Harvard World Model United Nations
The Harvard World Model United Nations ( WorldMUN for short ) is the world's most important Model United Nations conference, which is organized annually at different locations by Harvard University ( Cambridge ) in cooperation with local partner universities. With a regular attendance of more than 2,000 students from over 120 nations, it is considered the largest and most prestigious international MUN conference in the world.
Since it was founded in 1991, WorldMUN has already visited 24 countries and has grown steadily since then. The current Secretary General is Joseph P. Hall.
Attendees
The WorldMUN is aimed at above-average students aged 18 and over who have been selected and nominated by their university to represent them there as delegates. Due to the high number of applicants, the selection process for the WorldMUN is particularly tough - applicants usually go through numerous tests and preparatory seminars at their university before they are allowed to go to the conference. In many cases, especially with countries such. For example, from Latin America, where Model United Nations is far better known than in German-speaking countries, the participants are accompanied by a Faculty Adviser who observes and evaluates them during the conference - these results often depend on important scholarships or grades for the course from.
Each delegation is assigned a state in advance of the conference, which it will represent at the MUN. As a rule, two delegates per committee represent the position of their country, whereby it is expected that the students inform themselves thoroughly beforehand about the corresponding national politics and submit a position paper on it. However, it is also possible to appear as an individual delegate in certain committees and to represent NGOs or the press.
procedure
Like every Model United Nations, the WorldMUN is based on the official and real processes of the United Nations . The only permitted language is English. The Rules of Procedure stipulate relatively clear and strict formal rules of procedure , which, among other things, regulate the course of the debate and voting on resolutions. The “WorldMUN spirit” also places great value on the lively exchange between the international participants, which is why numerous events are organized every evening and between the meetings.
Committee sessions
The “real” MUN work takes place in the meetings of the committees: A wide variety of global political issues are discussed and resolutions are worked out under real conditions. Like the UN, the committees are divided into the following categories:
- UN General Assembly : This includes in particular the numerous committees of the General Assembly, including the Committee on Disarmament and International Security ( DISEC ), the Committee on Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Issues ( SOCHUM ), the Committee on Special Political Issues and Decolonization ( SPECPOL ), and the Legal Committee ( LEGAL ). This also includes the International Monetary Fund ( IMF ), the World Health Organization ( WHO ) and special meetings such as the Summit on the Millennium Development Goals .
- UN Economic and Social Council ( ECOSOC ) and regional organs: At ECOSOC, this primarily includes the numerous sub-organs and specialized organizations, including the CSW, UNESCAP or CDP, as well as regional z. B. the European Union or African Union .
- Crisis & Historical Committees: Historical or fictional meetings of the UN Security Council or other organs (such as international conferences or national state organs) are simulated, with particular emphasis on current, sometimes unexpected developments that need to be resolved
Social events and in-conference trips
Every evening there are parties with different mottos and often in the famous trendy districts of the city. Traditionally, the evening before the conference begins with the Night Zero Party , and each time there is a Global Village where the participants present their countries of origin, the Cabaret , where delegates put on shows, and finally the Farewell Party . Furthermore, during the week trips to sights at the conference location are offered,
Social Venture Challenge
Every year on the fringes of the conference there is a competition that the WorldMUN launched together with the Resolution Project . There participants who are socially or humanitarian in a special way will be honored. the price is accompanied by financial support for the respective project.
places
The previous conferences have been:
