What is Model UN?

Concept

Model United Nations, commonly known as MUN, is a genuine simulation of the United Nations various bodies in which participants (students and young professionals) take on the roles of foreign diplomats and consistently represent the position of the country they embody.

They discuss and debate current issues on the UN's global agenda in succinct detail by respecting rules and procedures of the real UN committees. This gives them the opportunity to experience how decisions are made within the UN but also familiarizes them with the overall importance of the Organization in resolving imminent global matters. By participating in sessions students also develop knowledge and skills that can prove useful in their future professional development.

Apart from the simulation of the UN committees, some Models also simulate organs of other international institutions. At ZAGIMUN 2007 only the UN bodies will be simulated.

For more detailed definition of the Model United nations please visit the web site of the United Nations Association of the United States of America.

Delegate

Delegates represent member states in the simulated committees. At ZAGIMUN every committee consists of 20 delegates (exception is Security Council which has 15 members). Prior to coming to the conference, each delegate researches the given topics from the standpoint of the country that he/she will represent in the committee. It is crucial to be as precise as possible when it comes to respecting country's policies and positions towards topics to be discussed. After doing the research, delegate writes a position paper where respective country's points of view are clearly stated. Position paper is sent to the chair of the committee and it should serve as a springboard for discussion and debate during the conference. Rules of procedure must be respected during the whole simulation and it is of the utmost impotence that every delegate is familiar with them. Only then he/she can actively participate in speeches, meetings and resolution adoption process. During a simulation they must employ a variety of communications and critical thinking skills to defend and advance the policies of their country. These skills include public speaking, small group communications, research, policy analysis, active listening, negotiating, conflict resolution, note taking, and technical writing.

Observer

Depending on the topic addressed, each committee may be supervised by an observer. The observer is a representative of an accredited Non-governmental Organization or International Organization which has the same rights as a delegate except that he/she may not vote on substantive matters and may not sign nor sponsor draft agendas, resolutions and amendments.

Chairperson

The chairpersons preside over the ZAGIMUN committees. They are responsible for the overall coordination and performance of their committee. Based on their research they determine the committee topics as well as the participating delegations. The chairpersons assist delegates in the preparation phase and review all the position papers. During the conference they hold the presidency of the committee and lead the debate in accordance with the ZAGIMUN rules of procedure. The chairpersons mediate between delegates and, if necessary, suspend the meeting or call to order. The chairpersons do not represent member states of the committee and do not actively take part in the discussion; they are mainly in charge of facilitating fruitful debate. The chairpersons review draft documents before they are tabled in the plenum. The chairpersons also keep the Secretary-General informed about the course of negotiations and they closely collaborate with the ZAGIMUN Secretariat. Each committee is presided by two chairpersons who are assisted by one secretary. The chairpersons are the main persons of contact for their committee's delegates. They care for the well being of their delegates during the conference as well as during social events.

Courtesy of GIMUN

Secretary – General

Secretary-General is responsible for the intellectual content of the conference. As he has a global picture of the conference, he ensures coordination and cooperation between the Chairs and between the different committees. He may intervene in the debate in order to bring up urgent issues or to present independent expertise to the committee. If clarification is needed or disagreement occurs regarding the rules of procedure, the Secretary General has the last word. He is also an important person of contact for the ZAGIMUN journalists as well as the external press. He leads the ZAGIMUN secretariat and organizes and leads press conferences in accordance with the EXCOM.

Journalist

The whole event, the social and the official aspects, will be covered by the ZAGIMUN daily newspapers. Our team of journalists will be managed by an Editor-in-chief and will be expected to write analyses, critiques, surveys, reports and share all kinds of views with the ZAGIMUN participants. The journalist’s task is to inform all the participants of the workings of each and every workshop. The news is to be reported in an objective and professional manner. Journalists are allowed to attend conference meetings and conduct interviews in order to gather information. Moreover, they will be expected to do some lay-out and proof-reading work. Please check out the journalism section on this website for further information and requirements.

Secretary

There will be one secretary per committee. The secretaries give assistance to the chairpersons of the committees that they are appointed to, especially by helping with the resolution handling. The Secretaries might also be asked to assist the Secretary-General or to temporarily replace an absent delegate or chairperson in a committee. They may also help organize the press conferences.