My First MUN Experience

                                               My First MUN Experience

MUN or Model United Nations is a practice to know more about how the UN or United Nations works. It is a discussion between parties to find solutions on a common problem. 

For my first MUN, I took part in the Conference Of The Parties 29 or COP 29. It took place from 9th august 2024 to 11th august 2024. I was very excited but since this was my first time attending a MUN, I had no idea of how to start preparing. I participated in a few training sessions, and got the big idea behind it. Here are some points that can help you understand the MUN process better. 

There are three parts to a MUN, which are General Speakers List, Moderated Caucus and the Unmoderated caucus. The General Speakers List or the GSL is a list of delegates (students representing the parties) who wish to give their speech. The GSL is a non-exhaustive list and goes on until the MUN ends. This list is made by the chair (judges) during the meeting. You can add your name to the GSL anytime during the assembly. The chair will always ask the delegates if they wish to add their names to the GSL. In a MUN instead of raising hands we raise plaque cards, which are basically cards which have the party we are representing written on it. This could be a country, famous personality or more. The agenda is another important aspect of this assembly, an agenda is the topic we are discussing about. For my first MUN , I was representing Bosnia and Herzegovina on the agenda of "deliberation on reducing carbon emissions with special emphasis on sustainable energy sources." Next is the Moderated caucus. During the committee, a delegate can raise a motion to start a moderated caucus for a specific amount of  total time and a specific amount of time for each delegate. It is not necessary for everyone to speak in a moderated caucus, as many moderated caucuses keep happening throughout the committee session.

Now what is a Moderated Caucus? A Moderated caucus is a discussion about a specific aspect of the agenda. For example, if the agenda is food, a moderated caucus topic could be about organic ingredients. What is a motion? A motion is a plan of action ahead. When the chair asks "Are there any points or motions on the floor" a delegate can raise their plaque cards to raise a motion. They can raise a motion to start a moderated caucus or an unmoderated caucus. Since in some cases more than one delegate will raise a motion, there is a way of voting. First there are two options opposing the motion or seconding the motion. After a motion is raised the chair will ask if there is any delegate seconding the motion. which basically means if do want to move on and execute the motion. If you want to second the motion, you have to raise your plaque cards. The chair will then also ask if there is anyone opposing the motion, which basically means you don't agree and are against the motion. you again have to raise your plaque cards to indicate your opposition. if everyone in the party seconds the motion the motion passes and is executed. If everyone in the committee opposes the motion, the motion fails and is not executed. If there are both opposing and seconding delegates ,then we move on to a vote. The chair will ask "delegates for the motion", the people who agree with the motion will raise their plaque cards. Then the chair will ask "delegates against the motion" people who are against the motion will raise their plaque cards. In the end , the category with the maximum amount of plaque-card-raises wins. Meaning if there are more against the motion then the motion fails, and if there is more for the motion then the motion passes and is executed in the committee session. Now let's come to ‘Points’. There are three points a delegate can raise during any time of the committee session : point of inquiry, point of order and point of personal privilege. You can raise a point of inquiry when you have a question about anything happening in the session, this can be a delegate’s speech, or the instructions of the chair. You can raise a point of order when you think there is something wrong with the facts/instructions from the chair or another delegate. You can raise a point of personal privilege for things like wanting to go to the washroom or drinking water. During the meeting a delegate can send a chit  to the chair regarding any of the points if he/she is unable to ask the points. 

What is an unmoderated caucus? An unmoderated caucus is the time where you can talk with other delegates about the happenings of the committee session. It is the time to create alliances if needed or discuss about a particular motion. Basically, it is lobbying. What is lobbying? Lobbying is when you discuss with the other delegates. Lobbying can happen during the unmoderated caucus, after/before the committee session, and more.

These were a few important points about The Model united nations. I hope these points were helpful and interesting for you. I loved my first MUN. I hope these points help you if, you ever consider doing something related to the model united nations!