificial intelligence,
virtual reality, among others.

c. Contextualization of gender violence in cyberspace

The increase in the use of Information and Communication Technologies has brought
numerous benefits such as access to information, improved communication, a tool to
enhance learning, and more. However, it has also led to the emergence of various issues.
These mentioned social problems are an international phenomenon, involving many
countries and thus affecting people worldwide from all walks of life (Chisholm, 2006).

The cyberspace has facilitated the emergence of these social issues, attributed to a lack of
supervision and legislative gaps that enable perpetrators to act with impunity. Among these
issues is gender-based cyber violence. According to the Institute of Development Studies,
between 16% and 58% of women have experienced gender-based violence facilitated
by technology. Within these percentages are women who have personally experienced
this online violence (38%) and those who have witnessed it against other women (85%).
(Economist Intelligence Unit, 2021). Among the most common forms of violence are
cyberbullying (66%), hate speech (65%), abuse based on videos and images (57%), and
exposure to unwanted or sexually explicit images (43%). Thus, we see that the lack of
supervision in cyberspace has allowed gender-based cyber violence to thrive, affecting a
significant proportion of women as both victims and witnesses. It is crucial to address
these shortcomings to protect women from digital violence.

Development of the Problematic

Situation
a. Forms of Gender-Based Violence in Cyberspace and
the Metaverse
Online harassment is one of the most common forms of gender-based violence in cyberspace.
It encompasses sexual harassment, sending unwanted sexual messages, inappropriate
comments about one’s body or appearance, solicitation of intimate photos or videos, and
even threats of sexual violence. Similarly, cyber harassment involves repeated behavior
aimed at intimidating, humiliating, or controlling the victim. This can include insults, threats,
defamation, posting false or embarrassing information, and exclusion from online groups.

Likewise, on these digital platforms, intimidation and threats are other manifestations of
online gender-based violence. Social media, through posts and comments, becomes a
space where women are often insulted and threatened, frequently anonymously. The high
level of anonymity allows aggressors to hide behind fake profiles, making identification for
subsequent prosecution challenging.

Another form of online gender-based violence is the distribution of sexual content without
consent. This phenomenon involves the distribution of intimate images or videos without
the person’s consent, with the intention of humiliating or blackmailing them. According
to a report by UNWOMEN, women face more sexual cyber harassment, such as sexual
innuendos (40.3%) and unsolicited sexually explicit photos or videos (32.8%). Women are
indeed the primary victims of this type of violence, which can have devastating effects on
their personal and professional lives. In addition to emotional trauma, victims of revenge
porn often face harassment, discrimination, and ongoing victimization, further exacerbating
their pain.

Online identity theft is another insidious form of gender-based violence. Creating fake profiles
on social media or stealing identities online is used to harass, defame, or control someone,
causing confusion and anxiety. The lack of regulation and control in cyberspace makes
protection against this type of violence, as well as the aforementioned ones, challenging.

b.Factors that contribute to online gender violence

The media are part of our daily lives, in this type of platforms there is often anonymity,
since aggressors hide behind their screens to be able to extort their victims with private
photos or other types of content that harm the dignity or woman’s honor. This type of act
is normalized in our society, even among men who congratulate themselves by having and
sharing a private photo of their friend or ex - girlfriend.

On the other hand, various studies have shown that through excessive exposure of women’s
bodies because of magazines, social networks, television or cinema, which are the first to
contribute to the normalization of this kind of act.
Even in several videos published on YouTube, it has been shown that they have sexist and
misogynistic components. Even in most films worldwide, “women are mostly represented
with stereotypes: young, white, concerned above all their age, their body or their romantic
relationships” (Barrera, 2017). Furthermore, in the plot of 80% of the films there are sexist
comments and sexual assaults are naturalized and taken as a funny joke.

As mentioned before, this shows us that our society has normalized these types of acts,
which is why the internet is full of gender violence.

c. Impact of Online Gender-Based Violence

First of all, it should be noted that the profiles of victims of online gender violence are groups
totally exposed to being psychologically violated in the world of the internet: the group that
heads this list are women, who can be of different ages. According to “Internet and gender
violence: unpunished aggression “(2024), the profile of the aggressors is usually divided
into three groups: the anonymous aggressor, the group organized around a political, social
or religious cause and the member of the victim’s close circle.

Likewise, according to a study published in 2015 by the Broadband Commission for

Development in the United Nations, 73% of women had experienced some form of violence
gender online, while 61% of attackers were men. Also, it has been identified that 23% of
women have experienced online harassment at least once in their lives since the age of
fifteen. Through this alarming percentage, it has been possible to identify the psychological
and emotional consequences for the victims.

Harassed women may experience feelings of depression, anxiety, stress, fear or panic
attacks in cases of cyberbullying. Several women even attempt their own lives in order to
end cyber violence, since in several cases their attackers are capable of distributing sexual
images without consent, affecting the honor and dignity of the person. According to the
United Nations in its article “Cyberbullying and its consequences for human rights” (2016)
One in three victims of cyber violence has self - harmed, and one in ten has attempted
suicide.

It has been proven that damage caused by acts online do not differ from the effects that
violence has offline, but rather affects in short and long term in many areas of women’s
development, such as their autonomy, privacy, confidence, among others (Van Der Wilk,
2018). In other words, the repercussions can reach even the victim’s professional area,
since not having mental stability can reduce their concentration and effectiveness in their
workplace.

Finally, it is important to highlight that violence contributes to the “perpetuation of harmful

gender stereotypes and the reproduction of systemic violence in the new online - offline
wold” (Katya Vera, 2017)

d. Challenges in prevention and response

Measures to prevent acts of violence against women facilitated by new technologies have
been the focus of several government plans in different countries. However, public officials
focus more on “victimizing” the aggressor, in other words this individual is protected by the
state, even though it is the one causing harm to the woman . This is why the United Nations
Special Rapporteur on violence against women specified in her 2018 report that the duty of
the state is to protect all its individuals, and in this case the state must ensure protection
for women using many measures with the purpose of preventing and punishing all kinds
of violence. Furthermore, it is essential to adopt a comprehensive vision considering the
individual, social and community aspects, which predominate in the life of human beings.

On the other hand, it is important to recognize the limitations in the ability of digital platforms
to protect users. Therefore, it is important to promote the digital empowerment of women,
so that their digital autonomy is promoted without the fear of being offended or attacked
virtually, in this way the fundamental right to freedom of information would also begin to be
respected. According to Hosinger, just in 2023 it was discovered that 43% of data breaches
are caused by the lack of protection of social networks or online pages. Appropriate and
up- to- date tools must be adopted to reduce risks and increase cybersecurity.
Finally, the role of schools is important in the construction of our society. However, the role
of schools in preventing malicious uses of technology has often been questioned (El país,
2024). Let us remember that the use of technologies are not autonomous elements, they
act through man’s decision, which must be taught in schools. To think about educational
strategies that are capable of addressing current and complex phenomena such as gender
violence on the internet, such devices should not be prohibited or simply mention sanctions
or classification of punishments. Unfortunately, this is donde in several schools, where the
underlying problem is not analyzed, but rather it is only a matter of intimidating students if
they act negatively online.

Bloc positions
a. Block in favor of regulating the metaverse in order to
prevent these incidents:
Conformed by countries that consider that gender violence in the metaverse is a profoundly
painful situation for women around the world and that there is a need to implement
regulations to how online users interact in the metaverse or through artificial intelligence.
Setting aside facts like companies internal or platform rules, these countries advocate
for a more global approach, considering a world wide set of regulations for this type of
technology, preventing more gender violence cases in the future.

b.Block against the regulation of the metaverse:

Conformed by countries that consider that, even though gender violence is a complicated
and deeply serious problem, regulation should be handled by the private entities responsible
for the creation of the metaverse or artificial intelligence, as they know what is best for their
project and have a more hands on approach to enforce their internal rules. In addition,
they believe that international regulation on a technological matter, that is unseen and
untested, damages the progress of the tech community rather than encourage and drive
their innovation.

Qarmas
1. What policies and regulations can governments and technological platforms
implement to prevent and combat gender-based violence in cyberspace and the
metaverse, while ensuring freedom of expression and digital rights at the same time?

2. How can mechanisms for reporting and support for victims of gender- based violence
in cyberspace and the metaverse be strengthened, ensuring their confidentiality and
security?
 3. Is there any relationship between the increase in online time during the pandemic of
COVID - 19 and the incidence of digital gender - based violence?

4. What role can social media play in preventing and reporting gender - based violence
online?

5. Should the international community seek to regulate and have a global approach
towards what happens in private entities virtual realities if these situations involve
citizens of the world in a potential criminal act?

6. What considerations should be taken into account when classifying online situations
as gender - based violence, considering that both in the cyberspace and metaverse
people can lie about their gender and their actions can’t constitute the same
consequences as gender - based violence outside the online world?

Final Recomendations
We hope this guide has provided you with an overview of the topic to be discussed.
Seeking additional information is crucial so that, combined with knowledge of the rules
and procedures, you can conduct the debate in the best possible way. Below, we leave you
with some recommendations:

• Punctuality: Arriving on time to all sessions demonstrates commitment and respect for
the committee and other delegates. Tardiness negatively affects the development of
various discussions and reflects poorly on the delegate.

• Consistently maintain your policy: It is essential that you faithfully represent your
country’s policy during all sessions. This includes maintaining established alliances and
positions. The consistency in representing your country is continuously evaluated.

• Relevant and accurate content: Ensure that your interventions are pertinent and well-
founded. Use solid data and arguments to support your positions.

• Transparent leadership: We seek leadership that not only directs and commands but
also effectively helps and guides other delegates so that everyone can contribute to the
committee’s success and achieve diplomatic solutions.

• Drafting during sessions: In our committee, we do not allow drafting during sessions
out of respect for both the committee and the delegates, ensuring that the session time
 is used efficiently and productively for debate and discussion.

• Draft and resolution format: Follow the official format for the presentation of drafts
and resolutions. Ensure that all documents are well-structured and comply with the
committee’s formal requirements.

We wish you great success in your debates!

Position papers
A position paper is a political statement in which each country presents its opinion on
the topic being discussed, focusing on past national and international actions to propose
innovative yet viable solutions. Additionally, a position paper generally consists of three
paragraphs:

• The first paragraph should briefly introduce the topic, always connecting the issue to
your country. Try to include essential statistics and data to support your explanation.

• The second paragraph should provide a brief overview of past UN actions. Focus on
specific actions that have had an impact on your country.

• The final paragraph consists of solutions according to your country’s policy. The
proposals should be creative and original, while still considering their credibility and
applicability.

Please note that this study guide serves as an informative basis on the topic, and delegates
are expected to conduct further in-depth research to demonstrate during the debate. Try to
keep the Position Paper as concise as possible (600-900 words). Remember, it is not about
quantity but quality.

Finally, remember that you need to send your document to the following e-mails by August
9th 11:59pm:

• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• [email protected]
Sources
1. Almagro, L. (s/f). Guía conceptos básicos: La violencia de género en línea contra las
mujeres y niñas. https://www.oas.org/es/sms/cicte/docs/Guia-conceptos-basicos-
La-violencia-de-genero-en-linea-contra-las-mujeres-y-ninas.pdf

2. Centro de Investigaciones y estudio de género. (2017). Estudio de las

representaciones de género y violencia contra las mujeres en los medios digitales
y de entretenimiento. https://www.gob.mx/cms/uploads/attachment/file/314694/
Estudio-representacione_y_violencia_vs_mujeres_en_medios_digitales.pdf

3. Chisholm, J. (2006). Cyberspace Violence against Girls and Adolescent Females.

The New York Academy of Sciences. 1087(1), 74-89.https://nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.
wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1196/annals.1385.022

4. The Economist Groip. (2021). 85% of women have witnessed harassment and online
violence. https://www.economistgroup.com/group-news/economist-impact/85-of-
women-have-witnessed-harassment-and-online-violence-finds-new-research

5. Torres, M. (2023). Las redes sociales y su utilización en la violencia digital contra las
mujeres en Colombia.

6. United Nations Women. FAQs: Trolling, stalking, doxing and other forms of violence
against women in the digital age. https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-
violence-against-women/faqs/tech-facilitated-gender-based-violence

7. Vidal, C. (2023). La entrada del metaverso a la era de la información. [Tesis de bachiller].

Universidad de Chile. https://repositorio.uchile.cl/bitstream handle/2250/191851/
Tesis%20-%20la-entrada-del-metaverso-a-la-era-de-la-informaci%C3%B3n.
pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

8. United Nation of Women. (s/f). Violencia contra mujeres y niñas en el espacio

digital. https://mexico.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Field%20Office%20Mexico/
Documentos/Publicaciones/2020/Diciembre%202020/FactSheet%20Violencia%20
digital.pdf