SEKMUN Handbook
Model United Nations
applied to teaching
SEKMUN Handbook
Model United Nations
applied to teaching
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SEKMUN
Model United Nations
applied to teaching
Table of Contents
I. Preface
7
II. What is SEKMUN?
8
III. Model United Nations
a. Brief history of the United Nations
b. United Nations organs represented at the SEKMUN model
1. General Assembly
2. Security Council
3. Economic and Social Council (Ecosoc)
4. Unicef Executive Board
5. Human Rights Council
6. Executive Board of UNESCO
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10
14
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15
16
17
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IV. Training for the Model
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V. SEKMUN rules of procedure
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a. General
b. General Assembly
c. Security Council
d. Economic and Social Council (Ecosoc)
e. Unicef Executive Board
f. Humans Rights Council
g. Rules of procedure of the Executive Board of UNESCO
VI. Resolutions
a. Guidelines to draft resolutions
b. Examples of UN resolutions
c. Examples of SEKMUN resolutions
VII. Bibliography
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31
42
47
48
50
51
52
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56
62
66
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I. Preface
In a globalised world as the one we have today, global tensions have an impact on all areas
and corners of the world, even if they take place in highly isolated regions. Educational
institutions are also affected by such tensions which, in general, human beings on this
planet must face. For this reason, we must spare no effort for schools, secondary schools
and universities to become places where conflicts and troubles affecting humanity are
dealt with.
The United Nations, founded more than 65 years ago, is the only global organisation in
charge of dealing with these problems internationally to ensure security in the world and
to safeguard the development and dignity of all human beings.
The Model United Nations applied to teaching is based on two concepts. Therefore, it is
essential that the representation of this educational activity is as close as possible to the
real structure of the UN and in the debate to address matters included in the current international agenda as the world delegates representing the 192 member states of the organisation would do.
The success of a model UN is based on sound preparation: knowing the regulations, being
an expert in the techniques of debate and negotiation, analysing in depth the position of
the country being represented and being familiar with the drafting of official documents.
This “SEKMUN Handbook” deals with the aforementioned points. It is a very useful tool
for students and teachers in charge of this activity to find the necessary tools for the elemental SEKMUN preparation. The content must be extensively consulted and useful tips
can be taken from it.
The first Model United Nations started at Harvard University more than 65 years ago.
Owing to the good academic results obtained, this activity was taken to other universities,
schools and educational institutions. Thousands of model UN are currently organised in
all regions of the world. In Spain, the educational institution SEK with the collaboration
of Unicef-Spanish Committee organised the first SEKMUN Meeting in April 2007.
If students from different backgrounds take part in the SEKMUN experience, they will
feel that they all belong to one family, humanity, that they have only one home, Planet
Earth, and that the differences, rather than being an inconvenience, are an enriching element for our society.
Ángel Escudero de Paz
SEKMUN Director
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II. What is
SEKMUN?
The conviction of the Educational Institution SEK in learning reference models is one of
the main reasons for which the SEKMUN project has been launched.
SEKMUN is the representation of the model United Nations in which participants can
understand that the best way to solve problems is dialogue and negotiation, rather than
violence. At a moment of full globalisation, the Educational Institution SEK commits itself
to this educational-cultural event in which the students can learn about current issues and
international policy and have a more globalised view of the world. Students represent a
role and act as “delegates” from a country, they participate in debates, negotiations, they
draft documents, speak in public, deliberate. Some of the main organs of the United
Nations are represented: the General Assembly, the Security Council, Human Rights
Council, Economic and Social Council (Ecosoc) and the Unicef Executive Board.
The success of the model lies in the preparation by participant students of techniques of
persuasion, public speech, debate, negotiation, drafting and research of the issues included in the programme. The students represent a country and during the meeting the
atmosphere is of tolerance and respect for diversity.
The first experience in implementing the model United Nations took place in 1940, with
the League of Nations, precursor to the United Nations, at the Faculty of Political Sciences
of the U.S. University of Harvard. In the United States of America, Canada and Latin
American countries is where the model has developed the most. There are several Models
I SEKMUN meeting. Opening session.
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VII SEKMUN meeting.
such as MINUBA, MEXMUN, in which schools from different countries participate. In
Spain a model United Nations has been organised at some universities. However, secondary schools, except for the Educational Institution SEK, have not implemented and certified the model United Nations, despite the fact that it is fully developed in the rest of the
world.
Why should this model be applied to teaching?
Firstly, because the United Nations and its organisational system is a model for building a
world in which all people, irrespective of their condition, may develop and contribute to
society.
Secondly, because the model entails a positive reinforcement of the values of our ideology:
respect, dignity, freedom, tolerance, solidarity.
Thirdly, because it entails the transversal introduction in our educational model of skills
and techniques essential for the future development of students, namely dialogue, negotiation, public speech, debate, research and drafting.
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Finally, because it means a pioneering initiative in our country. For this reason, we would
like the Educational Institution SEK to be an educational model for others and for the
model United Nations to be gradually implemented in many Educational Institutions of
our country.
The SEKMUN model held its first meeting in the 2006-07 academic year, with a meeting
of about 200 students from SEK International Schools, at the premises of the Madrid
Medical Association. Twenty delegations from countries represented the model at meetings of the General Assembly and of the Security Council of the UN. The second meeting
of the model included thirty delegations and, apart from the General Assembly and the
Security Council, the Unicef Executive Board was represented. SEKMUN IV included the
representatives of the Human Rights Council, apart from the three aforementioned committees, and English was the language chosen for communication. SEKMUN V has added
the Economic and Social Council (Ecosoc) and English will also be the language for communication.
III. Model
United Nations
SEKMUN is the first experience in Spain which applies
the Model United Nations to teaching
a. Brief history of the United Nations
The United Nations organisation (UN) was established on 24 October 1945 by 51 countries
committed to preserving peace through international cooperation and collective security.
Today, nearly all nations in the world are members of the UN: membership totals 192
countries.
When States become Members of the United Nations, they agree to accept the obligations
of the UN Charter, an international treaty that sets out basic principles of international
relations. According to the Charter, the UN has five purposes:
• to maintain international peace and security;
• to develop friendly relations among nations;
• to cooperate in solving international problems and in promoting respect for human
rights;
• and to be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.
• Promote economic and social development for all people.
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The United Nations organisation is not a world government, it does not collect taxes, it
does not have an army and it does not make laws. It does, however, provide the means to
help resolve international conflicts and formulate policies on matters affecting all of us.
Another big achievement of the UN has been the boost given to international law as it
developed rules and agreements from the legal framework for the protection of the environment, the use of outer space, regulation of migratory work, fight against drug trafficking, terrorism, Law of the Sea, Millennium development goals, etc. At the UN, all the
Member States, large and small, rich and poor, with differing political views and social
systems, have a voice and a vote in this process.
Most of us know of the work that the United Nations does to ensure peace, development,
human rights and provision of humanitarian aid. Nevertheless, the many other ways in
which the activities of the United Nations have an impact on our lives are not extensively
known.
This handbook offers a description of the United Nations, the composition of the
Organisation, what it does, in order for the participants at this SEKMUN Meeting to learn
and to know how the delegates from the member countries work for the world to be a
better place for everyone.
The United Nations Organisation is central to global efforts to solve problems that challenge humanity. Cooperating in this effort are more than 30 affiliated organisations, known
together as the UN system. Day in and day out, the UN and its family of organisations
work to promote respect for human rights, protect the environment, fight disease and illiteracy and reduce child mortality and poverty. UN agencies define the standards for safe
and efficient air travel and help improve telecommunications and enhance consumer protection. The United Nations leads the international campaigns against drug trafficking
and terrorism. Throughout the world, the UN and its agencies assist refugees, set up programmes to clear landmines, help expand food production and lead the fight against
AIDS.
In September 2005, the members of the UN met in New York both to celebrate the 60th
anniversary of the world Organisation, and to make decisions aimed at implementing the
collective vision expressed in the Millennium Declaration of September 2000. At that
time, Member States represented at the highest level, including 147 Heads of State and
Government, set out measurable goals in every area of UN endeavour. In September 2010,
world leaders met again at the UN headquarters and set out specific actions to meet the
Millennium development goals by 2015.
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II SEKMUN Meeting. Opening speech given by Mr. Federico Mayor Zaragoza.
The document called “In Larger Freedom” calls for specific action in the areas of development, security and human rights and in recreating international institutions, including
the UN, to more effectively pursue those priorities.
The eight UN Millennium Development Goals, which range from reducing by half extreme poverty to stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS and to achieve universal primary education by 2015, are a plan agreed by all nations of the world and all globally relevant development institutions. The goals have joint unprecedented efforts to help the poorest people in
the world.
Millennium Development Goals
Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
• Reduce by half the proportion of people living on less than a dollar a day
• Reduce by half the proportion of people who suffer from hunger
Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education
• Ensure that all boys and girls complete a full course of primary schooling
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Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women
• Eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education, preferably by 2005,
and at all levels by 2015
Goal 4: Reduce child mortality
• Reduce by two-thirds the mortality rate of children under five
Goal 5: Improve maternal health
• Reduce by three-quarters the maternal mortality ratio
Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases
• Halt and begin to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS
• Halt and begin to reverse the incidence of malaria and other major diseases
Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability
• Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programs; reverse loss of environmental resources
• Reduce by half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking
water
• Achieve significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers by
2020
Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for development
• Develop further an open trading and financial system that is rule-based, predictable
and non-discriminatory, includes a commitment to good governance, development and
poverty reduction, nationally and internationally
• Address the least developed countries' special needs. This includes tariff- and quotafree access for their exports; enhanced debt relief for heavily indebted poor countries
(HIPC), cancellation of official bilateral debt; and more generous official development
assistance (ODA) for countries committed to poverty reduction
• Address the special needs of landlocked and small island developing states
• Deal comprehensively with developing countries' debt problems through national and
international measures to make debt sustainable in the long term
• In cooperation with the developing countries, develop decent and productive work for
youth
• In cooperation with pharmaceutical companies, provide access to affordable essential
drugs in developing countries
• In cooperation with the private sector, make available the benefits of new technologies,
especially information and communications technologies.
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b. United Nations organs represented in the SEKMUN Model
The United Nations has six main organs. Five of them, the General Assembly, the Security
Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council and the Secretariat,
are based at UN Headquarters in New York. The sixth, the International Court of Justice,
is located at The Hague in the Netherlands.
At this SEKMUN Meeting the following organs (committees) are represented:
1. General Assembly
All UN Member States are represented in the General Assembly, a "parliament of nations"
which meets every year, regularly and in special sessions, to consider the world's most
pressing problems. Each Member State has one vote. Decisions on such key issues as
international peace and security, admitting new members and the UN budget are decided
by two-thirds majority. Other matters are decided by simple majority. In recent years, a
special effort has been made to reach decisions through consensus, rather than by taking
a formal vote. The Assembly cannot force action by any State, but its recommendations
are an important indication of world opinion and represent the moral authority of the
community of nations.
In 2005, the year in which the sixtieth anniversary of the establishment of the United
Nations was celebrated, world leaders analysed during five days in September the 2000
Millennium Declaration. This analysis included measures on an extensive group of
recommendations submitted by the Secretary General to reduce poverty, face up to security threats, put a stop to human rights violations, and approve important changes to reinforce the operation of the United Nations.
The Assembly holds its annual regular session from September to December. When
necessary, it may resume its session or hold a special or emergency session on subjects of
particular concern. Its work is also carried out by its six Main Committees, other subsidiary organs and the UN Secretariat.
During the main part of its 2010 session, the Assembly took up more than 150 different
topics, including United Nations reform, restoring respect for the rule of law, the needs of
small island developing States, climate change and related humanitarian dangers, and
participation by all States in the global trading system. It also addressed the situation of
existing tension in many different countries and regions, including Iraq, Afghanistan, the
Darfur region of the Sudan, etc.
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2. Security Council
The Security Council has primary responsibility, under the Charter, for the maintenance
of international peace and security. Under the Charter, all Members of the United Nations
agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council.
The Council is composed of 15 members. Five are permanent members: China, the United
States of America, the Russian Federation, France and the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland. The other ten members are elected by the General
Assembly for two-year terms. The Member States are still considering the introduction of
changes in the composition and work methods of the Council, to show the current political and economic reality.
When a threat to international peace is brought before the Council, it usually first asks the
parties to reach agreement by peaceful means. The Council may undertake mediation or
set forth advice and solutions for a settlement. If fighting breaks out, the Council tries to
secure a cease-fire. It may send peace-keeping missions, the so-called blue helmets, to
troubled areas, to reduce tension and keep opposing forces apart.
It has the power to enforce its decisions by imposing economic sanctions and by ordering
collective military action. On some occasions the Council has authorised the Member
States to use “all necessary means”, including collective military measures, to enforce
their decisions.
The Council also makes recommendations to the Assembly on a candidate for SecretaryGeneral and on the admission of new Members to the UN.
3. Economic and Social Council (Ecosoc)
The founders of the United Nations assured that, for peace to be attained in the world, economic and social development and international cooperation were essential. The Charter
of the United Nations grants the Economic and Social Council, also known as Ecosoc, the
responsibility of working in favour of the economic and social progress of humanity.
The Ecosoc is the main forum where economic problems, such as trade, transport, industrialisation, economic development, etc. and social issues, such as those related to population, children, housing, women’s rights, racial discrimination, drugs, crime, social welfare, young people, the environment, education, health, the promotion of human rights, etc.
are analysed and discussed.
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I SEKMUN Meeting. Opening speech given by Mr. Carlos Robles Piquer.
Functions of the Ecosoc
• It analyses and discusses international economic and social problems and it looks for
solutions.
• It promotes respect for human rights.
• It makes studies and reports with respect to related issues and it may make policy
recommendations to the Member States of the United Nations, and to the United
Nations system.
• It facilitates international cultural and educational cooperation and promotes solutions
to solve economic and social problems and matters related to health.
• It analyses progress made by the United Nations programmes in terms of development
with the inclusion of the Millennium development goals.
• It convenes emergency meetings if there is any humanitarian emergency.
Member countries and sessions
The Ecosoc is composed of 54 members equally representing various regions of the world.
They are elected by the General Assembly for a three-year term. The Ecosoc meets the
whole year round and holds a special session of four weeks in July each year. Each
member country has one vote. Decisions are passed by a simple majority.
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At the Ecosoc sessions the representatives of the member countries, the executive heads
of the UN system and international institutions and civil society representatives, may discuss fundamental matters in terms of economic, social, cultural and environmental development.
The NGO’s recognised by the Ecosoc may send observers to the meetings and they may
sometimes express their opinion on the items included in the agenda of the Council.
4. Unicef Executive Board
Unicef (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund) was established by the
United Nations in 1946, after the Second World War, to provide assistance to European
children who had suffered the consequences of the war.
In 1953 it was renamed as the United Nations Children’s Fund and it became a permanent
agency of the United Nations. Unicef’s mission is to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach
their full potential.
Unicef helps governments, communities and families make the world a better place for
children. It is the only UN organisation only devoted to children and their mothers.
Its activity is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, child being any person
under 18.
Unicef works in 158 developing countries according to agreements and projects made with
the governments. It provides nutrition, basic education (especially to girls), drinking
water and sanitation and primary health care services (supply of essential medicines and
vaccines). It also offers emergency assistance.
The headquarters of Unicef are in New York and it has a secondary office in Geneva
(Switzerland). Unicef is also represented in developing countries through national committees. The committees carry out awareness work, education, training and fund raising
for projects and activities. Its aim is to improve the lives of the boys and girls of the world,
mainly in the poorest countries.
The Spanish Committee of Unicef was created more than 50 years ago. Its headquarters
are in Madrid and from there all the activities are coordinated although, to cover the whole
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national territory, it has 17 autonomous committees which are, in turn, composed of provincial committees.
The Executive Board is the most important organ in Unicef. The Board is composed of
representatives from 36 member countries, it sets forth policies, it examines country programmes, it approves the budget and it monitors Unicef activities.
The work of the Board is coordinated by the President and the Vice-Presidents. To facilitate the debate at the Board the office of the Unicef drafts in each matter of the programme a report that is presented by the Executive Director of Unicef.
5. Human Rights Council
The Human Rights Council is the main forum of the United Nations to debate, discuss,
take decisions and co-operate in human rights matters. The Council has its seat in Geneva.
It holds three sessions each year and has powers to meet to discuss emergency situations
involving human rights at the request of a member of the Council.
The Council was created in 2006 thanks to a resolution of the General Assembly
(A/RES/60/251) to establish a Human Rights Council replacing the Commission on
Human Rights to be better organised and more efficient. The Council is composed of 47
member states elected by the General Assembly according to the country’s contribution to
defence and protection of human rights. The election of the members of the Council takes
place at the General Assembly by absolute majority voting and according to the following
geographical representation: 13 countries belonging to the African Group, 13 to the Asian
Group, 6 to the Eastern European Group, 7 to the Western European Group and other
States, and 8 to the Latin America and Caribbean Group.
The role of the Council is to help UN Member States to fulfil their commitments related to
human rights, through dialogue, development of skills and technical assistance. The
Council also makes recommendations to the General Assembly to boost development of
International law in human rights’ matters.
Every 4 years UN Member States must present to the Council a report which specifies the
initiatives and actions undertaken to improve the situation of human rights in their
country. The Council, in turn, gives advice and makes recommendations on the content of
the report. On certain occasions representatives from national human rights institutions
and NGO’s accredited by the UN can participate at the Council.
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Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) also works for human
rights. The OHCHR is a separate entity from the Human Rights Council and, within the
United Nations system; it coordinates and is in charge of UN activities in human rights’
matters. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights provides substantial
support to the meetings of the Council, it has renowned independent experts and it
follows up the decisions taken at the sessions of the council.
6. Executive Board of UNESCO
The UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) was established in 1946 to promote world peace based on education, natural, social and human
science, culture, communication and cooperation among nations. The Constitution of this
Organization declares: “That since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of
men that the defences of peace must be constructed”.
The UNESCO has its headquarters in Paris and it has liaison offices in New York,
Brussels and Geneva. It also has offices in almost all developing countries.
The main body of the UNESCO is the General Conference composed of the representatives of the 193 member countries. The General Conference holds a meeting every two years
to determine the policies, the work programme and the budget of the Organization.
The Executive Board is the administrative body of the UNESCO. It prepares the work of
the General Conference and it ensures that the decisions adopted are implemented. It
meets twice a year and is composed of the representatives of the 58 member countries elected by the General Conference.
The main objectives of the UNESCO are:
• Attaining quality education for all and promoting lifelong learning.
• Mobilising scientific knowledge and science to attain sustainable development.
• Fostering cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and a culture of peace.
• Addressing new ethical and moral problems.
• Building integrated knowledge societies using information and communication.
Fostering freedom of the press and independence of the media.
• Safeguarding and preserving cultural and architectural historical sites.
IV. Model
Training
Debate at the Educational Institution SEK
Protagoras from Abdera (480-410 A.C.), a philosopher and rhetoric teacher in Ancient
Greece, used a curious pedagogical method. He used to ask two students to defend opposing opinions on a controversial issue. When they had exhausted their thesis, he would
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I SEKMUN Meeting. From left to right: Mr Ángel Escudero (SEKMUN Model Director), Ms
Consuelo Crespo (Unicef-Spanish Committee President), Ms Nieves Segovia (Headmistress of
the Educational Institution SEK), Mr Carlos Robles Piquer (former Minister and Diplomat) and
Mr Alberto de Campos (Secretary General of the I SEKMUN Meeting)
make the student that was against the debated issue to defend it and vice versa. This
method in Spain has been taken by the Educational Institution SEK from the School of
Public Speech and Debate at the University of Camilo Jose Cela. Teaching debate provides
evident advantages: not being frightened to speak in public, argumentative skills, analysis
of reality, research capabilities, communication skills, a stimulus to creativity, and defence of one’s ideas and understanding of other people’s ideas.
A debate is not an argument, it is not dialogue, it is not diatribe, nor is it what certain TV
circles think it is. A debate consists of a rhetoric exercise in which two views give their
arguments for and against a proposed opinion in order to convince a third party.
What is a debate?
For a debate to take place we first have to know how to define debate and what is not
debate. Debate is not:
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• Dialogue: speaking with someone or reasoning with another person in order to search
for the truth
• Discussion: peaceful comparison of ideas
• Polemic: debate with a certain degree of aggressiveness
• Controversy: continuous, heated disagreement related to concerns.
• Dispute: doctrinal or academic debate
• Diatribe: Acrimonious, polemic, theoretical, learned or philosophical debate
A debate is a “dialectic competition between two rivals in which a third party decides who
the winner is” (Adelino Cattani); “it is a process of presentation of arguments for or
against a proposition” (Huber); “it is to give arguments against somebody in front of an
audience”. In each debate there are some basic elements:
• A proposition (a subject, a question, etc.)
• A jury
• People who share my opinion
• People who are against my opinion
In an academic or competition debate there is a winner. However, in the SEKMUN model
United Nations there is no express jury and this means that it is necessary to negotiate to
bring opinions closer and to get our proposals to be accepted in the final resolution.
Another important element in a debate is the arguments that we will use to defend our
opinion, which we will use to persuade the audience that we are addressing. Each argument consists of three parts:
• Statement: “Watching TV is better than reading a book”. When we state something we
must think of the subsequent reply, that is to say, the dialogue
• Reasoning: “Television is a multi-sensorial means while books are uni-sensorial”
➢ Types of reasoning:
- Inductive reasoning: examples or cases which come true or from which a general law
can be drawn. The intention is to pass a law or a principle based on a series of cases with
a common characteristic.
- Deductive reasoning: a fundamental concept is that of syllogism. It consists of a structure for which the fact that we want to prove is established
- Analogy: it attempts to prove that something will happen in the future. It happened
there, it will happen here. What one should prove is that the current situation, which
will make this change happen, has more things alike than differences with the situation
in which the change has already taken place.
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• Evidence: “Audio-visual stimulus is 250 times more powerful than only visual stimulus”.
➢ Types of evidence:
- Authority: opinions from scientific, political, academic authorities
- Statistics: there is a difference between surveys (a sample taken from the population)
and statistics (recount of all the population)
- Witnesses: usually used in trials and legal procedures
- Legal documents: evidence at legal debates
- Facts, events or incidents: a fact or incident that proves our statements
- Aims: resources related to the issue being debated
A statement without reasoning is an order.
Reasoning without evidence is prejudice.
Once we know the parts that compose a debate we now have to start preparing the subject
to be debated. In this respect, an essential action is research. Thanks to this we will find
evidence and the arguments that will make up our discourse.
To do our research we need to search in:
• Libraries: titles, author and subject
• Renowned and expert people in the matter who we can interview
• Press releases
• On the Internet
Once we have finished our research and when we have the information we need, we must
organise it to make it clear when we communicate it.
Communication must be done through a discourse with a basic structure:
• Introduction
• Development
• Conclusions
We must also be persuasive when we present the information. This can be attained thanks
to:
• The personality of the Delegate: he/she must be kind, considerate, nice, honest and have
a sense of humour and restraint
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• His/her voice must be nice
• He/she must be effective in his/her non-verbal communication: constant eye contact,
use facial expression, effective gestures with one’s head, good position when walking in
the room and one must use space properly.
If we can do all the above our communication will be efficient. We do not know if we are
right, but we will be sure that the reply will allow us to advance, to learn and to establish
efficient dialogue to resolve problems and conflicts.
What is a negotiation?
Negotiating means resolving differences by using creative and flexible techniques in order
to reach common compromises. For this we must obtain something and give something in
return to resolve the differences, trying to bring opinions closer, in order to reach an agreement. The parties must have clear objectives and the margin within which they can give
concessions. The negotiation must focus the discussion on the common concerns of the
parties and not their differences, always avoiding inflexible positions.
The position that we must have when we negotiate must be open to the multiple possibilities that may be offered. Without forgetting our interests, we must try to reach a unanimous agreement. For instance, we want our country to receive a certain amount of money
to increase the degree of literacy of the population. That is our concern. This aim may be
attained in different ways: through direct donation or in exchange of a commitment to provide higher income to the population as their employment conditions improve.
Most of the actions and agreements of the United Nations start from negotiations. The
concerns of the countries become relevant if they are supported by others with the same
concerns or aims.
To carry out these negotiations the member countries usually group together taking into
account common objectives and/or their geographical situation.
• According to geographical situation:
- AFRICAN GROUP
- EUROPEAN GROUP (it includes Europe, Central Asia, Canada and U.S.A.)
- LATIN AMERICAN AND THE CARIBBEAN GROUP
- ASIA-PACIFIC GROUP
- WEST ASIA GROUP
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V. SEKMUN Rules
of Procedure
• According to common concerns:
- NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT
- GROUP OF EIGHT (G-8)
- GROUP OF TWENTY (G-20)
- EUROPEAN UNION (EU)
- UNION OF AFRICAN STATES
- NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANISATION (NATO)
The trend in the representation of a model United Nations such as SEKMUN is that these
groups must be respected and reproduced so that the debate and negotiation of the issues
may be enriched.
a. SEKMUN General Rules
CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION
SEKMUN is the representation of the model United Nations in which students from the
4th grade of the Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO) and 1st grade of higher secondary education of SEK Schools participate jointly with students from guest schools.
The students take a role and act as “delegates” from a certain country so that they take part
in debates, negotiations, they draft documents, speak in public, deliberate, etc.
The main organs/committees of the United Nations are represented: the General
Assembly (GA), the Security Council (SC), Ecosoc, the Unicef Executive Board (UEB) and
the Human Rights Council.
At the current full globalisation this educational and cultural event makes students acquire a general view of the world in which they interact apart from acquiring skills in current
issues and international politics. Participants can understand that the best way to resolve
problems is through dialogue and negotiation, never violence.
The success of the model lies in the preparation of the participant students in techniques
of persuasion, public speech, debate, negotiation, draft and research of the issues, identifying themselves with the ideology of the country that they represent and there must be an
atmosphere of tolerance and respect for diversity.
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II SEKMUN Meeting. Activities of the Model.
CHAPTER II. PARTICIPANTS AND STRUCTURE
1. DELEGATIONS
Article 1
The delegations shall be composed of two delegates in each of the following Committees:
the General Assembly, the Security Council, Ecosoc, the Unicef Executive Board and the
Human Rights Council.
Article 2
The word “Member State”, “Representation” or “Delegation” may be used indistinctly. The
members shall be indistinctly called “delegates” or “representatives”.
Article 3
The Ambassador will be the student who leads the Delegation. He/she will be assigned to
an organ/committee but he/she must know of all the issues of the Model as he/she can actively participate in any session and, in particular, at the formal sessions of the Security
Council.
Article 4
All the members of each Delegation must be duly informed of what happens on a daily
basis at the various commissions, negotiation groups and organs/committees. To attain
this, at the end of the day the Ambassador will call all the members of his/her Delegation
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to participate at a session in which it will be informed what happened at the different meetings held that day. The delegates will take note of the progress made.
Article 5
There may also be observers. The observing delegations will be represented by a delegate
and they will only take part when the issue discussed is directly linked to the issue in
question, for instance: Palestine, the Vatican, the International Monetary Fund, the Red
Cross, Western Sahara, etc.
2. ORGANS/COMMITTEES
The organs/committees represented are:
1. General Assembly
2. Security Council
3. Ecosoc
4. Unicef Executive Board
5. Human Rights Council.
Article 6
Each organ/committee shall be governed by the General Rules and its own rules of procedure.
Article 7
The General Assembly shall deal with the issues established for SEKMUN and shall be
composed of the countries chosen by the SEKMUN Organisation Committee.
Article 8
The Security Council shall have its own agenda, related to issues affecting current world
peace and security. This organ/committee shall be composed of five permanent countries:
France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland, China and the United States, and ten non-permanent countries.
Article 9
All the Committees shall address the issues established for SEKMUN and shall be composed of the countries chosen by the SEKMUN Organisation Committee.
3. AUTHORITIES
SECRETARY GENERAL
Article 10
The Secretariat shall be the last decision resort within the Model. It shall construe these
rules of procedure and shall decide on issues not established therein.
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Article 11
The Secretariat shall ensure that these rules are observed and it shall observe and make
others observe these rules. It shall impose all disciplinary measures necessary in case of
infringement of the code of conduct.
Article 12
The Secretariat may, at any time, make oral or written statements to the General
Assembly, the Security Council, Ecosoc, the Unicef Executive Board and the Human
Rights Council.
Article 13
The Secretary General shall officially declare SEKMUN opened and adjourned.
Article 14
Secretary General’s powers:
a) He will chair the organs/committees of the Model if this should be necessary.
b) He will inform the various organs/committees of the issues being addressed at other
organs/committees. He will inform the General Assembly of any issue related to international peace and security being addressed at the Security Council. Furthermore, he will
inform the Assembly as soon as the Council stops addressing these issues.
c) He will facilitate negotiations between the representatives and he shall co-operate with
them within the Model. He may participate actively.
d) He may be part of the Approval Committee for draft resolutions.
e) The Secretary General may delegate his powers, in full or partially, to another authority
of the Model.
f) The Secretary General may allow entry of special observers for the various instances of
the Model, under his express authorisation, and accompany them.
Article 15
The authorities of each organ/committee shall be the following:
a) President
b) Moderator
c) Conference official
Article 16
Powers of the President
He is the maximum authority of the organ/committee; he exercises the powers conferred
upon him in the relevant rules. Furthermore, the President shall declare the opening and
adjournment of each formal session, direct the discussions in the sessions, ensure observance of these rules and the rules of procedure, accord the right to speak, decide on the
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turn for questions and announce decisions. He shall be part of the Approval Committee of
draft resolutions and he shall be in charge of keeping order in the places where the
organs/committees operate.
The Presidents may decide, either directly or by proposing to the delegations, on:
a) the limitation of the time to be allowed to speakers
b) the closure of the list of speakers
c) the closure of the debate
d) the suspension or adjournment of a session
e) the order in which draft resolutions are submitted.
Article 17
Powers of the Moderator
The Moderator shall take the place of the President in case of absence. He shall assist the
Presidency in its tasks during the sessions. He shall be part of the Approval Committee for
draft resolutions, which assesses and amends draft resolutions to be submitted to the
Presidency.
Article 18
Powers of the Conference Official
He shall assist the Presidency at the formal sessions. He will record the votes from the
delegations. He will resolve the problems of the delegations and facilitate communication
through written messages, if thus authorised by the Presidency. He shall have powers to
receive from the page boys the messages to decide if the content is appropriate and, should
this be the case, he shall take them to the Presidency. The Conference official shall co-ordinate the work of the page boys.
Article 19
Approval Committee
The Approval Committee for draft resolutions shall report to the Presidency of the
organ/committee and shall be composed of the President, the Moderator and the
Conference Official.
Powers of the Approval Committee:
a) Receive and check draft resolutions verifying if these meet essential requirements in
form and content to be submitted to the committee.
b) Decide on the order of submission for debate of the draft resolutions.
c) During the debate, it shall include the amendments and rectifications to the draft resolution that arise until reaching a final version.
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6. SUPPORTING STAFF
Article 20
Powers of the Page Boys.
They will assist the Conference Official and facilitate the communication of the delegations through written messages which they will take to the Conference Official.
Article 21
Powers of the persons in charge of Public Relations
They will co-operate in the organisation of the event:
1. They will control the entry and exit of observers and guests in the different committees,
following the instructions of the President.
2. They will welcome and accompany important figures and guests during the performance of the Model.
3. They will ensure that the requirements for material that arise in the rooms are being
met.
4. They will inform the participants of the space and services that may be required.
CHAPTER III. PROTOCOL
Article 22
Spanish is the official language of the Model at the General Assembly, at the Security
Council and at the Unicef Executive Board, and English is the official language at Ecosoc
and at the Human Rights Council.
Article 23
All participants must have their badge in a visible place at all times.
Article 24
During the activities of the Model, the treatment of the delegates among themselves, with
members of the Organisation Committee and the Authorities of the Model, must be
strictly formal and respectful 1. The teachers will also be formal when they speak with the
Authorities of the Model.
Article 25
Instructions on the appropriate clothes as indicated by the SEKMUN Organisation
Committee must be followed. The clothes must be formal: a suit for male students with a
1
They must speak on behalf of a country, a delegation, etc. only. For instance, phrases such as “I believe that...”
cannot be used; instead appropriatte phrases should be used such as “the delegation of my country believes...”
or “my government or my country believes that...”
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jacket and a tie. Female students shall wear formal clothes (a suit, a dress, a skirt or smart
trousers). Short trousers, T-shirts, tennis shoes, jeans and/or caps are forbidden. If there
is any official national suit the delegate may wear it during SEKMUN (djellaba, sari,
kippah, etc.). In case of doubt the SEKMUN organisation committee will decide.
Article 26
Direct communication between the various delegates is forbidden during the formal sessions inside the premises of each organ/committee. Messages related to the work of the
committee may be given through the page boys, provided it is allowed by the Presidency.
Article 27
The delegates may not leave the premises if the organ/committee is holding a formal session. If need be, the delegate may leave the room for a brief moment provided he tells the
Conference Official the reason for his leaving the room. If the exit of the delegate leaves his
delegation without representation at the organ/committee, he will leave his voting card on
the table of the Conference Official and will get it back upon his return.
Article 28
The timetable set by the SEKMUN organisation committee must be strictly followed.
Article 29
Electronic devices which may interfere with the work at the sessions are forbidden, except
for the person authorised by the SEKMUN Organisation Committee2.
Article 30
Contact between teachers and students taking part in the Model is not forbidden during
the activities contemplated for each organ/committee3.
Article 31
The delegates may not eat, drink (except for water) or smoke in the premises of the various
organs/committees. No alcoholic drinks may be drunk the days on which the Model will
take place. Smoking is not permitted in the roofed areas assigned to the Model.
Article 32
Throwing waste outside the places assigned to it is strictly forbidden.
2
This article mainly means mobile phones, sound devices, etc. If it is essential to use them they must speak to the
authority of the Model or a member of the Organisation Committee who will give his advice on these issues.
3
The aim of this article is to avoid enquiries related to contents or procedures that may interfere with the tasks
of the Delegation. In order to establish contact for other issues authorisation must be sought from the Model
Authority or a member of the Organisation Comittee.
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Article 33
Warnings.
In case of lack of politeness or infringement of the rules or disorder during your stay at
SEKMUN, the delegates will be subject to a warning from the authorities.
If two warnings are accumulated during the same session, the delegate will have to leave
the room and will not return until the following session. If three warnings have been accumulated the delegate will have to leave SEKMUN on a permanent basis.
b. General Assembly Rules of Procedure
The main aim of the General Assembly Rules is to prepare participants to take part in a
Model United Nations. At the same time, the aim is to teach how this organ/committee
works and what its powers are.
In these Rules the Secretariat General, the delegates and the Presidency will find essential
information to take appropriate part in the sessions of the Model United Nations for the
General Assembly.
Reading and understanding these Rules will make it easier for the delegates to take part in
the sessions but, most importantly, it will optimise the operation of the Model.
The Rules are composed of 55 articles, divided in the following subjects:
I. Composition
II. Debate
A. Public and Private Sessions
B. General and Particular Debate
C. CAUCUS (Recess)
III. General Debate
Extraordinary question session
IV. Draft Resolution of the Amendments
V. Particular Debate
A. Open Debate
B. Closed Debate
C. List of speakers
D. Closed Debate of the Amendment
E. Formal Voting of Draft Resolutions at a plenary session
VI. Presidency
VII. Motions
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A. Motion of Procedure
B. Motion of Order
C. Motion of Privilege
D. Motion of Parliamentary Inquiry
VIII. Voting
IX. Majorities
In these Rules the delegate will find the code of conduct and protocol to be followed during
the sessions.
The Rules establish that, during the sessions, one can raise his hand to request the
Presidency to give the floor. There are four types of motions in which the delegates will
have to take the floor during the debate. The types of debate and the way in which the delegate can carry them out are also explained.
How to present a draft resolution in terms of form and content and how the procedure is
for voting are explained here.
The votes must follow the classification and percentages established in these Rules.
Upon studying and reading the Rules the delegates will learn about the obligations and
rights of the Presidency and of themselves at the sessions of the Model United Nations.
The Presidency has power to ensure the fulfilment of these Rules. It keeps the discipline
in SEKMUN and it may take action if the code of conduct is infringed.
Finally, it is important to mention that the General Assembly Rules were drafted taking as
a basis the original rules of the General Assembly of the United Nations Organisation.
However, the application and use thereof are subject to adaptation in terms of magnitude,
organisation and type of Model United Nations chosen.
I. COMPOSITION
Article 1
All Member States of the United Nations and NGO’s chosen by the SEKMUN organisation
committee may participate at the General Assembly as members thereof.
II. DEBATE
A. Public and Private sessions
Article 2
The meetings of the General Assembly shall be held in public unless they decide by qualified majority and for exceptional circumstances that the meeting be held in private.
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II SEKMUN Meeting. Speech by a Delegate.
Article 3
All decisions of the General Assembly taken at a private meeting shall be announced at a
public meeting of the Assembly. At the close of each private meeting, the President may
issue a communiqué through the Secretary-General.
B. General and Particular Debate
Article 4
The delegates may choose the order in which the issues will be discussed as SEKMUN
progresses. There will first be a General Debate about the topic and then a Particular
Debate about the Draft Resolution.
Article 5
The observer delegations may:
a) Use motions, address and be addressed to and make questions like any other member
State of the General Assembly.
b) They may neither present amendments nor second them. Neither may they second
draft resolutions.
c) They have no right to vote.
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II SEKMUN Meeting. Speech by the Delegate from Turkey.
Article 6
No delegate may address the organ without obtaining permission from the Presidency.
The President may call to order any delegate in case that his/her argument is not relevant
to the topic being discussed, if the delegate exceeds the time limit established by the
Presidency, or makes remarks that are considered offensive about a delegate or delegation.
C. CAUCUS (recess)
Article 7
A caucus or recess may be requested through a motion by the delegations or they may be
determined by the Presidency in any of the three discussion modes of the topics. They are
used for negotiations, to draft resolutions, etc. The duration of the recess will be determined and announced by the Presidency.
SIMPLE CAUCUS: A caucus is an informal meeting between the delegates in which they
may address each other directly with the members. This motion must be immediately
seconded, and submitted to voting, requiring a relative majority to be approved. An extension of the Caucus may be requested provided the latter takes less time than the first one.
The Moderator may consider any of these motions out of order.
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MODERATED CAUCUS: The aim of a Moderated Caucus is to facilitate the debates. The
Moderator will give the floor t the delegates at his discretion. Once the motion has been
made it must seconded and immediately submitted to voting, requiring a relative majority
to be approved. An extension of the caucus may be of equal or less time than the original.
No more than one extension will be allowed. The Moderator may consider any of these
motions out of order and his decision may not be subject to appeal.
III. GENERAL DEBATE
Article 8
The Presidency will make a speakers’ list for each topic to submit their Official Positions.
Once the list has been closed, the delegations who wish to be included must request it in
writing to the Presidency. The Presidency shall chair the debate and will give the floor to
the person who raises his hand and can recommend the delegates to request an interruption of the speakers’ list to change to a Caucus.
Article 9
In the debate the delegations included in the list available for this purpose and those
chosen by the Presidency will be the speakers, according to the ideological and regional
diversity and the enrichment of the debate.
Article 10
Each speaker will have a maximum time established by the committee, between one
minute and a half and two minutes, to explain his position on the subject at issue. One or
two questions may be made. The delegations may ask to reduce the time assigned with a
Motion of Procedure that must be approved by a qualified majority.
Article 11
Any member, through motions (see Chapter VII) may ask one or two questions. The speaker, in turn, may:
a) Give the remaining time to another delegation
b) Give the remaining time to the committee
He must announce his decision to the Presidency before starting his speech. Otherwise,
the remaining time will be assigned to the Presidency.
IV. DRAFT RESOLUTION
Article 12
During the Debate, in order to group together countries that have a similar position, the
delegates will take notes in order to draft a work sheet with the position of the delegations
on the matter under discussion (work sheets are not position documents).
Article 13
The delegations will make draft resolutions to be submitted to the Approval Committee.
The draft resolutions must have the endorsement of at least thirty per cent of the delegations represented. The Member States can only endorse one draft resolution per topic
addressed.
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VI SEKMUN Meeting.
Draft Resolutions must follow the format established in “Guidelines for drafting Draft
Resolutions”.
Article 14
Draft Resolutions must be based on the aspects discussed in the General Debate and
Caucuses.
Article 15
The Approval Committee will choose one or more of those projects which will be put for
consideration of the Member States, so that they can be debated.
a) The Approval Committee may introduce modifications of form, but not of content, in
the projects presented, as well as in the resolutions approved by the General Assembly.
b) If there is any relevant change to be made to the content, the Presidency shall announce it to the delegates for their review.
Article 16
When presenting the Draft Resolutions to the Approval Committee, the delegations submitting them must also say which delegations endorse them.
Article 17
The draft resolution selected by the Approval Committee will be read by the President out
loud to be discussed, amended and voted by the Delegations at the Particular Debate.
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V. PARTICULAR DEBATE
Article 18
The Presidency will summon three delegates that may belong to the same or different
delegations, to present for discussion the draft resolution. The delegates will have enough
time to defend the draft resolution and, subsequently, the delegates may be asked a maximum of five questions.
Article 19
The Particular Debate may present two modes, open debate or closed debate. The
Presidency may recommend, or the delegates may request, the mode to be followed and
may change it when deemed appropriate.
A. OPEN DEBATE
Article 20
The President will chair the debate and give the floor to anyone who raises his placard or
hand, at his discretion. Should it be necessary he will draft a speakers’ list.
B. CLOSED DEBATE
Article 21
The Presidency will make a speakers’ list, according to the ideological and regional diversity and the enrichment of the debate.
Article 22
During the Particular Debate each speaker will have the time considered necessary according to the committee to make a comment and/or propose an amendment.
Article 23
If an amendment is proposed it will be read by the Presidency.
Article 24
The amendments may be suspended by the Presidency if he deems it convenient. It will be
at the discretion of the Presidency to resume the amendments during the debate.
Article 25
The delegation having the floor may be subject to one or two questions before voting the
amendment proposed.
Article 26
The delegation that makes a comment in favour or against the project without proposing
an amendment may give the remaining time to another delegation or to the Presidency.
C. Amendments
Article 27
An amendment adds, deletes or modifies parts of a proposal. Every delegation may
submit at the most one amendment for every Draft Resolution in discussion. An amendment may not change the original essence of the subject.
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Article 28
The amendments suggested must be previously sent in writing to the Presidency, through
the Approval Committee, and must be endorsed by 15% of all delegations represented at
the Committee. This endorsement represents the intention to debate the amendment and
is not a vote in favour of or against it.
Article 29
First an informal but compulsory voting will take place. It will be non-binding and abstentions are not allowed.
Article 30
If an amendment has a vote for or against by qualified majority, then it will be considered
as accepted or rejected.
Article 31
If no qualified majority results from the informal voting of the amendment a closed debate
on the amendments commences.
D. Closed Debate of the Amendment
Article 32
The Presidency will make a speakers’ list in favour and another list against the amendment, taking into consideration the ideological and regional diversity as well as the enrichment of the debate.
Article 33
Each speaker will have a certain time determined, announced by the Presidency, to make
a comment. He may be subject to one or two questions.
Article 34
The amendment will be formally voted, abstentions are allowed.
Article 35
If a simple majority votes in favour the amendment is considered as accepted. Otherwise,
it will be rejected.
E. Formal voting at the General Assembly
Article 36
A resolution needs an absolute majority of votes in favour, with the possibility of abstentions, to be approved.
Article 37
The decisions of the General Assembly in matters related to maintaining international
peace and security will be approved if they count with the votes of a qualified majority of
the members present. In this voting, abstentions are permitted.
Article 38
If the President deems it appropriate he may allow the delegations to justify their votes.
a) The speech will be allowed a limited time announced by the Presidency.
b) The delegations will ask to be given the floor by raising their hands. The Presidency will
choose according to the ideological and regional diversity as well as the enrichment of the
debate.
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VI. PRESIDENCY
Article 39
At a Plenary Session, the President will be anyone who is holding the Presidency at that
moment.
Article 40
The Presidency will fulfil and ensure the fulfilment of these rules during the formal sessions. He will chair the sessions and will take disciplinary measures if the code of conduct
is infringed.
Article 41
He will give the floor only to the persons who request it, taking into consideration the ideological and regional diversity as well as the enrichment of the debate.
Article 42
The Presidency may reduce the maximum time assigned to speaking by the delegations
during the debate. He may totally or partially suspend the questions and the motions of
order, parliamentary inquiry and procedure. At his discretion he may totally or partially
resume them during the debate. He may interrupt the sending of messages through the
page boys for the time he deems appropriate.
Article 43
He may grant a right to reply. The time assigned to it shall be a maximum of one minute.
Article 44
He may grant a right to comment and he will decide how long that can take.
II SEKMUN Meeting. Work session at the Security Council.
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Article 45
If he deems it convenient, he may call for non-binding informal voting only as guidance.
a) The delegations are under no obligation to vote, except for the informal voting of the
amendment and the informal voting on motions of procedure.
b) The Presidency will announce the results from the voting in the manner he deems
appropriate.
VII. MOTIONS
Article 46
All delegates may use Motions in the formal debate to suggest a situation or proposal up
for consideration. The type of motion must be stated clearly.
Article 47
There are four types of motions: Motion of Order, Motion of Procedure, Motion of
Parliamentary Inquiry, and Motion of Privilege.
A. Motion of Procedure
Article 48
Motions of Procedure may be used by the delegates to propose an option to the normal
course of the debate.
a) For the Presidency to listen to the Motion of Procedure, it must be seconded with a minimum of one collateral. The delegation that requested the motion may not second it.
b) A Motion of Procedure cannot interrupt a delegate or the Presidency while they are
speaking, or during a procedure.
c) The Presidency may reject, accept or submit a proposal to voting. In this case, it will call
to a mandatory informal voting, in which abstentions are not allowed. If the motion receives a qualified majority, it will be accepted; if not, it will be rejected.
B. Motion of Order
Article 49
A Motion of Order is used when a delegation considers that the Presidency has made a
mistake in regards to the procedure and wishes to make it known with all due respect.
a) A Motion of Order cannot interrupt a delegate while he is speaking
b) The Moderator, or the President, may rule the motion out of order at his/her discretion
and it is not subject to appeal.
C. Motion of Privilege
Article 50
The Motion of Privilege is used when a delegate considers his/herself affected by external
circumstances.
a) Motions of Privilege cannot be rejected without first listening to the petition.
b) It may interrupt delegates and the Presidency while they are speaking or during a procedure.
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VI SEKMUN Meeting. Human Rights Council
D. Motion of Parliamentary Inquiry
Article 51
The Motion of Parliamentary Inquiry is a request for clarification of the process that is
being done in the debate.
a) For the Presidency to consider listening to a Motion of Parliamentary Inquiry it must be
seconded at least by one. The delegation who requested the motion may not second it.
b) The Motion of Parliamentary Inquiry may not interrupt any delegate that is speaking.
VIII. VOTING
Article 52
Each country has one vote which may be in favour, against, or an abstention.
IX. MAJORITIES
Article 53
Qualified majority: it represents the voting of two thirds (66.6%) of the members attending
the meeting.
Article 54
Absolute majority: it represents the voting of 50%+1 of the members attending the meeting.
Article 55
Simple majority: it represents one more vote in favour of a certain position than against it.
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c. Security Council Rules of Procedure
The main aim of the Security Council Rules is to prepare delegates to take part in a Model
United Nations and to know of the rights of the delegations and authorities. At the same
time, the aim is to teach how this organ/committee works and what its powers are. The
special feature of these rules compared with other organs/committees of the system lies in
that it drafts binding resolutions instead of recommendations. These rules will help the
Secretariat General, the delegates and the Presidency find essential information to appropriately participate and hold the sessions at the Model United Nations related to the
Security Council. Reading and understanding these rules will make it easier for the delegates to take part in the sessions but, most importantly, it will optimise the operation of the
Model.
The Rules are composed of 42 articles, divided in the following subjects:
I. Composition
II. Work programme
III. Procedure
a. Informal session
b. Formal session
IV. Voting
V. Resolutions
VI. Presidency
VII. Secretariat
These rules set forth the conditions under which both Member and non-Member States
participate. Furthermore, it emphasises that the Security Council may meet on an urgent
basis when international peace and security are threatened. This document highlights
and explains the participation of the Secretary General in the debates. It also describes the
procedure followed for informal voting and it determines the order of the work topics. It
explains that the essential element to submit a draft resolution is that it must be included
in the issues of the Work Programme.
The Rules explain the procedure and work of the Security Council and it differentiates
between official session and private session. Furthermore, it explains the voting process
and it differentiates between a decision on form and a substantive decision. As for the
resolutions, these rules set forth that, for resolutions to be approved, they must be supported with votes for them of at least 9 members and no vote against them from the
Permanent Members. They also explain how resolutions are proposed, debated, and how
an amendment is subject to voting. It also points out how the Secretariat within this
organ/committee participates.
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These rules explain the code of conduct and the protocol to be following during the sessions for the delegate to learn.
Upon studying and reading the rules the delegates will learn about the obligations and
rights of the Presidency at the sessions of the Model United nations. The Presidency has
power to ensure the fulfilment of these rules. He keeps the discipline in the Model and he
may take action if the code of conduct is infringed. However, the Secretary General may
participate as mediator in all formal and informal negotiations carried out by the delegations.
Finally, it is important to mention that the Security Council Rules were drafted taking as
a basis the original rules of the Security Council of the United Nations Organisation.
However, the application and use thereof are subject to adaptation in terms of magnitude,
organisation and type of Model United Nations being carried out.
I. COMPOSITION
Article 1
The Security Council is composed of 15 members, 5 are permanent members: France, the
Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, China,
and the United States of America. The other 10 are non-permanent members.
Article 2
Any Member of the United Nations which is not a member of the Security Council may
participate at a Formal Session if it is thus requested in writing to the Presidency.
Article 3
The Members of the Security Council may be called to urgently attend a meeting to solve
any problem that threatens international peace and security.
II. WORK PROGRAMME
Article 4
The work programme of the Security Council is recommended by the Secretary General
or by any Member State, it is analysed and approved by the President and the Member
States represented in this organ must vote.
Article 5
At the beginning of each session day informal voting will take place to determine the order
followed for the topics in the work programme.
Article 6
The Presidency shall communicate the agenda to the Representatives of the Security
Council after being approved by voting.
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Article 7
The representatives of the Security Council who wish to submit draft resolutions to the
Presidency must ensure that the issue of the draft appears in the work programme.
Otherwise, the issue may be proposed for inclusion at the beginning of the following session day.
Article 8
Any member of the United Nations, even if it is not represented at the Security Council,
may draw their attention to any controversy or situation that may threaten international
peace and security. The said Member State must make the request in writing and give it to
the Presidency of the Security Council at the beginning of each session.
Article 9
Any Member of the United Nations, even if it is not represented at the Security Council
may submit draft resolutions provided the topic is included in the agenda. These draft
resolutions may be analysed only at the request of a member on the Security Council.
Article 10
Any item of the agenda of a meeting of the Security Council, consideration of which has
not been completed at that meeting, shall automatically be included in the agenda of the
next meeting.
Article 11
The Secretary General, or the Presidency, may make additions to the agenda at any time
during a periodic meeting.
III. PROCEDURE
Article 12
The Security Council shall address the issues of its mandate at an official session (formal
session) or at a private session (informal session).
A. Informal Session
Article 13
All issues shall be discussed during this kind of session in which the delegations debate
the matters behind closed doors.
Article 14
All Member States of the Security Council may speak to question, refute or prove the different positions arising during the conversation. After that there will be a debate and nonbinding informal voting of the draft resolution/s presented before the Presidency.
Article 15
Once the Presidency has given the floor, the delegations will directly address the Security
Council or any of the Members of this organ/committee.
Article 16
The parties to a controversy that are not represented at the Security Council may be invited to participate at an Informal Session but shall not be entitled to vote.
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Article 17
At this kind of session, the Members of the Security Council may ask questions to the parties in conflict.
Article 18
The Secretary General may be invited to participate as an observer.
B. Formal Session
Article 19
A formal session is a public and official session. During this kind of session, the States that
are not Member States of the Security Council have a right to speak provided they had previously been included in the speakers’ list.
Article 20
If conflicts between States will be addressed, the President shall invite the parties involved
to take part. At the beginning of the session the President will read the document notifying of the session. The parties involved in the conflict will be given the floor.
Article 21
This type of session starts with a debate on the matter for which the meeting was called.
Should there be draft resolutions previously drafted, these will be read and discussed and
voted.
Article 22
A caucus or recess may be requested by the delegations or they may be determined by the
Presidency in any of the three discussion modes of the topics. They are used for negotiations, to draft resolutions, etc. The duration of the caucus will be determined and announced by the Presidency.
Article 23
Once the Presidency has given the floor, the delegations will indirectly address the
Security Council or any of the Members of this organ/committee.
IV. VOTING
Article 24
The decisions related to form (matters of procedure) are passed with the votes for them of
9 members of the Security Council, with or without the votes for them from the
Permanent Members.
Article 25
Substantive decisions (matters involving world peace and security) at least need the affirmative vote of nine members of the Security Council and no vote against it from the
Permanent Members. If any of the five Permanent Members votes against it, the project
will be vetoed.
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II SEKMUN Meeting. Negotation at the Unicef Executive Board.
V. RESOLUTIONS
Article 26
For resolutions to be approved, they must be supported with votes for them of at least 9
members and no vote against them from the Permanent Members.
Article 27
Once the topic has been presented and developed, the delegations propose a Caucus, or
the Presidency proposes a Caucus for drafting a Draft resolution.
Article 28
Several projects may be given to the Presidency according to the consensus reached
during the negotiations between the members of the Security Council.
Article 29
To propose an amendment to the draft resolution, the delegations must send them in writing to the Presidency during the recess, and subsequently at the formal session. The
Presidency will give the floor to the delegation that proposed the amendment and will
submit it to voting.
Article 30
The Presidency may suspend the amendments when he deems it appropriate.
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Article 31
If several amendments to a draft resolution are proposed, the Presidency shall rule on the
order in which they are to be discussed and voted upon. The Security Council shall first
discuss the amendment furthest removed in substance from the original proposal.
Article 32
The Presidency will read and submit to voting the draft resolutions received.
Article 33
The delegations that have submitted a draft resolution may withdraw it before starting the
proposed amendments or voting.
VI. PRESIDENCY
Article 34
The Presidency must fulfil each article in these rules.
Article 35
All the powers of the President will be vested upon the person holding the Presidency.
Article 36
The President may make Presidential Communiqués on the consensus of the Members of
the Security Council in relation to a specific topic.
Article 37
The President of the Security Council may make a presidential declaration if there is consensus. The declaration of the President is not a resolution for which reason it is not compulsory.
Article 38
The Presidency will chair the debate taking into account the enrichment of it.
VII. SECRETARIAT
Article 39
The Secretary General may provide oral or written declarations to the Security Council on
any issue examined by the Council.
Article 40
The Secretary General will be a guarantor of peace treaties. He may mediate in all formal
and informal negotiations carried out between delegations.
d. Economic and Social Council (Ecosoc) Rules of Procedure
The Ecosoc is one of the five main organs (committees) of the United Nations. It serves as
the central forum for discussing international economic and social issues.
The Council also formulates recommendations on such matters addressed to Member
States and the United Nations system composed of more than 30 specialised programmes
and organisations.
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The Ecosoc is composed of 54 Member States elected for a three-year term by the General
Assembly, taking into consideration the various geographical regions of the world. Each
Member Country has one vote and the decisions and resolutions are passed by simple
majority.
The NGO’s recognised by the United Nations may send observers to the Ecosoc meetings.
Sometimes the observers are authorised to express their opinion on the matters discussed
by the Council. The representatives of the United Nations system from other international
institutions and from the NGO’s recognised by the United Nations are also authorised to
take part in the sessions.
Article 1
The Ecosoc shall apply the rules established by SEKMUN for the General Assembly.
Furthermore, the following articles will apply.
Article 2
For practical reasons, of the 54 Member States that form part of the Ecosoc, the SEKMUN
organisation committee shall decide on the number of countries that will integrate it.
Article 3
The Ecosoc shall be presided over by a President, who shall be assisted in his tasks by a
Vice-President and a Conference Official.
Article 4
English will be the language for work at the Ecosoc.
Article 5
In case of an emergency related to natural disasters, famine, etc., the Ecosoc may hold an
extraordinary meeting.
Article 6
If the President deems it appropriate, he may invite the representatives from international
institutions and the NGO’s recognised by the United Nations to take part in the discussion. In such cases, a representative may make a brief introduction (3 minutes) and reply
to the questions asked by the members of the Ecosoc.
Article 7
The representatives from the institutions mentioned in article 6 may not take part in any
voting at the sessions of the Ecosoc.
e. Unicef Executive Board Rules of Procedure
The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) helps governments, communities and families make the world a better place for children. Unicef is the only UN organisation only
devoted to children and their mothers and it promotes the “Rights of the Child”, child
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being any person under 18 and its activities are based on the “Convention on the Rights of
the Child”.
The Executive Board is the most important organ in Unicef. The Board is composed of
representatives from 36 member countries. It sets forth policies, it examines country programmes, it approves the budget and it monitors Unicef activities.
The work of the Board is coordinated by the President and the Vice-Presidents. To facilitate the debate at the Board the office of the Unicef drafts a report for each matter of the
programme that is presented by the Executive Director of Unicef.
The Board is under the General Assembly and Ecosoc. Its tasks are as follows:
• Apply the policies drafted by the General Assembly under the coordination and guidance of the Economic and social Council and ensure that they are fulfilled.
• Receive information from the Executive Director of Unicef on the matter discussed.
• Monitor Unicef
• Approve programmes and decisions on administrative and financial budgets
• Recommend new initiatives to the Economic Council and to the General Assembly
To represent the Unicef Executive Board at SEKMUN the General Assembly rules of procedure will be followed, except for the following articles:
Article 1
Of the 36 possible members of the Executive Board, the SEKMUN organisation committee will decide on the number of countries that will integrate it.
Article 2
At the Executive Board the president will be assisted in his tasks by a vice-president and
a conference official.
Article 3
Once the agenda has been adopted and before starting the debate of each item, the
President of the Board will as the Executive Director to make a brief presentation of the
report drawn up by Unicef.
Article 4
For a resolution or decision (term used at the Unicef Executive Board) to be approved a
majority of 50% + 1 is required. When a resolution is voted there will only be affirmative
and negative votes (no abstentions).
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f. Human Rights Council Rules of Procedure
The Human Rights Council is part of the system of the United Nations and is under the
General Assembly. It is the most important organ (committee) of the United Nations to
debate and take decisions in human rights matters. The Council is composed of 47
member states elected by the General Assembly according to the activity carried out to
defend human rights in their countries.
The General Assembly is entitled to suspend the rights of any Member of the Council if it
decides through voting that the member country has committed serious and systematic
human rights violations.
The most important tasks of the Council are as follows:
• Examine and discuss human rights situations, even in case of serious and systematic
violations
• Present recommendations for the promotion and protection of human rights
• Offer recommendations to the General Assembly for the protection of human rights in
International Law
• Quickly respond to emergency situations in human rights matters
• Every four years, UN member States must submit a national report to the Council with
the initiatives and measures taken to improve the human rights situation in the country
and it will indicate the degree of fulfilment of the obligations undertaken. The
Presidency of the Council will make appropriate recommendations on this report.
Articles
Article 1
The Human Rights Council will apply the rules established by SEKMUN for the General
Assembly. It will also include the following articles.
Article 2
SEKMUN organisation committee will decide the number of countries that will compose
the council of the 47 possible members.
Article 3
The Human Rights Council will have its own president who will be assisted in his tasks
by a vice-president and a conference official.
Article 4
Once the agenda has been adopted each item will be discussed.
Article 5
In case of emergency related to serious human rights violations, the Council may hold an
extraordinary meeting to discuss the matter in question, provided it is requested by a
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member country of the Council. The request must be subject to voting and it must be
seconded by an absolute majority of the members of the Council.
Article 6
At each SEKMUN a UN Member State will have to present and defend a report indicating
the initiatives and activities carried out to improve the human rights situation in the
country and to fulfil the obligations undertaken. The time assigned for the presentation of
the report shall be 5 minutes. The Presidency and the delegates of the Council may ask
questions and ask for clarifications on the report. The debate will finish with the presentation of the recommendations made by the President of the Council.
Article 7
The Presidency may invite representatives from national human rights institutions and
NGO's authorised by the UN to take part in any of the sessions of the Council. A representative may make a brief presentation (3 minutes) and reply to the questions made by the
members of the Council.
Article 8
If serious and systematic human rights violations are occurring in a country represented
at the Human Rights Council, any Member Country is entitled to present a claim to prevent that the country in question carries on being part of the Council. In such a case, the
President of the General Assembly will submit that to voting.
To suspend a Member Country from the Council, two thirds of the votes of the General
Assembly will be required.
g) Rules of procedure of the Executive Board of UNESCO
The representatives of the 58 countries that compose the Executive Board of UNESCO
debate on issues related to the following objectives:
• Attaining quality education for all. Special emphasis is given to the education of girls
and women, reform of the university education system, education for adults and continuing education.
• Fostering progress, transfer and exchange of knowledge in natural, physics, social and
human science. Helping to correct the imbalance of human resources in science and
technology, as 90% is concentrated in industrialised countries. Establishing universal
ethical rules for research on human genetics and its application.
• Safeguarding the world’s cultural and natural heritage. Fostering also the return of
stolen or illegally exported cultural goods to their countries of origin. Furthermore, it
fosters creativity, preservation of cultural traditions and promotion of reading.
• Fostering freedom of the press, pluralism and independence of the media. Denouncing
violations of freedom of the press. Providing special assistance to developing countries
for them to establish their own computer systems to access the Internet and social networks.
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Articles
Article 1
The Executive Board of UNESCO will apply the Rules of Procedure established by
SEKMUN for the UN General Assembly, which will also contain the following articles.
Article 2
Of the 58 member countries, the SEKMUN organisation committee will decide on the
number of countries that will integrate it.
Article 3
At the Executive Board of UNESCO the president will be assisted in his tasks by a vicepresident and a conference official.
Article 4
English will be the language for work at the UNESCO Board.
Article 5
If the content of a theme thus requires, the President may invite representatives from institutions and NGOs authorised by the UNESCO to take part in the debate.
Article 6
For a resolution or decision to be approved by the Executive Board of UNESCO a majority
of 50% + 1 is required. When a resolution is voted there will only be affirmative and negative votes (no abstentions).
Article 7
The representatives from institutions and NGOs may not take part in any voting held at
the sessions of the UNESCO Board.
VI. Resolutions
a. Guide for the Development of a SEKMUN Resolution
Resolutions have a common format that must be followed. Every resolution project is
made off three parts:
1. Heading
2. Preamble paragraphs
3. Operative Paragraphs
General guidelines
For practical reasons, and in order to locate a term or phrase, all the lines of the sheets
used to write a project of resolution have to be numbered in the left margin, even if there
are unwritten lines. Under the information of the headline and underlined there goes the
title "Draft Resolution". The rest of the resolution is composed of paragraphs (clauses of
any type and articles).
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For purposes of control, all documents that have being approved will receive a name and
a number. This is granted by the Presidency and the aim is to certify that the above mentioned document has fulfilled all the necessary specifications (for instance, Draft
Resolution A.1).
The CLAUSES (paragraphs) define a certain attitude or position of the United Nations.
There are pre-ambulatory and operative clauses. They begin always with a verb, an adjective or an adverb. To identify them in the document, these words must be underlined or
written in italics.
All paragraphs in the form of a clause must end with a comma (,) if it is a pre-ambulatory
clause or a semicolon (;) when the clauses are operative.
One or several sheets with the signatures of the ambassadors of the countries that support
the resolution will be attached to the resolution presented to the Approval Committee,
with its full name and his country in clear print. The collateral of the country which
ambassador does not appear in the list of signatures will not be valid.
The resolutions must only be written on one side of the paper.
Heading
The headline will include the relevant organ, the topic and the collaterals, in this order.
a) The organ will be the “General Assembly” or the “Security Council”
b) The topics are formally indicated as “Subject” or “Topic”.
c) The collaterals are formally indicated by the titles "Supported for" or “Signed by".
Immediately, all countries that support the project are enumerated, numbered, separated
by a semicolon (;).
Preamble Paragraphs
The intention of the Preamble Paragraphs is to mention the historical background or to
establish the current situation of the topic to be discussed. The preamble paragraphs are
always clauses and begin always with a gerund.
Some preamble clauses are as follows:
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Further regretting
Further recalling
Further warning
Noting with approval
Noting with regret
Noting with concern
Noting with satisfaction
Affirming
Alarmed By
Seeking
Aware of
Considering with concern
Further considering
Contemplating
Convinced
Fully believing
Believing
Welcoming
Realising
Declaring
Disapproving
Wishing
Emphasising
Emphasizing
Desiring
Expressing its appreciation
Guided by
Having adopted
Having Considered
Having studied
Having examined
Having devoted attention
Having heard
Having received
Noting with deep
Noting with satisfaction
Observing
Observing with appreciation
Observing with satisfaction
Objecting
Disturbed/concerned
Fully alarmed
Fully aware
Deeply preoccupied
Deeply convinced
Deeply disturbed
Deeply Concerned
Deeply preoccupied
Reaffirming
Acknowledging
Recalling
Reaffirming
Recognising
Remembering
Further recalling
Referring
Taking into account
Bearing in mind
Taking into consideration
By reading the resolution it must give the sensation that the United Nations (or one of its
organs) is speaking. Therefore, depending on the organ, the resolution will say: "(The
General Assembly is) convinced, considering, concerned, etc."; "(The Security Council is) convinced, considering, concerned, etc."
Operative Character Paragraphs
The solution in a resolution is presented by a logical sequence of operative paragraphs in
progress. These paragraphs must recommend, establish, define, encourage, ask for certain actions, or establish favourable or unfavourable opinions with regard to an existing
situation.
To organise the actions contained in a resolution systematically, the clauses must be numbered (a number followed by a full stop) at the beginning of the paragraph.
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Operative clauses always begin with a verb in present indicative. With regard to the conjugation, the criterion for pre-ambulatory clauses is used: it must read as "the General
Assembly is", etc. In general, operative clauses end with a semicolon (;).
List of terms to start operative paragraphs:
Accepts
Further invites
Further proclaims
Further recommends
Further reminds
Further resolves
Welcomes with approval
Affirms
Encourages
Supports
Approves
Authorises
Holds
Condemns
Confirms
Considers
Decides
Declares
Defines
Cautiously declares
Deplores
Appoints
Emphasises
Urges
Expresses
Expresses its appreciation
Expresses its desire
Expresses its hope
Finally condemns
Has resolved
Urges
Invites
Regrets
Calls
Requests
Proclaims
Reaffirms
Recommends
Recalls
Resolves
Solemnly affirms
Requests
Takes into account
Transmits
Urges
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b. United Nations sample resolutions
United Nations
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28 February 2005
Fifty-ninth session
Agenda item 87 (b)
Analyzing Resolutions
The aim of the analysis of resolutions implies identifying the topic, the collaterals, and finally the intention.
Once the intention has been established, the resolution can be analysed in detail.
The form of the resolution and the terms used therein can determine the intention. Some of them are unclear aiming at extending the debate on the subject while others require immediate implementation.
Amending the resolution in debate
Once the time of the project presentation has expired, the Approval Committee will choose the resolution
to be discussed at the Special Debate. It may happen that, as consensus and collaterals are being sought,
during unofficial consultations some points will have to be negotiated, for which reason the projects submitted are general.
For this purpose, particular debate of a resolution is essential, since amendments are presented then and
this makes the project larger and more relevant. To draft a resolution, the delegations shall try to include,
delete or change words, sentences or paragraphs drawn up according to the above Explanations.
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
[on the report of the Second Committee (A/59/485/Add.2)]
59/241. International migration and development
The General Assembly,
Recalling the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development adopted at Cairo1, in particular chapter X on international migration, and the key actions for the further implementation of the Programme of Action, set out in the annex to General Assembly resolution S-21/2 of 2 July
1999, in particular section II.C on international migration, as well as the relevant provisions contained in
the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development 2, the Programme of Action of the World Summit for
Social Development 3, the Platform for Action adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women4 and
the outcome documents of the twentyfourth5 and twenty-fifth6 special sessions of the General Assembly,
Recalling also its relevant resolutions, in particular resolutions 57/270 B of 23 June 2003, 58/190 of 22
56
December 2003 and 58/208 of 23 December 2003, in which it decided to devote a high-level dialogue to international migration and development during its sixty-first session, bearing in mind that the purpose of the
high-level dialogue is to discuss the multidimensional aspects of international migration and development
in order to identify appropriate ways and means to maximize its development benefits and minimize its
negative impacts,
Reaffirming the obligations of all States to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms,
reaffirming also the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 7, and recalling the International Convention
on the Elimination of All
_______________
1 Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5–13 September 1994
(United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18), chap. I, resolution 1, annex.
2 Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6–12 March 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I.
3 Ibid., annex II.
4 Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4–15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II.
5 Resolution S-24/2, annex.
6 Resolution S-25/2, annex.
7 Resolution 217 A (III).
Forms of Racial Discrimination 8, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women9 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child10,
Noting the work undertaken under the International Migration Policy programme by the United Nations
Institute for Training and Research, the International Organisation for Migration and the United Nations
Population Fund, in partnership with the International Labour Office, the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and
other relevant international and regional institutions, with a view to strengthening the capacity of
Governments to manage migration flows at the national and regional levels and thus foster greater cooperation among States towards orderly migration,
Noting also the ongoing efforts and recent activities within the United Nations system and the other intergovernmental activities and multilateral initiatives on international migration and development being undertaken, as well as the exchanges of information on the subject,
Recalling the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members
of Their Families11, which entered into force in July 2003,
Welcoming the adoption of the special theme of the thirty-ninth session of the Commission on Population
and Development in 2006, which will be “International migration and development”12,
Taking note of the views of the Member States on the question of convening a United Nations conference on
international migration, its scope, form and agenda, noting the low number of respondents to the survey of
the Secretariat, and in this context inviting the Secretary-General to continue considering the issue,
57
Acknowledging the important contribution provided by migrants and migration to development as well as
the complex interrelationship between migration and development,
Aware of the fact that all countries are impacted by international migration, and hence stressing the crucial
importance of dialogue and cooperation so as to better understand the international migration phenomenon, including its gender perspective, and to identify appropriate ways and means to maximize its development benefits and minimize its negative impacts,
Realizing the benefits that international migration can bring to migrants, their families, the receiving societies and their communities of origin and the need for countries of origin, transit and destination to ensure
that migrants, including migrant workers, are not subject to exploitation of any kind and the need to ensure
that the human rights and dignity of all migrants and their families, in particular of women migrant workers, are respected and protected,
_______________
8 Resolution 2106 A (XX), annex.
9 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol.1249, No.20378.
10 Ibid., vol. 1577, No. 27531.
11 Resolution 45/158, annex.
12 Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2004, Supplement No. 5 (E/2004/25), chap. I.B,
decision 2004/1.
Noting that an overall commitment to multiculturalism helps to provide a context for the effective integration of migrants, preventing and combating discrimination and promoting solidarity and tolerance in
receiving societies,
Aware that, among other important factors, both domestic and international, the widening economic and
social gap between and among many countries and the marginalization of some countries in the global economy, due in part to the uneven impact of the benefits of globalization and liberalization, have contributed
to large flows of people between and among countries and to the intensification of the complex phenomenon of international migration,
Recognizing that countries can be concurrently any combination of origin, transit and/or destination,
1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General13;
2. Reconfirms that the Secretary-General will report to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session on the
organisational details of the 2006 high-level dialogue;
3. Recognizes the important contributions that international and regional efforts, including by the regional
commissions, can provide to the high-level dialogue on international migration and development;
4. Invites appropriate regional consultative processes and other major initiatives undertaken by Member
States in the field of international migration to contribute to the high-level dialogue;
5. Takes note of the establishment of the Global Commission on International Migration;
58
6. Calls upon all relevant organs, agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations system and other
relevant intergovernmental, regional and sub regional organisations, within their continuing mandated
activities, to continue to address the issue of international migration and development, with a view to integrating migration issues, including a gender perspective and cultural diversity, in a more coherent way
within the broader context of the implementation of agreed economic and social development goals and respect for all human rights;
7. Encourages Governments of countries of origin, countries of transit and countries of destination to increase cooperation on issues related to migration, and notes with appreciation the numerous meetings and
conferences convened relating to migration and development, in particular in the context of regional cooperation;
8. Invites Governments, with the assistance of the international community, where appropriate, to seek to
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7 March 2007
make the option of remaining in one’s own country viable for all people, in particular through efforts to
achieve sustainable development, leading to a better economic balance between developed and developing countries;
_______________
13 A/59/325.
9. Reaffirms the need to adopt policies and undertake measures to reduce the cost of the transfer of
migrant remittances to developing countries, and welcomes the efforts of Governments and stakeholders
in this regard;
10. Requests the Secretary-General, within existing resources, to prepare a comprehensive overview of
studies and analyses on the multidimensional aspects of migration and development, including the
effects of migration on economic and social development in developed and developing countries, and on
the effects of the movements of highly skilled migrant workers and those with advanced education;
11. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its sixty-first session
on the implementation of the present resolution.
75th plenary meeting
22 December 2004
Resolution 1748 (2007)
Adopted by the Security Council at its 5648th meeting on 27 March 2007
The Security Council,
Recalling all its previous relevant resolutions, in particular resolutions 1595 (2005), 1636 (2005), 1644
(2005), 1664 (2006), 1686 (2006), 1373 (2001) and 1566 (2004),
Reaffirming its strongest condemnation of the 14 February 2005 terrorist bombing, as well as of all other
attacks in Lebanon since October 2004, and reaffirming also that those involved in these attacks must be
held accountable for their crimes,
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Having examined the report of the International Independent Investigation Commission (S/2007/150)
(“The Commission”), submitted pursuant to resolutions 1595 (2005), 1636 (2005), 1644 (2005), and 1686
(2006),
Commending the Commission for the outstanding professional work it continues to accomplish under difficult circumstances in assisting the Lebanese authorities in their investigation into all aspects of this
terrorist act,
Taking note of the letter of the Prime Minister of Lebanon of 21 February 2007 to the Secretary-General
(S/2007/159, Enclosure) requesting that the mandate of the Commission be extended for a further period
of up to one year from 15 June 2007 in order to ensure stability and continuity in the investigative process,
and noting the concurrent recommendation of the Secretary-General in this regard,
Noting the Commission’s conclusion that, in light of its current and planned investigative activities and
while significant progress has been made, it is unlikely that the Commission will complete its work before
its current mandate expires and that the Commission therefore welcomes the Lebanese request for an
extension of its mandate beyond this date,
Willing to continue to assist Lebanon in the search for the truth and in holding all those involved in this
terrorist attack accountable,
1. Welcomes the report of the Commission;
2. Decides to extend the mandate of the Commission until 15 June 2008 and declares its readiness to terminate the mandate earlier if the Commission reports that it has completed the implementation of its
mandate;
3. Requests the Commission to continue to report to the Council on the progress of the investigation every
four months, or at any other time as it deems appropriate;
4. Decides to remain seized of the matter.
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c. I SEKMUN Meeting sample resolutions
2007 SEKMUN
26 April 2007
AG/01/07
General Assembly Resolution
First period of sessions
Supported by: Spain, Italy, Russia, China, USA, Slovenia, Peru, Australia, Japan, Great
Britain, Morocco, Belgium, China and Ghana
Topic:
60th Anniversary of Unicef: Education as a key factor in the development of Children. Are
we educating with equal opportunities to all boys and girls in the world?
The General Assembly,
Acknowledging that the greatest problem for some countries lies in that Education is key to
progress in society and quality of life,
Recalling the right that each person has to be educated, which is recognised in the Human
Rights Declaration, International Agreements and the Convention on the Right of the Child,
Reaffirming the right that these treaties establish for free education, at least elementary and
basic education, for the development of human personality, sense of dignity, to be free and
freely participate in the society where he lives,
Taking into account the precarious economic situation of these countries and the aid they
need
1. It urges the governments of the countries in which Education is not sufficiently efficient to
take responsibility for the education of their people;
2. It supports economic incentives to students’ families as a means to eradicate child labour
in boys and girls, provided this aid is monitored;
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3. It considers necessary to ensure the maintenance of the families through Unicef for them
not have to rely on the work of their children and for the children to study at educational
institutions;
4. It designates aid for developing countries to invest in schools, providing teachers and
material to give classes and training the best students to become teachers;
5. It recommends awareness campaigns on gender equality;
6. It requests the governments from these countries to provide support and cooperation to
carry out this long process, as assessment and progressive development of economy, politics, etc., will depend on future generations. If the children are not granted their right to
Education, or if their conditions of life prevent them from studying and attending school
we cannot expect anything of the future of these countries because social, political and
economic progress depends on the children;
7. It condemns those companies that seek and use child labour;
8. It proposes that laws be enacted to punish this kind of act;
9. It proposes the construction of houses near the educational institutions;
10. It confirms the extension of the external debt of those countries that need it and it also
requests not to collect interest;
11. It encourages the integration of ethnic minorities;
12. It urges that each country, as far as possible and according to their specific circumstances and situation, helps those countries with insufficient means to seek better Education.
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2007 SEKMUN
26 April 2007
CS/01/07
Resolution of the Security Council
First period of sessions
Supported by: Indonesia, United States, Italy, China, Peru, France, Ghana, South Africa,
Great Britain, Congo, Qatar, Panama, Slovenia, Russia and Belgium
Topic:
Situation in Iran
The Security Council,
Deeply concerned about the threat and tension generated after the sanctions and measures taken, such as blocking the sale of weapons to Iran,
Recalling previous resolutions on proliferation of nuclear weapons in Iran, in particular
1696, 1737 and 1747,
Reaffirming how relevant it is to attain stability in the Middle East, owing to the drastic
situation in which it is immersed;
Highlighting the importance of IAEA reports and cooperation from that country with the
international community,
Taking into account the importance of diplomacy,
1. It Requests that Iran be subject within a maximum time limit of thirty days to inspections
from the IAEA and the establishment of cameras in all the installations required;
2. It urges the government of Iran to provide all the information required by the IAEA so
that, within thirty days, the end of nuclear development is declared;
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3. It urges the continuation of the payment of sanctions in effect until today, until the civil
end of nuclear development can be proven.
4. It further recommends the continuation of the investigation by the IAEA after the time
limit of thirty days and the maintenance of the cameras after expiration of the said time
limit.
5. It finally declares the cancellation of the sanctions when the civil end of nuclear development has been proven.
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VII.Bibliography
Useful books and publications:
Basic Facts about the United Nations. Text book for secondary and university students.
Everything you always wanted to know about the United Nations. A book with questions and
answers to introduce students at the intermediate and secondary level to the United
Nations. It includes a test to assess their knowledge.
The UN in our daily lives. A book with accounts on the United Nations which illustrates the
important relations between the UN and the daily lives of people.
Charter of the United Nations and Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Image and reality. A brochure with frequently asked question on the United Nations.
These are the United Nations. A book with illustrations that invites readers to embark in a
guided tour at the United Nations.
Teaching manuals
Juego de material de clase. Three books (Primary, Intermediate and Secondary Education)
Books for classes and exercises arranged for each subject.
Human Rights Education Manual. For Primary and Secondary teachers and students.
Published by UNESCO.
Guía del medio ambiente para estudiantes y profesores.
Assistance to teaching
Flags of the United Nations. Poster with the flags of the Member States of the United
Nations.
Map of the world. Basic map of the world, with statistics on population and list of the
Member States of the United Nations.
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Internet
www.un.org (Main Web page of the United Nations)
www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/ (Source of teaching material, activities for class and games.
It includes online debates for students).
www.Unicef.org/ (Material on the rights of the child).
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POSITION DOCUMENT
Committee: General Assembly
Country: France
Subject: Refugees
Students: Jordi Gaya and Álvaro García
Educational Centre: SEK-Catalunya
Basic information
France, officially called French Republic or Republic of France, is a Member Country of
the European Union and Paris is its capital city. It has a total area of 675,417 km2 and 64.5
million inhabitants.
The Region of France covers several regions in the world. Its metropolitan area, also called
Continental France, is located in Western Europe.
Its European insular territory includes the Island of Corsica, in the Western
Mediterranean Sea, and several coastal archipelagos in the Atlantic Ocean.
In America the French Guiana and the islands and archipelagos of Martinique,
Guadeloupe, Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin, form part of the Region of France. In the
Indian Ocean, the islands of Mayotte and Reunion and, in the Pacific Ocean, the archipelagos of the French Polynesia and New Caledonia.
The atoll of the Clipperton Island in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and the so-called French
Southern and Antarctic Lands are also territories of France, although uninhabited.
France is a highly developed country, both in terms of its economy and socially, with its
culture extensively known internationally and influential in the geopolitical arena. It is the
sixth world economy in terms of its GDP and it is a member of the G8, of the Eurozone,
and the Schengen Area. The most relevant multinational companies, leaders in several
industrial segments and primary sector, are established in its territory. Also, it is the first
world tourist destination with more than 75 million foreign visitors a year.
France, the birthplace of the first Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, is a
founding member of the United Nations and one of the five permanent members of its
Security Council.
France hosts the headquarters of the Council of Europe and of the European Parliament,
both in Strasbourg, and of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
and of the UNESCO, in Paris. It is also one of the eight most powerful nuclear powers and
member of NATO.
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OFFICIAL POSITION FOR THE ISSUE OF "RIGHT OF NATIONS TO SELFDETERMINATION”
The French Delegation,
Considering that the so called right of nations to self-determination entails the fact that a
nation can have its own sovereignty, apart from the right to decide, fully independently
and without any external influence, on its form of government and its economic, social
and cultural development,
Is of the opinion that,
France is against this right, as several cultures are within its boundaries and it does not
intend to fragment the territory for this reason. Furthermore, the different cultures within
French territory have merged with the French culture over the years and such cultures
and traditions have become one.
Currently, the French Republic does not deny the regions their legitimate intention to
become independent provided, as the Charter of the United Nations states, a referendum
on the will of the people to undertake such a project is done. So far there has been no petition expressing such an intention.
Believes that,
Ceding any of its territories would entail an economic and cultural loss, for which reason,
although it agrees with the Charter of the United Nations, France would not like to do it.
Proposes that,
A high degree of autonomy be given to the peoples who want it and they should have control over internal policies, provided the country dominates external policies.
Otherwise, France proposes that all people may have access to the right to autonomy, provided there is absolute majority of the people who want it. And provided such people can
govern themselves.
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