I will tell you guys my MUN experience. First of all, I will give you some questions about what exactly MUN is. Do you know MUN stands for? Do you curious what exactly MUN established for? What should you do in MUN? Should I join MUN? Is it okay joining MUN for the first-timer like me? Which skill I have to improve to join MUN? If you are wondering about those questions, please read my story carefully and fully.
So, everyone here is the story. MUN stands for Model United Nations. Have you ever heard about MUN? If no, MUN is the United Nations simulation. All we do in MUN is as same as the United Nations do. We talk about global issues. What happen in the whole world? What problem that country has been facing and how to solve it? If the country could not solve it, then the United Nations will help them to solve their problem(s). That is UN established for.
Basically in the real UN, we can speak with our own language because the UN provides the translator for each country into the official language in UN, English. So, in MUN, we must speak English, for this is only simulation and the organizer did not provide the translator.
What should we do in MUN? well, we debate each delegate to solve the problem. We discuss about global issues. We represent our country in the UN conference.
Rule and policy every MUN is different. well, mine, when I was joining IMUN, we used “harvard style” What is Harvard style? The rule of MUN, for example during MUN we cannot use our media electronic for sure. In other MUN, some of them allow their delegates to use their gadgets, but in Harvard style, we couldn’t use kind of them.
We entered MUN committee session.
Well, before starting the committee, the chair will ask for having a roll call. Roll call is similar to attendance delegate in the committee. From country A to Z, the chair will ask one by one. How to check their attendance? The chair will ask delegate to vote whether “present and voting” or just “voting”. Well, it really doesn’t matter if you choose just “voting” or “present and voting” you still have to speak during the committee. So what exactly function of roll call? In the end of the conference, you will vote for Draft Resolution. If you choose “voting” you can say favor, against or abstain. But, if you choose “present and voting” you must vote favor or against, you cannot choose abstain. The is the difference between those. So, What should I choose “present and voting” or just “voting”? Well, it depends on your country’s policy. How do I know if my country in favor or against? You have to do research more:)
Next, after rolling call, at first, if the council has more than 1 topic they will ask which topic should be discussed first by voting. For example: 1st topic is Ensuring Proper Waste Management in South Asia and 2nd topic is Attaining Equal Access to Education & Health Services in Rural Area. The chair: first topic that we should discuss is Ensuring Proper Waste Management in South Asia, for those in favor please raise your placards. If we want to discuss it first, we raise placard, then the chair will be count whoever wants to have 1st topic to be discussed first. But, if the total all of delegates are 30, who have voted only 27, automatically the chair will ask for those in against(which means other delegate did not want to discuss 1 topic). However, if in favor greater in number, still the first topic to be discussed first.
After choosing the topic, the chair will ask for the motion. For example, I am as delegate of Australia. The chair: now, we move to open the motion, is there any motion on the floor please raise your placard. me: *raise my placard* delegate of Australia wants to have motion (IMPORTANT: you cannot immediately speak about your motion until the chair recognize you). the chair: yes, delegate of Australia (it means you have been recognized by the chair). me: delegate of Australia wants to talk about “Does South Asia has sophisticated waste treatment tool?” the chair: agree. is there any motion on the floor? *if no one has motion, the the chair will vote my motion. If all delegates agree with my motion, then the chair will open the debate, and motion’s passed.
However, before going to debate session, the chair will open for General Speaking List(GSL). FYI, GSL is important for those who really want to talk about their country problem. GSL is limited. So my advice if we want to be a part of GSL, we have to immediately raise our placard. (IMPORTANT: if you already raise your placard, do not immediately turn it down until the chair recognize you). People might say GSL is precious chance, you won’t miss it for sure^-^
After GSL, we move to Moderated Caucus(MC)/formal debate. Again, the chair will vote to open the debate. Every delegate has to vote yes, if no, lol what are you doing in MUN?. Then the debate starts. In MC, we talk about the motion that I already given at first. How to debate? for example, me: Delegate of Australia wants to say that South Asia is developing country, so there is no sophisticated treatment for them, however, we want every develop country to give a sophisticated treatment for South Asia. so, United States of America(as develop country): USA believes that a sophisticated treatment is not enough for South Asia, for maybe in their environment did not support or suit with the treatment. And so on~
After having an MC, other delegate willing to raise motion to suspend the meeting. If all delegate agree, then we have break.
There are many motions in MUN. These three take place at the beginning only. 1. Motion to open the floor (roll call takes place)
2. Motion to set the agenda> To set which what topic should be discussed first. For example, delegate of Australia want to set the agenda in topic “Does South Asia has a sophisticated waste treatment”.
3. Motion to set the speaker’s time> We have to specifically give time should be given during the conference. For example, Delegate of Australia want to set the speaker in topic “Does South Asia has a sophisticated waste treatment” in 10/1 (which means 10 mins in total min and 1 min speak will be given by 10 delegates) . And many more.. Sorry I’m lazy to write the rest of them:((((((( please kindly check link below, I’ll share it.
Rules of Procedure
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