National Model United Nations

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The National Model United Nations (NMUN) is the world's largest university-level Model United Nations simulation^[1]. It takes place annually in New York in March or April. Over 3,400 students participated in the 2006 simulation, just over half of which were Americans. While most participants were from American universities, schools from 24 other nations sent delegations in 2006,^[2] some from as far away as Bahrain^[3]. During the conference, the students simulate the original UN-procedures in different committees like the Security Council, the General Assembly Plenary or the International Court of Justice. The students perform being delegates for one week.

Parts of the simulation, including the Opening and Closing Ceremony, take place in the United Nations Headquarters. The main part of the conference takes place in a hotel in New York where many of the students reside during the simulation. The conference has expanded to the point where two hotels are required to provide adequate meeting space to the simulation itself.

[edit] Procedure

The students simulate being delegates of a UN Member Country and should act like them. That means they try to discuss the given topics like the country they represent would discuss it. In the beginning of the conference, every committee sets the agenda. Afterwards, the discussions start and the students work on the topics. The goal is to draft a resolution similar to a real UN resolution. At the end the resolutions have to pass the voting procedure. This procedure is also similar to the real voting at the United Nations. The simulation is closed by the “closing ceremony” on the last day. This ceremony takes place at the “Great Hall” in the United Nations Building.