Preparing to be a Delegate
The key to being a successful MUN delegation is preparation. Following are six steps that can be taken to ensure that you are ready for the conference. We suggest following the order, as each area is progressively more in-depth than the one listed before:
1. Research the structure and history of the United Nations
Thorough preparation must begin with an understanding of the United Nations itself. The following sections provide basic information on the bodies that are simulated at the CLima2014 Conference. Numerous sources detail the events leading up to the creation of the UN. In addition, make sure to review:
· Once you have familiarized yourself with the structure, history, and functions of the UN system, the next step should be researching your assigned country. Begin doing this immediately after receiving your assignment. You may wish to begin by researching its political structure, economic condition, religion(s), history, and culture. Since all of these factors shape a State’s foreign policy, familiarity with these areas will assist you in forming a consistent foreign policy. Research the problems within your State regarding ethnic and religious minorities, suppression of dissent, division of wealth, freedom of the press, development, health care, education, poverty, the environment, human rights, etc. Also, do not overlook the more subtle aspects of your State’s domestic and foreign policies.
3. Research your committee
· Each delegate should have a thorough understanding of his or her committee. Although the committee background guide will provide a good introduction to your particular committee and its history, it represents only the basis for the rest of your research. Please also consult the Rules of Procedure in your background guide for a description of the working methods of your committee.
4. Research your role in the committee
· Be sure that you understand your committee thoroughly prior to arriving at CLima2014, including its history, mandate and purpose, jurisdiction, goals for the future, function within the UN system, and voting procedures. Most of the committees simulated at CLima2014 operate their own Web sites that are regularly updated. Depending on your committee, you may find books or scholarly articles that describe its history in considerable depth. Important past decisions or resolutions of your committee often shed important light on its powers, the types of actions it takes, and the methods by which it acts.
5. Research the agenda topics beyond what is written in the background guides
· The majority of your preparation time for the Conference will be spent researching your actual committee topics. Each delegate should understand the topics on his or her committee's agenda. The first resource to consult is the committee background guide; however, this guide should not be the sole source of research. Search for speeches made by your country on the topic and also important resolutions discussed and passed in your committee. Also, you may contact the headquarters of your committee and request information on your specific topics.
While reading the background guide, develop answers to the following basic questions:
1. When considering each topic, what essential questions are being raised?
2. In your opinion as a diplomat, why are these issues important?
3. Give specific reasons why you believe these issues remain unresolved.
4. What important documents are essential to your research?
5. What actions have various international bodies taken in the past regarding these 8 issues?
6. What actions are they currently taking, or what committees exist to address them?
7. What should be done from the perspective of your State to resolve the issues?
6. Prepare a position paper outlining your Member State’s policies towards the agenda topics
· Please pay careful attention to the following guidelines when drafting and submitting your position papers. Only those delegations that follow the outlined guidelines will be eligible for position paper awards. Please follow these guidelines carefully when submitting your work to the Secretariat. Each topic should be addressed briefly in a succinct policy statement representing the relevant views of your assigned country, NGO, or expert role. You should also include recommendations for action to be taken by your committee. All delegations meeting the following criteria will be judged by the same method and equally considered for position paper awards.
· All papers must be typed and formatted according to the specifications below will ensure this:
1. Length must not exceed one double-sided page. Margins on the sides, top and bottom are to be 1 inch.
2. The text of the body must be between 10 pt. and 12 pt. font, Times New Roman.
3. Country name, School name and committee name clearly labeled on the first page.
4. Agenda topics clearly labeled in separate sections.
5. National symbols (headers, flags, etc.) are deemed inappropriate for Clima2014.
Resources:
United Nations: www.un.org
The Web site of the United Nations, which will allow delegates to access individual committee sites, links to specific issues on the UN’s agenda and related information and data, links to missions of Member States to the UN, etc.
United Nations Bibliographic Information System: http://unbisnet.un.org
This source is one of the most basic and useful sources delegates should be using when preparing for the conference. It includes landmark UN documents, resolutions of UN bodies, meeting and voting records, and press releases. It provides a research guide to get acquainted with the UN documentation system; it allows delegates to research by organ or by main issues; in short, this is an excellent gateway to explore the work of the United Nations, the agenda items and individual Member States role in committee.
http://www.nmun.org/ny_archives/ny12_downloads/NMUN_Preparation_Guide2012.pdf
The key to being a successful MUN delegation is preparation. Following are six steps that can be taken to ensure that you are ready for the conference. We suggest following the order, as each area is progressively more in-depth than the one listed before:
1. Research the structure and history of the United Nations
Thorough preparation must begin with an understanding of the United Nations itself. The following sections provide basic information on the bodies that are simulated at the CLima2014 Conference. Numerous sources detail the events leading up to the creation of the UN. In addition, make sure to review:
- The Charter of the United Nations.
- United Nations Handbook
- The UN Structure: how the various organs of the United Nations System (the Security Council, the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, Specialized Agencies, and Secretariat) work together and the topic specialties of each.
- Past actions by the United Nations: the most significant resolutions and decisions by the UN and their impact. This list should include The Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
· Once you have familiarized yourself with the structure, history, and functions of the UN system, the next step should be researching your assigned country. Begin doing this immediately after receiving your assignment. You may wish to begin by researching its political structure, economic condition, religion(s), history, and culture. Since all of these factors shape a State’s foreign policy, familiarity with these areas will assist you in forming a consistent foreign policy. Research the problems within your State regarding ethnic and religious minorities, suppression of dissent, division of wealth, freedom of the press, development, health care, education, poverty, the environment, human rights, etc. Also, do not overlook the more subtle aspects of your State’s domestic and foreign policies.
3. Research your committee
· Each delegate should have a thorough understanding of his or her committee. Although the committee background guide will provide a good introduction to your particular committee and its history, it represents only the basis for the rest of your research. Please also consult the Rules of Procedure in your background guide for a description of the working methods of your committee.
4. Research your role in the committee
· Be sure that you understand your committee thoroughly prior to arriving at CLima2014, including its history, mandate and purpose, jurisdiction, goals for the future, function within the UN system, and voting procedures. Most of the committees simulated at CLima2014 operate their own Web sites that are regularly updated. Depending on your committee, you may find books or scholarly articles that describe its history in considerable depth. Important past decisions or resolutions of your committee often shed important light on its powers, the types of actions it takes, and the methods by which it acts.
5. Research the agenda topics beyond what is written in the background guides
· The majority of your preparation time for the Conference will be spent researching your actual committee topics. Each delegate should understand the topics on his or her committee's agenda. The first resource to consult is the committee background guide; however, this guide should not be the sole source of research. Search for speeches made by your country on the topic and also important resolutions discussed and passed in your committee. Also, you may contact the headquarters of your committee and request information on your specific topics.
While reading the background guide, develop answers to the following basic questions:
1. When considering each topic, what essential questions are being raised?
2. In your opinion as a diplomat, why are these issues important?
3. Give specific reasons why you believe these issues remain unresolved.
4. What important documents are essential to your research?
5. What actions have various international bodies taken in the past regarding these 8 issues?
6. What actions are they currently taking, or what committees exist to address them?
7. What should be done from the perspective of your State to resolve the issues?
6. Prepare a position paper outlining your Member State’s policies towards the agenda topics
· Please pay careful attention to the following guidelines when drafting and submitting your position papers. Only those delegations that follow the outlined guidelines will be eligible for position paper awards. Please follow these guidelines carefully when submitting your work to the Secretariat. Each topic should be addressed briefly in a succinct policy statement representing the relevant views of your assigned country, NGO, or expert role. You should also include recommendations for action to be taken by your committee. All delegations meeting the following criteria will be judged by the same method and equally considered for position paper awards.
· All papers must be typed and formatted according to the specifications below will ensure this:
1. Length must not exceed one double-sided page. Margins on the sides, top and bottom are to be 1 inch.
2. The text of the body must be between 10 pt. and 12 pt. font, Times New Roman.
3. Country name, School name and committee name clearly labeled on the first page.
4. Agenda topics clearly labeled in separate sections.
5. National symbols (headers, flags, etc.) are deemed inappropriate for Clima2014.
Resources:
United Nations: www.un.org
The Web site of the United Nations, which will allow delegates to access individual committee sites, links to specific issues on the UN’s agenda and related information and data, links to missions of Member States to the UN, etc.
United Nations Bibliographic Information System: http://unbisnet.un.org
This source is one of the most basic and useful sources delegates should be using when preparing for the conference. It includes landmark UN documents, resolutions of UN bodies, meeting and voting records, and press releases. It provides a research guide to get acquainted with the UN documentation system; it allows delegates to research by organ or by main issues; in short, this is an excellent gateway to explore the work of the United Nations, the agenda items and individual Member States role in committee.
http://www.nmun.org/ny_archives/ny12_downloads/NMUN_Preparation_Guide2012.pdf