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International
Schools
Est. 1892
SEKMUN Handbook
Model United Nations
applied to teaching
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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?
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III. Model United Nations
a. Brief history of the United Nations
b. United Nations bodies enacted in the SEKMUN Model
1. General Assembly
2. Security Council
3. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
4. UNICEF Executive Board
5. Human Rights Council
6. UNESCO Executive Board
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15
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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. Executive Board of UNESCO
VI. Resolutions
a. Guidelines to draft resolutions
VII. Annexes
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53
53
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I. Preface
In today’s globalised world, conflicts impact on all areas and corners of the world, even
when they occur in highly isolated regions. Educational institutions, too, are affected by
the tensions that human beings in general suffer. For this reason, we must spare no effort
to ensure that the conflicts and troubles affecting humanity are studied in schools and
universities.
The United Nations - founded over 70 years ago - is the only international organisation
entrusted with dealing with these problems globally, to ensure security in the world and
safeguard the development and dignity of all human beings.
The model United Nations applied to education is based on these two concepts. It is essential, therefore, that this teaching activity should simulate, as closely as possible, the real
structure of the United Nations and that the debates should address issues currently on
the international agenda, in exactly the same way as the delegates representing the 193
member states of the organisation would do.
The success of any model UN is based on sound preparation, on being acquainted with the
rules, acquiring expertise in the techniques of debate and negotiation, analysing in depth
the real position of the country being enacted and being familiar with the drafting of official documents.
This SEKMUN Handbook deals with these points. It is a basic tool for students and teachers preparing to take part in SEKMUN. The content should be consulted extensively
and useful tips taken from it.
The first model United Nations took place at Harvard University more than 70 years ago.
As a result of the excellent academic results obtained, the activity was gradually introduced in other universities, schools and educational institutions. Thousands of model
United Nations are currently organised in all regions of the world. In Spain, the SEK
Educational Institution, in collaboration with the Spanish UNICEF Committee, organised
the first SEKMUN meeting in April 2007.
Taking part in SEKMUN is an experience that allows students from different backgrounds to feel that they all belong to the same family - humanity - that they have only one
home - planet Earth - and that their differences, far from being a hindrance, are an enriching element in our society.
Ángel Escudero de Paz
SEKMUN Director
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II. What is
SEKMUN?
The SEK Educational Institution’s belief in reference learning models was one of the main
reasons for the setting up of the SEKMUN project. SEKMUN simulates a model of the
United Nations, in which participants learn that the best way to solve problems is by dialogue and negotiation, never by violence. In today’s globalised world, the SEK Educational
Institution sets great store by this educational and cultural event, in which students can
not only familiarise themselves with international current affairs, but also get a more globalised view of the world. Students play the roles of delegates from different countries,
participate in debates, deliberations and negotiations, draft documents and speak in
public. The UN General Assembly, the Security Council, the Human Rights Council, the
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the UNICEF Executive Board are the main
bodies enacted in the simulation.
The success of the model depends on the participants being well prepared in techniques
of public speaking, debate, negotiation, drafting and research of the issues included in the
programme. The students represent different countries and, during the meeting, the
atmosphere is one of tolerance and respect for diversity.
The first experiment in the use of a model of this kind took place in 1940, with the League
of Nations - the precursor of the United Nations - in the Faculty of Political Sciences at
Harvard University. The model has been developed most extensively in the United States,
Canada and Latin America. There are several models, such as MINUBA, MEXMUN, in
which schools from different countries participate. In Spain, model United Nations have
I SEKMUN meeting. Opening session.
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VII SEKMUN meeting.
been organised at some universities. However, with the exception of the SEK Educational
Institution, secondary schools have not implemented the model, in spite of the fact that it
is fully operative in the rest of the world.
Why apply this model 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 positively reinforces values such as respect, dignity, freedom,
tolerance and solidarity that are fundamental to our ideology.
Thirdly, because it permits the inclusion in our educational model of related disciplines
and skills such as dialogue, negotiation, public speaking, debate, research and drafting all of which are essential for the future development of our students.
And finally, because it is a pioneer initiative in Spain. We would like the SEK Educational
Institution to be a role model for others and that the model United Nations be gradually
introduced in many schools in our country.
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SEKMUN’s inaugural meeting was held in the 2006-07 academic year. Around 200 students from SEK International Schools took part, in the headquarters of the Madrid
Medical Association. The model involved the simulation of twenty delegations from different countries in meetings of the UN General Assembly and Security Council. In the
second model, the number of delegations rose to thirty and simulations of UNICEF
Executive Board meetings were added to those of the General Assembly and the Security
Council. In the fourth edition of SEKMUN, the Human Rights Council was incorporated,
and English became the language of its deliberations. The fifth edition added the
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and, again, the language used was English. In
the sixth meeting, the Executive Council of UNESCO was included and for this 9th meeting, it has been decided that the work of the General Assembly will be divided into two
commissions: the Commission on Economic and Financial Affairs and the Commission
on Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Affairs.
III. Model
United Nations
SEKMUN - the pioneer in Spain in applying
the Model United Nations to teaching
a. Brief history of the United Nations
The United Nations (UN) was established on 24 October 1945, by 51 countries pledging to
preserve peace through international cooperation and collective security. Today, with a
membership totalling 193 countries, the UN includes almost all the nations of the world
(www.un.org/es/aboutun)
When states become members of the United Nations, they agree to fulfil the obligations of
the UN Charter - an international treaty that sets out the basic principles of international
relations. According to the Charter, the UN has five main aims:
• to maintain international peace and security
• to develop friendly relations among nations
• to cooperate in resolving international problems and promote respect for human rights
• to serve as a centre for harmonising the actions of nations
• to promote economic and social development for all people
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The United Nations is not a world government. It does not collect taxes, it does not have an
army, nor does it make laws. It does, however, provide the means to help resolve international conflicts and formulate policies on matters affecting us all. Another big achievement of the UN has been to boost international law and develop rules and agreements for
the protection of the environment, the use of outer space, the regulation of migratory
work, the fight against drug trafficking and terrorism, the law of the sea and the
Millennium Development Goals. At the UN, all member states - large and small, rich and
poor, with differing political views and social systems - have a voice and a vote.
Most of us know about the work the UN does to ensure peace, development, human rights
and the provision of humanitarian aid. However, the many other ways in which its activities have an impact on our lives are less well known.
This handbook offers a description of the United Nations – how it is constituted and what
it does - in order to help the participants in this SEKMUN meeting learn how the delegates from member countries work to make the world a better place for everyone.
The UN is a meeting place where international efforts to try to resolve problems that affect
humanity can be harmonised. There are more than 30 programmes, funds and affiliated
organisations - known together as the UN system – that cooperate in this task. 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 help improve
telecommunications and enhance consumer protection. The United Nations heads 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 are at the forefront of the fight against AIDS.
The eight Millennium Development Goals, which range from halving extreme poverty
rates to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education by the
target date of 2015, form a blueprint agreed to by all the world’s countries and all the
world’s leading development institutions. They have galvanised unprecedented efforts to
meet the needs of the world’s poorest people.
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II SEKMUN Meeting. Opening speech given by Mr. Federico Mayor Zaragoza.
Millennium Development Goals
Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
• Halve the proportion of people living on less than one US dollar a day.
• Halve the proportion of people who suffer from hunger.
Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education
• Ensure that children everywhere - boys and girls alike - will be able to complete a full
course of primary schooling.
Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women
• Eliminate gender disparity, in primary and secondary education, preferably by 2005,
and at all educational levels, no later than 2015.
Goal 4: Reduce child mortality
• Reduce by two-thirds the under-five mortality rate.
Goal 5: Improve maternal health
• Reduce by three-quarters the mortality rate of mothers.
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.
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Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability
• Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes and reverse the loss of environmental resources.
• Reduce by half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking
water.
• Achieve, by 2020, a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum
dwellers.
Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for development
• Develop further an open, rule-based, predictable, non-discriminatory trading and
financial system.
• Address the special needs of least developed countries. This includes tariff and quotafree access for their exports; enhanced debt relief for heavily indebted poor countries;
cancellation of official bilateral debt; more generous official development aid for countries committed to poverty reduction.
• Address the special needs of landlocked developing countries and Small Island developing states.
• Create, in cooperation with the developing countries, decent and productive work for
youth.
• Provide access, in cooperation with pharmaceutical companies, to affordable essential
drugs in developing countries.
• Make available, in cooperation with the private sector, the benefits of new technologies,
especially information and communications.
In order to reinforce the commitments made at the Millennium Summit, and to examine
the progress made, the General Assembly summoned world leaders to UN headquarters
for another two summits, in September 2005 and 2010. At the end of each meeting, a series
of further commitments were made that, in one way or another, affect all member states:
The industrialised countries undertook to open their markets to products from developing countries, to enhance debt relief, to introduce fairer immigration policies and to
commit 0.5 per cent of GDP for development, increasing this figure to 0.7 per cent by 2015.
Moreover, they pledged to put their own institutions in order: reduce corruption, stop the
illegal flight of capital and combat tax evasion.
The developing countries agreed to take responsibility for their own future, to promote
good governance, democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights and create the conditions necessary for building their own future without need of international aid.
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Achievements up to 2015. Having reached the 2015 deadline, we can conclude that never,
since the foundation of the UN in 1945, have member states committed themselves to such
a huge and significant project. Thanks to the efforts to meet the targets of the Millennium
Development Goals, millions of people live better today than they did 15 years ago.
• Poverty in the world has been halved (5 years before 2015).
• The under-five mortality rate has been almost halved.
• The number of people with access to safe drinking water has increased by 1.7
billion. Access to drinking water in South America is now generalised.
• 90 per cent of children in developing countries now go to school.
• Development aid has increased by 6 per cent.
• There are more women in the labour market.
• Great progress has been made in the fight against malaria and tuberculosis.
The New Agenda for Development
In spite of these achievements, there is still much to do:
• Some regions of the world, such as Sub-Saharan Africa and some countries in South
Asia - about 15 in total – are still caught in the poverty trap.
• Only half the population in the developing world has access to adequate sanitation.
• Hundreds of thousands of women in the developing world die due to complications
during pregnancy and childbirth.
• About 19,000 children die every day from preventable diseases.
• Carbon dioxide emissions are increasing around the world.
• Million of acres of forests are lost every year and many species of animals are
disappearing.
In order to sustain the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals, and to
redress with urgency some of the deficiencies mentioned above, such as poverty, it is
necessary to adopt more far-reaching measures in the most disadvantaged and backward
regions. To this end, the UN General Assembly has decided to call for a new post-2015
development agenda - a new road map for development.
Given all these facts, and especially bearing in mind the millions who, in more than 15
countries in Africa and Asia, are still suffering from hunger and poverty, the UN is calling
for bolder measures and has launched a “New post-2015 Development Agenda”.
b. United Nations organs represented in the SEKMUN Model
The United Nations has six main bodies. 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 in The Hague in the Netherlands.
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At this SEKMUN meeting, the following bodies (committees) will be enacted:
1. General Assembly (www.un.org/es/ga)
All member states of the United Nations 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 key
issues, such as international peace and security, the admission of new members and the
UN budget, are decided by a two-thirds’ majority. Other matters are decided by simple
majority. In recent years, a special effort has been made to reach decisions by consensus,
rather than by formal vote. The Assembly cannot oblige states to comply with its decisions
and resolutions, but its recommendations are an important indication of world opinion
and represent the moral authority of the community of nations.
The General Assembly meets each year in regular sessions, from September to December,
When necessary, it may extend this period into the first six months of the following year,
or hold an extraordinary period of emergency sessions on matters of special interest.
The General Assembly starts its period of regular sessions with a general debate, in which
heads of state or government tend to take part. Once this debate is concluded, the General
Assembly examines the issues raised, and they are passed on for further debate to one of
the following six main committees:
• First committee: Disarmament and International Security Committee
• Second committee: Economic & Financial Committee
• Third committee: Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee
• Fourth committee: Special Political & Decolonization Committee
• Fifth committee: Administrative and Budgetary Committee
• Sixth committee: Legal Committee
Once the matters referred to each of the committees have been debated, the respective
draft resolutions are voted on. When the committee work is concluded, by mid-December,
all the resolutions approved are referred to a plenary session of the General Assembly.
At the SEKMUN meeting, two of the committees will be enacted: the Economic and
Financial Committee and the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee.
2. Security Council (www.un.org/es/sc)
Under the UN Charter, the Security Council has primary responsibility for the mainte-
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I SEKMUN Meeting. Opening speech given by Mr. Carlos Robles Piquer.
nance of international peace and security, and can be convened to meet at any time when
peace is threatened. Also, according to the provisions of the Charter, all members of the
United Nations are obligated to comply with the decisions of the Security Council.
The Council consists of 15 members. Five are permanent members: China, the United
States, the Russian Federation, France and the United Kingdom. The other ten are elected
by the General Assembly for two-year terms. The member states are still considering the
introduction of changes in the composition and working methods of the Council, to reflect
current political and economic realities.
When a threat to international peace is brought before the Council, it considers first the
possibility of reaching a resolution by peaceful means. It may give advice and propose
ways of reaching an agreement, or initiate mediation. In cases where fighting has broken
out, the first thing the Security Council tries to broker is a ceasefire. It may send
a peacekeeping mission – the Blue Helmets – to ensure that the parties adhere to the truce
and keep opposing forces apart.
The Security Council can take measures to ensure its decisions are abided by. It can also
impose economic sanctions or order an arms embargo. On some occasions, it has authorised member states to use “all necessary means”, including collective military measures, to
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enforce its decisions.
The Security Council also recommends to the General Assembly the appointment of the
Secretary-General and the admission of new members to the United Nations.
3. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) (www.un.org/es/ecosoc)
The founders of the United Nations affirmed that economic and social development and
international cooperation were essential to attain peace in the world. The UN Charter
entrusts the Economic and Social Council, also known as ECOSOC, with the responsibility of working towards the economic and social progress of humanity.
ECOSOC is the main forum where economic problems to do with trade, transport, industrialisation, economic development, and social issues related to population, children, housing, women’s rights, racial discrimination, drugs, crime, social welfare, young people, the
environment, education, health and the promotion of human rights are analysed and discussed.
Functions of ECOSOC
•It analyses and discusses international economic and social problems and looks for solutions.
•It promotes respect for human rights.
•It carries out studies and reports on related issues and makes policy recommendations to
UN member states and to the United Nations itself.
•It facilitates international cultural and educational cooperation and promotes the resolution of economic and social problems and matters related to health.
•It analyses progress made by United Nations programmes in terms of development, with
the inclusion of the Millennium Development Goals.
•It calls emergency meetings whenever there is a humanitarian emergency.
Member countries and sessions
ECOSOC consists of 54 members representing, in equal proportion, various regions of the
world. They are elected by the General Assembly for a three-year term. 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 approved by simple majority.
At ECOSOC sessions, the representatives of member states, the executive heads of the UN
system and representatives of international institutions and civil society may discuss fun-
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damental matters related to economic, social, cultural and environmental development.
NGOs recognised by ECOSOC may send observers to the meetings and they may sometimes express their opinion on the items included on the Council’s agenda.
4. UNICEF Executive Board (www.unicef.org)
UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund) was established by
the United Nations in 1946, after World War II, to provide assistance to European children
who had suffered the consequences of the war.
In 1953, it was renamed “The United Nations Children’s Fund” and it became a permanent
agency of the UN. UNICEF’s mission is to advocate for the protection of children’s rights,
to help meet their basic needs, and increase their chances of achieving their full potential.
UNICEF helps governments, communities and families to make the world a better place
for children. It is the only UN organisation devoted to children and their mothers.
Its activity is guided by the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child – a child being
anyone under the age of 18.
UNICEF works in 158 developing countries, in accordance with agreements and projects
reached with their respective governments. It provides nutrition, basic education (especially for girls), drinking water, sanitation and primary healthcare services (supply of
essential medicines and vaccines). It also offers emergency assistance.
UNICEF has its headquarters 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. The aim is to improve the lives of the boys and girls of the world,
mainly in the poorest countries.
The Executive Board is the most important organ in UNICEF. The Board is composed of
representatives from 36 member countries. It proposes policies, examines country programmes, and approves the budget and monitors UNICEF activities.
The work of the Board is coordinated by the President and the Vice-presidents. To facilitate debate within the Board, the UNICEF office drafts a report on each topic of the programme that is presented by the Executive Director of UNICEF.
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The Spanish Committee of UNICEF was created more than 50 years ago. It had its headquarters in Madrid, and from there all the activities are coordinated although, to cover the
whole national territory, it has 17 autonomous committees which are, in turn, made up of
provincial committees.
5. Human Rights Council (www.ohchr.org)
The Human Rights Council is the main forum of the United Nations in which to debate,
discuss, take decisions and co-operate on human rights issues. The Council has its headquarters in Geneva. It holds three sessions a year and has powers to meet to discuss
emergency situations involving human rights at the request of any Council member.
The Council was created in 2006 by a resolution of the General Assembly (A/RES/60/251)
to replace the Commission on Human Rights with a better-organised and more efficient
body. The Council is composed of 47 member states elected by the General Assembly, in
accordance with each country’s contribution to the defence and protection of human
rights. The election of Council members takes place at the General Assembly by absolute
majority voting and according to the following geographical representation: thirteen
countries belonging to the African group, thirteen to the Asian group, six to the Eastern
European group, seven to the Western European group and other states, and eight to the
Latin American and Caribbean group.
The role of the Council is to help UN member states fulfil their commitments to human
rights, through dialogue, development of skills and technical assistance. The Council also
makes recommendations to the General Assembly to boost the development of international law in human rights’ matters.
Every four years, UN member states must submit a report to the Council specifying 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 in the Council’s deliberations.
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) also works for human
rights. OHCHR is a separate entity from the Human Rights Council and, within the UN
system, it coordinates and is in charge of the organisation’s activities in matters of human
rights. OHCHR provides substantial support to the Council’s meetings. It has prominent,
independent experts and it follows up on decisions taken at Council sessions.
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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)
6. Executive Board of UNESCO (www.unesco.org)
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) was established in 1946 to promote world peace based on education, natural, social and human
sciences, culture, communication and cooperation among nations. The constitution of
the organisation 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”.
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 UNESCO is the General Conference, consisting of the representatives of 193 member countries. The General Conference holds a meeting every two
years to determine the policies, the work programme and the budget of the organisation.
The Executive Board is the administrative body of UNESCO. It prepares the work of
the General Conference and it ensures that the decisions adopted are implemented. It
meets twice a year and consists of the representatives of the 58 member countries elected by the General Conference.
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The main objectives of UNESCO are:
• To attain quality education for all and promote lifelong learning.
• To mobilise scientific knowledge and science to attain sustainable development.
• To foster cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and a culture of peace.
• To address new ethical and moral problems.
• To build integrated knowledge societies by means of information and communication.
• To uphold freedom of the press and independence of the media.
• To safeguard and preserve cultural and architectural historical sites.
IV. Training for
the Model
Research is an essential part of our model. It is through research that we will find the evidence and arguments needed to construct our discourse.
To do our research, we need to look at:
• Libraries: titles, author and subject
• Prominent people and experts we can interview on the subject matter
• Newspaper articles
• The Internet
Once we have concluded our research and have the information we need, we must organise it to make it clear when we deliver it.
Communication must be done through a discourse with the following basic structure:
• Introduction
• Development
• Conclusion
We must also be persuasive when we present the information. This can be attained
through:
• The personality of the delegate: he/she should be kind, considerate, pleasant, honest and
have a sense of humour and restraint.
• He/she should have a pleasant voice.
• He/she should be effective in his/her non-verbal communication: constant eye contact,
use facial expressions and effective gestures with one’s head, have good posture when
walking in the room and 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.
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What is a negotiation?
Negotiation means resolving differences by using creative and flexible techniques in order
to reach 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 margins 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 defend 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 in the population. That is our concern. This aim may be
achieved 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 other members 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 (including Europe, Central Asia, Canada and United States)
- LATIN AMERICAN AND THE CARIBBEAN GROUP
- ASIA-PACIFIC GROUP
- WEST ASIA GROUP
• 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 simulation of a model United Nations such as SEKMUN is that these
groups must be included so that the debate and negotiation of the issues may be enriched.
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V. SEKMUN
General Rules
a. SEKMUN General Rules
CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION
SEKMUN is the enactment of the Model United Nations in which students from the 4th
grade of the Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO) and 1st and 2nd grades of higher
secondary education (Baccalaureate) at SEK Schools participate jointly with students
from guest schools.
The students play the role of “delegates” from different countries and take part in debates
and negotiations, draft documents, speak in public, deliberate, etc.
The main organs/committees of the United Nations are enacted: the General Assembly
(GA) (two commissions), the Security Council (SC), ECOSOC, the UNICEF Executive
Board (UEB) and the Human Rights Council.
At a time of almost total globalisation, this educational and cultural event allows students
to acquire a general view of the world in which they interact, as well as acquiring skills in
current issues and international politics. Participants can understand that the best way to
resolve problems is through dialogue and negotiation and never by violence.
The success of the model lies in the students taking part being trained in the techniques of
persuasion, public speaking, debate, negotiation, drafting and researching the issues,
identifying themselves with the ideology of the country they represent, within an atmosphere of tolerance and respect for diversity.
CHAPTER II. PARTICIPANTS AND STRUCTURE
1. DELEGATIONS
Article 1
The delegations shall comprise two delegates in each of the following committees: the
General Assembly (two commissions), the Security Council, ECOSOC, the UNICEF
Executive Board and the Human Rights Council.
Article 2
The terms “Member State”, “Representation” or “Delegation” may be used indistinctly.
Their members shall be indistinctly called “delegates” or “representatives”.
Article 3
The student who leads the delegation will act as Ambassador. He/she will be assigned to
an organ/committee, but he/she must be familiar with all the issues raised in the model, as
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he/she may actively participate in any session and, in particular, in 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
to participate in a session in which information will be given of 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 being discussed is directly linked to the matter
in hand, for instance: Palestine, the Vatican, the International Monetary Fund, the Red
Cross, Western Sahara, etc.
2. ORGANS/COMMITTEES
The organs/committees enacted will be:
1.The General Assembly (Commission on Economic and Financial Affairs and
Commission on Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Affairs)
2. The Security Council
3. ECOSOC
4. UNICEF Executive Board
5. The Human Rights Council
6. UNESCO Executive Board
Article 6
Each organ/committee shall be governed by both the general rules and its own rules of
procedure.
Article 7
The General Assembly shall deal with the issues established for SEKMUN and shall comprise 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 comprise the five permanent members:
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II SEKMUN Meeting. Activities of the Model.
France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, China and the United States, and ten
non-permanent members.
Article 9
All the committees shall address the issues established for SEKMUN and shall consist of
the countries chosen by the SEKMUN Organising Committee.
3. AUTHORITIES
SECRETARY GENERAL
Article 10
The Secretariat shall be the final decision resort within the model. It shall interpret these
rules of procedure and decide on issues not established therein.
Article 11
The Secretariat shall comply by these rules and ensure that others observe them. It shall
impose any disciplinary measure necessary when the code of conduct is infringed.
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, the Human
Rights Council and the UNESCO Executive Board.
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Article 13
The Secretary General shall officially declare SEKMUN opened and adjourned.
Article 14
Powers of the Secretary General:
a) Should it be deemed necessary, he/she will chair the organs/committees of the model.
b) He/she will inform the various organs/committees of the issues being addressed in
other organs/committees. He/she will inform the General Assembly of any issue related to
international peace and security being addressed at the Security Council. Furthermore,
he/she will inform the Assembly as soon as the Council ceases to address these issues.
c) He/she will facilitate negotiations between the representatives and shall co-operate with
them within the model. He/she may participate actively.
d) He/she may be a member of the Approval Committee for Draft Resolutions.
e) The Secretary General may delegate his/her powers, in full or partially, to another authority of the model.
f) The Secretary General may allow the entry of special observers to the various locations
of the model, under his/her express authorisation and in his/her presence.
Article 15
The authorities of each organ/committee shall comprise:
a) President
b) Moderator
c) Conference Official
Article 16
Powers of the President:
He/she is the maximum authority of the organ/committee; he/she exercises the powers
conferred upon him/her by 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 order of questions and announce decisions. He/she shall be part of
the Approval Committee of Draft Resolutions and shall be in charge of keeping order in
the places where the organs/committees meet.
The President may decide, either directly or by proposing to the delegations, on the following matters:
a) the time allotted to speakers
b) the final list of speakers
c) the closure of the debate
d) the suspension or adjournment of a session
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e) the order in which draft resolutions are submitted
f) the announcement of the kind of vote and its result
Article 17
Responsibilities of the Moderator:
The Moderator shall take the place of the President in case of the latter’s absence. He/she
shall assist the Presidency in its tasks during the sessions. He/she will be a member of the
Approval Committee for Draft Resolutions, which assesses and amends draft resolutions
to be submitted to the Presidency.
Article 18
Responsibilities of the Conference Official:
He/she shall assist the Presidency during formal sessions. He/she will record the votes of
the delegations. He/she will resolve any difficulties the delegations might experience and
facilitate communication through written messages, if authorised to do so by the
Presidency. He/she shall have powers to monitor messages brought by the Pages to decide
if the content is appropriate and, should this be the case, he/she shall take them to the
Presidency. The Conference Official shall co-ordinate the work of the pageboys.
Article 19
Approval Committee
The Approval Committee for Draft Resolutions shall report to the Presidency of the
organ/committee and shall comprise the President, the Moderator and the Conference
Official.
Responsibilities of the Approval Committee:
a) to receive and check draft resolutions, verifying if these meet essential requirements in
form and content, before being submitted to the committee
b) to decide on the order of submission of the draft resolutions for debate
c) to incorporate, during the debate, any amendments or rectifications to the draft resolution that arise before a final version is reached.
6. SUPPORTING STAFF
Article 20
Responsibilities of the Pages:
They will assist the Conference Official and facilitate the communications of delegations
through written messages that they will take to the Conference Official.
Article 21
Responsibilities of the persons in charge of public relations:
They will co-operate in the organisation of the event:
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1. Control the entry and exit of observers and guests in the different committees, in accordance with the president’s instructions.
2. Welcome and accompany important figures and guests attending the model.
3. Ensure that the requirements for material that arise in the rooms are met.
4. Inform the participants of the space and services they may require.
5. Take part in the inauguration and closing ceremonies.
CHAPTER III. PROTOCOL
Article 22
Spanish will be the official language of the General Assembly, the Security Council and the
UNICEF Executive Board in the model, and English will the official language of ECOSOC,
the Human Rights Council and the UNESCO Executive Council.
Article 23
All participants must wear their credentials’ badge in a visible place at all times.
Article 24
During the activities of the model, decorum of delegates with each other, with members of
the organisation committee and the authorities of the model, must be strictly formal and
respectful 1. The teacher advisors will also use formal address when speaking to the authorities of the model.
Article 25
Instructions on the appropriate dress code, as indicated by the SEKMUN Organisation
Committee, must be followed. Clothes must be formal: a suit for male students, with jacket
and tie. Female students shall wear formal clothes (a suit, a dress, a skirt or smart trousers). Short trousers, T-shirts, tennis shoes, jeans and caps are forbidden. If there is an
official national garment, the delegate may wear it during SEKMUN (djellaba, sari,
kippah, etc.). In cases 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. Pages will pass messages related to the
work of the committee, provided this 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, a delegate may leave the room for a brief moment provided he/she informs
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the Conference Official of the reason for his/her leaving the room. If the absence of the
delegate leaves his/her delegation without representation in the organ/committee, he/she
will leave his/her voting card on the table of the conference Official and will get it back
upon his/her return.
Article 28
The timetable set by the SEKMUN organisation committee must be strictly adhered to.
Article 29
Use of electronic devices that may interfere with the work at the sessions is forbidden,
except by persons authorised by the SEKMUN Organisation Committee2.
Article 30
Contact between teacher advisors and students taking part in the model is not allowed
during the activities contemplated for each organ/committee3.
Article 31
The delegates may not eat, drink (except for water) or smoke on the premises of the
various organs/committees. No alcoholic drinks may be consumed on the days when the
model takes place. Smoking is not permitted in the roofed areas assigned to the model.
Article 32
Throwing of waste is strictly forbidden, except in the places assigned for it.
Article 33
Warnings.
In cases of lack of decorum, or infringement of the rules, or disorder during your stay at
SEKMUN, you will be subject to a warning from the authorities. If two warnings are given
to a delegate during the same session, he/she will have to leave the room and will not
return until the following session. After a third warning, the delegate will have to leave
SEKMUN on a permanent basis.
1 They must not personalise, but speak only on behalf of a country, a delegation, etc. For instance, phrases
such as “I believe that...” cannot be used; instead appropriate phrases should be used such as “the delegation
of my country believes...” or “my government or my country believes that...”
2 This article mainly means mobile phones, computers, tablets, 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/her 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 committee.
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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, the delegates and the Presidency will find the information
needed to participate correctly in the General Assembly sessions.
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 consist of 55 articles, divided into the following subjects:
I. Composition
II. Debate
A. Public and Private Sessions
B. General and Particular Debate
C. CAUCUS (Recess)
III. General Debate
Extraordinary Questions Session
IV. Draft Resolution of the Amendments
V. Particular Debate
A. Open Debate
B. Closed Debate
C. Speakers’ List
D. Closed Debate on an Amendment
E. Formal Vote on Draft Resolutions at a Plenary Session
VI. Presidency
VII. Motions
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 one’s hand to request the
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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 a delegate can carry them out are also explained.
How to present a draft resolution in terms of form and content and what the procedure is
for voting are explained here. The votes must follow the classification and percentages
established in these rules.
By studying and reading these rules, the delegates will learn about their own and the authorities’ obligations and rights at the sessions of the Model United Nations. The authorities have the responsibility of ensuring compliance with these rules. They maintain discipline in SEKMUN and can take action if the code of conduct is infringed. Finally, it is
important to mention that the model General Assembly rules were drafted on the basis of
the original rules of the UN General Assembly. However, their application and use are
subject to adaptation in accordance with the size, organisation and type of Model United
Nations chosen.
I. PARTICIPANTS
Article 1
All Member States of the United Nations and NGOs chosen by the SEKMUN organisation
committee may participate in the General Assembly as members.
II. DEBATE
A. Public and Private sessions
Article 2
The General Assembly starts with a plenary session at which the President will announce the subject matters assigned to each of the Assembly committees and inform delegates
that when the issues have been debated and the draft resolutions voted upon in the respective committees, these will then have to be ratified in a further plenary session of the
Assembly.
Article 3
In the two commissions of the Assembly -the Economic and Financial Commission and
the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Commission - a single delegate will represent each
delegation.
Article 4
Upon completion of the work of each of the commissions, the President of the Assembly
will call a plenary session at which the delegates will ratify the resolutions approved in
commission.
Article 5
The plenary sessions of the Assembly will be chaired by the President, a moderator and
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two conference officials.
The Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Commission will be chaired by the President of
the Assembly, who will act as commission Chair, with the help of a conference official or
the moderator.
The Economic and Financial Commission will have a chairperson, helped by a conference official or the moderator.
B. General and Particular Debate
Article 6
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 7
The observer delegations may:
a) Use motions, take questions and ask questions, in the same way as any other Member
State of the General Assembly.
b) They may neither present amendments nor second them. Nor may they second draft
resolutions.
c) They do not have the right to vote.
Article 8
No delegate may speak without obtaining prior permission from the Presidency. The
President may call to order any delegate if 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 another delegate or delegation.
C. CAUCUS (recess)
Article 9
A caucus, or recess, may be requested through a motion by the delegations or 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 simple or unmodertated caucus is an informal meeting between the
delegates in which they may debate directly with the members. The motion for a simple
caucus must be immediately seconded, and submitted to a vote, requiring a qualified
majority to be approved. An extension of the caucus may be requested provided it takes
up less time than the original meeting. The Moderator may consider any of these motions
to be out of order.
MODERATED CAUCUS: The purpose of a moderated caucus is to facilitate debates. The
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II SEKMUN Meeting. Speech by a Delegate.
Moderator will give the floor to delegates at his/her discretion. Once the motion has been
moved, it must be seconded and immediately submitted to a vote, requiring a qualified
majority for its approval. No more than one extension will be allowed, and it must be shorter than the original meeting. The Moderator may consider any of these motions to be out
of order and his/her decision is not subject to appeal.
III. GENERAL DEBATE
Article 10
The Presidency will make a speakers’ list for each topic so delegations can submit their
official positions. Once the list has been closed, delegations wishing to be included must
request to be so, in writing to the Presidency. The Presidency will chair the debate and will
give the floor to the person who raises his/her hand and can recommend the delegates to
request an interruption of the speakers’ list in order to change to a caucus.
Article 11
The speakers in the debate will be the delegations on the list and those chosen by the
Presidency, according to their ideological and regional diversity and to enrich the debate.
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II SEKMUN Meeting. Speech by the Delegate from Turkey.
Article 12
Each speaker will have a maximum speaking time - allotted by the chair - of between one
and a half and two minutes to explain his/her position on the subject of the debate. He/she
may be asked one or two questions. Delegations may ask to reduce the time allotted to a
speaker by presenting a motion of procedure that must be approved by a qualified majority.
Article 13
Any member, by the use of motions (see Chapter VII), may ask the speaker one or two
questions. The speaker, in turn, may:
a) give the remaining time to another delegation
b) give the remaining time to the chair
He must announce his decision to the chair before starting his speech. Otherwise, the
remaining time will be assigned to the chair.
IV. DRAFT RESOLUTION
Article 14
During the debate, and in order to group together countries with a similar position, the
delegates will take notes to draft a work sheet to reflect the positions of the different delegations on the matter under discussion (work sheets should not be confused with position
documents).
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Article 15
The delegations will compose draft resolutions to be submitted to the Approval
Committee. Draft resolutions must have the endorsement of at least thirty per cent of the
delegations represented. Member States can only endorse one draft resolution per topic
addressed. Draft resolutions must follow the format established in “Guidelines for drafting Draft Resolutions”.
Article 16
Draft resolutions must be based on the aspects discussed in the general debate and caucuses.
Article 17
The Approval Committee may choose one or more of the draft resolutions, for the consideration of member states, so that they can be debated.
a) The Approval Committee may introduce modifications in form, but not in content, to
the draft resolutions presented, as well as to resolutions approved by the General
Assembly.
b) If there is any relevant change to be made to the content, the chair shall announce it to
the delegates for their consideration.
Article 18
When presenting draft resolutions to the Approval Committee, the delegations submitting them must also say which of the other delegations endorse them.
Article 19
The draft resolution selected by the Approval Committee will be read out loud by the
President and then discussed, amended and voted on by the delegations in the Particular
Debate.
V. PARTICULAR DEBATE
Article 20
The Presidency will summon three delegates who may belong to the same or different
delegations, to present the draft resolution for discussion. The delegates will be given
enough time to defend the draft resolution and, subsequently, they may be asked to
answer a maximum of five questions.
Article 21
The Particular Debate may be held in one of two forms: open debate or closed debate. The
Presidency may recommend, or the delegates may request, which form to follow and may
change it when deemed appropriate.
A. OPEN DEBATE
Article 22
The President will chair the debate and, at his/her discretion, give the floor to anyone who
raises his/her placard or hand. If deemed necessary, he/she will draw up a Speakers’ List.
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VI SEKMUN Meeting.
B. CLOSED DEBATE
Article 23
The Presidency will make a Speakers’ List, in accordance with ideological and regional
diversity, and with a view to enriching the debate.
Article 24
During the Particular Debate, each speaker will be allotted the time considered necessary by the committee to make a comment and/or propose an amendment.
Article 25
If an amendment is proposed, it will be read out by the chair.
Article 26
Amendments may be suspended by the Presidency should it be deemed convenient.
Resumption of the amendments during the debate will be at the discretion of the
Presidency.
Article 27
The delegation having the floor may be subject to one or two questions before a vote on
the proposed amendment is taken.
Article 28
The delegation that makes a comment in favour or against the project, without proposing
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an amendment, may give the remaining time to another delegation or to the Presidency.
C. Amendments
Article 29
An amendment adds, deletes or modifies parts of a proposal. Each delegation may
submit a maximum of one amendment to each of the draft resolutions under discussion.
An amendment may not change the original spirit of the proposal.
Article 30
The amendments proposed 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 31
In the first instance, an informal, but compulsory, vote will take place. It will be non-binding and abstentions will not be allowed.
Article 32
If an amendment is voted for or against, by qualified majority, it will be considered as
accepted or rejected accordingly.
Article 33
If there is no qualified majority after an informal vote on the amendment, a closed debate
on the amendment will commence.
D. Closed Debate of the Amendment
Article 34
The Presidency will make a speakers’ list in favour of, and one against, the amendment,
taking into consideration ideological and regional diversity and with a view to enriching
the debate.
Article 35
Each speaker will be allotted a fixed time by the Presidency to make a comment. He/she
may be subject to one or two questions.
Article 36
The amendment will be voted formally, with abstentions allowed.
Article 37
If a simple majority should vote in favour, the amendment will be considered accepted.
Otherwise, it will be rejected.
E. Substantive Voting at the General Assembly
Article 38
To be approved, a resolution requires an absolute majority of votes in favour.
Abstentions are allowed.
Article 39
The decisions of the General Assembly in matters related to maintaining international
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peace and security will be approved, if they have a qualified majority of the votes of the
members present. Abstentions are allowed.
Article 40
Should the President deem it appropriate, he/she may allow the delegations to justify
their votes.
a) The speech will be allotted a limited time that will be 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 and with a view to enriching the debate.
VI. PRESIDENCY
Article 41
At a Plenary Session, the Presidency will be exercised by whoever is occupying the chair
of the session at that moment.
Article 42
The Presidency will comply, and ensure the compliance of others, with these rules
during formal sessions. He/she will supervise the sessions and take disciplinary measures if the code of conduct is infringed.
Article 43
The Presidency will give the floor only to those who request to speak, taking into consideration the ideological and regional diversity and with a view to enriching the debate.
Article 44
The Presidency may reduce the maximum time assigned to speeches by the delegations
during the debate. He/she may totally or partially suspend the questions and the points
of order, parliamentary inquiry and procedure. At his/her discretion, these may be
totally or partially resumed during the debate. He/she may interrupt the sending of messages via the Pages for the time he/she deems appropriate.
Article 45
The Presidency may grant a right of reply. The time assigned to it shall not exceed one
minute.
Article 46
He/she may grant a right to comment and will decide how long that can take.
Article 47
If deemed convenient, he/she may call for a non-binding informal vote for guidance purposes.
a) The delegations are under no obligation to vote, except in the informal voting of the
amendment and in informal votes on motions of procedure.
b) The Presidency will announce the results of the voting in the manner he/she deems
appropriate.
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VII. MOTIONS
Article 48
Delegates may make use of motions to request that a situation or proposal be considered
during the formal sessions. The type of motion must be stated clearly.
Article 49
There are four types of motion: a point of order, a point of procedure, a point of parliamentary inquiry and a point of personal privilege.
A. Point of Procedure
Article 50
Points of Procedure may be used by delegates to propose an alternative to the normal
course of a debate.
a) For the Presidency to consider hearing a point of procedure, it must be supported by at
least one seconder. The delegation that requested the motion may not second it.
b) A point of procedure cannot interrupt a delegate or the Presidency, while they are speaking or in the middle of a procedure.
c) The Presidency may reject, accept or submit a point of procedure to a vote. In which
case, the chair will call for a mandatory informal vote, with no abstentions allowed. If the
request receives a qualified majority, it will be accepted; if not, it will be rejected.
II SEKMUN Meeting. Work session at the Security Council.
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B. Point of Order
Article 51
A point of order is used when a delegation considers that the Presidency has made a mistake with regard to procedure and wishes to make it known, with all due respect.
a) A point of order cannot interrupt a delegate who is speaking
b) The Moderator, or the President, may rule the motion to be out of order at his/her discretion and such a ruling is not subject to appeal.
C. Point of Personal Privilege
Article 52
A point of personal privilege is used when a delegate considers him/herself affected by
external circumstances.
a) Points of privilege cannot be rejected without being first heard.
b) A point of personal privilege can interrupt the speeches of delegates and of the
Presidency or halt a procedure.
D. Point of Parliamentary Inquiry
Article 53
A point of parliamentary inquiry is a request for clarification of the process that is being
applied in the debate.
a) For the Presidency to consider hearing a point of inquiry, it must have at least one seconder. The delegation that requested the motion may not second it.
b) A point of inquiry cannot interrupt a delegate who is speaking.
VIII. VOTING
Article 54
Each country has one vote. It may be for, against, or an abstention.
IX. MAJORITIES
Article 55
A qualified majority represents a vote by two thirds (66.6%) of the members attending the
meeting.
Article 56
An absolute majority represents the voting of 50%+1 of the members attending the meeting.
Article 57
A simple or relative majority represents one more vote in favour of a certain position
than against it.
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VI SEKMUN Meeting. Human Rights Council
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 know the rights of the delegations and authorities. Another objective
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,
resides in the fact that the Council drafts binding resolutions, rather than recommendations.
These rules will provide the Secretariat, delegates and the Presidency with the information they will require to organise sessions of the Security Council at the Model United
Nations and participate properly in them. 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 have 42 articles, divided into the following categories:
I. Participants
II. Work programme
III. Procedure
A. Informal session
B. Formal session
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IV. Voting
V. Resolutions
VI. Presidency
VII. Secretariat
The rules define the conditions under which both Member and non-member States participate. Furthermore, it emphasises that the Security Council may meet on an urgent footing 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 working topics. It
explains that the essential element to submit a draft resolution is that it must be included
in the list of issues on the Agenda.
The rules explain the procedure and workings of the Security Council and differentiate
between official sessions and private sessions. Furthermore, they explain the voting process and differentiate between formal substantive decisions. As for the resolutions, these
rules state that, for resolutions to be approved, they must be supported by the votes of at
least 9 members with no votes against from the Permanent Members. They also explain
how resolutions are proposed, debated, and how an amendment is subject to voting. They
also stipulate how the Secretariat takes part within this organ/committee.
By studying these rules, delegates will learn the code of conduct and the protocol to be
followed during the sessions.
They will also learn about the obligations and rights of the Presidency at the sessions of
the Model United Nations. The Presidency has powers to ensure the rules are abided by.
He/she is in charge of maintaining discipline in the model and 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 these Security Council Rules were drafted on the basis of the original rules
of the Security Council of the United Nations Organisation. However, their application
and use may be subject to adaptation, in accordance with the size, organisation and type
of Model United Nations being enacted.
I. COMPOSITION
Article 1
The Security Council is composed of 15 members. Five are permanent: France, the
Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, China, and the United States of America. The
other 10 have the status of non-permanent members.
Article 2
Any member of the United Nations that is not a member of the Security Council may participate at a formal session if it requests to do so in writing to the Presidency.
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Article 3
The Members of the Security Council may be called urgently to attend a meeting to try to
resolve any problem that threatens international peace and security.
II. PROGRAMME OF WORK
Article 4
The working language of the Security Council will be Spanish
Article 5
The Security Council’s work programme is recommended by the Secretary General or by
any Member State; it is analysed and approved by the President, and Member States
represented in the Council must vote on it.
Article 6
At the beginning of each daily session, an informal vote will be taken to determine the
order of topics on the agenda.
Article 7
The Presidency shall communicate the agenda to the representatives of the Security
Council, after it is approved by a vote.
Article 8
The representatives of the Security Council who wish to submit draft resolutions to the
Presidency must ensure that the subject matter 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 9
Any UN Member State, even those not represented in the Security Council, may draw
attention to any controversy or situation that threatens international peace and security.
A Member State wishing to raise such an issue must do so in writing and deliver the
request to the Presidency of the Security Council at the beginning of each session.
Article 10
Any member of the United Nations, even those not represented in the Security Council,
may submit draft resolutions provided the topic is included on the agenda. These draft
resolutions may be analysed only at the request of a member of the Security Council.
Article 11
If consideration of any item on the agenda of a Security Council meeting is not fully concluded at that meeting, it shall automatically be included on the agenda of the next meeting.
Article 12
The Secretary General, or the Presidency, may make additions to the agenda at any time
during a periodic meeting.
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III. PROCEDURE
Article 13
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 14
All issues shall initially be debated at this kind of session that is held behind closed
doors.
Article 15
All Member States of the Security Council may speak to challenge, refute or prove the different positions arising during the conversation. After that, there will be a debate and the
result of a non-binding, informal vote on the draft resolution/s will be reported to the
Presidency.
Article 16
Once the Presidency has given the floor, the delegations will directly address the Security
Council or any Member of this organ/committee.
Article 17
The parties to a controversy that are not represented in the Security Council may be invited to participate in an informal session but will not be entitled to vote.
Article 18
At this kind of session, the Members of the Security Council may pose questions to the
parties in conflict.
Article 19
The Secretary General may be invited to participate as an observer.
B. Formal Session
Article 20
A formal session is a public and official session. During this kind of session, states that
are not Member States of the Security Council have the right to speak provided they have
previously been included on the speakers’ list.
Article 21
If conflicts between States are 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 22
This type of session starts with a debate on the matter for which the meeting was called.
Should there be any draft resolutions previously drawn up, these will be read, discussed
and voted on.
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Article 23
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. These are used for negotiations, to draft resolutions, etc. The duration of a caucus will be determined and
announced by the Presidency.
Article 24
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 25
Decisions related to form (matters of procedure) are passed with the favourable votes of
nine members of the Security Council, with or without the votes of the Permanent
Members.
Article 26
Substantive decisions (matters involving world peace and security) need the affirmative
votes of a minimum of nine members of the Security Council and no vote against from
Permanent Members. If any of the five Permanent Members votes against the project, it
will be vetoed.
V. RESOLUTIONS
Article 27
For a resolution to be approved, it must be supported with the favourable votes of at least
nine members of the Council and no vote against by any of the Permanent Members.
Article 28
Once the topic has been presented and debated, the delegations propose a Caucus, or the
Presidency proposes a Caucus, in order to draw up a draft resolution.
Article 29
Several projects may be submitted to the Presidency, according to the consensus reached
during the negotiations between the members of the Security Council.
Article 30
To propose amendments to draft resolutions, the delegations must do so in writing to the
Presidency during the recess, and subsequently present them at the formal session. The
Presidency will give the floor to the delegation that proposed an amendment and will
submit it to a vote.
Article 31
The Presidency may suspend the discussion of amendments whenever he deems it
appropriate.
Article 32
If several amendments to a draft resolution are proposed, the Presidency shall rule on
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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 33
The Presidency will read and submit to vote each of the draft resolutions received.
Article 34
The delegations that have submitted a draft resolution may withdraw it before discussions start on the proposed amendment or before a vote is taken.
VI. PRESIDENCY
Article 35
The Presidency must comply with each of the articles in these rules.
Article 36
All the powers of the President will be vested in the person holding the Presidency or
chair.
Article 37
The President may release Presidential Communiqués on the consensus of the Members
of the Security Council in relation to a specific topic.
Article 38
The President of the Security Council may make a presidential declaration if there is a
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consensus. The declaration of the President is not a resolution and, therefore, is not of a
compulsory nature.
Article 39
The Presidency will chair the debate and take into account how to enrich it.
VII. SECRETARIAT
Article 40
The Secretary General may provide oral or written declarations to the Security Council
on any issue to be considered by the Council.
Article 41
The Secretary General will be a guarantor of peace treaties. He may mediate in all formal
and informal negotiations carried out among delegations.
d. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Rules of Procedure
ECOSOC is one of the five principal 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, one the one hand, to
Member States and, on the other, to the United Nations system comprising more than 30
specialised programmes and organisations.
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 decisions and resolutions are passed by simple majority. NGO’s recognised by the United Nations may send observers to 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
ECOSOC shall apply the rules established by SEKMUN for the General Assembly.
Furthermore, the following articles will apply.
Article 2
For practical purposes, of the 54 member states that form part of ECOSOC, the SEKMUN
organisation committee shall decide on the number of countries that will be included in
it.
Article 3
ECOSOC will be chaired by a President, who shall be assisted in his tasks by a Vice-
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President and a Conference Official.
Article 4
English will be the working language at ECOSOC.
Article 5
In the case of an emergency related to natural disasters, famine, etc., ECOSOC may hold
an extraordinary meeting.
Article 6
If the President deems it appropriate, he may invite representatives of international institutions and NGOs recognised by the United Nations to take part in the discussions. In
such cases, a representative may make a brief introduction (3 minutes) and reply to the
questions asked by the members of ECOSOC.
Article 7
The representatives from the institutions mentioned in article 6 may not take part in any
voting at ECOSOC sessions.
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
solely devoted to children and their mothers. It promotes the “Rights of the Child” (child
being any person under the age of 18) and its activities are based on the “Convention on the
Rights of the Child”. The Executive Board is the most important organ of UNICEF. The
Board comprises representatives from 36 member countries. It proposes policies, examines country programmes, approves the budget and monitors UNICEF activities. The
work of the Board is coordinated by the President and the Vice-presidents. To facilitate
debate at the Board, the UNICEF office drafts a report for each subject matter that is included the programme presented by the Executive Director of UNICEF.
The Board comes under the General Assembly and ECOSOC. Its tasks are:
• to apply the policies drafted by the General Assembly, under the coordination and guidance of the Economic and Social Council, and ensure their compliance
• to receive information from the Executive Director of UNICEF on the matter under
debate
• to monitor UNICEF
• to approve programmes and decisions on administrative and financial budgets
• to recommend new initiatives to the Economic and Social Council and to the General
Assembly
To enact the UNICEF Executive Board at SEKMUN, the General Assembly rules of procedure will be followed, together with the following articles:
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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 to debate each item, the President
of the Board will, as the Executive Director, make a brief presentation of the report drawn
up by UNICEF.
Article 4
For a resolution or decision (the term used by the Executive Board of UNICEF) to be
approved, an absolute majority is required. When a resolution is voted, only affirmative
and negative votes will be cast (abstentions will not be allowed).
Article 5
The working language of the Executive Board of UNICEF will be Spanish.
f. Human Rights Council Rules of Procedure
The Human Rights Council is part of the United Nations system and comes under the
General Assembly. It is the most important organ (committee) of the United Nations for
debate and decision-making on human rights issues. The Council comprises 47
member states elected by the General Assembly that takes into account the candidate
states’ contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights in their own countries. The General Assembly is entitled to suspend the rights of any Member of the
Council if it decides by vote that the member country has committed serious and systematic human rights violations.
The most important tasks of the Council are as follows:
• to examine and discuss human rights situations, even in case of serious and systematic
violations
• to present recommendations for the promotion and protection of human rights
• to offer recommendations to the General Assembly for the protection of human rights
in International Law
• to respond promptly 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 their coun-
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tries and 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 make up
the council out 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 cases 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
member country of the Council. The request must be subject to a vote and 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.
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g) Rules of procedure of the Executive Board of UNESCO
The representatives of the 58 countries that compose the Executive Board of UNESCO
debate issues in connection with the following objectives:
• to attain 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
• to foster the progress, transfer and exchange of knowledge in natural, physical, social
and human science; to help correct the imbalance of human resources in science and
technology, as 90% is concentrated in industrialised countries; to establish universal
ethical rules for research on human genetics and its application
• to safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage; to foster the return of stolen or
illegally exported cultural goods to their countries of origin; to foster creativity, the preservation of cultural traditions and promote of reading
• to safeguard the freedom of the press and the pluralism and independence of the media.
• To denounce violations of the freedom of the press; to provide special assistance to
developing countries to establish their own computer systems to access the Internet
and social networks
Articles
Article 1
The Executive Board of UNESCO will apply the Rules of procedure established by
SEKMUN for the UN General Assembly, as well as the following articles.
Article 2
Of the 58 member countries, the SEKMUN organisation committee will decide on the
number of countries that will constitute the Executive Board of UNESCO.
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 working language of the UNESCO Board.
Article 5
If the content of a theme should require it, the President may invite representatives from
institutions and NGOs authorised by UNESCO to take part in the debate.
Article 6
For a resolution or decision to be approved by the Executive Board of UNESCO, an absolute majority is required. When a resolution is voted, only affirmative and negative votes
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will be cast (abstentions will not be allowed).
Article 7
The representatives from institutions and NGOs may not take part in any votes held
during the sessions of the UNESCO Board.
Article 8
Spanish will be the working language of the UNESCO Executive Council.
a. Guide for drafting a SEKMUN Resolution
VI. Resolutions
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 purposes, and in order to locate a term or phrase, all the lines of the sheets
used to write a project of resolution shall be numbered in the left margin, even on lines
that are empty. The title “Draft Resolution”, underlined, goes under the heading. The rest
of the resolution is composed of paragraphs (clauses of any type and articles).
For purposes of control, all documents that have been approved will be given a name and
a number by the Presidency and the aim is to certify that the said 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 always start 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 country in clear print. The collateral of a country whose ambassa52
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dor does not appear in the list of signatures will not be valid.
The resolutions should be written on one side of the paper only.
Heading
The heading should include the name of the relevant organ, the subject matter and the
collaterals, in that 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 "Endorsed by" or “Signed by".
All the countries that support the project are then listed and numbered, and separated by
a semicolon (;).
Preamble paragraphs
The purpose of a preamble paragraph is to give the historical background or outline the
current situation of the topic to be discussed. Preamble paragraphs should always be clauses beginning with a gerund.
These are some examples of preamble clauses:
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
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Contemplating
Convinced
Fully believing
Believing
Welcoming
Realising
Declaring
Disapproving
Wishing
Emphasising
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
Reaffirming
Acknowledging
Recalling
Recognising
Remembering
Further recalling
Referring
Taking into account
Bearing in mind
Taking into consideration
On reading the resolution,
one must have the impression that it is the United
Nations (or one of its organs) that is speaking. Therefore, depending on the organ, the
resolution will read:
"(The General Assembly is) convinced, considering, concerned, etc."; "(The Security Council is)
convinced, considering, concerned…” etc.
Operative Character Paragraphs
The solution within a resolution is presented in 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.
Operative clauses always begin with a verb in the present indicative. With regard to the
conjugation, the same criterion as in pre-ambulatory clauses is used: it must read "the
General Assembly is", etc. In general, operative clauses end with a semicolon (;).
List of terms with which to begin operative paragraphs:
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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
Analysing resolutions
The aim of the analysis of resolutions is to identify 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, aimed at extending the debate on the subject, while others require
immediate implementation.
Amending resolutions during the debate
Once the deadline of the project presentation has expired, the Approval Committee will
choose the resolution to be discussed at the Special Debate. It may happen, during unofficial consultations, when consensus and collaterals are being sought, that some points will
have to be negotiated, which is why the projects submitted are general.
For this reason, particular debate of a resolution is essential, since amendments are presented then and this makes the project larger and more relevant. To come up with the final
version of a draft resolution, the Approval Committee will include, delete or change words,
sentences or paragraphs that have been proposed and agreed to in the debate. The
Committee will also bear in mind the meaning and style of the text and the provisions of
these guidelines, when drafting a resolution.
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VII.ANNEX
Working
Documents
I SEKMUN Meeting sample resolutions
2007 SEKMUN
26 April 2007
AG/01/07
General Assembly Resolution
First period of sessions
Endorsed 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. Urges the governments of the countries in which education is not sufficiently efficient to
take responsibility for the education of their people;
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2. Supports economic incentives to students’ families as a means to eradicate child labour
in boys and girls, provided this aid is monitored;
3. 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. 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. Recommends awareness campaigns on gender equality;
6. 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. Condemns those companies that seek and use child labour;
8. Proposes that laws be enacted to punish this kind of act;
9. Proposes the construction of houses near the educational institutions;
10. Confirms the extension of the external debt of those countries that need it and it also
requests not to collect interest;
11. Encourages the integration of ethnic minorities;
12. 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
Endorse 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. 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. Urges the government of Iran to provide all the information required by the IAEA
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so that, within thirty days, the end of nuclear development is declared;
3. Urges the continuation of the payment of sanctions in effect until today, until the
civil end of nuclear development can be proven;
4. Further recommends the continuation of the investigation by the IAEA after the
deadline of thirty days expires and as well as the maintenance of the cameras after
the said deadline should have passed;
5. Finally, declares that sanctions be cancelled when the civilian ends of nuclear
development have been proven.
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General
Information
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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SEKMUN
Model United Nations
applied to teaching
General
Information
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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International
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