CHSVMUN

COMMITTEES AND THEIR AGENDAS

CHSVMUN – Twenty Fourteen has a total of seven committees functioning. The committees chosen for this year’s conference are as follows – 1. DISEC - DISARMAMENT AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY COMMITTEE AGENDA : THE DANGER AND LEGALITY OF UAVs (UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES) 2. UNSC - UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL AGENDA: TACKLING THE INSURGENT NON-STATE ACTORS IN NIGERIA 3. UNEP - UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM AGENDA: TOXIC WASTE MANAGEMENT 4. UNHRC - UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION AGENDA: UNIVERSAL ABOLITION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT 5. WHO - WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION AGENDA : CONTROLLING THE OUTBREAK OF EBOLA VIRUS IN WEST AFRICA 6. SPECPOL - SPECIAL POLITICAL AND DECOLONIZATION COMMITTEE AGENDA: THE EXACTITUDE OF CHANGING POLITICAL SYSTEMS IN A NATION WITH RETROSPECTIVE LAW MAKING EFFECT AND SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON IRAQ ,SYRIA AND AFGHANISTAN. 7. ECOSOC - ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL AGENDA: OVERCOMING ENERGY POVERTY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES Please note that previous Model UN experience is a prerequisite to participate in the Security Council.

POSITION PAPER

A Position Paper is a written report outlining your country’s position or intentions regarding a

particular matter/situation. Each delegate should write a position paper talking about his/her

country’s stance or position according to the agenda of his/her committee. This position paper

helps you organize data so you are clear to discuss your country’s position with your fellow

delegates.

The position paper will have to be submitted before the MUN takes place so that the committee

will have an idea of the upcoming debate!

This is the structure and few pointers to show you the makings of a great position paper:

Address : “Committee: UNHRC Topic: Violence against women Country: The Republic Of India Delegate: XYZ (name of your school)”

Introduction:

A brief introduction to your country and a short history concerning the topic and committee,

How the issue affects your country

Your country’s policies with respect to the issue and your country’s justification for these policies,

Statistics to back up your country’s position on the issue,

The Body:

Actions taken by your Government with regard to the issue,

Conventions and resolutions that your country has signed or ratified,

UN actions that your country supported or opposed regarding the topic at hand,

A Conclusion:

What your country beliefs should be done to address the issue,

What your country would like to accomplish in the committee’s resolution,

How the positions of other countries affect your country’s position.

There is a sample position paper attached on the next page for your reference.

The position paper should be about one-and-a-half pages long. The position paper should be

submitted by 01/11/2014; late submissions will not be accepted and will result in serious

consequences. There is also a prize for the best position paper!

SAMPLE POSITION PAPER

Committee: Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

Topic: Mitigating the effects of the European Sovereign Debt

Country: The Argentine Republic - República Argentina

Delegate :(your name) (school name)

The European Sovereign Debt is a major, ongoing financial crisis that has wreaked havoc on the

economy of Europe. Since it struck in 2008, the European Sovereign Debt, or the Eurozone Crisis

as it is now being called, has devastated the global economy. Mediterranean nations like Italy,

Greece, Spain and Portugal have been worst hit, with debt-GDP ratios and fiscal debts sky-

rocketing. Despite the introduction of both long-term and short-term policies to alleviate

problems, the efforts have not proven successful in any form.

The Argentine Republic believes that to mitigate the harmful effects of the Eurozone Crisis,

nations should attempt to formulate a solution that will not only concentrate on reducing debts,

but at the same time strive to increase the revenue and the GDP of the nations concerned, thus

stabilizing the overall economy. This strategy will include ensuring the constant flow of capital

into the economies of the crisis-hit countries.

In 1999, the Argentine Republic suffered from a severe economical downturn, caused by excess

financial loans and reduced tax revenue being received by the Argentine government. Riots

filled Buenos Aires and the Argentine Republic suffered from nation-wide revolts in 2001.

However, the Argentine Republic recovered from the crisis through a series of economical

reforms focused on reducing inflation and devaluation of the Peso (₱), far exceeding

expectations.

The same could be done to help suffering nations, as one of the major causes of the Eurozone

crisis is that the Euro (€) is the common currency in various European nations.

Europe currently has an overall debt of €10.49 trillion, with nations owing more than they earn.

Greece’s debt is 162.5 % of its GDP, followed by Italy’s at 120.1%, Ireland at 108.2% and

Portugal at 107.8%.

Another way to reduce the effect of the Eurozone Crisis is to provide more employment and

stabilizing the currency. Although this strategy may not prove instantly successful, it has long-

term benefits and can help the nation to progress in the future. However, this problem cannot

be solved through policies and reforms alone. Nations must work together and help each other

recover by fostering trade relations and strengthening bilateral ties.

As such, the Argentine Republic is willing to extend all the help possible to bring an end to the

European Sovereign Debt Crisis.

RESOLUTIONS

After hours and hours of debating, writing and discussing the committee breaks apart for

drafting a resolution. The resolution would be written suggestions for the issue being discussed

in the particular committee. Resolutions are drafted by delegates and later the best resolution is

voted by the committee, by a simple majority.

Drafting Resolutions

Delegates will draft a resolution at the end of the conference alone or with other delegates. A

Resolution contains three main parts: the heading, the preamble and the operative section.

The Heading will give an introduction on what topic the resolution is about and also will throw

light on the countries submitting the resolution.

The Preamble will state why this topic is addressed in the resolution and the issue’s importance.

The Operative clauses section will recommend ways or actions by which the issue or topic can

be solved.

(A list of perambulatory and operative phrases has been provided…)

(HEADING)

Committee: (The committee in which this resolution is being introduced)

Topic: (topic of resolution)

Main Submitters: (list of main countries sponsoring resolution)

Signatories: (list of countries signed or agreed to resolution)

(PREAMBLE)

The preamble is the second section of the resolution which will state why the selected issue is

being addressed in the UN. It should contain clauses beginning with an underlined present

participle (perambulatory phrase) and should end with a comma. The Preamble can contain

reference to UN charter; topics significance and its impact; mentions of statements made by the

Secretary General or the respective UN agency and recognition of the efforts made by NGO’s or

Un agency’s in dealing with the issue.

(OPERATIVE SECTION)

It is the main part of the Resolution recommending solutions to the issues being discussed in the

committee. Each Operative clause begins with an underlined verb (called an Operative phrase)

and ends with a semicolon. The clauses can be numbered and can be explained, if needed, using

indented bullets. The last clause ends with a period.

Sample Resolution:

Committee: General Assembly

Topic: Strengthening UN coordination of humanitarian Main Submitters: Italy, Japan, and United

States Of America

Signatories: Gabon, Canada, Haiti and Greece

The General Assembly,

Stressing the fact that the United Nations faces significant financial obstacles and is in need of

reform, particularly in the humanitarian realm, Noting with satisfaction the past efforts of

various UN body’s and NGO’s.

1. Calls upon states to respond quickly and generously to consolidate appeals for humanitarian

assistance;

2. Urges member states to comply with goals of the UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs to

streamline efforts of humanitarian aid.

Passing a Resolution

The first draft of the Resolution created by the Main Submitters should attract other countries if

the Resolution is to be passed. The Resolution is checked for proper format and is ensured that

it is relevant to the topic, by the chair, before it is placed for debate to the committee. Later, the

Resolution is “Amended” and is voted. The Resolution with majority votes is selected to be

passed.

Only in the Security Council are the resolutions drafted enforced on the country’s, but, in the

other committee’s the resolutions are provided to help the country by suggesting methods of

action for the future.

AMENDMENTS

A Resolution can be modified by amending or through amendments. An Amendment is a

written request to delete, modify or add a clause to the present Resolution. Amendments help

increase votes for the resolution to be passed or chosen. There are two types of amendments:

A friendly amendment is an amendment that is agreed upon or which is approved by the Main

Submitters and the Signatories of the resolution.

An unfriendly amendment is when the Main Submitters or the Signatories of the resolution do

not agree with the amendment. The amendment then requires the votes of at least 20 percent

of the committee to be passed.

As the resolution passed by a committee is going to be very important for various countries, it’s

necessary to put a lot of thought into the formation of the resolution making it easy and helpful

for the countries its being suggested to.

Sample of an Amendment

Committee: General Assembly

Subject: Strengthening UN coordination of humanitarian

Main Submitters: France and Italy

Signatories: Argentina, India, Pakistan and Togo

Add as the final Operative clause:

Requests assurance of post conflict assistance through reconstruction and development

from member nations.

PREAMBULATORY PHRASES

Sample Preambulatory Phrases

Affirming Alarmed by Approving Aware of Bearing in mind Believing Confident Contemplating Convinced Declaring Deeply concerned Deeply conscious Deeply convinced Deeply disturbed Deeply regretting Desiring Emphasizing Expecting Expressing its appreciation

Expressing its satisfaction Fulfilling Fully alarmed Fully aware Fully believing Further deploring Further recalling Guided by Having adopted Having considered Having considered further Having devoted attention Having examined Having heard Having received Having studied Keeping in mind Noting with regret

Noting with deep concern Noting with satisfaction Noting further Noting with approval Observing Reaffirming Realizing Recalling Recognizing Referring Seeking Taking into account Taking into consideration Taking note Viewing with appreciation Welcoming

Sample Operative Phrases

Accepts Affirms Approves Authorizes Calls Calls upon Condemns Confirms Congratulates Considers Declares accordingly Deplores Designates

Draws the attention Emphasizes Encourages Endorses Expresses its appreciation Expresses its hope Further invites Further proclaims Further reminds Further recommends Further requests Further resolves

Has resolved Notes Proclaims Reaffirms Recommends Regrets Reminds Requests Solemnly affirms Strongly condemns Supports Takes note of Transmits Trusts

GENERAL MUN PROCEDURE

Here’s a bit deeper description on how your day in the conference will

proceed. If you have a clear idea on how the day is going to proceed you can

be more prepared and more confident about your performance. Think of the

MUN as a play and you, delegates, as its actors. Given below, in order, are the

different “scenes” you will be enacting!

Roll call

Like every class in your school, the MUN starts with a Roll call in which the

delegate will confirm his presence by saying “present”! The delegate will also

have to specify if he/she is going to be participating in the voting session

against or for an amendment/resolution by saying “present and voting”. Once

said “present and voting” it is compulsory for the delegate to vote but if said

“present” the delegate can later specify if he/she has changed her/his mind

and wants to vote.

Debate

At a Model UN conference, there is formal debate as well as informal debate,

called caucusing.

Formal Debate: During formal debate, the staff maintains a speakers list and

delegates speak in the order they are listed. At this time, delegates have an

opportunity to share their views with the entire committee. Delegates

make speeches, answer questions, and introduce and debate resolutions and

amendments. Formal debate is important to the committee's work. By not

knowing the rules of procedure, delegates slow down the debate and hold

back their committee's progress.

Informal Debate:

Moderated Caucus: During a caucus, which is a temporary recess, the rules

of procedure are suspended. To go to a moderated caucus, a delegate makes a

motion to suspend debate and the committee votes. Caucusing helps to

facilitate discussion, especially when there is a long speakers list. A moderated

caucus is a mixture of both formal and informal debate. Anyone may speak if

they raise their placard and are called on by the Chair.

Unmoderated Caucus: In an unmoderated caucus, delegates meet informally

with one another and the committee staff to discuss and negotiate draft

resolutions, amendments and other issues.

Voting Procedure

First, amendments are made to the resolutions, if wanted, by the delegates.

Once satisfied, the delegates are to start voting for the best or most apt

resolution. The resolution with the majority votes is selected.

CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

Speakers List

This list made by the chair would contain names of all delegates who wished to

make a speech, on the topic in discussion. The delegates, wanting to be a part

of this list, would have to give their name, when the chair asks, or, send a chit

addressed to the chair.

Speech timings

The timing of your speech in the moderated Caucus would be told to you, by

your chair, in the beginning of the debate. In the un-moderated caucus the

timing would be decided by the chair again prior to the debate. If the delegate

exceeds the timing limit he/she/ is asked to abruptly come to a stop. Thus, be

careful with your speeches timings.

Speeches

The Speaker should, first, address the chair before beginning her/his speech.

The Speech should also be relevant to the topic in discussion, if not, the chair

may ask the Speaker to stop. Though, the speaker should not be interrupted at

any other cost (with a few motions as exceptions).

Yielding Time

After their Speech the Speaker will have to yield the floor to either comments,

questions or to the chair:

Yield to comments: The other delegates can only comment on the

speech and add relevant information to the speech, if they want.

Yield to questions and comments: The other delegates have the

right to question the delegate’s speech and comment.

Yield to Chair: Only the chair can comment or question the

delegate’s speech.

PARLIAMENTARY POINTS

Point Of Personal Privilege

During the discussion or debate, if the delegate is facing a problem concerning

his/her comfort/safety or wellbeing the delegate can raise a ‘Point Of Personal

Privilege’ and the chair will have to address the point immediately.

Point Of Order

During the discussion or debate, a delegate may raise a ‘Point Of Order’ which

will have to be addressed immediately. The ‘Point Of Order’ will have to be

related to the observance of the rules of the committee or the way the Chair is

exercising his/her power.

Point Of Information

After a delegate makes his/her speech, the delegate will be faced with ‘Points

of information’ if the delegate yields to questions and comments. ‘Points of

Information’ are basically questions asked by delegates regarding the speech

just made by their fellow delegate.

Point Of Inquiry

If no discussion or debate is going on a delegate may raise a ‘Point of Inquiry’

to request clarification on the present procedural status of the meeting. The

‘Point Of Inquiry’ cannot disturb a delegate’s speech.

Point of Entertainment

When the hard work of solving wordly matters is over, we munners love to

humor ourselves with a little a bit of entertainment! But do remember this

only happens when the committee’s chair feels that they have completed all

necessary debates and have some time left!

MOTIONS

Motion to Caucus

If the Chair or a delegate recommends this motion the committee will move on

to the next topic or caucus, i.e. moving on to the un-moderated caucus from

the moderated caucus.

Motion to Table Debate

If the Chair or a delegate recommends a debate can be tabled or closed during

the committee’s conference. The ‘tabling’ of the debate will require a 75

percent majority vote. If so, the debate can be tabled and later in the

conference if the debate is to be considered; there will have to be two-third

majority vote from the committee.

Closure of Caucuses

A delegate may any time pass a motion to move on to the drafting of

resolutions and stop the debate. This motion will again need a two-third vote

from the committee, if not, the debate continues. Thought the debate will

automatically come to a stop if the Speakers List is exhausted or the

committee is running out of time.

Here are the motions and Parliamentary Points in order of their

precedence for every committee:

i. Point Of Personal Privilege

ii. Point Of Order

iii. Point Of Inquiry

iv. Point Of Information

v. Motion to Caucus

vi. Motion To Table Debate

vii. Closure Of Caucuses

VOTING PROCEDURES

At the end of the resolution drafting the delegates will have to vote for

resolution or amendments. They have four options:

i. Yes

ii. Yes with rights

iii. No

“Yes” and “No” meaning the delegate is respectively, “for” or “against” the

resolution/amendment. While, when the delegate says “Yes with rights” he

/she mean that they vote “yes” but the delegate would like to make an

amendment or change in the resolution/amendment.

CODE OF CONDUCT

Language

Delegates will have to use proper English language during the whole

conference; usage of any other language during the meeting might result in

suspension. Delegates are not allowed to use personal pronouns, such as “I”,

“me”, “myself”, etc and are to refer themselves as “The delegate of India (your

country)” at all times. Delegates are also requested to refer their fellow

delegates in the same manner. Delegates are not allowed to use the phrase

“third world countries” or will be suspended. Also, delegates should show

diplomatic courtesy to panel members and also to other delegates at all times

as the MUN is a very formal occasion.

Attire

The delegates are allowed to wear formal wear or Indian wear.

Speeches

Delegates are to start their Speeches by addressing the Chair by beginning

their speeches saying - “With the prior permission of the executive board the

delegate of XYZ would like to present their country’s stance on today’s’

agenda.” The delegates are also advised not to “umm” and “like” or the

repetitive usage of any word would affect the panels’ opinion of the delegate.