Hello, I am Cherin from Y4. Last time, after a MUN conference, I came up to a idea that not all of our students do not have the same opportunity to participate in such conferences since the number of participants is limited. Even those who are wishing to. Thus, I would like to organize a little MUN, which would help those who have not been on MUNs to try and see how the whole procedure works and for those who have been on MUNs, just simply to enjoy the debate! I have attended 5 muns and the very last time I have served as a deputy chair in UNESCO committee. At MUN conferences, even in Slovakia or in any other country, you make new friends, have fun, improve your debating and English skills. It has been a great experience for me, and I believe and hope that you will have such opportunities as well since this mini MUN. Thus I encourage everyone to participate, not get stressed and please do not be shy. Just give it a go :) What is MUN? Model United Nations is an educational simulation in which students are able to learn more about the United Nations international system. The MUNs involve debating, researching, critical thinking, improving writing skills and public speaking about different issues of the world. At SGMUN two delegates will represent one country. These delegates adapt their represented country s beliefs, values and views through research through the conference. This means that from time to time someone might have to represent a belief that is not their own, but they have to do a research about the background to get familiar with them. I have modified the rules, but since every MUN has its own unique rules, it is not against the policy of Model United Nations. I have kept the rules simple, so that it should not be difficult for anyone. Now as a President I would just like to mention a few things, mainly for first timers (because I know that experienced delegates will not go through this at all!). I have explained many things in this document, Rules of Procedure and in the Study guide as well, but I would like to mention a few more things. Do a lot of research! It is very important that you understand your country s position on a current issue. It might be very helpful to check a Study guide.
Please bear in mind that you have to discuss this issue regarding to the state s policy you ve chosen. You can not represent your own opinions and beliefs. This point is very important since it keeps the debate interesting. Please study the formal and official vocabulary and go through the Rules of Procedure (also motions and points!!) even though it s a bit long. To be honest, I tried to keep it short. Having look at the vocab will help you very much. Tip: we are mainly focusing on amendments this time, so please check how to write amendments because the wrong format of amendments and resolutions is not going to be accepted by the panel and will be declined. The Presidency also recommend writing some amendments regarding to the theme if you are worried. It is not against the procedure, but delegates usually write amendments directly during the conference, but you can sum up some of your ideas and pre prepare some amendments beforehand. The President recommends for first-timers to cooperate with experienced studentsthose who have attended a mun conference at least one time. Please ask them or simply write your name next to theirs. It will not be awkward, since this MUN is designed to cooperate. Anyway, there is no problem for two first-timers being together, so you can cooperate together. It is strongly forbidden that 2 experienced delegates cooperate together choosing the same delegation. This will not keep the debate ongoing and fruitful. I would like to reach an actual result- a Resolution. Please note that every delegation shall send a Policy statement, so that the Presidency knows that every delegate is aware of the issue. One policy statement per delegation. The length set by the Presidency is 1-1.5 A4. Please send them on the email written below. The deadline: 4.5.2018 23:59 (there will be punishments if the Presidency does not receive the Policy statements in the time given!) If you have any questions please do not hesitate and ask them either personally, by email or via facebook. E-mail: cs19889@gmail.com Facebook: Cherin Shin The President of UNSC, Cherin Shin
Dress code : Formal, International business attire Addressing: It is important to address the Chairman by his/her correct title (Mr/Madam President/Chair). As the Chairman has 'given' you the floor, your first words should be 'Thank you Mr/Madam Chair for the floor (for giving me the floor, etc.).' In formal debate you speak of others only in the third person ('distinguished/fellow/honorable delegate/representative/delegation of country X'). Your use of the correct forms of address is the most elementary way to show respect for the conference and the other delegates. Language: English shall be both the Official and the Working Language of the whole conference. All Issue Descriptions, Resolutions and other documents shall be published in English. WE rule: Delegates must refrain from the use of first and second person singular and second person plural pronouns during sessions. (except of Points of Personal Privilege and yields are exceptions to this Rule, as they refer to the Delegate him- or herself) *Diplomatic Courtesy and Parliamentary Language shall be exercised by Delegates* What is a policy statement? It is a brief overview which clearly outlines the delegate s strategy vis-a-vis the committee issues and the country that is being represented. It indicates to Chairpersons whether or not the student is on track. It is a valuable early warning sign if something is amiss. More importantly, whether the position paper is demanded or not, its use will serve as an important organizer from which the delegate may maintain consistent direction. This video might help you: do and don'ts while writing a PS How should a policy statement look like (example): Committee: Special Political and Decolonization Committee (SPECPOL) Delegation: The Swiss Confederation The Swiss Confederation concerning the issue: The Future of Nuclear Energy The question of the nuclear energy invades the international forum since the United Nations was established. It is brought to debates always after the tremendous
tragedies, as nuclear blasts at Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the accidents in Chernobyl and Fukushima surely were. Economic development and new technologies necessitated an increase of energetic requirements which has led to enhanced construction of nuclear facilities. Today, the primary responsibility for ensuring the safety of nuclear installations lies with national governments. The International Atomic Energy Agency assists the safe, secure and peaceful uses of atomic energy. Nuclear energy is Switzerland s second major electricity source, with five stations accounting of about 33% of the country s output but it needs to be emphasised that in our country nuclear energy is used solely for peaceful purposes, e.g. for producing electricity and for application in medicine, industry and research. In May 2011, the Swiss government decided to abandon plans to build new nuclear reactors. The country s five existing reactors will be allowed to continue operating, but will not be replaced at the end of their life span. The last will go off in 2034. Switzerland recognises the fact that the nuclear power is the most efficient source of energy, but we cannot forget it is also the most destructive one. Not only nuclear stations present a serious problem of long-term waste disposal (up to 250,000 years), but they also pose threats to the environment, biological diversity, evolution and mankind. Because the consequences are transnational, they must be debated globally. Considering the transboundary effects of nuclear accidents, all states should have a common interest that the IAEA Safety Standards are implemented worldwide. In order to support the states in achieving this objective, we propose to strengthen the global system for nuclear safety based on the Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS). Whilst the situation in each country deserves individual analysis, we must strengthen support for the IAEA. We strongly urge states to consider lessons learned from accidents and adopt appropriate measures to apply the highest possible safety standards. Bearing in mind the reality of today s world Switzerland demands an effective diplomatic solution which can possibly improve the current situation. How should a resolution look like (example): Heading The title should be centered, in capital letters. On the left margin and two lines below the title should be the Committee and topic name.
Body Preambulatory Clauses describe the problem being addressed, recall past actions taken, explain the purpose of the draft resolution and offer support for the operative clauses that follow. Each clause in the preamble begins with an underlined word and ends with a comma. Operative Clauses are numbered and state the action to be taken by the body. These clauses are all with the present tense active verbs and are generally stronger words than those used in the Preamble. Each operative clause is followed by a semi-colon except the last, which ends with a period. SAMPLE PREAMBULATORY CLAUSES Affirming Alarmed by Approving Aware of Bearing in mind Believing Cognizant of Confident Contemplating Convinced Declaring Deeply concerned Deeply conscious Deeply convinced Deeply disturbed Deeply regretting Desiring Emphasizing Expecting Expressing its appreciation Expressing its satisfaction Fulfilling Fully alarmed Fully aware Fully believing Further developing Further recalling Guided by Having adopted Having considered Having considered further Having devoted attention Having examined Having heard Having received Having studied Keeping in mind Noting further Noting with approval Noting with deep concern Noting with regret Noting with satisfaction Observing Reaffirming Realizing Recalling Recognizing Referring Seeking Taking into account Taking note SAMPLE OPERATIVE CLAUSES Accepts Adopts Affirms Appeals Appreciates Approves Authorizes Calls upon Commends Concurs Condemns Confirms Congratulates Considers Decides Declares Deplores Designates Directs Emphasises Encourages Further invites Further reminds Further recommends Further requests Instructs Reaffirms Recognizes Recommends Renews its appeal Repeats Suggests Supports Takes note of Transmits Urges Welcomes General Assembly Third Committee Submitters: United States, Austria and Italy Co-submitters : Pakistan, Republic of Korea Signatories: Greece, Tajikistan, Japan, Canada, Mali, the Netherlands and Gabon Topic: "Strengthening UN coordination of humanitarian assistance in complex emergencies The General Assembly, Reminding all nations of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which recognizes the inherent dignity, equality and inalienable rights of all global citizens, [use commas to separate preambulatory clauses]
Reaffirming its Resolution 33/1996 of 25 July 1996, which encourages Governments to work with UN bodies aimed at improving the coordination and effectiveness of humanitarian assistance, Noting with satisfaction the past efforts of various relevant UN bodies and nongovernmental organizations, Stressing the fact that the United Nations faces significant financial obstacles and is in need of reform, particularly in the humanitarian realm, 1 Encourages all relevant agencies of the United Nations to collaborate more closely with countries at the grassroots level to enhance the carrying out of relief efforts; [use semicolons to separate operative clauses] 2 Urges member states to comply with the goals of the UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs to streamline efforts of humanitarian aid a) By supplying medicals i.)... 3 Requests that all nations develop rapid deployment forces to better enhance the coordination of relief efforts of humanitarian assistance in complex emergencies; 4 Calls for the development of a United Nations Trust Fund that encourages voluntary donations from the private transnational sector to aid in funding the implementation of rapid deployment forces; 5 Stresses the continuing need for impartial and objective information on the political, economic and social situations and events of all countries; 6 Calls upon states to respond quickly and generously to consolidated appeals for humanitarian assistance; 7 Requests the expansion of preventive actions and assurance of post-conflict assistance through reconstruction and development.
Rules of Procedure Adopts its Resolutions Clause-by-Clause. Operative Clauses shall be submitted, debated and voted on, one-by-one, in order of submission, unless the President decides otherwise. A Resolution shall be debated and may be ratified after there are no more Delegates wishing to submit further Operative Clauses to the Resolution or if the Presidency decides not to entertain any more. The Preambulatory Clauses shall be submitted, debated and voted on in an Open Debate throughout the course of the discussion on an Issue. Once a Amendment has been submitted, the Main Submitter shall be called upon by the Chair to introduce it and a short speech in favour of the Amendment. There are no Co-Submitters needed to submit an Operative Clause, however, if there are Delegations wishing to co-submit, along with the Submitter, a given Operative Clause, he or she may do so. The Main Submitter is allowed to give the Right of Introduction to another Delegate. Amendments are submitted via note or email to the President/ Deputy President, since it firstly needs to be approved by the panel. There shall be a Debate and a Vote on every Operative Clause separately. When debating the Resolution as a whole the President may call upon a submitter to one of the Operative Clauses to deliver a Speech. Decisions on Procedural matters shall need a Two-thirds Majority of nine, on Substantial matters shall need a Simple Majority. Lastly, when the resolution is completed, delegations should vote by roll call on this resolutions as whole. If the resolution passes with a simple majority, this resolution is further being ratified by nations wishing to do so. Debates: Open and Closed During Open Debate, a Delegate may rise at any time if the floor is open to take it, submit an Amendment to it and introduce an amendment
During Closed Debate, the Chair or President shall restrict the first half of the Debate to Time In Favour and the second half to Time Against, where Amendments to the Second Degree can be submitted A Delegate who has the floor, upon finishing his or her speech shall yield it to someone, or back to the Chair or President. The floor may be yielded by a Delegation to another one but consecutively only once. After that, it has to be yielded back to the Chair or President. A Delegate to whom the floor has been yielded by another Delegate shall be asked by the Chair or President whether he or she accepts said yield. Upon refusal to accept said yield, the floor shall be yielded back to the Presidency by the Delegate who has first obtained the floor and proposed the yield. No Resolution shall include either financial amounts or names of specific financial resources. The donor organisation, however, can and should be mentioned if other than the United Nations Roundtable If there's no delegation wishing to take the floor, the Presidency may decide for a roundtable, where every delegate shortly expresses their opinion on a current issue. Open debate allows Delegates to prepare Amendments or Speeches for the Resolution being debated or to communicate via notes with other Delegates. Lobbying (Unmoderated caucus) allows Delegates to leave their seats and discuss with each other their Delegation s views on the current Issue in the time set by the President. Points Delegate experiences considerable personal discomfort which impairs his or her ability to participate in the proceedings, he or she may rise to a Point of Personal Privilege to request that the discomfort be corrected. A Point of Personal Privilege is not debatable, and does not require a second. A Point of Personal Privilege may only interrupt a speaker when the problem is due to the lack of audibility Otherwise they are only in order when the floor is open During the discussion of any matter, a Delegate may rise to a Point of Order to indicate an instance of improper Parliamentary Procedure. This Point will be
immediately decided upon by the Chair or President in accordance with these Rules of Procedure. The Chair or President may rule out of order those Points which are intended to delay the Debate or are improper; such a decision is unappealable. A Point of Order may only be made when the floor is open. A Point of Order is in order only when the mistake has just been made. Retrospective Points of Order will not be entertained. When the floor is open, a Delegate may rise to a Point of Parliamentary Enquiry to ask the Chair or President a question regarding the Parliamentary Procedure. This Point may never interrupt a speaker. The Chair or President shall answer the Delegate according to his or her best knowledge. After a speaker has finished his or her speech, and he or she is open to any Point(s) of Information, the Chair or President shall ask the Delegates if they have any Points of Information. The Delegates shall raise their Placards if they would like to ask from the speaker, and if the Chair or President calls upon them, they can deliver their Points of Information to the speaker at the podium. This Point shall be one question regarding the speech. No discussion is allowed on the floor, and the Chair or President shall immediately call on both Delegates to come to order if they intend to do so. a. If the Delegate who has asked the other representative at the podium is not satisfied with the answer he or she was given, then he or she may make a Request for Follow-up allowing him or her to ask one more question. A Delegate who feels that a speech by another Delegate has in some way been inappropriate may request a Right of Reply. This Point may not interrupt a speaker but should be addressed right after the speaker has finished his or her speech. The Chair or President shall recognise the Delegate so that he or she may reflect on the contents of the other Delegate s speech. No Delegate may call a Right of Reply to a Right of Reply. A Delegate whose personal or national integrity has been severely offended by another Delegate, may introduce a Request for Formal Apology from the offender right after the speaker has finished his or her speech. A brief explanation in this case is needed to clarify the reason for the necessity of an apology. The offender may reply to any such allegations after the offended has voiced his or her opinion. The Presidency shall decide whether a Formal Apology is in order or not. If the Presidency decides that it is in order, it is obligatory for the offending state to apologise.
Motions During the discussion of any Issue, a Delegate may propose a Motion to Adjourn the Debate, meaning that the session will continue at a later time decided by the Chair or President. This Motion does not require a second but a ruling from the Chair or President. If the Chair or President decides that the Motion is in order, there immediately shall be a Procedural Voting on the Motion. A Motion to Move into Voting Procedure shall be made by a Delegate who wishes to move to the closure of the Debate on the issue. This Motion is secondable, but fails instantaneously if there are objections. This Motion is in order at all times during Debate on a given topic. Upon an objection, the Chair or President shall immediately call upon the objecting Delegate to deliver a speech either in favour or against the topic currently being discussed. After the speech of objecting delegation, the Voting Procedure shall commence. If a Delegate wishes to move from Time In Favour to Time Against during Closed Debate he or she may propose Chair or President shall immediately call upon the objecting Delegate to deliver a speech in favour of the topic currently being discussed. After all objecting Delegates have delivered their speeches, the Motion shall come into force, thus the Debate shall move into Time Against. If the time allotted for a Resolution or Amendment has elapsed, but a Delegate thinks that there is still more to discuss about the topic, he or she may propose a Motion to Extend Debate Time. Whether to allow the extension of the debating time is decided by the President at his or her own discretion, and this Motion is not debatable. It only needs a ruling by the President to be adopted, or if he or she feels like, the Motion can be put to a Procedural Vote, in which case it requires a simple majority to pass. Please remind that any and all Motions may be overruled by the Chair or President at his or her own discretion. When an Amendment is submitted, the Debate on the Resolution should be suspended, and a Closed Debate on the Amendment should begin. Amendments should be debated and voted in the order of recognition.
If an Amendment to an Amendment, that is, an Amendment to the Second Degree, is submitted, then first the Amendment to the Second Degree should be debated and put to Vote. If it passes, then the original Amendment passes as well. If the Amendment to the Second Degree fails, the Committee or Council shall continue the Debate on the original Amendment. Friendly amendments: An Amendment shall be considered friendly if it refers to a grammatical mistake or clarifies the meaning of the clause without changing it significantly. A Friendly Amendment shall not be voted upon but decided by the Presidency after the approval of the main submitter whose clause is to be amended. Unfriendly amendments: An Amendment shall be considered unfriendly if it changes the meaning of the amendment submitted by another delegate or strikes out another amendment from the resolution. A Unfriendly Amendment shall be voted upon by the whole committee. It does need to be approved by the Presidency. The Presidency decides whether submitted amendment is a friendly or unfriendly amendment. Voting Each Delegate has two options during the Voting Procedure: Delegates can be In Favour of or Against the topic of the Voting, abstentions are not allowed. Each Delegate can raise his or her placard only at one of these possibilities during a Voting Procedure.