More than 130 Students from 30 Countries to Attend Three-Day Model United Nations Workshop at Headquarters
The Outreach Division of the Department of Public Information will host a three-day Model United Nations workshop on 6, 7 and 9 November 2015 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Students who have participated in a Model United Nations conference at the high school or university level, as well as students and advisers who have had a leadership role in organizing a conference, will take part. More than 130 students from 30 countries will attend.
The aim of the workshop is to provide a deeper understanding of how the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council make decisions so that Model United Nations simulations can more accurately capture the negotiation process followed by the United Nations. This intensive training will focus on the Rules of Procedure used by the General Assembly and Security Council; the decision‑making process; the drafting of United Nations resolutions; the duties and responsibilities of the United Nations Secretariat, General Assembly and Security Council officials; the negotiation process that takes place during informal meetings; achieving consensus; chairing meetings; and more.
Participants will also receive training on how to implement a new approach developed by the Department of Public Information called “UN4MUN”, which is more closely based on how diplomats make decisions in the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council.
Cristina Gallach, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information; Maher Nasser, Director, Outreach Division; Kimberly Mann, Chief of the Education Outreach Section; and William Yotive, Manager of the Global Teaching and Learning Project, will open the conference. Movses Abelian, Director, Security Council Affairs Division, will be a guest presenter.
In explaining the significance of the Model United Nations workshop, Under‑Secretary‑General Gallach says that “Model UN simulations have been going on since the United Nations was founded. This workshop will help raise awareness and understanding among the Model UN community about how they can ensure that their simulations accurately capture and reflect the collaborative spirit of the UN today.”
Participants in this workshop will also have the unique opportunity to observe the “UN4MUN” approach in action. Immediately following the workshop, the 2015 World Federation of United Nations Associations International Model United Nations will take place in New York from 10 to14 November 2015. The Federation procedure is based on the “UN4MUN” approach.
Model United Nations simulations provide an opportunity for students to step into the shoes of ambassadors of countries that are members of the United Nations, from Argentina to Zimbabwe. Through this forum, students, also known as “delegates”, debate current issues on the Organization’s vast agenda.
For more information, contact William Yotive at yotive@un.org or visit http://outreach.un.org/mun.