General Assembly

 United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 

UNHCR | General Assembly

Committee Introduction

Established in 1950, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has been protecting individuals forced to flee their homes due to conflict and persecution. The UNHCR, made up of 135 countries, is the world’s leading organization protecting and helping refugees in desperate times. Since its creation, the UNHCR’s sole focus has been safeguarding the rights and civil liberties of refugees. This group uses collaboration and problem-solving skills to come to a consensus regarding how to better contribute to the well-being of refugees. With this in mind, come join UNHCR for lively and rigorous debate to solve these pressing, current issues this BellarMUN 2024!

Topic A:

Facilitating Repatriation and Reintegration

Topic B:

Safeguarding Education of Refugee Children

  • Enzo - Director

    Enzo Beltran is a sophomore at Bellarmine Preparatory School and is elated to serve as the Director of the UNHCR this BellarMUN 2024! After watching hit Netflix show Never Have I Ever and being peer pressured by his close friends, Enzo attended his first conference during his freshman year. He was immediately amazed by the lively debate, discussion, and pandemonium that each committee session brought. From each conference, Enzo treasured the opportunity to enhance his leadership skills, make new friends, and enrich his global awareness. Some of his favorite memories from past conferences include wearing matching heart-shaped sunglasses with other delegates and wandering aimlessly through the streets of Chicago to get boba. Outside the world of Model UN, Enzo is a SCUBA-certified diver who has explored around Puget Sound. When not studying for his classes or catching up on some much-needed rest, he can be found listening to endless Spotify playlists, learning new songs to play with his local music group and orchestra, and baking for his family and friends. Ultimately, Enzo hopes that all delegates enjoy their time at BELLARMUN 2024 and leave with an enhanced worldview and new friends!

Dais

  • Alice - Chair

    Currently in her junior year at Bellarmine, Alice Malebranche is able to look back at her own middle school experience as a delegate in BELLARMUN. Now she is absolutely thrilled to be serving on staff as a Chair for the UNHCR committee for the 2024 conference. After a post-pandemic pause from Model UN, Alice was excited to kick off some of her debate skills’ dust and start participating in conferences again this year. Outside of Model UN, she can be found all over campus and doing as many activities as possible to keep herself busy. At Bellarmine she plays golf and lacrosse, is a co-leader of the Hiking Club, serves as a Eucharistic Minister, is on the Journalism staff, and volunteers on the Link Crew and Forefront Suicide Prevention Team. She loves to keep herself healthy by going on runs with her dog, weightlifting, playing sports with friends, and eating all the time. Growing up as a dancer, she lives off of music and has learned to play 4 different instruments. She will not go 5 minutes without humming a tune. She is half Korean and half Haitian and has learned to speak some Korean and French. In general, she talks a lot, and encourages all delegates to try and do the same at BELLARMUN 2024! She’s looking forward to an awesome time with UNHCR this year!

  • Jessi - Assistant Director

    Jessi Casiño is a freshman at Bellarmine Preparatory School and is super excited to serve as an Assistant Director of the UNHCR this BELLARMUN 2024! After being persuaded by her upperclassmen friends to join Model UN, Jessi attended her first conference, PACMUN, this year. She found that debate in MUN was more fun than she thought it would be, and decided to stick with it. MUN opened up so many opportunities for her to make friends, improve public speaking, and get out of her comfort zone! Apart from Model UN, Jessi is a competitive sprint kayaker on the Gig Harbor Canoe and Kayak Racing Team and loves to spend her free time on the water of the Puget Sound. She likes to play the guitar and bass for fun, and likes reading books or playing video games when she isn’t studying. Jessi hopes that all delegates enjoy BELLARMUN 2024 as much as she enjoys MUN!

  • Claire - Assistant Director

    Claire Slim is a freshman at Bellarmine Preparatory School and is super ecstatic to serve as the Assistant Director of the UNHCR in BELLARMUN 2024. A really fun thing to know about Claire is that she also participated in BELLARMUN when she was in the 8th grade. Ever since she did BELLARMUN 2023, she has felt such a connection and found a great love for MUN. She has made such amazing connections and friendships from MUN and she can’t wait to make more. Besides MUN, Claire is in Robotics at Bellarmine and enjoys clubs of all kinds. Outside of school and clubs, Claire is one of the biggest K-pop stans and loves to watch sappy kdramas. She also loves to learn new songs to sing and play on her bass. Overall, Claire hopes she can make this BELLARMUN great for all delegates and have a great time!