A BEGINNER’S

GUIDE TO
MODEL UNITED
NATIONS

Learn the know-hows of MUN& become a leader

 BASICS OF MUN

What is Model United Nations?

Model United Nations is an educational simulation of the United

Nations in which students from around the globe gather to discuss
complex global issues such as human rights, international security and
sustainable development. This academic activity encourages the
students to transcend interpersonal barriers, partake in healthy
discussions and seek efficient solutions for tackling the world’s most
pressing issues. A MUN conference derives its humanitarian principles
from the United Nations and provides an exceptional platform for
students to hone their negotiation and diplomacy skills. The perceptive
atmosphere and the consistent exchange of bright ideas foster
invaluable skills such as critical thinking and teamwork among
students.
 STRUCTURE OF MUN

Essentials of MUN

In a MUN conference, students emulate the role of the UN

representatives and form a committee. The United Nations
committees that are recreated in MUN include General Assemblies,
crisis committees and specialised committees. Before the
conference, a country, and occasionally, a political figure, is assigned
to each student. Being a representative, they are allowed to
formulate opinions, take a political stance and propose necessary
policies. The council is formed by the following members:
BOARD OF SECRETARIAT EXECUTIVE BOARD DELEGATES

The Board of Secretariat includes The Executive Board guides the The most pivotal component of a
a Secretary-General and an discussions, directs the delegates MUN conference is the students
Under-Secretary-General who throughout the debate and holds who emulate the roles of the UN
supervise the MUN conference. the position of non-partisan representatives. They debate
From overseeing the smooth judges. The board comprises of critical topics, devise policies and
administration of the conference chairpersons, vice-chairpersons draft resolutions.
to communicating with delegates, and rapporteurs.
the Board of Secretariat holds
the most prestigious position in
the committee.
IMPORTANCE OF MUN Why You Need MUN?

MUN is a step outside of your usual

academic curriculum. It aims at developing
your intrapersonal as well as interpersonal
skills. MUN’s unique simulation assists the
participants in developing soft skills such
as researching, writing and debating.
Moreover, by emulating the role of the UN
representatives, students acquire better
insight into the workings of the UN
committees. 

Transcending the geographical barriers, a

MUN conference assembles students from
around the globe; thus, enlightening them
about different countries, their cultures
and customs. The receptive atmosphere
offers a healthy space for open dialogue
regarding international relations, security
and human rights.
What Do You Learn From MUN?

DEBATING SKILLS NEGOTIATION SKILLS LEADERSHIP QUALITIES

BUILDING INTERPERSONAL RESEARCHING WRITING

RELATIONSHIPS
 MUN DICTIONARY

1 General Speakers’ List: This list contains the order of the speakers who have been granted the permission to
express their views in a committee.

2 Motion: A delegate is free to direct the debate in a particular direction. This action is called motion.

3 Decorum: A MUN conference follows a certain set of guidelines to conduct the session. Every delegate is expected
to follow the stated rules and maintain discipline while indulging in a discussion or debate.

4 Yield: When a delegate decides to give up the remaining time offered to them for their speech.

Point of inquiry: This term is used by the delegate to clarify any doubts if they have failed to fully grasp something
5 in committee.

The Topic:  Each MUN conference has a topic on which the discussion unfolds. The topic for a MUN conference is
usually given to the students at the time of registration so that they can research and formulate points from the
6 perspective of the country that has been allotted to them. During the MUN conference, a more detailed explanation
is offered about the topic to help the delegates put their points across more clearly.

Resolution:  The main aim of the MUN committee is to pass a resolution formulated by the delegates after arduous
7 research and intense debates. Once the draft resolution is approved by the committee, it becomes a resolution.

8 Roll Call: It is a basic attendance that takes place before every MUN session to ascertain the number of delegates
present in the conference.
 9 Moderated Caucus: Besides the topic, a sub-issue is also discussed in the MUN conference. Moderated caucus is a
short discussion about the sub-issue.

Unmoderated Caucus: Delegates are allowed to leave their seats and converse with fellow delegates during
10 unmoderated caucus. During the session, delegates focus on finding allies, making negotiations and preparing draft
resolutions.

Working paper: A working paper is the first draft created by the delegate. It includes all the ideas and clauses that
11 will be structured into a draft resolution.

Draft resolution: After creating the working paper, a draft resolution is prepared in which all the ideas and clauses
12 from the working paper are transferred into a particular format. The draft resolution is then approved by the chair.
Post approval, the draft resolution is open for debate and vote.

13 Bloc: Bloc is the term used for the group of delegates forming an alliance and working together to prepare the draft
resolution.

14 Agenda setting: Each MUN conference has an agenda or topic decided by the delegates.
Operative clause: The operative clause includes a detailed explanation about the formulated policies, devised
15 solutions and the purpose behind the draft resolution.

16
Perambulatory clause: A perambulatory clause expands on the problems that the committee seeks to resolve. It also
highlights the steps taken in the past to tackle the stated issues.

17 Amendment: Any changes made to the operative clause or draft resolution is called amendment.
IMPORTANT
DOCUMENTS

Position Paper

Working Paper

Draft Resolution
 POSITION PAPER
A position paper is maintained by the delegate to expand on the topic of the conference,
describe the stance of the country assigned to them and seek effective solutions. Usually, a
position paper is up to 2 pages long and covers all the major subjects such as previous actions
and the policies of the assigned country.

Fundamentals of a Position Paper

FULLY COMPREHEND YOUR TOPIC THROUGH A DETAILED RESEARCH

Gather in-depth knowledge on the topic through white papers, scholarly papers, guides, reports and
news. Use key terms to find more details and sub-issues. 

ASCERTAIN THE TOPIC’S RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR COUNTRY

Find out your country’s stance in regards to the topic. If no direction connection could be established
between the topic and your country, you can look for other subjects that are close to the topic.

USE RELIABLE SOURCES

Make sure that all the information related to your topic is derived from credible sources. Use of
supporting materials adds more integrity to your position paper.
 WORKING PAPER
A working paper includes all your ideas and clauses that will later be restructured into a draft
resolution. It is a vital tool for the preparation of draft resolution, as it plays the role of a rough
draft sans formatting and structuring.

Fundamentals of a Working Paper

AVOID MAKING IT LENGTHY

Remember this mantra while preparing your working paper: quality over quantity. Flesh out your ideas,
pick the most relevant information and make sure that there are no typos so as to make it easy to read.

TIMING MATTERS

You have to submit your working paper in a limited time period. Albeit hectic, preparing an incredible
working paper in a short period of time is the most exciting part.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ITS FLEXIBILITY

Since a working paper is flexible, you can come up with multiple solutions, try out different formats and
use visual cues such as graphs and images. The working paper is open to modification.
 DRAFT RESOLUTION
A draft resolution is a critical written document crafted by the delegate to expand on the
deliberations and negotiations of their country. A fixed format is followed for the draft
resolution, and it includes perambulatory clauses and operative clauses. The ultimate objective
of a draft resolution is to explain your solution for resolving a specific issue that is being
discussed by the committee.

Fundamentals of a Draft Resolution

USE PROPER FORMATTING

What distinguishes a draft resolution from a working paper is its proper format and structure. Don’t
forget to mention a heading which highlights all the significant information such as the name of the
committee and the topic along with the sponsors and the signatories.

INCLUDE PRE-AMBULATORY AND OPERATIVE CLAUSES

Highlight the pre-ambulatory clauses and operative clauses in your draft resolution so that you can put
across the problems, past actions and solutions in a well-defined manner.

MAKE AMENDMENTS

You are allowed to make changes to the approved draft resolution by adding or removing an operative
clause. An operative clause is made in the draft resolution highlighting the operative clause that you
wish to alter.
Sample-Position-Paper

Committee: World Health Organisation

Agenda 1: Impact on health due to rapid urbanisation and its mitigating measures.
Name: BADULLA Mohammad Zoubeir 
Delegate of Italy

Agenda 1: Impact on health due to rapid urbanisation and its mitigating measures.

Rapid urbanisation is said to exist whenever a large number of people migrate to cities because they view
rural areas as places with hardship and a primordial lifestyle. Thus, cities have achieved better economic,
political, and social mileages. It leads to the creation of a refurbished society due to the development of
land for use in commercial properties, transportation, and improved health-care services. According to the
panel of the United Nations and civil society experts, how cities today are built and managed determines
the result of global efforts to attain a sustainable future. It is therefore essential to take decisive action to
confront rapid urbanisation as it can substantially hinder the chances of achieving sustainable
development goals. ("Causes, Effects And Solutions To Urbanization")

Italy boasts several world-famous cities. Rome is the capital and the largest city. Florence was home to
many artists of the Renaissance, and  Venice, with its intricate canal system, attracts tourists from all over
the world. Food insecurity constitutes a significant threat in modern societies with both short- and long-
term effects on human survival and well-being. Historical data shows evidence of a rapid increase in the 
population in Italy from 67.9% in 2007 to 70.1% in 2017. ("Italy - Urban Population (% Of Total)") Italy has
a low infant mortality rate due to increased access to better-quality health care and an improved standard
of living. Over the last 40 years, birth rates have decreased substantially compared with other European
countries, eliminating the existing gaps and reaching levels of excellence. Over the last decade, Italy has
accounted for over 30% of measles cases reported since 2017 by the European Union. As a result, the
establishment of the Lorenzin Law in 2013 made vaccinations compulsory for all children until the age of
sixteen. Italy remains steadfast in the pursuit to reduce the spreading of non-infectious diseases by the
implementation of fines if parents send their unvaccinated child to school. As a result, vaccination rates
have progressed since it was introduced. Indeed, there is a notion of truth claiming that for some years
now, Italy ranks among the World Health Organization’s top 10 countries for quality health services. It
acts as a bridge builder to bring about a united world by working hand in hand with the EU to help fund
programmes and projects-like improving its infrastructure, subsidising food prices to increase its supply
across the nation and protecting the environment. Hence, an estimate of €9.7 billion was spent by the EU
in Italy to achieve those initiatives.

The Italian government has invested $1 billion in its health-care system that has survived and prospered
through the establishment of targeted systems that identify who is needy and eligible for lower-cost
health care. ("Healthcare In Italy") Besides, hospitals have subsidised medical education resulting in a fall
in student expenses. On a broader scale, Italy is a member of the United Nations and is willing to achieve
the Sustainable Development Goal 11.
SOLUTIONS:

Addressing the root causes of vaccine scepticism by the establishment of strategies and tools to
maintain immunisation programmes globally and prevent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable illnesses;

Encourages organizations and local stakeholders to collaboratively work together in building effective
water systems by devoting their time in the planning process by learning from past sector failures and
accomplishments.

Appeals to member states to offer facilities for access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hand-
washing with soap in all health-care establishments, schools, and public buildings. 

Further recommends governments to adopt and strengthen sound policies per SDG 11, which calls for
sustainable cities and communities to help create urban patterns that reduce health risks from air
pollution, traffic congestion, and physical inactivity. 

Calls upon governments to assess the impacts on health due to population distribution, urbanisation,
and internal migration by formulating policies, making it mandatory for citizens to get regular medical-
check-ups at their local hospital.

Urges governments to increase the capacity and competence of municipal authorities to manage urban
development to safeguard the environment for better hygiene and eliminate health and social
problems resulting from overcrowding.
REFERENCES:

Causes, effects and solutions to urbanisation 

https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-effects-solutions-urbanization.php. 

How is the health care in Italy? 

https://www.allianzcare.com/en/support/health-and-wellness/national-healthcare-
systems/healthcare-in-italy.html. 

Urban population in Italy 

https://www.indexmundi.com/facts/italy/indicator/SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS]. 

Risks of rapid and unplanned urbanisation in developing countries 

http://reports.weforum.org/global-risks-2015/part-2-risks-in-focus/2-3-city-limits-the-risks-of-
rapid-and-unplanned-urbanization-in-developing-countries/. 

WHO | Urbanisation and health 

https://www.who.int/globalchange/ecosystems/urbanization/en/.
Sample-Working-Paper

Committee: General Assembly (Fourth Committee)

Subject: Ethiopian Border Dispute 
Submitted by: Ethiopia, Uzbekistan, and Ukraine 
 
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 
Recognising the right of every nation to defend its national sovereignty. 
Observing that a measure for resolving this conflict has been developed and
submitted by the African Union (AU). 
Noticing the tremendous tragedies caused by this conflict. 
Expressing Ethiopia’s leadership position as the head of the African Union
(AU) and efforts in peace keeping.  
1) Requesting Eritrea to comply with the proposal submitted by the African
Union. 
2)  Eritrea to respond to the Ethiopian gesture of good will by reciprocating
in a prisoner exchange. 
3) Recommends the UN to view any act of non-compliance as a non-
peaceful action. 
4) If no agreement is reached, both countries should appeal to the
International Court of Justice.
Sample- DRAFT RESOLUTION

Sponsors: United States, Austria and Italy 

Signatories: Greece, Tajikistan, Japan, Canada, Mali, the Netherlands and Gabon 
Committee: General Assembly (Third Committee) 
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
recognises the inherent dignity, equality and inalienable rights of all global citizens, 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 organisations, Stressing the fact that the United Nations faces significant financial obstacles and is in
need of reform, particularly in the humanitarian realm,  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;   Urges
member states to comply with the goals of the UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs to streamline efforts of
humanitarian aid;
Requests that all nations develop rapid deployment forces to better enhance the coordination of relief efforts of
humanitarian assistance in complex emergencies; 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; Stresses the continuing need for impartial and objective information on the political, economic and
social situations and events of all countries;  Calls upon states to respond quickly and generously to consolidated
appeals for humanitarian assistance; Requests the expansion of preventive actions and assurance of post-conflict
assistance through reconstruction and development.
 SPONSORS & PARTNERS

www.internationalmun.org

info@internationalmun.org

@international_mun

facebook.com/internationalmun2018