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GUIDE TO MUN

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Welcome note from the Secretary General ............................................................................................. 4

Welcome to the world of Model UN........................................................................................................ 5

What is a Model UN Conference? ........................................................................................................ 5

About LUMUN – The Society ................................................................................................................ 5

History of LUMUN .................................................................................................................................. 6

Welcome to the 12th Annual Session ................................................................................................... 7

Social Events ............................................................................................................................................ 7

In Conference Events .............................................................................................................................. 9

Pre Conference .......................................................................................................................................... 10

Research ................................................................................................................................................. 10

Public Speaking ..................................................................................................................................... 10

Regarding Researching ............................................................................................................................ 14

Operative Preparation .......................................................................................................................... 14

Researching on the Topic Area ........................................................................................................... 14

Stance Related Preparation ................................................................................................................. 16

Some Useful Links................................................................................................................................. 17

How to organize your research .......................................................................................................... 18

During Committee .................................................................................................................................... 19

Debate Flow Overview ......................................................................................................................... 19

Committee Etiquette ............................................................................................................................ 20

Setting the Agenda .............................................................................................................................. 21

Caucuses and Informal Debate ........................................................................................................... 22

The Format of Debate .......................................................................................................................... 22

Awards.................................................................................................................................................... 25

Documentation ......................................................................................................................................... 26

Position Paper ....................................................................................................................................... 26

Working Paper ...................................................................................................................................... 28

Draft Resolutions .................................................................................................................................. 29

Amendments ......................................................................................................................................... 32

Final Resolutions ................................................................................................................................... 33

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Glossary ...................................................................................................................................................... 34

Appendix .................................................................................................................................................... 39

Sample Position Paper ......................................................................................................................... 39

Sample Working Paper ........................................................................................................................ 42

Sample Draft Resolution ...................................................................................................................... 43

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Welcome note from the Secretary General Dear Delegates,

My name is Daniyal Taufeeq Jangda and it gives me immense pleasure to welcome you to the

12th iteration of LUMS Model United Nations.

At each LUMUN we begin with the ambition to inculcate intellectual responsibility and equip

students with the skills to initiate endeavors that go on to change the world. This year, however,

our theme is ‘Presenting Perspectives, Preparing Pakistan’ – to remind the delegates that their

journey starts at home.

A clear example of this shift in perspective is reflected in our committees, where we look at both

the tumultuous events in our country’s past as well as around the world to solve age-old

problems, while also simulating a rendition of our National Assembly. In any case, no matter

how this theme resonates with you, we ask that you allow LUMUN to become more than a

Model UN conference, and instead let it invoke a convergence of ideas, hopes and aspirations

that transcend local, cultural, economic and political boundaries.

Eventually, our ambition with LUMUN is not limited to instilling in each of you a wish to

transform the world: fix poverty, end the scourge of war, or erase tyranny. But instead, we wrap

up the conference contentedly if we have helped you see our own, local issues in a new light:

helping the poor in our neighborhood, ending gang wars in our slums, and erasing tyranny in

our feudal system alone.

As long as our work impacts you, the leaders of tomorrow, in this small way, it is worthwhile to

continue. Closing on this note, let me restate the value of listening to those who do not see the

world the way we do. Know that your perspective is bettered each time it meets and survives

disagreement, and only an empathetic outlook will help us prepare Pakistan for prosperity.

Please feel free to contact the Under-Secretary Generals or the Committee Directors should you

need any help along the way. On behalf of the entire Executive Council, Secretariat and

Directorate, I look forward to making your time at LUMUN a memory to keep.

See you all in December!

Regards,

Daniyal Jangda

Secretary-General

LUMUN 12

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Welcome to the world of Model UN

What is a Model UN Conference?

Model United Nations conferences simulate United Nations, International Organizations,

regional bodies and government cabinets - in which participants are assigned to

represent countries, organizations, or leaders in order to debate pressing international

issues. Over a series of committee sessions, delegates to the conference, have to work

together constructively in order to introduce working papers and eventually draft

resolutions. The sessions are moderated by a Committee Director along with Assistant

Committee Directors and are run under rules of parliamentary procedure which are

expanded upon below.

Participating in Model United Nations is an excellent way to develop one’s negotiation

skills, learn to communicate and form solutions with peers from around the world, as

well as to broaden one’s perspective on a variety of international topics. Delegates gain

invaluable leadership experience as they work with international teams on important

issues, forming solutions to important global problems. In today’s era of rapid

globalization, the leadership, organizational, creative, and personal skills delegates

develop at conference will be useful for any career!

About LUMUN – The Society

The Lahore University of Management Sciences Model United Nations Society, more

commonly referred to as LUMUN, was founded in 2002. Since its inception, LUMUN has

been the pioneer in the arena of Model United Nations (MUN) in Pakistan, hosting the

first ever MUN Conference in Pakistan in 2003. Since then, LUMUN has expanded; as a

society, it continues to grow each year to achieve its full potential as the premier MUN

Society in Pakistan; as a conference, it has expanded to simulating 14 committees (of

the United Nations and specialized agencies both) where a decade ago it only simulated

one.

In 2008, the LUMUN Society introduced the Social Responsibility Program (SRP). The

SRP was LUMUN’s way of giving back to the society and reaching out to the

underprivileged class of Pakistan, in line with LUMUN’s vision of making a tangible

change in the lives of the citizens in our society. SRP started with a boot camp, spanning

little more than a day. It has since expanded to a year-long initiative, organizing a

summer internship in 12 schools spread over two cities (Lahore & Karachi), a currently-

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ongoing teacher training program, an annual SRP MUN, in-conference events and the

Adopt-a-School initiative.

The LUMUN Society also prides itself in terms of being an institution that international

organizations such as Global Zero, the initiative responsible for promoting the

elimination of the world’s nuclear arsenal to zero, feel proud to affiliate themselves

with. Locally, LUMUN has been affiliated with Lahore Grammar School, Defense, for the

purpose of aiding in organizing their annual MUN Conference, for five years. This year

LUMUN has expanded its affiliation program to include Lahore Grammar School 55

Main as well.

Internationally, LUMUN co-hosts the Eurasia MUN Conference held annually in the

University of Passau, Germany and has been doing so for the past four years. Eurasia

serves as the unification of the two continents of Europe and Asia and allows for greater

international and intercultural interaction.

In the words of LUMUN’s Patron, Ambassador Shahryar Khan, “LUMUN students are the

flag-bearers of Pakistan in the international arena, making Pakistan and LUMS proud.”

Each year LUMUN sends a delegation to the WorldMUN Conference (the most coveted

MUN Conference in the world) and to MUNTR (held in Antalya, Turkey). LUMUN has

been declared the best delegation at WorldMUN five times and it has won the highest

number of awards at MUNTR eight years in a row.

LUMUN also feels a strong imperative to apply the global principles associated with the

art of MUNs to the national arena, to help create a more educated, aware and articulate

youth that understands its role in society and its responsibility in improving the situation

of Pakistan. To this end, LUMUN hosted its first Youth Leadership Parliament in March

2014, simulating three National Assembly sessions and inviting ‘parliamentarians’ from

across Lahore.

History of LUMUN

Established in 2002, LUMS Model United Nations Society (LUMUN) is a student-run

organization at the Lahore University of Management Sciences. For the first time in

Pakistan, it introduced the concept of Model UN simulation and hence prides itself on

being the pioneer of the MUN culture that is now widespread across the country.

The biggest event in the LUMUN calendar is the annual, five-day conference held at the

LUMS campus, which hosts over a 1000 national and international delegates. LUMUN

seeks to provide for the delegates a platform where they get to simulate actual

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committees of the United Nations, debate over the same issues of global relevance, and

come together to draft a solution of their own.

Welcome to the 12th Annual Session

The 12th Annual LUMUN conference is being designed not just as another Model United

Nation simulation conference like the previous eleven LUMUNs. It is being organized

with the focus on providing a wholly-integrating delegate experience ranging from

providing a platform for an exchange of ideas, creating awareness and building a bond.

LUMUN conference will be held in December as a 5-day event where delegates from all

over Pakistan including several from the international circuit too will take part in 11

different committees.

This year the Secretariat intends to return the grandeur to all large committees like

those of the General Assembly. We also want to focus on encouraging a high level of

passionate debate with an increased number of Specialized agencies which will cater to

a large variety of topics; both historical and contemporary. The committees at LUMUN

12 also serve as a forum for the bright minds of today to solve the problems that we are

highly likely to face in the future by analyzing our eventful past.

While the committees will form only one half of the event, the entire conference will

function under the theme of “Presenting Perspectives, Preparing Pakistan” as its core

theme. Pakistan, over the years, has emerged into a highly significant geo-political entity

in its own right. The future is poised to present us with an array of hopes, aspirations

and challenges; that need to be met with an acute understanding of our past. The

Conference aims to propound the notion that Pakistan’s future prosperity is directly

linked to its standing in the international arena, to develop into a sovereign state free

from internal tussles and external wrangling to a state worthy of becoming South Asia’s

beacon of development.

Social Events

LUMUN XI will have 4 different social events this time and each is going to focus on a

different entertainment aspect for the delegates, meanwhile ensuring that delegates

receive a flavor of the hospitality of LUMUN. LUMUN this year intends to ensure that

delegates find the social events an avenue that is conducive to forging friends, and

networking with their peers as well as with the LUMUN team.

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Committees’ Bonfire

To kickstart the Conference, the first Social Event is the Committees’ Bonfire which

should be an informal introduction of the delegates to their Hosts and Chairs. It will act

as celebration of their journey to LUMUN, in a setting of a bonfire, with each committee

having its own set-up of an artificial fire and a cozy environment, with music and food,

and even fireworks.

Cabaret

The Cabaret at LUMUN intends to be a showcase of countless cultures that exist within

Pakistan. Apart from performances by the Core Team and the Executive Council,

different delegations are encouraged to perform at the social event and depict one or

more aspects of Pakistani culture. The best performing delegation(s) will be awarded

points that will be added to the overall delegation score.

Concert

The Concert, to be held on New Year’s Eve will celebrate the start of the new year with

the a musical troupe that is both immensely popular amongst the youth and one of the

biggest stars of Pakistani music industry. Delegates will get to welcome a new year in

the open weather of LUUN with a surprise event to culminate in a countdown as well.

Formal Dinner

The theme of the immensely popular Formal Dinner, is the “Vegas Night”, providing a

chance for delegates to dress up in their best and interact with the Host Team and

amongst themselves in a night of frolic and fun. Delegates will be asked to dress up in

Red, Black and White as well to adhere to the theme of a casino.

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In Conference Events

Diplomatic Meet

As the tradition goes, LUMUN will invite actual ambassadors of Pakistan to come and

interact with the delegates on a personal level and share their experiences. Delegates

will get the chance to share Hi-Tea with personas who have varied expertise in

representing Pakistan in forums such as the UN as well as act our representatives in

foreign countries.

The Independence Paradigm

Pakistan, over the course of its tumultuous history has been faced with many critical

issues. But as one looks back, one debate rises above from all the rest; why did we fight

for a separate homeland? Was Independence the right solution for the Muslims of

India? This debate aims to create a proactive discussion on a usually overlooked

fundamental issue.

The Media Conclave

Media in Pakistan, has perhaps witnessed an outburst in growth in the 21st Century; with

a newfound independence, an increasingly aware population and global exposure. With

this growth, we have also seen a bleak side of this organ, its burgeoning relationship

with politics and how both have become dependent on each other’s status and

existence. This talk aims to uncover the reality behind this controversy, and to talk on

the ethics and responsibility of Media in this interconnected world.

SRP Action Boot Camp

The Boot Camp is an annual initiative by the Social Responsibility Program in

collaboration with the Care Foundation, to create awareness for current social issues

ranging from education, health and ethics. The Boot Camp is designed with an objective

to not only remind delegates of their responsibility to the country but also give them a

hands-on experience, through short activities, of the issues faced by the underprivileged

class of this country.

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Pre Conference

Research

Research is each delegate’s first step toward a successful and rewarding Model UN

experience. Research Binders are optional but highly recommended, especially since

many conferences do not allow the use of technology in committee. An organized

Research Binder will be your go-to resource during the conference as new terms and

acronyms, previous resolutions and treaties, and possible solutions are mentioned.

Detailed notes on how to research are included in the Research section, and I hope you

find them useful. Remember, if you ever get stuck, your chairs are more than willing to

help you out with any substantive issues you may be having. If you are not able to reach

your chair then contact the relevant USG and they will put you into direct contact with

your chair!

Also keep in mind that around late November, your committees will be posting the

updates to the topics you will be discussing. These memos are important, as they will

provide pointers to what your committee may want you to focus on and may assist you

in your research.

There are many resources at your disposal so use them appropriately for researching

your topics beforehand. The more you know coming in, the more you’ll learn coming

out!

Public Speaking

Public speaking is one of the most important skills you will use as a Model UN delegate.

You will need to convey your member state's positions, help build consensus and

formulate resolutions. Usually, the length of time a delegate is allowed to speak

depends on whether the committee is in formal debate or not.

You will have numerous opportunities to speak in your committee during LUMUN

depending on your committee’s size. The Committee Director will maintain a speakers

list of delegates who would like to make formal speeches. During caucusing you will

have an opportunity to speak informally to delegates in your committee, but it is still

important to keep the principles of effective public speaking in mind.

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Although speaking is an important part of any Model UN simulation, many delegates

fear speaking in front of a large group. The best way to cope with these fears is to be

well-prepared. You should research as much as possible about your country and the

issue the committee will be debating. You should be comfortable explaining your

country's position and have ideas on what you would like to include in the committee's

resolution. If you come to the conference prepared, you will be eager to speak in

committee and project confidence.

How to make an Opening Speech

The Opening Speech typically lasts about 1 minute or 1 minute and 30 seconds and is

the first speech you give to the committee. It is the best opportunity for you to explain

your country policy and the key sub-issues you would like the committee to focus on.

Opening Speeches is a main way for countries to determine who they want to work with,

so it’s important to prepare a speech that conveys this. There are many tips and

strategies on how to deliver an Opening Speech, but use your Position Paper as a guide

when you are starting out. First, you should thank the presiding official by saying "Thank

you Mr./ Madame/ Honorable Chair/ President..." Then move on to construct your

speech using the following headings:

Begin by providing a brief history on the issue as it relates to your country. Speak

about how the issue is currently affecting your country.

Provide your country's position on the issue. Include an explanation for your

country's stance, such as economic or security concerns or political or religious

ideology.

You may choose to give an explanation of how your country's position relates to

the positions of other member states such as the major powers or countries in

your regional bloc.

You should discuss some of the past actions taken by the UN, member states and

NGOs to address the issue.

Present ideas for a resolution, stressing your country's objectives for the

resolution.

Talk about the role that NGOs or regional organizations have to play in

addressing the issue.

Indicate to the committee members whether your country is willing to negotiate.

How to make a speech during informal debate

Construct your speech according to the following points to ensure that not only is it

easier for you to deliver you speech but to also ensure that your content is coherent for

other delegates too:

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Encourage collaboration among member states by proposing ways that your

country would be willing to work with other member states.

By referencing what other delegates have said, you can show support for your

allies or indicate which proposals your country does not favor.

Present ideas for draft resolutions.

Explain why your country does or does not support other draft resolutions.

Public Speaking Tips

Decide how you feel most comfortable delivering your speech. You may choose

to use your position paper text as your opening speech or you may write out

some key points. In time, you may feel comfortable speaking without any written

notes at all. If you plan to use a word or phrase that is unfamiliar to you, make

sure you learn its meaning and how to pronounce it properly.

Rehearsing your speech is the best way to perfect your public speaking skills. Try

practicing in front of a teacher, a parent, or fellow Model UNers from your class

or club. When you listen to a speech, provide constructive feedback rather than

criticism. When someone critiques your speech, accept the feedback graciously

and use it as a tool to strengthen your public speaking.

Make your speech appropriate to the age and experience-level of the other

delegates at the conference. Remember that the beginning of the speech should

captivate your audience and make them want to hear more.

Eliminate unnecessary "filler" words. Fillers are words and phrases such as "umm,"

"well," "sort of," and "like". These words take away from the message you are

trying to convey. Some additional fillers to avoid are "so," "you know," "I think,"

"just," and "uh."

Leaving a moment of silence between sentences can be a powerful public

speaking tool. Pausing after an important point or before answering a question

will help to hold the audience's attention. A pause can also give you time to

formulate your next statement.

Use rhetorical tools such as questions, quotes, analogies to better convey your

point to delegates while simultaneously making the content more relatable.

Rhetoric can also be used to punctuate large matters of content to help other

delegates digest your information better.

Pace yourself - don't talk too fast or too slow. Remember that most speakers

have a tendency to talk too quickly.

Be aware of your posture when you speak. Slouching, tilting your head and

crossing your arms or legs will take away from your message. Stand up straight,

relax your shoulders, plant your feet firmly and keep your knees unlocked to help

you communicate confidence.

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Speaking in a low to medium volume can help to project authority, but make sure

that you are speaking loud enough to be easily heard. Focus on speaking with

enthusiasm and energy.

It is worthwhile to use your face, hands, arms and body to help you communicate

as long as your motions do not distract the audience from your speech.

Glance at your notes rather than reading them so that you can make eye contact

with the other delegates. It is often helpful to speak directly to individual

members of the audience.

Speak concisely so that your audience does not lose your main arguments

among less-important details. Try not to speak in circles. Instead, go straight to

your most important point.

Rather than criticizing another point of view, critique it in a constructive way.

Always provide alternatives and be sure to back up your arguments.

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Regarding Researching

Operative Preparation

Operative preparation equips the delegates with basic tools, including an understanding

of the rules, necessary to perform in committee Operative preparation facilitates the

delegates in getting a better understanding of the basics of Model UN. These basics are

important to perform well in a committee. Delegates need to garner an understanding

of the Rules of Procedure and the fundamentals of Model UN i.e. Draft resolutions,

Working papers and knowledge of the running of the United Nations system. This guide

along with the Rules of Procedure and any supplementary material provided by the

Secretariat at LUMUN XI should be sufficient to train you in this regard.

Researching on the Topic Area

The Study Guides are a product of detailed study carried out by the Committee Staff

and they form the crux of the delegate preparation carried out for each committee. The

guides should be read in detail and discussed so that delegates can make an effective

contribution in the committee. Reading the guide will help you gain a better

understanding of the topic areas which, in turn, will aid you in coming up with ideas to

solve the problem at hand. As ambassadors and formulators of global policies, you need

to assess the information given to you in order to reach practical solutions.

The Update Papers will also complement the study guides and help you augment your

understanding of the topic. However the study guide and the update paper should be

used as a beginning point in research as independent study is vital for success at a

Model UN Conference.

Listed below are specific resources to investigate when researching your topic area:

Your Committee’s website (if applicable)

Links available in your study guide

United Nations Yearbooks

UN Document Index

UN Resolutions (General Assembly, Security Council)

Other UN Sources (UN Publications, UN Global Issues, UNBISNET, UN

Cyberschoolbus, UNAUSA)

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News media (China Daily, Council on Foreign Relations, The Economist, Times,

The Guardian, The New York Times, Al Jazeera, BBC, CNN) –Please be careful to

calibrate the biases of each news media before you use material from there

General Assembly

First Committee: Disarmenent and International Security

Second Committee: Economic and Financial

Third Committee: Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural

Fourth Committee: Special Political and Decolonization

Sixth Committee: Legal

Economic and Social Council

Security Council

Security Council Resolutions

International Court of Justice

UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

UN Development Programme (UNDP)

UN Environment Programme (UNEP)

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

UN Center for Regional Development

UN Commission on International Trade Law

UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

UN Commission for Social Development

UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ)

UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs

UN Commission on Sustainable Development

UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)

UN Commission on Population and Development

Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

International Criminal Court (ICC)

International Fund for Agricultural Development

International Labor Organization (ILO)

International Maritime Organization (IMO)

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

International Telecommunication Unit

UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women

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UN Center for Human Settlements

UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

UN Information Center

World Bank

World Health Organization (WHO)

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

World Meteorological Organization

World Trade Organization (WTO)

UN Statistics Division

Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS

Books you find in your school Library or in online archives such as Google

Scholar, etc.

World Factbook

Google

Over time you can also issue a Google Alert regarding your topic to your Gmail

addresses – click here to start

Stance Related Preparation

As you move to represent a country understanding that country’s stake in the matter is

of obvious importance. Spend time understanding your country’s foreign, economic and

humanitarian policies regarding the topic at hand. You can use the following links to

best carry out this research:

Countries’ foreign missions to the UN (click here to access the main repository)

Embassies and Consular Offices (China, France, Germany, India, Russian

Federation, United Kingdom, United States)

US State Department Background Notes

List of Governmental Websites

List of International Governmental Organizations

Foreign Governments Comprehensive Web Site Listings

Library of Congress Country Studies

The Lincoln Library

The Electronic Embassy

Country Watch

The Economist Country Briefings

Government and Legal Structure by Country

UN Maps

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Atlapedia

InfoNation

BBC Country Profiles

Group of 20

World Bank Data and Statistics

NGO Global Network

Some Useful Links

Below are some miscellaneous links to help you with you start your research. These will

come in handy in understanding the past actions of the UN with regard to the topic at

hand, as well as help you brainstorm pragmatic solutions with regards to the topic.

United Nations Main Page

UN Charter

UN Systems

UN Overview

UN Treaties

UN Library

UN Members

UN Journal

UN Wire

UN Research Guide

Permanent Missions to the UN

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Issues on the UN Agenda

WWW Virtual Library: the United Nations

Journals/Articles, (JSTOR, etc.)

Think tank websites (RAND, etc.)

Visit this link at UNAUSA that guides you on how to best track down UN Documents.

This link at the same website helps you understand how to navigate supplementary UN

resources. Best Delegate is also a great repository to navigating your way around many

UN and other organization websites.

Please also note that Wikipedia is not an adequate resource to base your research on.

Unless the content is cited to be obtained from a reputable resource take all information

that Wikipedia provides you with a pinch of salt.

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How to organize your research

For those who aim to perform well in Model UN simulations the ability to organize your

research is as important as is the ability to perform research in the first place. Below are

some guidelines on how to organize the different phases of your research:

General conference material

o Awards policy

o Rules of Procedure

o Guide to Model UN

Material for your committee

o Details regarding your committee’s actual performance in the UN

o UN Charter

o Members of your committee

o Any supplementary material provided by chairs regarding research, rules,

etc

Topic specific preparation

o Study Guide

o Update Papers

o News Articles

o Resolutions, Treaties, and Conventions

Country specific preparation

o Speeches and Press Releases

o Voting Record

Solutions

o Op-Ed and Blog Articles

o Think Tanks

o Academic Papers

o Your Ideas

Debate specific preparation

o Position Paper

o Opening Speech

o List of moderated caucuses that you would like to propose

o Plan for debate

o Question’s that could be posed to your stance

o Bloc positions

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During Committee

Debate Flow Overview

Session 1

Your committee staff will introduce itself and begin the first task of setting the Agenda

after having taken roll call. During this time only a Speakers’ List will be used, and only

points of personal privilege will be allowed. No caucuses will take place. Debate on

either topic will begin, pending the outcome of the vote on the topic. Given the time

limit and the number of delegates the Committee Director will allow delegates to use

the Speakers’ List to express their country’s stance.

Session 2 and 3

These will be your first committee sessions solely focused on a topic. All points and

caucuses will be in order now; points are generally raised for personal reasons and

questions concerning procedure. This committee session will typically go to building a

substantive basis for the committee’s stance on the topic.

Session 4 and 5

During this committee session, substantive debate will continue and more areas of the

topic will be addressed. In addition, working papers will begin to be formed, which are

extremely important as far as getting resolutions formed. They do not need signatories

to be introduced, nor do they need to have a proper format.

Session 6 and 7

Working papers will be discussed and revised during this session while ensuring to

incorporate new points. Coalitions may form and so will oppositions as delegates move

to critique an opposing bloc’s working paper, but remember that in the end,

collaboration and diplomacy are important to passing a resolution. On that note, this

committee session will also see the first draft resolutions being formed, which should

have signatories (a certain amount depending on your organ) and in proper formatting.

Session 8 and 9

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Draft resolutions will be critiqued, new points will be raised, and debate will continue to

include topics not yet explored. But remember that introducing too many resolutions

can stunt progress---hence, be careful to make sure that malleable resolutions are

formed (can be altered with amendments).

Session 10

This is the time to form amendments (requiring a certain number of signatories) to

those draft resolutions on the floor. Once Amendments have been made, the next step

will be voting procedure, during which resolutions will be voted on. Should all fail, no

resolution will be passed.

Committee Etiquette

Delegates often overlook the issue of committee etiquette. How should one behave

towards fellow delegates? How should one behave towards the Committee Director and

the rest of the dais staff? Etiquette means respecting your fellow delegates’ positions

and opinions even though you may not agree with them. Most importantly, excellent

etiquette can help you win Outstanding Diplomacy.

If you have a question about the committee or the topic matter, the initial

Information Session is an excellent time to ask, however be sure to be polite to

both the Committee Director and the rest of the Committee Staff. Being polite

does not guarantee a win, but it certainly grabs the chair’s attention. Impressed

chairs will look forward to hearing you speak.

This should be your attitude towards the Committee Staff throughout the

committee. You should not be afraid to approach him. The dais is always

knowledgeable on the subject and offer good advice when you are stuck in

committee.

A polite attitude also applies to interactions with your fellow delegates. You have

to present yourself as an easily approachable, easy-going person who is willing to

discuss other people’s ideas and compromise on them. In most cases, the

delegate who wins the committee is the one who leads it to a consensus. You

cannot be that person if you refuse to work with other delegates, especially the

delegates who have all the good ideas. Even if you do not like other delegates,

you need to overcome your personal likes and dislikes and be an effective

diplomat. Remember that Model UN is not a naturally competitive activity, but

one that demands negotiation and consensus.

The best way to present yourself to other delegates is in the first session. Get to

your committee room early, reserve yourself a good seat, then walk around the

room and introduce yourself to the other delegates. You can ask them what they

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think about the topics or a trivial piece of celebrity gossip. The point is to get out

there and get to know your fellow delegates.

Being polite and approachable is equally important during unmoderated and

moderated caucuses. Be respectful to others while they speak or hold the floor.

Simultaneously make sure that every delegate in your bloc gets a say during

unmoderated caucuses as well. Committee Directors look favorably upon those

who are able to keep a bloc united and not those who let their competitive

nature get the better of them. It is vital that delegates maintain decorum in an

unmoderated caucus specially and do not yell or boss others to get notice. Those

who listen to you due to such actions do not do so out of respect, and that

reflects in the eyes of the dais which watches the unmoderated caucuses as well.

This skill is not as obvious as research or public speaking, but it is crucial to your

success in committee. When you are in unmoderated caucus, meeting people

and finding others you can work with, you are essentially building a team. Your

team, also known as a caucus bloc or an alliance, needs to work together to write

resolutions and get them passed. Being a leader on your team also helps you

become a leader in committee and in the eyes of your chair.

The most important rule when preparing for committee is to dress well. This

pertains to all delegates regardless of gender and their choice of wardrobe.

Delegates at LUMUN can choose to attire themselves in Business, Eastern or the

official dress of the country they are representing. Regardless of the ensemble

you choose please maintain professionalism throughout the committee sessions.

Those who abandon this rule will be asked to leave the committee room by the

Committee Dais.

Setting the Agenda

At LUMUN Committee Directors will open debate with a temporary Speakers’ list. The

purpose of this list is so delegates get the opportunity to discuss and debate which

topic will be address first. During this discussion it is in order at any time to motion to

set the topics. Whether or not that motion will be entertained is based on the

Committee Director’s discretion.

When a motion is made to set the topic to either Topic A or Topic B, the Committee

Director will entertain two speakers in favor and two speakers against. After both sides

are given a chance to speak, the committee will vote. The motion of setting the agenda

requires a simple majority to pass. In that instance debate will open on the topic at hand

and a new Speakers’ List will be created. If the motion fails, the other topic will be

automatically be debated upon first. Please note that these rules do not apply in case

the committee has only a single topic area to focus on.

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Caucuses and Informal Debate

While debate runs on parliamentary procedure for most committees, there are certain

terms you may want to familiarize yourself with before committee begins. The majority

of what you need to know can be found in the Rules of Procedure document on our

website. Of course, the best way to learn is through practice, so do not fret if these

terms look confusing now. After your first session much of this will begin to make more

sense.

The Format of Debate

Below are some tools listed in roughly the order you will need them to help you better

understand the various aspects of debate. For detailed rules please refer to the Rules of

Procedure provided on our website.

Speaker’s List

Any facet of the topic at hand can be discussed in this list. The list will also be utilized

for agenda setting where it is in a ‘For’ and ‘Against’ layout. When there aren’t any

motions for caucuses, or all fail, the committee consequentially returns to the Speakers’

list as a means to form consensus.

Moderated Caucus

This form of debate is a little different from the Speakers’ list. This is because; the topic,

the individual speaker’s time, and the time for the caucus should be mentioned and

voted upon before the caucus begins. Moderated caucuses are used to discuss specific

issues surrounding the topic and are used to direct debate forward. Discussion in

moderated caucuses is interactive, as delegates are meant to listen to the suggestions of

others and critique and strengthen them to create a more comprehensive draft

resolution.

Un-Moderated Caucus

Only the time length of such a caucus must be specified. In this caucus, delegates are

free to move around the room, interact with fellow delegates and discuss issues

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informally. This time is also utilized to form working papers and resolutions. At times,

these caucuses prove to be the real test of diplomacy and negotiations skills.

Tips for Effective Caucusing

Formulate ideas on what your country would like to see included in a resolution.

Decide which clauses you are willing to negotiate on and which you are not.

This is the easiest way to seek out allies. However, if you find that the group you

are working with is not meeting your needs, do not be afraid to switch groups.

Tell others what your country is hoping to achieve. If you do not agree with an

idea, do not hesitate to say that it is against your country's policy.

While it is often necessary to give up something that you want, make sure that

you are not giving up anything too important.

By listening to what others are saying you will able to build on other people's

ideas and add more to the discussion. Listening also shows respect for each

delegate in your group.

Allow other delegates to finish their thoughts rather than interrupting others in

the middle of a sentence. It sometimes helps to write down your idea so that you

can bring it up when the delegate is finished speaking.

Start to formulate a resolution in writing. Rather than waiting until the last

minute, begin recording fellow delegates' ideas right away.

By providing fellow delegates with resolution text, maps or information as they

need it, you will show that you are valuable to the group.

Speaking with an individual or in a small group is the best way to find out a

delegate's position on an issue. Larger groups are better suited to brainstorming.

In caucuses, delegates can sometimes "lose their cool." Staying calm will not only

help your group be more effective, but will be noticed by the conference staff.

Always keep your voice at a normal level. If you see that you are becoming upset

or raising your voice, excuse yourself from the group for a few minutes

Make sure you have enough time to hear everyone's ideas so that you can

discuss them during formal debate. Try not to waste time arguing over small

details that do not seriously affect the draft resolution.

Never give orders or tell other delegates what they should or should not do. Be

polite and treat all your fellow delegates with respect.

Rather than negatively criticizing another delegate, focus on providing

constructive critique. If you dislike an idea, try to offer an alternative. Critique

ideas, not people.

Although it can be tempting to call a fellow delegate "Pakistan," "Brazil" or

"Sweden", you can form a better connection with a delegate by learning his or

her name and where he or she comes from. Ask the delegate about his or her

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ideas and impressions of the debate. Showing interest in your fellow delegates at

the beginning of the conference will help you gain more support later on and can

help you to form lasting friendships.

Yields

Yields only pertain to formal debate – Speakers’ List and help the delegate speaking

spend any remaining time in his speech fruitfully. Yields may be to questions, to the

Committee Director or to another delegate. Details are specified in the Rules of

Procedure.

Points

Points are used to ensure that the running of the committee is smooth and that the

delegates are able to perform well with no undue obstacles hindering their success.

Delegates who are new to the Model UN circuit can use points of parliamentary inquiry

to gain assistance with understanding Rules of Procedure. Whereas personal discomfort

can be corrected using points of personal privilege. Lastly, to make sure all events go

according to procedure use a point of order to correct any incorrect action on the Dais’

end.

Working Papers

Working papers act as a catalyst for discussion in a committee by helping delegates

congregate abstract notions ideas and solutions in a tangible written document. They

are usually short and help dissect the topic under discussion. The papers also help

delegates to know about the stances and interests of other delegates. More details are

given under the documentation section.

Draft Resolutions

Draft resolutions, are more formally-organized versions of the working papers. The

resolutions are the final documents that come about on any topic given all the debate

that has taken place on the ways of solving the issues at hand. Further information can

be found in the rule of procedure document on the website and under the

documentation section of this guide.

Amendments

Amendments help delegates to garner support by allowing delegates to alter sections of

the resolutions with which they disagree. An understanding of the rules of procedure is

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pertinent to the process of proposing, debating, and voting on an amendment, so

please be sure to the website to download the Rules of Procedures.

Voting

Substantive voting takes place for draft resolutions and amendments. A substantive vote

is a vote on a matter that is already on the floor. Only member states, not observers or

non-government organizations, are allowed to vote on substantive issues. During

substantive voting procedures the chambers are sealed and no interruptions are allowed

to take place.

Substantive voting beings when the committee moves to close debate on the general

Topic Area. After the chambers have been sealed the only points and motions in order

are: Division of the Question, Reordering Draft Resolutions, and motion to vote by

Acclamation, Motion to Roll Call Vote, Point of Personal Privilege, Point of Parliamentary

Inquiry, and Point of Order. For details regarding these tools please use the Rules of

Procedure available on the website. If there are no such motions, the Committee will

vote on the draft resolutions. During substantive voting, each committee member has

one vote that may be either yes, no, or an abstention as long as they are not an

observer nation or a member of Third Party Actors. In the Security Council, specifically, a

“No” vote by one of the five permanent members is considered a veto.

Abstaining members are not considered to be voting. All matter will be voted on by a

show of placards, unless a motion for a roll call vote is accepted. A simple majority

requires more countries voting in the affirmative than the negative. If a Resolution

passes, voting procedure is closed, as only one Resolution can be passed per Topic Area.

Awards

LUMUN wishes to downplay the importance of awards, and focus instead on the

educational value of the conference, we still recognize those delegates that work hard to

uphold the ideals of the UN and LUMUN. To this end, the following criteria are used to

determine award designations:

Knowledge and representation of the nation’s interests and policies, and of the

committee topics;

Timely submission of quality position papers;

Ability to work with other fellow delegates;

Ability to persuade other delegates about the feasibility of a certain solution;

Ability to develop creative and pragmatic solutions to the issues at hand

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Skill and effectiveness in caucusing, amendment and resolution writing, public

speaking, and debate

Documentation

Position Paper

Position Paper is policy document in which delegates get the opportunity to elucidate

the committee topics, affirm their country’s position, and put forward solutions that are

in tandem with the policies of their nation. Before LUMUN XI kick starts, each delegate is

required to write a position paper to present to the Dais at the first committee session.

A delay in turning over this document will only reflect poorly on the delegate and have

an adverse effect on the dais’ judgment regarding the delegate. Please also note that

these position papers will also be made available to your fellow delegates during the

conference to aid them in understanding your country’s policy better.

An ideal position paper can include:

A brief introduction to your country and its history concerning the topic and

committee;

How the issue affects your country;

Your country's policies with respect to the issue and your country's justification

for these policies;

Quotes from your country's leaders about the issue;

Statistics to back up your country's position on the issue;

Actions taken by your government with regard to the issue;

Conventions and resolutions that your country has signed or ratified;

UN actions that your country supported or opposed;

What your country believes should be done to address the issue;

What your country would like to accomplish in the committee's resolution; and

How the positions of other countries affect your country's position.

The common layout of position papers is one to two pages for each topic area, single

spaced, with size twelve, Times New Roman font. Position Papers always ideally start

with a header stating the country being represented, the committee, the delegates’

names and universities/schools, and the topic area being discussed in that segment. A

sample header is shown below.

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Country: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Committee: Special, Political and Decolonization Committee

Delegate’(s) Name: X Y Z

Institute: Lahore University of Management Sciences

Topic Area A: Exploitation of Migrant Workers

Body text

Topic Area B: Foreign Mining Interests

Body Text

Below are some tips to writing a good position paper:

To communicate strongly and effectively, avoid flowery wording and stick to

uncomplicated language and sentence structure.

Try to use the seal of your country or create an "official" letterhead for your

position paper. The more realistic it looks, the more others will want to read it.

Give each separate idea or proposal its own paragraph.

Use footnotes or endnotes to show where you found your facts and statistics.

Leave time to edit your position paper. Ask yourself if the organization of the

paper makes sense and double-check your spelling and grammar.

Do you plan to make an opening statement at your conference? A good position

paper makes a great introductory speech. During debate, a good position paper

will also help you to stick to your country's policies

Try not to let your proposals become lost in a sea of information. For

speechmaking, create a bulleted list of your proposals along with your most

important facts and statistics so that you will not lose time looking for them

during debate

Do not plagiarize content. Plagiarized position papers will be discarded and the

delegates will be penalized.

Please make sure to cite every source that you reference in your position paper by

adding footnotes in your document. For an example of a position paper refer to the

appendix. Please do note that guidelines vary from committee to committee so be sure

to read your committee’s specifications as noted in the study guide before you begin to

compile your Position Paper.

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Working Paper

Working papers act as a catalyst for discussion in a committee by helping delegates

congregate abstract notions ideas and solutions in a tangible written document. They

are usually shot and help dissect the topic under discussion.

A working paper serves multiple purposes:

Help summarize the information (problems and solutions) that have been

discussed in committee and hence act as a basis of creating draft resolutions in

the future.

Delegates can also choose to use working papers as a means of alerting other

delegates regarding what they hope to be discussed in future sessions.

The act of creating working papers leads to the formation of blocs amongst

delegates. A bloc is whereby countries with similar interests (geographical,

political, economical, etc) align together to support each other and pass a

resolution that bests represents and protects their interests.

A working paper also helps the best delegates stand apart from the rest as they

are those who manage to contribute the most actively to its creation while

simultaneously ensuring that they act diplomatically and maintain the support of

their bloc.

Do not plagiarize content. Plagiarized working papers will be discarded and the

signatories will be penalized.

As working papers are usually short, one page proposals on one or more aspects of the

problem under discussion, they are a way of breaking down an issue into manageable

units. With the approval of the Committee Director, working papers are copied so that

the committee’s delegates can learn about the positions and interests of other

delegates. As the committee’s work progresses, new points and ideas should be put into

new working papers. Subsequent working papers must contain ideas that do not appear

on any previous or concurrent working papers. Working papers should help advance the

committee’s work, not duplicate it. This means that once a variety of proposals and

viewpoints are introduced, the committee should begin to formulate the working papers

into one or two comprehensive resolutions. The purpose of the Working Paper is to

clearly communicate the interests of one or more countries. To facilitate the process,

working papers should include the following sample header:

Committee Name: Special Political and Decolonization Committee

Signatories: Australia, Colombia, Canada, Columbia, Cuba, Ethiopia, Germany, India,

Nepal, Norway, Pakistan, South Korea, Thailand

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It is important to note that the Committee Director must approve working papers before

they are distributed to the committee.

Draft Resolutions

The final results of discussion, writing and negotiation are resolutions—written

suggestions for addressing a specific problem or issue. Resolutions, which are drafted by

delegates and voted on by the committee, normally require a simple majority to pass

(except in the Security Council). Only Security Council resolutions can compel nations to

take action. All other UN bodies and specialized agencies use resolutions to make

recommendations or suggestions for future action.

Draft resolutions are all resolutions that have not yet been voted on. Delegates write

draft resolutions alone or with other countries. There are three main parts to a draft

resolution: the heading, the preamble and the operative section. The heading shows the

committee and topic along with the resolution number. It also lists the draft resolution's

signatories. A signatory is a country that wishes to see the draft resolution discussed in

the course of debate. The signatory has no further obligation to this draft. Each draft

resolution is one long sentence with sections separated by commas and semicolons. The

format of the draft resolution is discussed later in this document.

A draft resolution must always gain the support of a certain number of member states in

the committee before the sponsors (the delegates who created the resolution) may

submit it to the committee staff. Committees at LUMUN require signatures from 20

percent of the countries/ organizations/ personalities present in order to submit a draft

resolution. A staff member will read the draft resolution to ensure that it is relevant and

in proper format. Only when the Committee Director formally accepts the document

and assigns it a number can it be referred to in formal debate.

Once the draft resolution a delegate must make a motion to introduce the draft

resolution, while in other cases the sponsors are immediately called upon to read the

document. Because these procedures can vary given time constraints, it is essential to

find out about the resolution process for the committee you plan to attend.

Below are some tips on writing a comprehensive draft resolution:

Be sure to follow the format for resolutions provided by the Committee Director.

Each committee may have a slightly different format.

Create a detailed resolution, for example, if your resolution calls for a new

program, think about how it will be funded and what body will manage it.

Try to cite facts whenever possible. This will help you support your solutions and

observations when opposing blocs choose to criticize your work.

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Do not create objectives for your resolution that cannot be met. Make sure your

body can take the action suggested. For example, the General Assembly can't

sanction another country – only the Security Council can do so.

Try to find multiple sponsors. Your committee will be more likely to approve the

resolutions if many delegates contribute ideas.

Do not plagiarize content. Plagiarized draft resolutions will be discarded and the signatories will

be penalized.

Format of a draft resolution:

Heading

The title should be centered, in capital letters, above the main body of the draft

resolution. The title can be as simple as “DRAFT RESOLUTION.” On the left margin and

two lines below the title should be the committee and topic name. This should be

followed by the signatories of the draft resolution in alphabetic order. NOTE: There are

no sponsors of a draft resolution. The signatures are only there to show that the

Committee wants to discuss the draft resolution. The names of “authors” should not be

included.

Body

The draft resolution is written in the format of a long sentence, with the following rules:

The draft resolution begins with The General Assembly for all GA Committees and

with The Economic and Social Council for all ECOSOC Committees. The

Specialized Agencies use their own names as the introductory line. The rest of the

draft resolution consists of clauses with the first word of each clause underlined.

The next section, consisting of Preambulatory Clauses, describes the problem

being addressed, recalls past actions taken, explains the purpose of the draft

resolution, and offers support for the operative clauses that follow. Each clause in

the preamble begins with an underlined word/phrase 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. Each clause in

the preamble begins with an italicized word/phrase. If an operative clause

contains multiple clauses then separate the main body from the points using a

colon, each sub clause should be terminated with a semi-colon.

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Content

Of course, the most important characteristic of the final resolution is the content, which

will be carefully scrutinized by the Chair before approval. A well-written resolution

demonstrates:

Express familiarity with the problem. Relevant background information and

previous United Nations actions are included.

Recognition of the issues is of extremely important, as any solution you suggest

should address these issues. Arguments on the topic are specified early. At a

minimum, the resolution should address in some form the issues listed in the

Questions a Resolution must answer section of the Study Guide.

Every clause and phrase should have a purpose. There is limited time to debate

on draft resolution, redundancy is not going to contribute to a favorable opinion

regarding your draft in the eyes of both the Committee Staff and the delegates.

An otherwise sound resolution may suffer from clumsy grammar or sloppy

formatting. Not only does this hinder the reading and evaluating process but

serious digressions are grounds for the Committee Staff to discard your draft

resolution.

Sample Preamble Clauses

Affirming

Alarmed by

Approving

Aware of

Bearing in mind

Believing

Cognizant of

Convinced

Confident

Contemplating

Declaring

Deeply concerned

Deeply conscious

Deeply convinced

Deeply Disturbed

Deeply Regretting

Desiring

Emphasizing

Expecting

Expressing its appreciation

Expressing its satisfaction

Fulfilling

Further deploring

Further developing

Further recalling

Fully alarmed

Fully aware

Further recalling

Guided by

Having adopted

Having considered

Having examined

Having heard

Having studied

Having received

Keeping in mind

Noting further

Noting with deep concern

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Noting with regret

Nothing with satisfaction

Observing

Reaffirming

Realizing

Recalling

Recognizing

Referring

Seeking

Taking into account

Taking into consideration

Taking note

Viewing with appreciation

Welcoming

Sample Operative Clauses

Accepts

Affirms

Approves

Authorizes

Calls

Calls upon

Condemns

Confirms

Calls upon

Congratulates

Considers

Declares accordingly

Deplores

Designates

Draws attention

Emphasizes

Encourages

Endorses

Expresses its hope

Expresses its appreciation

Further invites

Further proclaims

Further recommends

Further reminds

Further requests

Further resolves

Notes

Proclaims

Reaffirms

Recommends

Regrets

Reminds

Requests

Resolves

Solemnly affirms

Strongly condemns

Supports

Takes note of

Transmits

Trust

Amendments

Amendments are made to draft resolution so as to increase consensus and strengthen

the content of the document at hand. Amendments can be of the following three types:

Addition

Omission

Editing

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Regardless of the amendment you intend to propose, it should have 10% if the

committee as signatories.

Format of a draft resolution:

Heading

First mention the draft resolution that this amendment intends to amend. Next mention

the signatories of the draft resolution in alphabetic order. NOTE: There are no sponsors

of a draft resolution. The signatures are only there to show that the Committee wants to

discuss the draft resolution. The names of “authors” should not be included. Next

mention in which of the above three ways you intend to amend the given draft

resolution. The best way to hand in an amendment is in typed form however clearly

legible hand written amendments will also be accepted.

Body

In case you want to add a clause to the draft resolution do so by first stating between

which two clauses from the original text the new one will appear. Next clearly state the

new clause. Make sure the clause follows the format for all draft resolution clauses

stated in the above sub section.

In case you want to edit a clause to the draft resolution do so by first stating the clause

(and sub clause if need be) you choose to edit. Next clearly state what the new clause

will read as. Make sure the clause follows the format for all draft resolution clauses

stated in the above sub section.

Lastly if you choose to remove a clause from the draft you only need mention the clause

you intend to remove.

Final Resolutions

The final resolution is the end product of committee sessions in most GA, ECOSOC, and

some Specialized Agency committees. If a draft resolution is passed during voting, then

it effectively becomes a final resolution. This final resolution is, hopefully, a

comprehensive approach to solving the issues presented in the committee and a symbol

of the cumulative collaborative effort of many countries. The final resolution is then

added to the LUMUN archives and is then in possession of the Secretary General.

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Glossary

Abstain: During a vote on a substantive matter, delegates may abstain rather than vote

yes or no. This generally signals that a country does not support the resolution being

voted on, but does not oppose it enough to vote no.

Adjourn: All UN or Model UN sessions end with a vote to adjourn. This means that the

debate is suspended until the next conference.

Agenda: The order in which the issues before a committee will be discussed. The first

duty of a committee following the roll call is usually to set the agenda.

Amendment: A change to a draft resolution on the floor. Can be of two types: a

"friendly amendment" is supported by the original draft resolution's sponsors, and is

passed automatically, while an "unfriendly amendment" is not supported by the original

sponsors and must be voted on by the committee as a whole.

Binding: Having legal force in UN member states. Security Council resolutions are

binding, as are decisions of the International Court of Justice; resolutions of the General

Assembly and Economic and Social Council are not.

Bloc: A group of countries in a similar geographical region or with a similar opinion on a

particular topic. Blocs typically vote together.

Caucus: A break in formal debate in which countries can more easily and informally

discuss a topic. There are two types: moderated caucus and unmoderated caucus.

Committee Director: A member of the dais that moderates debate, keeps time, rules

on points and motions, and enforces the rules of procedure. Also known as a

Moderator.

Dais: The group of people in charge of a Model UN committee. It generally consists of a

Committee Director and a few Assistant Committee Director.

Decorum: The order and respect for others that all delegates at a Model UN conference

must exhibit. The Chair will call for decorum when he or she feels that the committee is

not being respectful of a speaker, of the dais, or of their roles as ambassadors.

Delegate: A student acting as a representative of a member state or observer in a

Model UN committee.

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Delegation: The entire group of people representing a member state or observer in all

committees at a particular Model UN conference. They are usually all from the same

school.

Division of the Question: During voting, delegates may motion to vote on certain

clauses of a resolution separately, so that only the clauses that are passed become part

of the final resolution. This is known as division of the question.

Draft resolution: A document that seeks to fix the problems addressed by a Model UN

committee. If passed by the committee, the draft resolution will become into a

resolution.

Faculty Advisor: The faculty member in charge of a Model UN team, class or club.

Flow of debate: The order in which events proceed during a Model UN conference. This

usually indicates the movement between formal and informal debate and the process of

drafting, debating and voting on resolutions.

Formal debate: The "standard" type of debate at a Model UN conference, in which

delegates speak for a certain time in an order based on a speakers' list.

Head Delegate: The student leader of a Model UN club or team.

Member State: A country that has ratified the Charter of the United Nations and whose

application to join has been accepted by the General Assembly and Security Council.

Currently, there are 193 member states.

Moderated Caucus: A type of caucus in which delegates remain seated and the Chair

calls on them one at a time to speak for a short period of time, enabling a freer

exchange of opinions than would be possible in formal debate.

Motion: A request made by a delegate that the committee as a whole do something.

Some motions might be to go into a caucus, to adjourn, to introduce a draft resolution,

or to move into voting procedure.

Observer: A state, national organization, regional organization, or non-governmental

organization that is not a member of the UN but participates in its debates. Observers

can vote on procedural matters but not substantive matters. An example is the Holy See.

36

On the floor: At a Model UN conference, when a working paper or draft resolution is

first written, it may not be discussed in debate. After it is approved by the Director and

introduced by the committee, it is put "on the floor" and may be discussed.

Operative clause: The part of a resolution which describes how the UN will address a

problem.

Placard: A piece of card with a country's name on it that a delegate raises in the air to

signal to the Chair that he or she wishes to speak.

Point: A request raised by a delegate for information or for an action relating to that

delegate. Examples include a point of order, a point of inquiry, and a point of personal

privilege

Position paper: A summary of a country's position on a topic, written by a delegate

before a Model UN conference.

Preambulatory Clause: The part of a resolution that describes previous actions taken

on the topic and reasons why the resolution is necessary. It begins with a participle or

adjective (noting, concerned, regretting, aware of, recalling, etc.).

Procedural: Having to do with the way a committee is run, as opposed to the topic

being discussed. All delegates present must vote on procedural matters and may not

abstain.

Quorum: The minimum number of delegates needed to be present for a committee to

meet. In the General Assembly, a quorum consists of one third of the members to begin

debate, and a majority of members to pass a resolution. In the Security Council, no

quorum exists for the body to debate, but nine members must be present to pass a

resolution.

Resolution: A document that has been passed by an organ of the UN that aims to

address a particular problem or issue.

Right of Reply: A right to speak in reply to a previous speaker's comment, invoked

when a delegate feels personally insulted by another's speech. Generally requires a

written note to the Chair to be invoked.

Roll Call: The first order of business in a Model UN committee, during which the

Rapporteur reads aloud the names of each member state in the committee. When a

delegate's country's name is called, he or she may respond "present" or "present and

37

voting." A delegate responding "present and voting" may not abstain on a substantive

vote.

Rules of Procedure: The rules by which a Model UN committee is run.

Second: To agree with a motion being proposed. Many motions must be seconded

before they can be brought to a vote.

Secretariat: The staff of a Model UN conference.

Secretary-General: The leader of the committees in a Model UN conference.

Signatory: A country that wishes a draft resolution to be put on the floor and signs the

draft resolution to accomplish this. A signatory need not support a resolution; it only

wants it to be discussed.

Simple majority: 50% plus one vote of the number of delegates in a committee. The

amount needed to pass most votes.

Speakers' List: A list that determines the order in which delegates will speak. Whenever

a new topic is opened for discussion, the Chair will create a speakers' list by asking all

delegates wishing to speak to raise their placards and calling on them one at a time.

During debate, a delegate may indicate that he or she wishes to be added to the

speakers' list by sending a note to the dais.

Sponsor: One of the writers of a draft resolution. A friendly amendment can only be

created if all sponsors agree.

Study guide: A guide to a topic being discussed in a Model UN committee usually

written by conference organizers and distributed to delegates before the conference.

The starting point for any research before a Model UN conference.

Substantive: Having to do with the topic being discussed. A substantive vote is a vote

on a draft resolution or amendment already on the floor during voting bloc. Only

member states (not observer states or non-governmental organizations) may vote on

substantive issues.

Suspend: Each session ends with a vote to suspend the given session. This means that

the debate is suspended until the next session (later in the day or the next day).

38

Unmoderated Caucus: A type of caucus in which delegates leave their seats to mingle

and speak freely. Enables the free sharing of ideas to an extent not possible in formal

debate or even a moderated caucus. Frequently used to sort countries into blocs and to

write working papers and draft resolutions.

Working Paper: A document in which the ideas of some delegates on how to resolve

an issue are proposed. Frequently the precursor to a draft resolution.

Veto: The ability, held by China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom,

and the United States to prevent any draft resolution in the Security Council from

passing by voting no.

Vote: A time at which delegates indicate whether they do or do not support a proposed

action for the committee. There are two types: procedural and substantive.

Voting procedure: The period at the end of a committee session during which

delegates vote on proposed amendments and draft resolutions.

Yield: To give up time from your speech on the Speakers’ List, usually to the Committee

Director, to questions or another delegate

39

Appendix

Sample Position Paper

Country: Syrian Arab Republic

Committee: World Health Organization

Delegate’(s) Name: X Y Z

Institute: Lahore University of Management Sciences

Topic Area A: The Underlying Causes of Health Disparities

The government of Syria remains deeply concerned that over 1 billion people still live in

extreme poverty while public health challenges, including pandemics and epidemics,

remain omnipresent threats. [1] On that note, the Syrian Arab Republic recognizes the

contemporary health standards that presently exist and the varying spectrum of

disparities that exist along racial, ethnical or financial lines, rooted in stigmatization or

simply caused by the burden of national debt.

In light of the ongoing crisis in Syria, ensuring Health For All – for which Syria is a strong

proponent - is a challenge the Ministry of Health faces on a daily basis as health

conditions continue to deteriorate. However, even in this time of crisis the Government

of the Syrian Arab Republic strives to ensure health equity without prejudice through

active coordination with counterparts across the border. Currently, regional

development aid to the Syrian Arab Republic, though limited due to the ongoing

political instability, comes primarily from Arab multilateral agencies, and some directly

from Arab governments. The unstable political situation in the Region has made it

difficult for the Syrian Arab Republic to access developmental aid available to

other nations.[2] The Syrian Government actively coordinates its efforts with NGOs

based within its territory, including but not limited to Syrian Arab Red Crescent and Aga

Khan Development.

Syria understands that the contributing factors to the current despondent health

situation all over the world include the lack of a tailored, country category-specific

approach. The presence of a manual similar to the Diagnostic Statistical Manual for

Mental Disorders could effectively cater to the problems of the developing and least-

developed nation audience while keeping in mind the unique class of social norms and

health implementation issues that exist within these states. Hence, Syria will at this

conference be strong proponent of lending voice to the opinions of the victims instead

of the advice of the saviors. [3]

40

As a further consequence of its categorization as a developing nation, the Syrian agenda

for achieving global health equality and prosperity often fails to run parallel to those

proposed by nations that have already achieved a developed status. While the

disparities that occur and are highlighted in their own localities center around grounds

of race and ethnic origin, those in less sufficient countries have more deeply rooted

causes - such as the social perception of mental illnesses and the subconsciously stirred

dissimilarity of the treatment they provide based on the gender and financial

background to the individual(s).

The current structure of the World Health Organization insists upon small independent

programs to do their best to alleviate the harsh ground realities in each country.

However, this method -due to its lack of organization and its methods grounded in

Western ideologies- has failed to achieve appropriate results. Recently the WHO has

had to reduce its budget given the financial setbacks being suffered by donor countries.

Health experts state that funding for the organization was already inadequate given the

WHO's mandate and that donors target a significant portion of the budget toward

particular programs. Unfortunately, this means in essence, that the wealthy effectively

control the needy. [5] This current mechanism of donor and partner has in fact proven

to have failed over time, and Syria considers that a reformation in policy is long overdue.

As far as creating a more efficient method to attain health equity is concerned, Syria

believes that such can be achieved through either (or all) of the following ways. These

involve:

Extracting essential information from texts such as the Diagnostic Statistical

Manual for Mental Disorders and International Statistical Classification of

Diseases and Related Health Problems and funneling it through a panel of

regional experts, who would then also add/remove the relevant and irrelevant

data, in order to create further elaborated and more precise iterations of these

“global” texts.

The formation of a structured (but not permanent) body that would be called

upon in instances where the WHO decides to take on a

containment/confinement/quarantining initiative against a particular strain of

virus or illness. The purpose of this dedicated body would be to work on forming

(not necessarily, but preferably) varied plans of quarantine implementation in the

affected areas in order to maximize goal-efficiency.

To correct the gender imbalance there remains but one solution in the eyes of

the Syrian Arab Republic; promoting women's participation in society in order for

them to not only take the initiative, but to become an inspiration. This policy

holds especially in the health sector while simultaneously preserving the religious

and cultural beliefs of individual societies. [7]

41

Syria believes strongly in the importance of strengthening health systems and

promoting interventions focusing on policies and strategies that are pro-poor and cost-

effective. There is also simultaneously a dire need for countries to build effective

partnerships in order to make best use of scarce resources and minimize duplication in

efforts to improve maternal and newborn health. In the case of stigmatized diseases

there is a need for greater awareness and an increase in the availability of treatment. By

focusing on all these aspects simultaneously, the Syrian delegation believes that a lot of

ground can be covered in the upcoming WHO session and as dedicated advocates in

favor of the Health For All initiative, Syria considers it their responsibility to take up the

lead of delivering these.

[1] http://www.who.int/gho/countries/syr.pdf?ua=1

[2] http://www.who.int/countryfocus/cooperation_strategy/ccs_syr_en.pdf

[3] http://sevencounties.org/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=8212&cn=18

[4] http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/2843WESS2013.pdf

[5]http://www.cfr.org/public-health-threats-and-pandemics/world-health-organization-

/p20003#p5

[6] http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs211/en/

[7] http://www.who.int/topics/millennium_development_goals/en/

42

Sample Working Paper

WORKING PAPER 1._

Committee Name: Special Political and Decolonization Committee

Signatories: Australia, Colombia, Canada, Columbia, Cuba, Ethiopia, Germany, India,

Nepal, Norway, Pakistan, South Korea, Thailand

1. Understanding that sovereignty is an absolute granted right, it is a responsibility

that states owe towards the citizens residing within their geographically

demarcated territories, to protect their right to life. Affirming the following

principles with specific regards to sovereignty in context to the Responsibility to

protect doctrine,

a. The state carries the primary responsibility for protecting populations from

genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing , and

their incitement,

b. The international community has a responsibility to use appropriate

diplomatic, humanitarian and other non-military means to protect

populations from these crimes. If a state is manifestly failing to protect its

population, the international community must be prepared to take

collective action to protect population, in accordance with the Charter of

the United Nations;

2. Humanitarian Intervention is the one in which state(s) intervenes another state on

the grounds of protecting human rights and bringing a halt to the human rights

violations, mass genocides and mass atrocities by using arms and forces against

the oppressor. Military intervention is the one in which state(s) intervening

another state on the grounds of either self -defense or on the basis of a war

against that state by using arms and forces.

3. Can be justified when every non-military option for the prevention or peaceful

resolution of the crisis has been explored, with reasonable grounds for believing

lesser measures would not have succeeded;

4. Furthermore can also be justified if there is a reasonable chance of success in

halting or averting the suffering;

5. Moreover, can also be justified if the United Nations Security Council authorizes

the intervention;

43

Sample Draft Resolution

DRAFT RESOLUTION 1._

General Assembly Third Committee

Topic: "Strengthening UN coordination of humanitarian assistance in complex

emergencies"

Signatories: Austria, Canada, Gabon, Greece, Italy, Japan, Mali, Netherlands, Tajikistan,

United States

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;

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 and encourages that funds will be

collected from the following sectors:

a. Large multinationals, especially those based in the nations suffering from

said emergencies;

b. Countries that have positive relations with afflicted zones;

44

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; and

Requests the expansion of preventive actions and assurance of post-conflict assistance through

reconstruction and development. [end resolutions with a period]