Žilina Model United Nations - preparation guide

Follow these 5 basic steps to become a well prepared active delegate, who will enjoy MUN and use the educational activity as much as possible :)

You will need time (about a week), the will and motivation (to be a good delegate and learn a lot) and a positive attitude (basic condition to anything we do).

by Mgr. Imrich Milo

Step I - Understand United Nations

You are going to simulate the real United Nations session. The most important basic knowledge is to know, what are the basic GOALS of this international organization (defined in the UN CHARTER).

Read the Preamble and I. Chapter

The Purposes of the United Nations are:

  1. To maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace;
  2. To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace;
  3. To achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion; and
  4. To be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these common ends.
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PreamblePreamble

WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED

– to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and
– to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and
– to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and
– to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

AND FOR THESE ENDS
– to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours, and
– to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and
– to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and
– to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples,

Chapter IChapter I

CHAPTER I: PURPOSES AND PRINCIPLES

Article 1
The Purposes of the United Nations are:

To maintain international peace and security, and to that end: to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace;

To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace;

To achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion; and

To be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of these common ends.

Article 2
The Organization and its Members, in pursuit of the Purposes stated in Article 1, shall act in accordance with the following Principles.

The Organization is based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all its Members.

All Members, in order to ensure to all of them the rights and benefits resulting from membership, shall fulfill in good faith the obligations assumed by them in accordance with the present Charter.

All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered.

All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.

All Members shall give the United Nations every assistance in any action it takes in accordance with the present Charter, and shall refrain from giving assistance to any state against which the United Nations is taking preventive or enforcement action.

The Organization shall ensure that states which are not Members of the United Nations act in accordance with these Principles so far as may be necessary for the maintenance of international peace and security.

Nothing contained in the present Charter shall authorize the United Nations to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state or shall require the Members to submit such matters to settlement under the present Charter; but this principle shall not prejudice the application of enforcement measures under Chapter Vll.

Step II - Understand your topic

WHAT IS YOUR TASK:

Every MUN committee deals with an international issue. You have to understand the topic in order to be able to find relevant solutions. 

HOW TO DO IT:

  1. The president of your committee should write an official document (Study Guide) to give you the basic information about your topic and 
  2. Google the topic – use relevant, recent and serious websites. 
  3. Use United Nations Digital Library (click) – research recent resolutions related to your topic
  4. Watch videos/documentaries 

HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU ARE READY?

You can explain the issue of your committee, the reasons, consequences and possible solutions.

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Step III - Understand your country

WHAT IS YOUR TASK:

Now is the time to understand the country, you will represent in your committee. Focus on:

  • nations living in your country, their culture, religion
  • your political representation (who is the main representative, current political situation, more liberal or conservative)
  • how the topic relates to the economy of your country

HOW TO DO IT:

  1. You can use the CIA FACTBOOK, which provides the basic overview of your country
  2. There are many videos and channels about any country to watch, for example Geography Now
  3. Find media (youtube, google news, …) that relate your country to your topic
  4. Find speeches/videos/news of your representatives (presidents, prime ministers) related to your topic

HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU ARE READY?

You understand the nation you represent and know, what your political leaders say about the topic of your committee.

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