Fourth Committee- Special Political and Decolonization (SPD)

Committee Profile

The Fourth Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, or the Special Political and Decolonization (SPD) Committee, is a vital UN body that addresses international conflicts relating to decolonization, self-determination, and state sovereignty. From implementing the 1960 Declaration on Decolonization to aiding Non-Self-Governing Territories, 4th SPD considers a variety of agenda items present within its committee mandate. Delegates will be expected to examine the following topics in a political manner, weighing the General Assembly Resolution 1514 (XV) proclamation to eradicate colonialism and secure the right to self-determination. 

Topic A will address the ongoing conflict in the Western Sahara. Following the termination of Spanish colonial rule in 1975, the Western Sahara has become a disputed territory between Morocco and the Polisario Front. While Morocco claimed its sovereignty over the Western Sahara under a historical basis, the pro-independence Polisario Front claimed its own sovereignty over the Western Sahara in 1976 and announced the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. In this committee, delegates must analyze these clashing claims over the Western Sahara and formulate efforts toward decolonization and self-determination. 

Topic B will examine Non-Self-Governing Territories (NSGTs), defined as regions where full measures of self-governance have not been achieved by its people. Currently, the United Nations recognizes 17 NSGTs that encompass nearly 2 million inhabitants. In accordance with Chapter XI of the United Nations Charter, individuals in NSGTs possess the right to economic development and self-determination. Despite this, the economic stability of NSGTs is often hindered by their economic capacity, access to resources, high indebtedness, geographic location, and population size. The establishment of economic security and resilience within NSGTs are topics that this committee will work to address and answer. 

Chair Letter

Hi Delegates!

My name is Lindsay Alvarez and I am so excited to be your Chair for 4th SPD at BruinMUN 2024! I am currently a second-year Human Biology and Society student from Huntington Beach, CA. As a pre-med student, I volunteer at the UCLA Medical Center and hope to become a pediatrician in the future. Outside of MUN, I love photography, listening to music (preferably Taylor Swift or Lizzy McAlpine), hosting rom-com movie nights, spending time with my friends, and exploring areas around Los Angeles. 

My journey in MUN ultimately began my freshman year of high school where, over the next couple of years, I learned to develop my public speaking and leadership skills - all while learning more about pressing global issues. Even now, I cannot quite comprehend how MUN has helped me grow from a shy, introverted freshman to the person now confidently speaking in front of large groups of people. Throughout high school, I had the opportunity to compete at MUN conferences on the local, regional, and international levels (I even competed at BruinMUN during my junior and senior years!). As a senior, I served as a Senior Teacher for my high school’s MUN program, where I helped teach a class of incoming freshmen what MUN is and how to succeed as a delegate. Coming to college, I knew I wanted to keep being involved in MUN. So, I joined UCLA MUN last year, where I served as a dias staffer for BruinMUN and LAMUN!

Commonly referred to as 4th SPD, the Special Political and Decolonization Committee is the Fourth Committee of the United Nations General Assembly. 4th SPD considers a variety of topics, ranging from Non-Self-Governing territories, peacekeeping missions, atomic radiation, outer space cooperation, and executing the 1960 Declaration on Decolonization. As one of the six main committees of the General Assembly, 4th SPD reviews its agenda items and creates draft resolutions, decisions, and recommendations that proceed to the General Assembly Plenary. In this committee, delegates will be tasked with doing just that - researching the committee’s agenda topics, discussing potential solutions for such topics, and collaborating with other delegates to create a detailed draft resolution. Throughout this conference, I hope that each delegate is not only able to learn about these pressing topics, but grow in their research and public speaking skills. 

Please feel free to reach out to me through email if you have any questions! I look forward to meeting you all!

Best, 

Lindsay Alvarez | Chair, 4th SPD | BruinMUN 32

spd@bruinmun.org