School resources (for participants)

Introduction to Model UN events

Model UN events are simply a role-play of a UN meeting. Events can last from a few hours to a week and can involve people of all ages. The Security Council and the General Assembly are the most popular. However, the basic principles remain the same, regardless of the UN body being modelled:

1. Participants are assigned a UN Member State. They assume the role of that country’s diplomats and each delegation represents the views of ‘their’ country, reflecting that country’s national interests, rather than their own personal opinions on an issue.

2. The delegates research their country’s position on selected topics, paying particular attention to their country’s perspective on the topics to be discussed at the Model UN.

The most important thing to remember is that you are representing the values of your country. This means that when you are discussing a topic with the other delegations/countries, you have to remain in character and put forward the values of your assigned country. To do this, you will have to research your country – click here for some tips on how to do this. [How to research your country]Also, here are some questions that should start you thinking about your country. [Knowing your country]

Model UN is, in essence, a diplomatic role play. It will give you useful experience in how to present an idea and convince your fellow classmates of your point of view. Here are some suggestions of how to make a speech at a Model UN event. [Making a Model UN Speech]

If you would like to learn more about Model UN, here are some useful links:

• United Nations
• Model United Nations headquarters
• Introduction to the UN
• UN: a Virtual Tour