Aga Khan Model

United Nations
Handbook

8th annual conference:10th

November 2022
Compiled by Tanisha Savani and Christine Namuddu
 The United Nations
MUN simulates the activities of the real United Nations Organization and
aims to build up the confidence and enhance the debate skills of all the
participants. At the Annual Conference, delegates are divided into various
committees which each deal with specific issues that the real UN would
have to deal with:
1. The Human Rights Committee: This committee deals with
international human rights concerns.

2. The Political Committee: This committee deals with issues that

require political cooperation or seek to resolve political conflict.

3. The Ecology Committee: This deals with all issues concerning the
environment and ecosystems all over the world

4. The Economic Committee: This committee deals with global

financial issues as well as issues of development.

5. Peace Building Committee: This committee focuses on what can be

implemented to ensure global peace.

6. The Security Council: This deals with important matters and

concerns of international security.

7. The Health Committee : This deals with issues concerning well being
and health of people around the world.

8. The Technology Committee : This focuses on how to best utilise

technology to improve living standards.

Any country participating may write resolutions for any of these

committees. A resolution is a document that explains a problem of the
delegate’s choice e.g. child trafficking, and offers possible solutions to the
problem. Resolution writing techniques and a sample resolution are
explained later in the booklet.
The delegate will have to read out their resolution and defend it at the
meeting of the committees during the annual conference. Delegates will
then vote on the resolution and if it passes, it will be re-debated in the
General Assembly. The General Assembly, or GA, is a meeting of two or
more merged committees.
All delegates are required to behave in a diplomatic manner and to follow
parliamentary procedure that is explained later in this booklet. All terms
used during conference are also explained in this booklet.

The United Nations officially came into existence on October 24th, 1945,
when the UN Charter had been ratified by a majority of the original 51
member states. The day is now celebrated each year around the world as
United Nations Day.
The purpose of the United Nations is to bring all nations of the world
together to work for peace and development, based on the principles of
justice, human dignity and the well-being of all people. It affords the
opportunity for countries to balance global interdependence and national
interests when addressing international problems.
There are currently 193 Members of the United Nations. They meet in the
General Assembly, which is the closest thing to a world parliament. Each
country, large and small, rich or poor, has a single vote. The decisions
made by the Assembly are not binding, instead they become resolutions
that carry the weight of world governmental opinion.
The United Nations Headquarters is in New York City, but the land and
buildings are international territory. The United Nations has its own flag,
its own post office and its own postage stamps. Six official languages are
used at the United Nations – Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian
and Spanish. The UN European Headquarters is in the Palais des Nations,
Geneva, Switzerland. It has offices in Vienna, Austria and Economic
Commissions in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, Amman in Jordan, Bangkok in
Thailand and Santiago in Chile. The senior officer of the United Nations
Secretariat is the Secretary-General, currently it is Ban Ki Moon.

The Aims of the United Nations:

 • To keep peace throughout the world.
• To develop friendly relations between nations.
• To work together to help people live better lives, to eliminate
poverty, disease and illiteracy in the world, to stop
environmental destruction and to encourage respect for each
other’s’ rights and freedoms.
• To be a center for helping nations achieve these aims.

The Principles of the United Nations:

1. All Member States have sovereign equality.
2. All Member States must obey the Charter.
3. Countries must try to settle their difference by peaceful means.
4. Countries must avoid using force or threatening to use force.
5. The UN may not interfere in the domestic affairs of any country.
6. Countries should try to assist the United Nations.
 Model United Nations Basics
Research and Preparation
As a general rule, Representatives should become familiar with several
items in their preparations for the conference, from the UN system as a
whole, to the specifics of their country’s position on the topics of
discussion for their respective committees. Research and preparation can
be looked at in six areas:
1. The UN system as a whole: it is vitally important for each
Representative to understand the basics of the organization which
they are simulating, the United Nations. A well-prepared
Representative should not only know the basics of the UN’s
structure, but should have a good understanding of how the body
they will be working on fits into the organization.

2. Current statistical information and a general background of the

represented nation’s history and policies: This is the first key to
understanding what actions a nation may prefer on the specific
issues. Research should include, but not be limited to, areas such as
population, government type, natural resources and trade data for the
nation being represented. Traditional allies and adversaries should
also be noted. Additionally, a country’s history can be crucial to its
contemporary actions, including the question of whether that country
was previously colonized, or possibly a colonial power, when the
country gained statehood, and what means were used in gaining
independence (civil war, violent struggle, peaceful movement, etc.).

3. Specific background of the nation’s viewpoints on the issues to be

discussed at the conference: Focused research on the issues being
discussed in each committee and on your government’s position on
those issues. Research should include UN documents, articles,
periodical sources, books and internet resources beyond the UN web
site. UN resolutions and reports on the issues under discussion are
especially helpful because they provide a quick reference to what has
already been accomplished by the UN and to what still needs to be
done in the future. These documents also frequently provide voting
 information, which allows Representatives to quickly determine their
country’s past positions on issues. Representatives should strive in
their research to know as much as they can about the country and its
stance on each topic, and to educate themselves enough to make
reasonable policy assumptions on issues, which are not totally clear.

4. The current world situation as it applies to the nation: There is a

significant difference between the policies of the only remaining
superpower and a nation with very little military might. Even more
significant at the UN is the difference between the policies of the
relatively rich, industrialized nations and the relatively poor,
developing (and especially least developed) nations on many issues.
Additionally, a nation which is currently involved in a civil war, or a
nation which is under UN sanctions, may have contrary and unique
responses on some issues, which are very different than those of the
remainder of the international community. Knowing where the nation
you represent fits in the current world geo-political context, as a
complement to your country specific research, can answer many
questions, which will come up during the simulation.

5. A specific background of the perspectives of nations with differing

viewpoints on the issues: While it is reasonable to expect
Representatives to know who their general allies and adversaries on a
given issue should be (regional partners, long-standing allies, etc.) it
is very difficult to have detailed information on what the policies of
each country in the simulation will be on a given issue. This is an
area where complete knowledge will serve participants well, but it is
much more likely that each Representative will be learning the
formal policies of other countries in the committee when they give
speeches from the floor and confer behind the scenes in caucus
sessions.

6. The rules of procedure for MUN: While substantive discussions of

the issues form the basis of any good simulation of the UN, the rules
of procedure are what is used to facilitate the substantive debate
which occurs. In general, the rules are intended to provide an even
playing field, allowing each country to accomplish its individual
goals in speaking their policies, while also maximizing opportunities
 for the group to reach agreement, or even consensus, on the issues.

Rights of Reply
Following the delivery of a number of opening speeches, rights of reply
are entertained by the Chair. Again, the right to speak should be treated
seriously and should not be abused. A reply is s short statement pertaining
to an item or items presented in a previous opening speech, not a question
addressed to a speaker. Like an opening speech, it should be content-based
and may be dramatic in tone but should not be purely rhetorical.

Asking Points of Information

Although points of information must be phrased in the form of a question,
they are not always genuine questions used to elicit information from the
speaker. In many cases, they are used rhetorically in order to express an
opinion when one does not have the floor or to support [or annoy] the
speaker who does have the floor, e.g. “Does the speaker not agree with me
that the recent shooting of unarmed civilians by the British security forces
can only be regarded as murder?”

Answering Points of Information

The speaker who has the floor should not allow him/herself to be put off
by points of information, however. Since s/he has the floor, s/he can use
the opportunity to reply to the question in any ways/he chooses,
reemphasizing an argument s/he has already made in his/her speech or
using the question as a springboard from which s/he can launch into
further arguments. Points of information should never be answered with a
simple yes or no, which would be a wasted opportunity. Speakers in debate
should use politicians as their model when answering (or evading!)
questions. It is in the cut-and-thrust of answering points of information that
the debate becomes livelier, so students should be encouraged to answer
points which arise and not simply yield the floor after delivering their
prepared speech.
The Representative
Delegates are fundamental to any Model UN Conference. A delegate’s job
is to research the positions of a UN Member nation, both on specific topics
that will be discussed at the conference and as a general overview of that
nation’s policies. Delegates should then be able to prepare draft resolutions
to be submitted for debate at the conference.
Delegates attend the conference to represent their nation in discussing the
resolutions presented. Delegates should always be concerned with
accurately representing their assigned nation’s views and policies, rather
than any individual views. When delegates reach the floor of the MUN
conference, they assume the role of a Distinguished Representative from
their country, with all the rights and responsibilities, which that entails.
At the conference, Representatives, as their countries’ spokesperson, will
debate issues on the agenda for discussion. They will draft and discuss
resolutions, caucus with Representatives of other countries, and work to
solve the problems facing the world. In the [real] UN today, nations
usually debate issues in an attempt to reach a consensus that can be agreed
to by all, or at least most, nations. The resolutions under discussion at
MUN can be accepted by consensus, adopted, amended, combined or even
debated to the point that no final document can be produced on a given
issue.

Role Playing
MUN is a simulation of the UN. By its very nature, the quality and tone of
the debate will be dramatically different than in the “real” UN. In the UN,
Representatives and their consular staffs spend months in preparation,
“behind closed doors” caucusing and interacting with other nations before
an issue is brought to a vote. A UN Representative, Foreign Minister or
Head of State will almost always make a prepared speech that will not be
“news” to the other Representatives present.
At MUN, Representatives will have three days to assume the role of their
nation’s Representative and simulate the actions of the UN. This
consolidation of time leads to many different circumstances with which
each country will have to contend. Among the considerations is the fact
that Representatives will rarely have the opportunity to make a pre-written
speech on a topic. Instead, they will often be forced to verbally react to
circumstances as they arise, and they may be in a position where it is
reasonable to reinterpret their nation’s position in light of new facts.
Representatives should not simply read from their country’s established
record on the issues presented; they should be prepared to compromise
with the other nations represented and adapt their policies where needed to
meet the current circumstances of the world as simulated at the conference.
Note that this in no way gives delegations license to act “out of character.”
Representatives should research and generally follow the policies of their
country, modifying these as new circumstances dictate. Successful
roleplaying involves walking a careful line on policy; avoid the extremes
of either reading verbatim a country’s past statements, or creating ad hoc
policy with no previous basis.
 AKMUN 2022 COMMITTEES &
TOPICS
Security Council (SC)
• The Russian threat to Ukraine
• Managing Global Cybersecurity

Human Rights (HR)

• The imprisonment of minors
• The right for all to procreate and foster human life

Peace Building Commission (PBC)

• Addressing the Impact of Climate Change on Peace and Security
• Improving Transitional Justice in Post-Conflict Situations

Economic and Social Council Plenary (ECOSOC)

• Building Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure to Achieve Sustainable Development
Goal (SDG) 9
• Promoting Access to Af_f_ordable, Reliable, Sustainable, and Modern Energy for All

Political
• Addressing Gender-Based Discrimination in Criminal Justice Systems
• Decriminalization and International Drug Policy

Health
• Sustainable Aquaculture for Healthier Societies and Environments
• Transforming Food Systems for Sustainable Healthy Diets

Technology
• The Right to Privacy in a Digital Age
• Increasing Access to Technical and Vocational Education and Training

Commission on The Status of Women (CSW)

• Closing the Gender Gap in Social Protection
• Strengthening Institutions to Promote Gender Inclusive Access to Financial Services and
Resources

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

• Nuclear Waste Management
• Strengthening Safeguards for the World's Nuclear Facilities

United Nations High Commission for Refugees

(UNHCR)
• Protecting Refugees from Human Trafficking
• Preventing the Increase of Internally Displaced Persons
 AKMUN 2022 Executive List
Core Team
Senior Advisors Tanisha and Christine
President of General Aine
Vice President of General Chisom
Assembly
Secretary General Sarah
Deputy Secretary General Ivy
Under Secretary General Eric
Heads of Chairs Senior : Michelle and Yvette
Junior : Parthi and Riya
Head of Admins Kiah and Kimora
Chancellor Ann
Head of Media Sumerah

Chairs
Security Council (SC) Junior : Louise
Senior : Abigail
Human Rights (HR) Junior : Yasmin
Senior : Charlene
Peace Building Commission Junior : Simreteab
(PBC) Senior : Jessie
Economic and Social Council Junior : Matthew
Plenary (ECOSOC) Senior : Shreya
Political Junior : Karla
Senior : Asio
Health Junior : Eitan
Senior : Shaan
Technology Junior : Meghan
Senior : Keza
Commission on The Status of Junior : Qaiser
Women (CSW) Senior : Rachel

International Atomic Energy Junior : Amanda

Agency (IAEA) Senior : Shana

United Nations High Junior : Paul

Commission for Refugees Senior : Keith
(UNHCR)
 Researching a Country
It is important to find out the following information about your country in
order to gain a better understanding of the past and present situation which
is necessary for coming up with relevant solutions to the problems it may
be facing related to the committee that you are in. History: • General
• Last fifty Years
• Recent History

Defense:
• Military Structure
• Dependency on Other Nations
• Membership of Alliances

Cultural Factors:
• Ethnic Groups
• Religions
• Cultural History

Political Structure:
• Origin of political structure
• Constitution and Government
• Stability and Policy of Present Government

Natural Resources:
• Basic Commodities Produced
• Trade Agreements
• Degree of Self-Sufficiency
Economy:
• Monetary System
• Dependency and Debt
• Membership of Economic and Trade Organizations

Views on World Problems:

• Role and Influence in the World
• Memberships of blocs and geo-political groupings

Geography:
• Bordering Countries and topography
 Helpful Research Websites
CIA World Fact Book
https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.htm
l Africa Country Pages
http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Home_Page/Country.html
Yale University’s United Nations Collection
http://www.library.yale.edu/govdocs/un.html U.S. State
Department's Background Notes
http://www.state.govr/pa/ei/bgn/
UC Berkeley General Foreign Government Resources
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/doemoff/govinfo/foreign/gov_forgen.htm
l Stanford University Model UN Research Site
http://www.stanford.edu/group/Jonsson/mun.html BBC Country
Profiles http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/country_profiles/default.stm
Directory of Every Embassy Worldwide
http://www.embassyworld.com/ Nation master
http://www.nationmaster.com/index.php Library of Congress Country
Studies http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/cshome.html#toc
 United Nations Websites
United Nations Website on every UN Member State
http://www.un.org/en/members/ UN Documentation
Research Guide
http://www.un.org/Depts/dhl/resguide/ UN System
of Organizations http://www.unsystem.org/ General
Assembly Resolutions
http://www.un.org/documents/resga.htm Economic
and Social Council Resolutions
http://www.un.org/ecosoc/docs/resdec1946_2000.as
p Security Council Resolutions
http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/unsc_resolutions.html
 Writing a Resolution
There is a specific format that each resolution is required to have. The
entire resolution is one continuous sentence, separated by commas and
semi-colons. There are two parts to every resolution: the perambulatory
clauses and the operative clauses.
Perambulatory clauses contain background information, argumentation and
the arguments brought forth to support the operative clauses. Operative
clauses contain the policy statements of the body making the decision.
Each operative clause should contain only one clear, unambiguous
statement of the decision being taken by the body. Each operative clause
should be numbered separately, arranged in a logical or chronological
sequence and each must begin with a verb in the third person singular of
the present tense.
When writing a resolution, it is best to write the operative clauses first (so
you know what action you would like to see the United Nations take or
what attitude it ought to adopt) and then to write the perambulatory
clauses, which will provide background information to the problem and the
reasoning behind the calls for action contained in the operative clauses.

Perambulatory Phrases:
Acknowledging Deeply disturbed
Affirming Deeply regretting
Alarmed by Deploring
Approving Desiring
Aware of Emphasizing
Believing Expecting
Bearing in mind Expressing its appreciation
Confident Expressing its satisfaction
Congratulating Fulfilling
Contemplating Fully alarmed
Convinced Fully aware
Declaring Fully believing
Deeply concerned Further deploring
Deeply conscious Further recalling
Deeply convinced Guided by

Having adopted Realizing

Having considered Recalling
Having considered further Having Recognizing
devoted attention Having Referring
examined Having
Reminding
heard
Seeking
Having received
Taking into account
Having studied
Taking into consideration
Keeping in mind Taking note
Noting further Viewing with appreciation
Noting with appreciation Welcoming
Pointing out
Reaffirming

Operative Phrases:
Accepts Hopes
Affirms Invites
Approves Proclaims
Asks Proposes
Authorizes Recommends Regrets
Calls for Requests
Calls upon Resolves
Condemns
Seeks
Congratulates
Strongly affirms
Confirms
Strongly condemns
Declares accordingly Strongly urges
Deplores Suggests
Designates Supports
Encourages Trusts
Endorses Transmits
Expresses its appreciation Urges
Expresses its hope Noting with
Further invites Observing
Further proclaims
Further recommends
Further requests
Further resolves

Resolution Writing Review

Checklist
• Each resolution will have three headings at the start of the
first page: Committee:
Question of:
Co-Submitters:
• The introductory clause or phrase of each perambulatory
clause is underlined.
• The introductory clause or phrase of each operative clause
is in italics.
• There is a line space between each clause.
• There is an additional line space separating the
perambulatory clauses from the operative clauses.
• The lines of the text are numbered consecutively (if the
empty lines between the clauses are numbered, that’s OK,
too).
• Each operative clause is numbered successively.
• Sub-clauses are lettered a., b., c., etc.; sub-sub-clauses are
numbered i., ii., iii., etc.
• Acronyms and abbreviations are written out in full the first
time they are used in the resolution, e.g.
UN is written United Nations (UN) the first time it is used.
• School names do not appear anywhere in the resolution.
• Co-submitting countries’ names appear only on the first
page of the resolution.

Do’s and Don’ts for Writing

Resolutions
Preambulatory Clauses
DO:
• State strong and recent facts about the issue
• Use statistics where applicable
• Mention the past situation and current situation
• Recall any passed resolutions by the UN on the issue
• Relate any other organizations involved in the situation
• State relevant organizations’ efforts in the situation
• If applicable, use developing countries/LEDCs or developed
countries/ MEDCs

DON’T:
 • Be too one sided/bias
• Use “Third World countries”/ “poor countries” or “First World
countries”/ “rich countries”

Operative Clauses
DO:
• Aim to find solutions, which solve the smaller problems that
contribute to the issue
• Elaborate on the solutions in your operative clauses (sub
clauses and sub-sub clauses)
• Make use of any UN organizations or create ones to help the
issue
• Emphasize cooperation between governments and relevant UN
organizations
• Explain different methods of approaching the same problem
through clauses In the Operative Clauses

DON’T:
• Break the sovereignty a government has over its land
• Mention specific sources and specific (numbers) amount of
funding
• Be vague with your solutions, or simply state a way of solving
something without explaining how to
• Create unrealistic solutions to the issue, which are vague
solutions/ not possible to be put into force
Sample Resolution #1

Committee: Political Committee

Question of: International Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer
Space Submitter: People’s Republic of Japan

The General Assembly,

Referring its resolution 47/67 of 14 December 1992,

Calls Upon the Republic of the United States, the Republic of the
United Kingdom, the Republic of France, the Republic of Germany, the
Republic of Italy, the Republic of Russia and the Re- public of Canada to
help ensure the international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer
space,

Taking Note that the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
(COPUOS) was established in 1959 by the United Nations General
Assembly in order to review and foster international cooperation in the
peaceful uses of outer space and to consider legal issues arising from
the exploration of outer space,

Reaffirming the importance of international cooperation in developing

the rule of law, including the relevant norms of space law and their
important role in international cooperation for the exploration and use of
outer space for peaceful purpose,

Deeply concerned about the possibility of an arms race in outer space,

Pointing out that all countries, especially those with major space
capabilities, should contribute actively to the goal of preventing an arms
race in outer space as an essential condition for the promotion of peace
in space exploration internationally,

Noting with deep concern that space debris is a conflicting issue to all
nations,

1. Encourages all countries, organizations and bodies working for or

within the United Nations and other intergovernmental organizations
working in the field of outer space or space related matters to
cooperate in the promotion of peace in international space
exploration,

2. Proposes that the most important step is to define a set of sharply

focused objectives and protocols for such a conflicting issue
especially regarding the arms race in outer space,

3. Strongly condemns the need to increase the benefits and availability

of space technology to contribute to the growth of space activities
favorable for the socio-economic advancement of humanity
especially for that of the people in developing countries,
4. Recommends that developing countries are provided with the facility
to access outer space,

5. Further requests that strict action is taken against those that are in
violation of the peaceful uses of outer space internationally,

6. Welcomes any further suggestions to strengthen this resolution

 General Rules During Debate
• The decisions of the Chair are final.
• Only the Chair, a member of the house recognized by the
Chair for a point, or the speaker holding the floor has any
right to speak.
• All speakers, including those rising to points, must stand
when speaking and address the Chair first.
• The Chair may, if circumstances warrant it, extend or
reduce debate times or speaking times and limit the
number of points of information.
• Except by a decision of the Chair, there will be no
suspension of the rules or changes in the order of
debate.
 Definitions of Debating Terms
• The Chair (Chairman, Chairperson): The Chair’s role is very
important. It is his/her job to conduct the debate and to maintain
order while remaining totally impartial.
• The house: All the members of the class/conference, except the
Chair.
• The submitter: The person who is proposing the motion in the form
of a draft resolution for debate.
• The motion: The proposal for debate, which will eventually be voted
on.
• A point of information: A question directed either to the speaker
who has the floor or to the Chair by a
member of the house who has been recognized by the Chair.
• A point of order: A question directed to the Chair by a member of
the house who feels that a mistake
has been made in the order of the debate or who requires
clarification of the rules of procedure.
• A point of personal privilege: A question directed to the Chair by a
member of the house referring to the comfort or well-being of the
member. It may not refer to the content of any speech and may only

interrupt a speaker if the speech is inaudible.

• A point of parliamentary inquiry: A point of information directed to
the chair concerning rules of procedure.
• A call for the orders of the day: A call for the return to the main
agenda of the committee, council or
assembly. It may not interrupt a speech and must not refer to the
content of any speech.
• A move to the previous question: A call for the closure of debate
and for a vote to be taken for a motion pending.

Order of Debate
1. The Chair calls the house to order.
2. Opening Speeches: Each country is permitted to make a one
minute opening speech on a topic of
 their choice (usually relating to the issue about to be
discussed). Every speech should begin with, “Madam/Mr. Chair,
Honored Delegates...” and end with, “Thank you, Mr./ Madam
Chair!” After three opening speeches, the Chair will entertain
one Right of Reply to each speech lasting no longer than one
minute.
3. The Chair calls upon the submitter of the resolution to read the
resolution aloud to the house. The Chair then asks if anyone
seconds the motion. Any member of the house may simply call
out, “Second!”
4. The Chair sets the debate time, for instance 10 minutes for the
motion and 10 minutes against the motion (if in closed debate
format).
5. The Chair gives the floor to the submitter, who delivers a
speech in favor of the motion, after which s/he may yield to
points of information, i.e. answer questions from the members
of the house who have been recognized by the Chair. Points of
information must be in the form of a question. The time taken for
the question is not included in the debate time but the time
taken for answering it is included. The speaker may retain the
floor for the whole of the debate time, or s/he may yield the floor
during the debate time to another member of the house to
speak in favor of the motion, or s/he can simply yield the floor
back to the Chair when s/he has finished without nominating the
following speaker. Once a speaker has yielded the floor, no
more points of information may be addressed to him/her.
6. If a speaker yields the floor back to the Chair, the Chair will
recognize any member of the house who wishes to speak in
favor of the motion. This procedure is followed until debate time
for the motion has been exhausted.
7. When the debate time for the motion has been exhausted, the
Chair calls upon the speaker to yield the floor back to the
Chair. The Chair then declares the floor open to members of the
house who wish to speak against the motion.
8. The Chair recognizes a member of the house to speak against
the motion. The same procedure is followed for the opponents
as for the proponents.
9. When the debate time against the motion has been exhausted,
the Chair may, according to circumstances, propose an
extension of time or close the debate and put the motion to a
vote. Once the Chair has closed the debate, all points, except
points of order relating to the conduct of the voting, are out of
order. Voting is done by a show of hands or placards.
How to Make an Opening Speech
• First, you should thank the presiding official by saying "Thank you
Mr./ Madame/ Honorable Chair/ President..."
• Then begin by providing a brief history on the issue as it relates to
your country.
• Speak about how the issue is currently affecting your country.
• Provide your country's position on the issue. Include an explanation
for your country’s stance, such as
economic or security concerns or political or religious ideology.
• You may choose to give an explanation of how your country's
position relates to the positions of other
member states such as the major powers or countries in your
regional bloc.
• You should discuss some of the past actions taken by the UN,
member states and NGOs to address the issue.
• Present ideas for a resolution, stressing your country’s objectives for
the resolution.
• Talk about the role that NGOs or regional organizations have to play
in addressing the issue.
• Indicate to the committee members whether your country is willing
to negotiate.
How to Make a Speech During Debate
• A speech must have a clearly understandable structure. Speakers
should use simple rhetorical techniques to reinforce that structure,
such as numbering the points in their argument, having a key word
or phrase for each argument and repeating and reiterating the main
points before yielding the floor.
• Speakers should deliver their speeches in a clear, loud voice. Every
speech should have an obvious beginning, e.g. “Honorable chair,
ladies and gentlemen, the delegate of (COUNTRY) is in favor of this
resolution because...”, a clear development of argument, which has
been worked out as part of the preparation process, and an obvious
end, e.g. “Therefore, the delegate urges the House to vote in favor
of this resolution. The delegate will now yield to points of
information.”
• Again, you should thank the presiding official by saying "Thank you
Mr./ Madame/ Honorable Chair/ President..."
 • Encourage collaboration among member states by proposing ways
that your country would be willing to work with other member states.
• By referencing what other delegates have said, you can show
support for your allies or indicate which proposals your country does
not favor.
• Present ideas for draft resolutions.
• Explain why your country does or does not support other draft
resolutions.

Public Speaking Tips

Prepare: Decide how you feel most comfortable delivering your
speech. You may choose to use your position paper text as your
opening speech or you may write out some key points. In time, you
may feel comfortable speaking without any written notes at all. If
you plan to use a word or phrase that is unfamiliar to you, make
sure you learn its meaning and how to pronounce it properly.
Practice: Rehearsing your speech is the best way to perfect your
public speaking skills. Try practicing in front of a teacher, a parent,
or fellow MUNers from your class or club. When you listen to a
speech, provide constructive feedback rather than criticism. When
someone critiques your speech, accept the feedback graciously and
use it as a tool to strengthen your public speaking. Consider your
audience: Make your speech appropriate to the age and
experience-level of the other delegates at the conference.
Remember that the beginning of the speech should captivate your
audience and make them to want to hear more.
Eliminate unnecessary “filler” words: Fillers are words and
phrases such as "umm," "well," "sort of,” and “like". These words
take away from the message you are trying to convey. Some
additional fillers to avoid are “so,” "you know," "I think," "just," and
"uh."
Use meaningful pauses: Leaving a moment of silence between
sentences can be a powerful public speaking tool. Pausing after an
important point or before answering a question will help to hold the
audience’s attention. A pause can also give you time to formulate
your next statement.
Breathe: Try to breathe from your diaphragm – the organ below
your lungs that controls your respiration. You are breathing properly
if you can see your abdomen rising and falling with each breath. Try
to inhale and exhale completely.
Pace yourself: Don’t talk too fast or too slow. Remember that most
speakers have a tendency to talk too quickly.
Choose a powerful posture: Be aware of your posture when you
speak. Slouching, tilting your head and crossing your arms or legs
will take away from your message. Stand up straight, relax your
shoulders, plant your feet firmly and keep your knees unlocked to
help you communicate confidence.
Project your presence: Speaking in a low/medium volume can
help to project authority, but make sure that you are speaking loud
enough to be easily heard. Focus on speaking with enthusiasm and
energy.
Gesture: It is worthwhile to use your face, hands, arms and body to
help you communicate as long as your motions do not distract the
audience from your speech.
Connect with your audience: Glance at your notes rather than
reading them so that you can make eye contact with the other
delegates. It is often helpful to speak directly to individual members
of the audience.
Get to the point: Speak concisely so that your audience does not
lose your main arguments among less- important details. Try not to
speak in circles. Instead, go straight to your most important point.
Be positive: Rather than criticizing another point of view, critique it
in a constructive way. Always provide alternatives and be sure to
back up your arguments.
 Formal Expressions, Terms of
Address, & Phrases

General:
• All speeches should begin: “Mr. (or Madam) Chairs, ladies and
gentlemen of the house...”
• All references to other speakers should be in the third person,
for instance, points of information
should begin with a phrase such as: “Is the speaker aware
that...” and never: “Do you think...”.
• All references to yourself must be in the third person, for
instance, instead of saying “I believe that...” instead say “the
delegate of (COUNTRY NAME) believes that...”
• Within a speech, a speaker should not say: “Johnny, you said...”
but: “As my (dear, learned, honorable) friend, Johnny, has told
the house...”

Phrases to Be Used by Delegates:

• Mr./Madam Chair(man)...
• I request the floor/I wish to have the floor
• I rise to a point of information/point of order
• I wish to speak in favor of/against this motion/resolution/
amendment because...
• Is the Chair/the speaker (not) aware that...
• Does the speaker (not) agree with me that...
• The speaker stated in his speech...Does he (not) realize that...
• I yield the floor to points of information/to the delegate from
Vanuatu
• I move to amend the resolution by striking/inserting/adding the
words...
• I urge the house to give me its support by voting for/against this
motion/resolution/amendment
Phrases to Be Used by The Chair:
• The house will come to order/Will the house please come to
order?
• The Chair calls upon the delegate from Lesotho to read the
operative clauses of the resolution to the house
• The house has heard the resolution. Is there a second?
• The Chair sets a closed debate time of 10 minutes for and 10
minutes against the motion.
• The Chair sets an open debate time of 20 minutes.
• The delegate from Bolivia has the floor.
• All points are out of order until the speaker has concluded his/
her speech.
• The Chair recognises the delegate from Samoa. To what point
do you rise?
• Please rise and state your point of information/order.
• Has the point of information been well taken?
• The delegate’s point is (not) well taken.
• Will the delegate from Vanuatu please restate his/her point in
the form of a question?
• The speaker appears not to have heard/understood your
question.
• Will the speaker please repeat/rephrase his/her question?
• Are there any further points on the floor?
• Are there any further points of information to this speaker?
• Will the speaker please make his/her concluding remarks?
• Debate time for/against the resolution/amendment has expired.
• The Chair moves to extend debate time by 5 minutes for and 5
minutes against the motion.
• There has been a motion to move directly into voting
procedures. Are there any objections?
• There is an objection. Tunisia: please rise and state your
objection.
• Debating time on this resolution has elapsed. We will now move
straight into voting procedures. Admin staff: please take your
voting positions, secure the doors and suspend all notepassing.
All points are out of order. All those in favor...etc.
• The Chair would like to remind all delegates that abstentions on
amendments are not in order.
• Does the delegate’s point of order pertain to the conduct of the
voting? If so, please state your point. If not, the delegate’s point
is out of order.
• Will all those in favor/in support of/against/opposed to the
resolution/amendment, please raise their placards high?
• Are there any abstentions? Will all those abstaining please raise
their placards?
• The motion/resolution/amendment has failed/been defeated/
been passed/ by: x votes for, y votes against, with z
abstentions.
 General Terms and Phrases
Veto – the right of a single party to defeat a motion; in the UN
Security Council, this right is given to only the five permanent
members (USA, UK, France, China, Russia)
Quorum – the minimum number of delegates required to be
present for a vote to be considered valid; in MUN, this constitutes a
majority of all delegates
Opening Speech – a one-minute speech given by all present
delegations at the start of the conference, outlining some policy
goals or positions
Amendment – a change in the resolution intended to improve the
resolution with the object of achieving a higher consensus to
helping the resolution pass; can only be proposed by the speaker
who has the floor and after providing a copy of the amendment to
the Chair beforehand; in closed debate, this is done in time against
the resolution; if the amendment fails, the speaker who proposed it
retains the floor
Open debate – a debate format, where the Chair determines the
debate time, that will be shared (as equally as possible) by the
different parties
Closed debate – a debate format, where the Chair determines
equal debate times for and against a motion
Point of Order – when a delegate wishes to point out an infraction
of the rules and/or improper decorum in speaking; cannot interrupt
speech
Point of Information – when a delegate wishes to ask a single
question to the speaker; cannot interrupt speech; must be phrased
in the form of a question
Point of Parliamentary Inquiry – when a delegate seeks to clarify
a Chair’s ruling or point out an inconsistency in the Chair’s ruling on
an issue; cannot interrupt any speech; must be recognized by
Chair before starting Point
Point of Personal Privilege – pertains to noise, personal comfort,
etc.; may not refer to the content of any speech; can only interrupt
a speech when it pertains to the audibility of the speaker Orders
of the Day – when a delegate observes a deviation from the
stated agenda and wishes to
return to the issue originally scheduled for discussion; may not refer
to the content of any speech
Right of Reply – a response to an Opening Speech that may not
exceed one minute in length; each speech can only be replied to
once
Tabling a Resolution – to temporarily suspend further
consideration/debate of a resolution; can only be moved to when a
motion to close debate has been heard; requires a simple majority
Reconsidering a Resolution – a resolution, which has been tabled
can only be reconsidered once all other business on the agenda
has been complete; requires a 2/3 majority
Move to the Previous Question – closes debate on a resolution
and moves straight into voting procedures
Move to Extend Debate Time – when a delegate wishes to extend
debate time on a particular motion (does not require a second but
can be objected to by other delegates)
Move to Limit Debate Time – when a delegate wishes to limit
debate time on a particular motion (does not require a second but
can be objected to by other delegates)
Objection to the Motion – objecting to a motion raised by another
delegate; cannot be used in response to a motion raised by the
Chair
Yield the Floor – the floor may be yielded by one delegation to
another only once consecutively; delegates within one delegation
may not yield the floor to one another
Move to Divide the House – when a vote is particularly close, a
delegate may ask for a revote where there are no abstentions
allowed
Roll Call Vote – when a vote was particularly close, each
delegation is called on individually to say which way it voted; only
the Chair can decide to do this
Right to Explain Vote – after a vote, one speaker of each side (for,
against, abstain) will be allowed one minute to explain his/her vote;
only the Chair can decide to do this.
 Lobbying and Merging
The conference process begins in the lobby with informal dialogue
between delegates from different nations, with ad hoc committees and with
organizational meetings. This period, called lobbying and merging, is
when resolutions are merged with others, amended, or perhaps even
discarded, if the delegate has accepted another resolution that more
adequately represents his/her nation’s interests.
Not all of the resolutions will survive the lobbying process or be accepted
for debate. However, delegates should not be discouraged if their
resolution does not reach the committee floor. Their preparation has not
been wasted, for delegates can still attempt to add a few of their most
important clauses to a more popular resolution. All delegates should
remember that their main objective is to represent their country actively
and constructively in the debates and to participate fully in the discussions
on the agenda issues, whether or not their own particular resolution is
debated.
There are dangers, however, in the merging process. Delegates who seek to
create the largest lobby bloc of voting strength by merging as many
resolutions as possible sometimes end up with an illogical, unrealistic, or
inherently contradictory resolution. It is essential that delegates should be
aware of this risk and seek to create resolutions that are representative of
the policies of specific interest groups and that make realistic
recommendations for action to be taken in dealing with the issues.
 Merging
Resolutions/CoSubmitting
Resolutions
Merging Resolutions
1. Review your country’s general policy on the issue and consider
which country or group of countries might most likely support
your draft resolution.
2. Establish contact with the delegates from these countries.
3. Exchange resolutions and read carefully.
4. Take time to discuss your resolution with your fellow delegate.
Explain the meaning and purpose of certain clauses. Comment
on the clauses that you either like or dislike. How can the
resolution be strengthened and thereby improved? Make
constructive suggestions.
5. If you see that certain clauses are similar, think about how you
could merge (join into one) both resolutions. Always be open to
merging resolutions. Merging can strengthen the resolution and,
ultimately, the quality of debate.
6. If you decide to merge, start clarifying the vague clauses.
7. Always be careful that the resolution you and your fellow
delegate are writing is in line with the foreign policies of both
countries!
8. Remember: The contacts you make when lobbying are
especially useful during debate. Through these contacts, you
can yield the floor to those whom you know have a similar
position on the resolution.

Co-submitting Resolutions
1. Review your country’s general policy on the issue and consider
which country or group of countries might most likely support
your draft resolution.
2. Establish contact with the delegates from these countries.
3. Exchange resolutions and read them carefully.
4. Take time to discuss your resolution with your fellow
delegate(s). Explain the meaning and purpose of certain
clauses.
5. Try to convince the other delegate why he or she must be in
favor of your resolution. Ask the delegate to co-submit your
resolution.
6. If you want to co-submit another delegate’s resolution, be sure
that you agree with all the clauses and that it is entirely in line
with your country’s foreign policy.
7. If you discover that one or two points are unacceptable, make
suggestions. If the other delegate is uncompromising, do not
co-submit his or her resolution.
8. Remember: The contacts you make during lobbying are
especially useful during debate. Through these contacts, you
can yield the floor to those whom you know have a similar
position on the resolution.
Awards for AKMUN 2022
1. Best delegate from each committee gets a framed certificate.

2. Special mention of each committee.

3. Best resolution gets a framed certificate.

4. Outstanding delegate gets a trophy (best of best)

5. Present for best admin.

6. Framed certificate for best senior and junior chair.

Dress Code Guidelines

Dressing professionally and appropriately is an important aspect of
Model United Nations preparations. Just like being polite and
having proper manners, dressing appropriately is an important way
to show respect for the nation you are representing, for your fellow
delegates and for the United Nations. At some conferences,
delegates may wear their own national dress; however, most
conferences will require Western Business Attire.

What is Western Business Attire?

Western business attire, or international standard business attire,
serves as customary dress for workplaces. It entails wearing a suit,
which is made up of trousers, a matching jacket, a button-down
dress shirt, and a tie. Conservative dress shoes and socks are also
important. Skirts and dresses may also be worn as long as they fall
to a decent length. The main thing to remember is to always insure
that your appearance is tidy and put-together, and that you are well-
covered. Females
- A suit always looks professional. Be sure to keep your suits clean
and wrinkle-free.
- No t-shirts are allowed. A blouse, sweater, or button- down shirt
of any kind is appropriate. Dresses are also appropriate as long
as they are not revealing and adequate in length.
- No jeans or shorts. Slacks and suit-pants are acceptable. Skirts
must be worn with pantyhose/stockings and should not be more
than two inches above the knee. Bottoms should have a subtle
pattern; avoid loud designs.
- No sneakers or open-toe sandals. Remember: high- heeled
shoes may look pretty, but they can also be very uncomfortable,
so use your discretion.
- Keep hair clean and out of your face for a professional look.
Males
- A suit always looks professional. Be sure to keep suits clean and
wrinkle-free.
- No t-shirts. A collared/button- down shirt is appropriate and do
not forget a tie!
- No jeans or shorts. Slacks, preferable in dark colors, are
appropriate.
- No sneakers or open-toe sandals. Loafers or other types of dress
shoes are preferred.
- Keep hair clean and out of your face for a professional look.