Algeria Model United Nations Conference Guide to First Time Delegate
How do students participate in Model
OVERVIEW OF THE CONFERENCE
United Nations Conferences?
What is Model United Nations? Model United Nations (MUN) is a student activity that provides an educational simulation of international politics and diplomacy. As its name suggests, MUN allows students to take on a role as a given country’s
diplomat
within
an
intergovernmental body. Most simulations are of committees within the United Nations, such as the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, and the Security Council, although the largest and most innovative conferences also include a variety of Regional Bodies and smaller Historical or Crisis Committees.
Model United Nations clubs around the world host many conferences open to university students every year. Delegations wishing to participate in these conferences are assigned a specific member country of the United Nations. Their delegates are then placed, by themselves or in pairs, in a specific committee focused on a particular issue of international politics. Representing their assigned country, the delegations are expected to research their country’s position on the issue at hand and defend their assigned
country’s
interests
during
committee session. After a few days of exciting debate, the committee arrives at a
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resolution to the issue, much like real-life
whose substantive excellence is unparalleled
member states of the United Nations do in
on the MUN circuit. Distinctive features of
their chambers.
our conference include crisis simulations,
Is there a particular procedure for debate
press
group,
and
guest
lectures
by
distinguished speakers within Diplomatic
in committee? Yes. Model United Nations follows parliamentary procedure that is very similar to that followed by members of the real-life
career.
Furthermore,
experience
that
AMUN
extends
is
an
beyond
the
discussions in the committee room.
United Nations. Specific information about
Who is the AMUN Secretariat?
procedure in Algeria Model United Nations
The members of the Secretariat, headed by
can be found in the Guide to Delegate
the Secretary-General, are the principal
Preparation and Rules of Procedure.
organizers of the conference and are in charge of all members of the AMUN staff.
What makes Algeria Model United Nations the best conference of its kind? Founded by an Algerian Youth group Algeria Model United Nations one of the most prestigious conference of its kind. Staffed entirely by Algerian Youth, AMUN will bring 120 participants to simulate the activities of the United Nations. Coming from all regions, these students enjoy stimulating
debates
international
issues
on
high
within
priority
committees.
Furthermore, Algeria MUN tasked itself to
They
will
be
available
before
and
throughout the conference to answer any questions or address any issues delegates may have with their committee or with the conference as a whole. All modifications to the Rules of Procedure will be provided by the Secretariat before the conference, and any member of the Secretariat may address any committee at any time. Please feel free to approach any member of the Secretariat with any questions that you may have.
create a special committee that will discuss Algeria Affairs in Arabic language.
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DELEGATE PREPARATION
What are Study Guides and Updates? Chairs of AMUN 2015 write well-
OVERVIEW
researched, up-to-date, and comprehensive
What are the skills of a Delegate? There are several important factors one should look for when applying as a delegate to Algeria Model UN. Delegates most of them are students comfortable with public speaking and preferably possess some debate skills. It is also extremely important that the students be conversationally good in English because the conference, committees, and debates will be conducted solely in English apart from the special committee
study guides are review of the topics covered in committee. Careful reading of the study guide should be delegates’ first starting-point
in
their
committee
preparation. In the fall, Updates are then added by Dais staff to provide either the most recent current-event developments in the topic areas or a more in-depth look into specific issues that supplement the study guide.
that will be addressed in Arabic language.
How should a delegate prepare, beyond
An interest in international affairs and the
reading
ability to work well with others are also
Updates?
important qualities to look for in a delegate. What are some tips for training a Model
Algeria National Model United Nations emphasizes three tactics to good preparation before conference, which will be elaborated research
so
that
delegates feel comfortable with the topics at hand. •Comprehensive
Study
Guides
and
The Study Guides & Updates are meant as a starting point for topic research;
materials by consulting Suggestions for Further Research in study guides, the committee and UN website, and other sources.
one-by-one in this guide: topic
the
delegates expected to go beyond these
United Nations Delegates?
•Thorough
of
Overall,
delegates
must
do
sufficient topic research to be able to formulate plausible solutions in committee. What is the most important thing for a
country
research,
leaving delegates well-versed in their
delegate to keep in mind during their research? Delegates should be familiar with their topic
nations’ positions.
areas and, in particular, the QARMA: •Understanding the rules of procedure to ensure comfort with involvement in committee debate.
Questions A Resolution Must Answer. These questions are provided at the end of each topic area section in the study guide.
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During conference, the committee’s goal
those who feel uncomfortable with rules
will be to answer these questions during
unfortunately tend to shy away from being
debate, and they should be able to provide
active
focus
Delegates should read the Guide to Delegate
to
pre-conference
research
preparation.
and
outspoken
in
committee.
Preparation and Rules of Parliamentary Procedure, which offers sample working
Can delegates at AMUN pre-write
papers, resolutions, rules, and other key
resolutions? Delegates should absolutely NOT pre-write resolutions before conference. Chairs will notice and not allow this, as the point of committee debate is formulating solutions
information about committee procedures. In addition to Guide to Delegate Preparation and Rules of Parliamentary Procedure, new team
members
experienced
together in a cooperative setting.
should
teammates
consult to
get
more clearer
understanding of what occurs in committee, How should delegates conduct their
how debate works, how to get involved in
country research?
the committee room, and more. Students
There are a variety of different methods, which delegates can use to do research on their countries. They can contact their
should practice having a mock-debate using the rules of procedure help them become accustom to using the rules.
country consulates, read articles from policy magazines, do research online, and even consider different treaties that the countries have signed. It is very important that the delegates’ position
papers
reflect
their
assigned
nation’s perspective on the issues. How can delegates prepare for participation in procedural discussion? AMUN has a specific set of rules of procedure, which are included in the Guide to Delegate Preparation and Rules of Parliamentary Procedure. Delegates should review and be familiar with these rules. It is important that delegates familiarize themselves with rules prior to conference; Page 4 sur 8
best to prepare with equal research for
GUIDE TO RESEARCH FOR
both. Once you have an idea of the issue
COMMITTEES
from your study guide, take a look at the
Once you have been placed in a
suggested resources and bibliography for
committee, it is important that you
your committee guide. Read some of the
understand the dynamic of that committee
books if you can, or at least chapters of the
and how you will discuss ways to come to
books used in writing the
a solution on the problems posed by your
chapters, which are pertinent to the
committee
your
questions you have about the committee. A
committee emulates the style and size of
more digestible form of research than
the actual United Nations committee; for
reading whole books is reading articles.
instance, a committee in the General
You can always use Internet resources,
Assembly differs in size, mandate, and
such as online journals or Google Scholar,
nature of topics from a committee in the
to find archived online articles pertaining
Specialized Agencies. Knowing the history
to your topic. Search the news and search
of your committee and how it deals with
your campus library as well and you will
global problems will also get you prepared
find a wealth of information on your topics
and make you feel more comfortable at
that goes beyond that presented in the
conference. The history of your committee
study guide. Use of that knowledge for
will be offered in your study guide, so this
committee debate will be effective in
information will not be difficult to find.
convincing your fellow delegates that your
topics.
Know
how
guide—
That being said, the study guide is an
position is a good one, because you have
important foundation, but it is not the only
the expertise and background information
resource you should use in preparing for
behind your argumentative points.
the
conference.
After
understanding
Finally, the most important research
committee dynamics, the most important
for staying on policy is research on your
research you will be on your topic. The
country’s involvement in the issues. This
study guide will introduce you to the
may be difficult because not every country
problems relevant to your committee and
is affected in the same way by the issues
the ones that your fellow delegates will be
discussed at the conference. However,
debating. Although you may end up only
there is still a way to find out your
having time to debate one, you cannot
country’s policy. You can apply your
predict which topic will be voted on as the
knowledge
primary problem for discussion, so it is
economy, political system, and population
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of
the
country’s
culture,
to the topics beings discussed; these
geared towards facilitating substantive
factors all significantly affect a country’s
preparation.
approach to a problem.
Preparation and Rules of Parliamentary
The
Guide
to
Delegate
You can also find out your country’s
Procedure outlines the format of debate
voting record in the United Nations. The
and Rules of Procedure and the Frequently
UN Bibliographic Information System
Asked Questions document addresses
(http://unbisnet.un.org/) is a website that
many common logistical issues. Updates
may help you by showing you what
to the study guides will be posted by late
resolutions your country has signed or not
October and the committee website will
signed in the past. Once you have a topic
list relevant articles to the topics on the
and committee, look up actual resolutions
agenda.
drafted in those committees and see what
TIMELINE FOR DELEGATE
your country has supported. Staying on
PREPARATION
policy will achieve a much greater effect for the committee in simulating the
September
tensions of the real UN. Looking at actual
Apply for AMUN 2015 by the priority
resolutions on your topic also allows you
registration deadline. Once you are
to see the wording of a resolution, which
selected you will then be assigned to
will help with the more technical aspect of
the country you will be representing
proposing resolutions, and it will also help
and your committee by mid-October.
you see what has already been done. By
Study guides will be posted online at
seeing what has already been tried in your
www.algeriamun.org in late October.
committee, you can avoid proposing
October Announcement of Selected delegates
overdone solutions and start thinking about new ones that may innovate or revise proposals that were not effective. The more prepared you are for substantive debate and resolution building in your committee, the more fun you will have, so stay focused, do the research, and come to conference ready to engage in the practice of discussion and compromise. As you are getting ready for conference, make sure to consult AMUN publications
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to AMUN2015. Learn as much as you can about your assigned country using sites like the CIA World Factbook (https://www.cia.gov/library/publicati ons/the-world-factbook/index. html), as well as your country’s official government website. These kinds of resources will help you stay on policy. Once you have researched both topics
and your country, you will be almost
the rules will help you best participate
ready for debate.
in the debate. December
November
Prepare your travel arrangements, if
Read the study guide for your
you need assistance please contact us
committee, and re-read it to get a clear
at: delegates.affairs@algeriamun.org
sense of the issues and how you as a
Check
out
our
website,
policymaker would approach these
www.algeriamun.org, for conference
issues.
announcements and updates. Be sure
Once you have done an extensive
to pack for the Algiers weather.
reading of the study guide, check out
AMUN Registration opens at 08:00
some of the suggested resources at the
AM in the Conference Venue 27th of
end of the guide and use them to
December, 2015.
research the topic. Position papers
TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS,
should be submitted before the set
FOOD, AND SOCIAL EVENTS:
deadline. Focus your research on your
What is the best way to get to Algiers?
country assignment.
Flights to Algiers National Airport can be Familiarize yourself with resolutions,
expensive for students, but they don’t have
particularly the wording and format of
to be, you can take the Train or Taxi from
resolutions. This will prepare you to
your hometown to Algiers, we strongly
write portions of resolutions, or even
advise you that you come be in Algiers on
whole draft resolutions, that you can
the 26th of December, 2015 so that you can
show other countries in order to gather
do your hotel booking.
support. Begin research for your position paper. Guidelines for position papers are in each study guide. Contact your Chair or
Under
Secretary
General
of
Delegates Affairs for instructions and
What can I expect on the flight? Please be aware that AirAlgerie flights don’t arrive on time, if you are taking Night flights you need to consider your own pick up arrangements.
online submission of position papers. Read
the
Rules
of
Parliamentary
Procedure, as. An understanding of Page 7 sur 8
Once I arrive in Algiers, what do I do? The city of Algiers and its surrounding
said, breakfast generally runs 200 DA, lunch 300DA, and dinner 300DA.
areas have an inexpensive and reliable
What are Algiers’ attractions?
public transport system. The Algiers subway system runs very frequently and is easy and cheap to use. It runs from approximately 5:30AM to 12:30AM daily and the fare is around 50.00 DA. Its stops
Many visitors enjoy spending some extra time in the Algiers, either before or after the conference, to experience some of the
city’s
rich
history
and
many
attractions.
are located all over the city. A map of all CLOSING REMARKS
of the subway stops in Algiers can be found at www.________.com
The Secretariat of AMUN 2015 is always
How do I get to the Conference Venue?
available
By taxi, traffic in Algiers is difficult at
regarding both conference preparation and
times, but the taxis are both prevalent and
logistical issues. Please do not hesitate to
reliable. The approximate fare from La
contact
Grande Poste to the Conference Venue is
Secretariat@algeriamun.org or by phone at
**** DA.
*********** during our working hours,
to
answer
us,
by
your
questions
at
3-5PM Daily. Where should I stay?
We hope you will join us in December for
We highly recommend staying in *****
another
Hotel since it is more convenient for
AMUN 2015!
delegates. Other options can be found on
Sincerely,
our website. – Updates for Selected
ARIF Abdeljalil
Delegates only -.
Secretary General
Please note that we recommend that
unforgettable
experience
Algeria Model United Nations.
the deadline for hotel reservations is due to 10th of December, 2015. Please try to have your room reserved by this time. How much does a meal in Algiers cost? A typical meal in Algiers costs around 300 DA. This value obviously varies greatly depending upon the meal . That
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at