What is the Model United Nations?

The Model United Nations (MUN) is the simulation of the activities of the United

Nations, with the Security Council, the General Assembly and its Commissions. It is

a “learning by doing” method of studying the United Nations. Participants of MUN

assume the roles of representatives of member States of the United Nations and

consider items from the vast agenda of the United Nations.

MUN is held in many countries of the world. Each year about 60, 000 secondary and

university students participate in Model United Nations programme worldwide.

Each programme is run independently, but goals common to all are to increase

international understanding and develop the art of peaceful negotiation.

The MUN programme is a great way for students to learn about international relations

and to gain a better sense of what a varied and fascinating world we live in.

MUN was first held in Mauritius as a pilot project in l993, involving 18 Secondary

Schools. However, the programme grew in size to include all schools teaching up to

Form VI. Institutionalised in 1994, the MUN concept fits appropriately in the school

curriculum as it covers historical, social, economic, political, philosophical topics

including science, literature and the arts. MUN has now become an annual feature.

Participation in MUN is an unforgettable learning experience that not only immerses

young people in the study and discussion of global issues, but also encourages the

development of skills which they will find useful throughout their lives. It enhances

student’s capacity to engage in problem-solving, teaches aspects of conflict resolution

and communication skills and creates the opportunity to meet new people and make

new friends.

PREPARATION FOR THE CONFERENCE

In order to successfully participate in the Model United Nations programme,

participants must:-

Research on the United Nations

• Gather background information on the United Nations Organization

• Read the UN Charter

• Understand its purposes, practices and rules of procedures

• Find out what issues are on the UN agenda

Research on countries

• Familiarise with the assigned country

• Its location and geography

• Past and recent history

• Social and cultural structure

• Political structure

• Economy

• Foreign policy

• Understand the role and influence of geo-political groupings

• Find out more information about the country's recent UN activities

through the local embassy or other UN body offices

• Keep abreast of recent and current affairs and relationships of the country

being represented with others

Research on the Conference topics

• Develop an understanding of the issues that will be debated

• Look out for background materials on these issues

See how the issue affects the country being represented

• Find out what is the position of the represented country on the issue

Learn how to write a Resolution and then write one.

• Follow the required format

• Be realistic and do not write objectives that cannot be met

• Make sure that the actions mentioned can be taken

Learn how to write a country statement and then write one.

• Keep it simple

• Abide by the country’s policy

• Start with a brief introduction to describe the generalities of a few issues

• Outline how your country would like to address any problem related to that

Issue

DEFINITION OF TERMS

General Assembly (GA): is one of the six major organs of the United Nations. It is

only in the GA that all UN members are represented.

Security Council (SC): is the organ of the UN having the major responsibility for

keeping peace. The Security Council has 15 members - 5 Permanent and 10

Nonpermanent members.

Motion: the proposal for debate which will eventually be voted upon, the main

motion is the Resolution.

Resolution: the resolution is the document used for negotiations.

Pre-ambulatory clauses: Clauses which form the first part of a resolution. They state

the problems related to the issues discussed in the resolution.

Operative clauses: Clauses which form the second part of a resolution .They state the

solutions proposed in relation to the problems stated in the pre-ambulatory clauses.

Country statement: expresses the views and opinions of the country on UN issues or

world affairs.

The House: All the members (delegates) present, except the Chairperson.

The Sponsor: The sponsor is one of the co-authors of a resolution.

Co – Sponsors: Those countries supporting a resolution.

Recognize: Granting to a member of the house the privilege to speak by the Chair.

The Chair recognises the member by pronouncing the name of the country he/she

represents.

Right of Reply: Answer to a country statement. (Delegates are usually allowed 30

seconds).

Yield the floor: The delegate who was speaking leaves the floor and returns to his

seat.
Open to points of information: The speaker is ready to answer questions from

delegates.

Yield the floor to the Chair: Speaker returns the floor to the Chair.

Yield the floor to another country: The speaker gives the floor to another to speak.

PARTICIPANTS in a Model United Nations Conference

Secretary General: Chief Administrator of the conference and final arbiter in all

disputes.

Deputy Secretary General: Assists Secretary General in the smooth running of the

Conference.

Chairperson: Chairs Commissions.

Head of Delegation: The leader among the group representing a country.

Delegates: Students representing countries at the Conference.

Delegation: A group of 4 students representing one country at the conference. Each

delegate will participate in one commission assigned to him/her. No two or more

delegates from the same country will be allowed in the same Commission Room.

Secretaries: Those who help the Chairperson in commissions and the General

Assembly and assist the Jury by taking the minutes of proceedings.

Security Officers: Those who ensure security during the Conference.

Press Officers: Those who gather information and help in the publication of the MUN

journal that gives an account of the day’s work.

MUN TV & Photographers: Those who will cover all events related to the

organisation of the MUN Conference.

• They will work under close supervision of the MUN Coordinator responsible

for the Press.

At no point will they publish any clip or photograph on any website or blog.

• All production will remain the property of this Ministry.

• They are expected to behave ethically at all times.

• Production of any “blooper” in relation to the conference is strictly forbidden.

• All materials related to the MUN conference must be duly handed over to the
Desk Officer of the Zone or to the Ministry after Zonal and National MUN.

DELEGATES

Role and Function:

• Write Resolutions

• Present Resolutions

• Defend Resolutions

• Present Country Statement

• Meet with interest groups

• Lobby for their Resolutions

• Attend and contribute to discussions of General Assembly and the various

Commissions

• Act as diplomats

• Must be courteous

• Refrain from being arrogant during lobbying sessions

• Are not allowed to bully other delegates at any point, either during the

preparation for the conference, during and after the conference

• Remain strong but flexible, cooperate and make compromise

• Consider the suggestions proposed by sponsors

• Must honour their commitments at all times

• Must project an image of seriousness

Must use proper language and should not be vulgar

• Must project the best image of the country being represented

• Must always remember that national interest should have priority over

personal interest

• Should be punctual during all the days of the conference

Badges
• All delegates attending MUN must wear a badge.

• Access inside the Conference Hall will not be allowed if delegate does not have

a badge.

• Badges will be provided to all participants by the Secretariat.

• Badges to be worn all the time during all the days of the Conference.

Seating Arrangements

In the General Assembly delegations are seated in the country’s alphabetical order

starting with Afghanistan and ending with Zimbabwe.

Each delegation will have its country name plate on the table in front.

In the Commissions, the delegates may be requested to sit according to alphabetical

order of countries.

Placards

• 4 placards with the country name printed will be issued to each delegation.

• Placards will have to be returned to the Secretariat after the Conference.

• Lost or damaged placards will have to be paid for by delegates

• Delegations which do not return their placards will not receive certificates.

Certificates

• All participants will receive a Certificate of Participation of MUN.

• Participants have to make sure that their names are submitted EXACTLY as

per their Birth Certificate)

Country Table Flags

• These will be placed on the table in front of each delegation in the General

Assembly.

• Only one flag will be given to each delegation.

Messages

• Messages must be written on identifiable notepaper.

• Messages must have distinctive heading and bearing the name of the country.
Private messages will not be allowed.

• Delegates will, during official opening and closing ceremonies, not be allowed

to pass on messages or notes.

General Rules of Debate

Delegates should remember that:

• they should be courteous at all times

• the decision of the Chair is final

• everybody cannot speak at the same time

• only the Chair or a Member of the House recognized by the Chair or the

speaker holding the floor has the right to speak

• the decision of the jury is final

• they should not seek information from the jury All speakers must:

• obtain the floor before speaking

• stand up when speaking

• address the Chair first

• yield the floor when required to do so by the Chair

The Chair will:

• abide by the rules of procedure

• not depart, at any moment, from the rules as stipulated in this booklet

be liable to be terminated in the event of non-respect of instruction

given to them or subversion of rules of procedure.

• not influence the decision of the jury

• give equal opportunity to all delegates be unbiased

MODE OF ADDRESS

Some examples:-

• Mr./Madam Chairperson

• I rise to a Point of Information/Point of Order/Point of Privilege

• I wish to speak in favour of/against this Resolution

• Is the Chair/the Speaker (not) aware that

• Does the Speaker (not) agree with me that

- I yield the floor to the Chair or Thank you Chair

- I move to amend the Resolution by striking/inserting/ adding the words

- I urge the House to give me their support by voting for/against this

Resolution/amendment

All references to other speakers should be:

in the third person

• Points of Information should begin with a phrase such as:

"Is the speaker aware that "

• Points of Information should never begin with a phrase such as:

"Do you think ”

Within a speech, a speaker should say:

• "As my (dear, learned, honorable) delegate from country has told the house”

• Within a speech, a speaker should not say: " you said ”