Model&United&Nations! ! MUN!101! Model&United&Nations ... · Model&United&Nations! ! MUN!101!!...

Model United Nations MUN 101

Model United Nations Overview,

Model United Nations Overview This section is intended to aid Advisors in preparing their delegation for the Model United Nations. Of course, these materials are not immutable, and should be adapted to fit the needs of the local delegation.

YMCA delegations meet individually, or occasionally, in larger, cluster groups. Whichever is the case, Advisors should plan to have a meeting each week from January until early May. This helps Ambassadors keep in touch with the program, provides opportunities for training, fundraising, and socializing, and sustains the delegation’s momentum. Advisors should read and understand all suggested material before beginning meetings.

Advisors have resources available to them by contacting the advisor development team ([email protected]) or by calling the Youth & Government office at (916) 756-‐0230. Extensive information, including all bulletins and forms can be found on the Y&G website www.calymca.org.

What is the Model United Nations?

The California YMCA Youth & Government Model United Nations program is a simulation of the “real-‐life” United Nations. Ambassadors will research, debate and establish policies, treaties and resolutions focusing on international issues, including disputes between countries, peace-‐keeping responsibilities, border crisis, stabilizing financial markets and dealing with hunger, disease and poverty. Delegations are assigned one or more countries (depending on the number of Ambassadors) that they will represent, and the Ambassadors will research the countries and come to the MUN as representatives of those countries. Ambassadors can be a part of one of several entities (known as “organs”) that make up the U.N., including the General Assembly (GA), Security Council (SC), International Court of Justice (ICJ), Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), International Press Corps (IPC), Non-‐Governmental Organizations (NGO), and the Secretariat (for High School interns only). Ambassadors write, debate and vote on resolutions in the GA, ECOSOC, or SC, hear memorials (court cases) dealing with issues of human rights, settling border or territorial disputes in the ICJ, or investigate, research, interview, and then write newspaper articles for the International Press Corps. Some Ambassadors may also be faced with some “crisis” issues that they will be asked to resolve as well. For more information about the “real” United Nations, refer to the supplemental section below, “What is the real United Nations?”

What do ambassadors do in MUN?

Ambassadors participate in MUN as either members of the General Assembly (GA), Security Council, Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), International Court of Justice (ICJ), International Press Corps (IPC) or Non-‐Governmental Organizations (NGO). Much of the work of the MUN is done in the preparation phase – prior to each of the two conferences -‐ when Ambassadors will need to research the countries they represent by compiling country background information and writing topic/issue position papers. Once they have developed these papers, and depending on the organ they choose to



work with, Ambassadors will present and debate resolutions, hear court cases, or write IPC articles for the MUN website.

Role Playing

MUN is a simulation of the United Nations where the countries of the world send Ambassadors to act as representatives of those country’s governments. An Ambassador’s primary role is to present their government’s views on the issues in front of the UN. The key to doing this well is to get into the character of the country the Ambassador is representing – almost like being in a school play. Ambassadors should be encouraged to stay as much in “character” as possible – the more they do this the more fun they’ll have. Part of the MUN’s appeal is that – at the MUN Summit (final conference) – they will spend four days acting like someone who most likely has had a very different life experience than their own and will, therefore, likely have very different views than the ones they have. It is important to remember that Ambassadors are representing their country’s views, and not their own. The conference is not about speaking about how they feel personally, but how the world leaders they are “playing” feel. Ambassadors need to pay special attention to the economic, religious and educational issues of their country when they do their background paper – that will help them to understand how their country might respond to an issue. Caucuses will help with this, since Ambassadors will get a chance to understand how countries from similar regions often have similar views.

Debate and Caucusing

At the MUN Summit, Ambassadors will spend a good portion of their time discussing and debating issues in committee, GA, ECOSOC, Security Council, etc., but a good part of negotiations also takes place during caucuses. In these sessions Ambassadors meet informally to negotiate with nations from various blocks. Caucuses represent different areas of the world: The African States, Asian States, Latin American and Caribbean States, and the Western European and Other States. In MUN, caucus groups are informally organized groups of nations who tend to vote together.

Crisis Situations

At various times over the course of the conference, crisis situations will be introduced into MUN. The crisis will involve a conflict between nations, and will reflect the current events in the world.

Topics

Topics are the backbone of the Model United Nations. These are the issues that Ambassadors will address and ultimately make resolutions or develop projects about. These topics will reflect current events as well as ongoing world issues. Topics for this year’s MUN are still in development. Examples of past topics are:

• Agricultural rights • Banning the use of landmines • Banning the use of sweatshops • Bioterrorism

• Child labor • Combating terrorism • Combating transcontinental crime • Deforestation



• Elimination of religious intolerance • Eradicating poverty • Global warming • International drug trade • Israel/Palestine conflict • Multinational corporations



Negotiation and Diplomacy

Since the United Nations is an organization of sovereign countries, the art of compromise and persuasion is essential to achieving one's goals. Effective Ambassadors not only are well prepared, but also have learned to deal skillfully with their fellow Ambassadors. They know how to compromise and when they must stand firm. They also know when to trade concessions on various points in a resolution for maximum gain. It is important to understand that the United Nations is not a "world government." Most UN resolutions, especially those of the General Assembly, do not carry the weight of law but only of international moral force. As a result, it is crucial that resolutions be passed by a large majority of nations. If a significant number of nations are opposed or abstain, the victory may not be meaningful. In short, organs of the United Nations almost always seek consensus on resolutions. Unanimity is the ultimate goal. Since Model United Nations is meant to represent world politics and UN processes, students should also remember that the United Nations' reason for existing is to prevent war, bloodshed and other human tragedies. Therefore, armed conflict in order to solve global problems generally is not an option.

Conferences

The Model United Nations holds two conferences each year. An outline of these events can be found below. For specific dates, please see the Program Calendar posted on the website at mun.calymca.org. Elections for statewide leadership are held at both conferences. For more information about running for statewide leadership, please refer to the MUN Leadership and Elections section of our website.

For every participant you bring to a Y&G conference, you will need to submit a Medical Release form, a Code of Conduct Signature form, and a Photo Release form. You will only need to submit these once per program year. You may turn them in to the Y&G office when you arrive at the Training Conference.

MUN Training Conference

Held at Camp Roberts near Paso Robles, the first conference of the year focuses on giving new Ambassadors an overview of the MUN program. Returning Ambassadors will focus on leadership development.

Prior to this conference, Ambassadors will have selected their roles in their delegation meetings. During this conference participants will receive specific training on their role in the Model United Nations.



Model United Nations Summit

The Model United Nations Summit is held in Irvine, California at the Hyatt Hotel. This four-‐day conference is the capstone of the MUN program. Ambassadors are given a chance to put all their research and practice to work as they perform their roles and explore how the United Nations is run. Ambassadors take on their roles as UN organ members, chairs, and presiding officers. In this unique experience, they deal with international issues that affect our world.

Ambassador Roles in MUN Program Areas (AKA “Organs”)

GENERAL ASSEMBLY (GA) OVERVIEW

The General Assembly, or GA, is the largest organ in the United Nations. It is the main deliberative, policymaking. It is unique in that it is the one forum where all member states are represented, and all international issues covered by the UN Charter are discussed.

Each Ambassador in the GA belongs to one of five committees or two special issue commissions. It is here, in these smaller groups, that they debate topics and use diplomacy to write resolutions. Ambassadors in the General Assembly will meet initially in their assigned committee, where they will discuss topics related to that committee’s focus (topics to be determined). The GA Ambassador(s) from each delegation that represent(s) a given country must submit a position paper for each topic that their assigned committee will be considering (see Writing Papers and Memorials on our website). These papers help Ambassadors represent their countries by finding out who their allies or enemies are and what coalitions and/or compromises might be reached with them. As the Ambassadors on each committee come to compromise or agreement on each topic, they will write resolutions that will be voted on and sent on the GA for debate. Each committee/commission is headed by chair, and the GA by presided over by the General Assembly President and Vice-‐President.

Ambassadors in the GA have four functional roles: position paper writing, using diplomacy (negotiating and compromise), resolution writing, and debating. A popular activity to foster these skills in a very basic way is to hold a mock committee debate.

Helpful Hints

A fun and rewarding way to prepare the ambassadors in topic debate is to make the topic: delivery pizza options. This is, of course, optional; but can lead to a resolution that constitutes an order for delivery. Regardless of the topic, just be sure the ambassadors have the opportunities to: practice debate procedure, try to sway each



other's positions, and write a simple resolution.

If you notice some of your ambassadors excel at comprehending and using debate procedure, maybe consider pushing them for a leadership role. In GA, there are four: President, Vice-‐President, Clerk, and Committee Chair. President and Vice-‐President are the only elected positions. Like President and VP though, the Chairs oversee debate procedure. Ideally, candidates for these positions will all be able to multi-‐task, speak well in front of large groups, keep a cheery composure in mildly stressful situations, and be able read off a procedural script.



ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL (ECOSOC)

Ambassadors in the ECOSOC will deal with matters of economic, social and humanitarian importance. Ambassadors will discuss topics and make resolutions in a variety of areas. Generally, ECOSOC will break into multiple committees and each committee will look at three or four topics. Delegations that have countries assigned to the ECOSOC must submit position papers for each topic being considered by the ECOSOC committee(s) their Ambassadors are assigned to (see writing papers and memorials on our website). These papers, as are those written by your delegation’s GA Ambassadors, help your ECOSOC Ambassadors to know who supports and opposes their positions in the Council. The ECOSOC is run by the ECOSOC President and Vice-‐President.

The world’s economic, social and environmental challenges are ECOSOC’s concern. A founding UN Charter body established in 1946, the Council is the place where such issues are discussed and debated, and policy recommendations issued.

In ECOSOC, ambassadors representing various countries debate, reconcile, and make recommendations on global issues as they pertain to economic (money) and social (people) issues. Prior to the training conference, advisors will ask ambassadors to research their assigned country to be able to begin thinking about world issues from their country's perspective. At the training conference ECOSOC Ambassadors will be assigned a topic (or possibly two topics). Between the training conference and the Summit, they will need to write a brief statement (three to five sentences) about the assigned topic(s) from their country's perspective. At the Summit, the ECOSOC program will be in full swing and Ambassadors will engage in debates, meet-‐up with allied nations to discuss strategy, and write brief resolutions in small groups. They will also play several games to stay fresh and keep the global ideas flowing.

Helpful Hints

Have your Ambassadors think about a current global issue (example: child labor). Have them think about their personal feelings and beliefs towards this subject. Now, ask them to put their personal feelings and beliefs aside and to try on a new pair of "glasses" ... as a representative of a fictional country that you can call Unicornlandia. As an Ambassador from Unicornlandia, explain that they would regard child labor as valuable because it is necessary for their country to survive. In their country all citizens begin working in mills and industrial settings at the age of six. Not only is this socially acceptable in this country, it is normal ... to work at the age of six and bring home a salary of three cents an hour is considered a great privilege. You might than have them write down two or three things they think about child labor from their own personal perspective/opinion, and two or three



from the perspective of the government of Unicornlandia. This is one way for your Ambassadors to see the difference between what they might personally say and what they would need to say as an Ambassador from Unicornlandia. Remind them that in ECOSOC, as in the GA and Security Council, they should think of it as playing a game or acting in a play. In ECOSOC, et al, the positions and recommendations they advocate for or against are not based on their own opinions, but rather from the perspective of ambassadors from their assigned countries.

SECURITY COUNCIL OVERVIEW (SC)

Over the decades, the UN has helped to avert or end numerous conflicts, often through actions taken by the Security Council. When a complaint concerning a threat to peace is brought before it, the SC’s first action is usually to recommend to the parties to try to reach agreement by peaceful means. When a dispute leads to fighting, the Council's first concern is to bring it to an end as soon as possible. On many occasions, the SC has issued ceasefire directives which have been instrumental in preventing wider hostilities.

The 15 Ambassadors on the Security Council will deal with matters of international peace and security. SC Ambassadors will discuss topics (to be determined) and create resolutions. Resolutions are done in two forms: 1) consensus resolutions, where the whole SC agrees by consensus on the resolution, and 2) resolutions adopted by vote. Adopting resolutions by vote is the more traditional approach. Resolutions are adopted by vote when, in

• CONFLICT PREVENTION – actions beyond diplomacy • PEACEKEEPING – primarily limited maintaining ceasefires and stabilizing

conflict • PEACE BUILDING – post conflict strategies

The SC is composed of five permanent members (“The Big 5”), China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and 10 other member states that are rotate. The Y&G MUN Security Council member states are the same as those currently on the real SC.

Helpful Hints

1) Debate an issue such as

§ Which Fast Food restaurant should be placed on a busy street corner § What is more important: vegetables or fruits § Note-‐it is important to assign roles i.e. several kids should be vegetarian, others have religious food restrictions, others have financial constraints



Your soon-‐to-‐be Ambassadors need to learn how to negotiate using their specific constraint

2) Understand the Procedure of the Security Council – can use with above debate.

3) Each delegate should write a position paper a one-‐half to one-‐page statement of a country’s policy on topic areas on the committee's agenda.



INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE (ICJ)

MUN’s ICJ is a student-‐run simulation where students serve both as judges and as advocates. While judges adjudicate on the dispute, the advocates present the arguments for the parties to the dispute. The “plaintiff,” or party bringing the case, is called the Applicant. The “defendant” is called the Respondent.

The Court is the principal judicial organ of the UN, and all members of the UN are ipso facto parties to the Statute of the ICJ. Fifteen independent Justices, elected by the GA and the SC, each serve a 9-‐year term.

The primary purpose of the ICJ is to render opinions on international legal disputes between States. Another purpose of the ICJ is to clarify significant international legal questions brought to it by the UN General Assembly and the Security Council. When a UN body brings an issue before the Court, it is requesting an advisory opinion. The ICJ does not have authority to decide disputes involving individuals, the public or private organizations, although the Court may request that public organizations present information in a case.

The Role of an Advocate 1. Before the Summit review a detailed case description and complete a case worksheet.

2. At the Summit, work in groups of two or three as either the Applicant or the Respondent for one case.

3. Prepare and practice oral arguments. 4. Present oral arguments before the court during public proceedings. 5. Be in attendance whenever the Court is in session, even if their case is finished. The Role of a Judge

1. Before the Summit, review a detailed case description and complete a case worksheet.

2. At the Summit, work as a group to review specific articles and terms relating to the case.

3. Participate in group discussions about the case with other Justices. 4. Hear oral argument and ask questions of the advocates. 5. Hold confidential deliberations and a vote to decide each issue. 6. Write the majority, concurring, or dissenting opinion for a case. 7. Present opinions at the final session.

Article 38 of the Statute of the ICJ establishes the sources of law to be applied by the Court in resolving disputes in accordance with international law:

1. International conventions. 2. International custom, as evidence of a general practice accepted as law. 3. The general principles of law recognized by developed nations. 4. Judicial decisions and the teachings of the most highly qualified publicists of the various nations.



Since 1945, the Court has rendered many decisions and Advisory Opinions. Since the Court has no binding enforcement mechanism, not all of the disputing parties have complied with its decisions. Despite this condition, the Court’s rulings are typically considered as authoritative interpretations of law and have a strong moral and persuasive effect on the international legal community. The Court’s most effective areas have been boundary disputes and providing a legal basis for enforcing damage claims by States in disputes involving the use of force.

INTERNATIONAL PRESS CORP (IPC)

The International Press Corps provides visibility across the conference by covering the developments at each of the organs and events throughout the Training Conference and the Summit. The IPC is comprised of one ambassador from each delegation working together to create a cohesive blog that will be published on a rolling basis.

ROLES Editor in Chief

ñ Works with the Program Staff on the look and feel of the blog ñ Approves stories to be published to the blog with the Bureau Chiefs ñ Coordinates with the Deputy Secretary General on Press Conference

Guidelines and Schedules ñ Reports stories about the Secretary General

Bureau Chiefs

ñ Identifies topics to cover the assigned organ area ñ General Assembly, ECOSOC, Security Council, ICJ,NGO ñ Peer Reviews and Edits stories written by the Reporter ñ Publishes stories to the blog

Media Coordinator

ñ Works with the Editor in Chief on the look and feel of the blog ñ Works with the Photographers to find pictures for stories ñ Works with Reporters and Photographers to created video webcasts

Reporters

ñ Reports on organ developments ñ Interview candidates / elected officers ñ Writes one story a day during the Summit

Photographers

ñ Works with Reporters to find pictures for stories ñ Works with the Media Coordinator to create photo stories



ñ Creates Officer / Elected Candidate profiles

Helpful Hints Between the Training Conference and the Summit

ñ Each Press Member is responsible for writing at least one story per week about their delegation

ñ Press members will help ambassadors from their delegation register onto the Press blog

ñ Press members will help encourage ambassadors debate about topics that will be posted

ñ (Editor in Chief) Responsible for Publishing the stories to the blog ñ (Editor in Chief) Letter of Introduction

NON-‐GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGO)

An NGO (Non-‐Governmental Organization) is a non-‐profit group that is not affiliated with a national government, and is generally engaged in working for aid, development and welfare at the local, national or international level. The term NGO was actually created by the United Nations to help organization perform humanitarian work, and help them become separate entities from their respective countries.

In the UN, NGO’s are tied to the Economic and Social Council. When ECOSOC has decided to and agreed to move on a specific proposal, the proposal then gets passed into a subcommittee. In our MUN, groups of about 5 to 8 students create an NGO from the ground up. They will give their group a name and then come up with a solution to the problem.

During the training conference at Camp Roberts the students will selection their Board Members. These board members are the ones that give the NGO's direction in the projects. They are also the group that will be grading and judging the project and presentation that each NGO will have to give during the final summit. The students many times have called them the "Money" of the program.

During the Summit, the students will also prepare for an event that the entire MUN program participates in called the NGO Expo. This will be the "big show" for the students. During the Expo, students will try an persuade other Ambassadors to vote on their NGO proposal. The "winning" NGO proposal is the proposal that will be the one that is elected into "action".

Helpful Hints

Examples of well-‐known and/or well-‐respected NGO’s:



• American Refugee Committee, Amnesty International, Center for Digital Inclusion, Doctors without Borders, Free the Children, Greenpeace, Habitat for Humanity, Heifer International, Human Rights Watch, International Red Cross, KickStart International, PlanetRead, Rainforest Alliance, Water for People

How Does the NGO program work for the MUN Program?

Our NGO program works very much like the actual NGO programs of the United Nations. The proposals that have been passed by the ECOSOC get to be the topics that the NGO's work on during the Summit.

SECRETARIAT

The Secretariat is the administrative arm of the UN that helps Ambassadors do research, write resolutions and other administrative tasks. It is staffed by high school students selected by application that will work with the MUN Ambassadors and Advisors to the individual program areas.

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