WISCONSIN HIGH SCHOOL MODEL UNITED NATIONS

March 21-22, 2013

Delegate Handbook
SPONSORS
Institute of World Affairs Center for International Education University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

SECRETARIAT
University of Wisconsin Madison and Milwaukee Students

COOPERATING ORGANIZATIONS
UNA-USA Wisconsin Division Wisconsin Governors Commission on the UN

UWM Institute of World Affairs

P.O. Box 413 Milwaukee, WI 53201 www.ModelUN.uwm.edu

October 31st, 2012 Dear Delegates and Faculty Advisors:

The 2013 Wisconsin High School Model United Nations (WHSMUN) Secretariat is proud to offer this handbook to assist in your preparations for the upcoming conference. This handbook contains detailed background guides for each subcommittee topic; research and procedural information; primers on the United Nations (UN), European Union (EU), Human Rights Council (HRC) and International Court of Justice (ICJ); as well as other important conference information. Background guides for the Security Council (SC), Historical Security Council (HSC), Council of the European Union (CEU), Human Rights Council (HRC), International Court of Justice (ICJ), and the Joint Crisis Committee (JCC) simulations will be sent to participating schools in January 2013. We are pleased to announce that in addition to comprehensive awards, we will continue to give awards for the outstanding position papers. The criteria for these awards can be found in this handbook. If you have any questions about the handbook or need any assistance with conference preparation, please contact Secretary-General, Neil Damron, by e-mailing him at wisconsinhighschoolmun@gmail.com. We hope that you will find this handbook helpful in your preparations and look forward to seeing you in March!
Neil Damron
Secretary-General

Tessa Hahn
Director-General

Teo Diaconescu
Under Secretary-General of Conference Administration

Ian Gorecki
Under Secretary-General of Crisis Administration

Nick Draeges
Under Secretary-General of Human Rights Council

Allison Perlin
Under Secretary-General of Legal Council

Chanho Eric Roh

Under Secretary-General of Delegate Preparation

Table of Contents
Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................................3 WHSMUN Information .............................................................................................................................5 ARE YOU READY? ..............................................................................................................................5 Preparation ..........................................................................................................................................5 Responsibilities ...................................................................................................................................5 Knowledge of the UN .........................................................................................................................6 Conference Procedures and Rules .......................................................................................................6 Understanding Your Nation .................................................................................................................6 Special Simulation Member States .........................................................................................................7 Security Council ..................................................................................................................................7 Historical Security Council 1948 ........................................................................................................7 Human Rights Council ........................................................................................................................7 Council of the European Union...........................................................................................................7 Tentative Schedule of Events .................................................................................................................7 Explanation of Events .............................................................................................................................8 Conference Information ...........................................................................................................................10 General Conference Information ..........................................................................................................10 Number of Delegates .........................................................................................................................10 Dress Code ........................................................................................................................................ 11 WHSMUN 2013 Delegate Code of Conduct .................................................................................... 11 Conference Staff ................................................................................................................................13 Delegate Services ..............................................................................................................................13 Awards ...............................................................................................................................................13 Blocs .....................................................................................................................................................14 Subcommittees......................................................................................................................................14 Main Committees .................................................................................................................................15 General Assembly Plenary Session ......................................................................................................15 Security Council / Historical Security Council ....................................................................................15 International Court of Justice ...............................................................................................................16 Joint Crisis Committee: Cuban Missile Crisis Simualtion ...................................................................17 Conference Preparation and Research .....................................................................................................17 Role-Playing .........................................................................................................................................17 The Head Delegate ...............................................................................................................................17 Researching Your Topic ........................................................................................................................18 Resources ..........................................................................................................................................18 Review of the United Nations ...........................................................................................................20 Review of the International Court of Justice.....................................................................................23 Human Rights Council ......................................................................................................................24 WHSMUN 2013 Topics and Subcommittee Guides................................................................................25 1.1 Prevention of Non-State Actors from Acquiring Weapons of Mass Destruction ...........................26 1.2 Measures to Prevent and Deter Cyber Warfare ..............................................................................27 1.3 Concerning the Ban on Landmines ................................................................................................28 1.4 Implications and Violations Surrounding the Act of Targeted Killings ..........................................28 1.5 The Role of the Media in International Security ............................................................................29
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3.1 Combating the International Trade in Illicit Narcotic Drugs ..........................................................30 3.2 Establishing a Global Strategy for Persons Displaced by Climate Change....................................31 3.3 Safeguarding the Rights of International Migrant Populations ......................................................32 3.4 Mitigating the Impact of Climate Change on Food Supplies .........................................................33 3.5 Womens Access to Contraceptive and Other Sexual Health Materials .........................................34 4.1 Creation of New States: The Arab Spring ......................................................................................35 4.2 The UNs Role in Watching Over Elections ..................................................................................36 4.3 Ethnic and Racial Discrimination in Europe ..................................................................................37 4.4 Child Soldiers .................................................................................................................................38 4.5 Palestinian Refugees .......................................................................................................................39 Position Papers .....................................................................................................................................40 Resolutions ...........................................................................................................................................41 Preambulatory Phrases ......................................................................................................................42 Operative Clauses ..............................................................................................................................42 Example of Draft Resolution: The Economics of Global Warming..................................................43 Rules and Procedures ...............................................................................................................................44 Administration and General Conference Rules ....................................................................................44 Section 1: Administration ..................................................................................................................44 Section 2: General Rules ...................................................................................................................45 Section 3: General Assembly (GA) ...................................................................................................46 Section 4: General Assembly Rules (Points & Motions in Order of Precedence) ............................48 Section 5: Main Committees .............................................................................................................51 Section 6: Subcommittees .................................................................................................................51 Section 7: Security Council (SC) and Historical Security Council (HSC) .......................................51 Section 8: Security Council Rules (Points of Procedure and Motions in Order of Precedence) ......53 Section 9: Council of the European Union........................................................................................54 Section 10: Council of the European Union Rules ...........................................................................56 Appendices ...............................................................................................................................................58 Appendix 1: WHSMUN GA Parliamentary Procedure Short Form .....................................................58 Appendix 2: WHSMUN SC/HSC Parliamentary Procedure Short Form ............................................59 Appendix 3: WHSMUN CEU Parliamentary Procedure Short Form ..................................................60 Appendix 4: Qualified Majority Voting (QMV) ...................................................................................61

WHSMUN Information ARE YOU READY? Preparation

The Wisconsin High School Model United Nations should not be a passive educational experience. If you come to the conference prepared and are actively involved, you will learn more and simulations will be more rewarding. Those who are well-prepared will have more influence and will emerge as the conference leaders. All participants will come away with a deeper understanding of world events and international negotiations, but for some, WHSMUN can be a life-changing experience. There are many ways to become involved at WHSMUN. If you are a public speaker, or are willing to try, you will have the opportunity to exercise your skills at WHSMUN. If you prefer to work behind the scenes, one on one or with small groups, hammering out a compromise, you will have a place in the resolution-writing process. If you are an organizer, able to bring disparate groups together into a coalition for a single cause; if you are a technician, capable of quickly comprehending meanings of complicated statements; if you are a writeralmost every skill is useful and needed for a successful WHSMUN conference. Please try new things, especially speaking on your issue, however briefly. Newcomers are often surprised by how well they can handle things that they never had the opportunity to try before!

Responsibilities
At WHSMUN, students assume the identities and world-views of diplomats from UN member states. Accurate role-playing and representation is critical to being a successful WHSMUN delegate. Shed your American worldview (except for those representing the US!) and adopt the perspectives of the nation you represent. In all your preparation before the conference and all your activity at the conference, you must think and act like a politician from the nation you represent. Consider the economic and political background of people in your nation. What ideologies do they adhere to? Look at their cultures and religions. What do they value? How does their government reflect this? What does it consider important? Consider, for example, whether a repressive government that consistently denies its citizens basic human rights would actually vote for a resolution supporting womens rights to equal access to education. The more you submerge yourself in the identity of a UN representative from your assigned nation, the more fun you will have participating at WHSMUN. Role-playing is play after all, but it also broadens your understanding of others, an important ingredient of the kind of international cooperation promoted by the real United Nations. Once you have received your country and subcommittee assignments, the first step is to decide who will represent the nation in each subcommittee. Only one delegate may be assigned to each of the delegations subcommittees. Schools assigned to the Security Council and other special simulations will require extra delegates, as those simulations will be running at the same time as subcommittees, main committees, and the General Assembly Plenary session. Set up a time schedule for collecting and reading material that should include the following: general information about the United Nations, background information on your country including social, cultural, economic, and political data; bloc ideologies as derived by other organizations your country may belong to; developing and sharpening communication skills needed for effective participation including writing of resolutions, rules of procedure, and public speaking. Do not rely solely on the information presented in this handbook, as it is not intended to be comprehensive. The most effective diplomats are often generalists. Certainly divide the workload and specialize, but do
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not go so far that you completely ignore topics in other subcommittees. The Plenary session of the General Assembly involves all members of each delegation, and a broad understanding of all topics will come in handy.

Knowledge of the UN
Participation in the Model United Nations conference requires background knowledge of how the UN operates, even for those not in a UN body at this conference. The following topics are useful to understand: what powers the UN has, the history of the UNs work, and the purposes and functions of the various organs and related agencies of the UN. Begin this part of your research by reading the primer on the UN in this book. Several publications from the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) are available to delegations as a Model UN Kit and will help you in learning more about the UN. Some helpful publications from this organization include: UN at a Glance, Everyones United Nations, Reference Guide to the United Nations, and A Global Agenda: Issues before the United Nations 20102011. To order these publications, write to the Publications Department at UNA-USA, 485 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10017-6104 or call (866) 335-4001. Basic Facts About the United Nations, published by the UN itself, is also a good resource. Although not all delegates are a part of special simulations, we encourage all students to independently understand the purpose, format, powers, and history of these bodies. This handbook has a primer on the ICJ and HRC that contain basic information, but you should also consider doing some additional searching for facts, history, policy, statements and structure of these bodies.

Conference Procedures and Rules

Students preparing for WHSMUN must also understand the program and specific rules of the conference. The WHSMUN handbook is the exclusive source of information to guide you through the procedures of the conference. It has been updated with some minor rule changes and clarifications, as well as new topics. Information from other conferences or from previous WHSMUN experiences may not apply to the current conference. Detailed information about conference rules and parliamentary procedure is found later in this handbook.

Understanding Your Nation

The most important part of your research involves developing a complete and thorough understanding about the nation you represent. Although it is sometimes difficult to obtain policy statements or voting records on some issues, do not despair! After completing the background research on your country, you will already have a fairly good idea of many of its positions. Membership in international organizations, possession or lack of certain resources, and political, social, economic, and cultural data all provide excellent information from which to infer policy stances. After reflecting upon these materials, you will find that it is relatively easy to discern a countrys international political views. Become an Expert on Your Subcommittee Topic or Special Committee Areas of Concern Finally, you must become familiar with the topic of your selected subcommittee, because this is the subject that you will spend the most time discussing at the conference. In addition to research on your subcommittee topic, you will also have to draw upon all the other areas that you prepared, such as the structure and operation of the UN and your nations foreign policy goals and objectives. Dont forget to familiarize yourself with the other topics in your Main Committee so that you can fruitfully debate all other resolutions (in addition to your Subcommittees) once in session.

Special Simulation Member States Security Council

Azerbaijan, China, Colombia, France, Germany, Guatemala, India, Morocco, Pakistan, Portugal, Russian Federation, South Africa, Togo, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America.

Historical Security Council 1948

Argentina, Belgium, Canada, China, Colombia, France, Syrian Arab Republic, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom of Great Britain, and Northern Ireland, and United States of America.

Human Rights Council

Angola, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chile, China, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czech Republic, Djibouti, Ecuador, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Uganda, United States of America, and Uruguay.

Council of the European Union

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Tentative Schedule of Events ThursdayMarch 21st, 2013

8:30 AM 9:00 Registration begins Opening Ceremonies Special Committees Commence for Opening Ceremonies Subcommittee Meetings Commence Lunch Main Committees Commence, Special Committees Resume Break Main Committees Resume, Special Committees Resume Dinner
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10:15 1:30 PM 2:30 5:00 5:15 7:00

8:15 10:00 10:30

Delegates Dance Dance EndsAssemble to Board Buses Buses Depart for Doubletree Hotel (with staff supervision)

FridayMarch 22nd, 2013

7:00 AM 7:45 8:30 11:30 Assemble to Board Buses Buses Begin to Depart from the Doubletree Hotel General Assembly Convenes, Special Committees Resume Lunch Faculty Evaluation Session General Assembly Reconvenes, Special Committees Resume SC, HSC, CEU, ICJ, HRC, and JCC Meetings Adjourn (report to GA Chambers) SC, HSC, CEU, ICJ, HRC, and JCC Reports Closing Ceremonies

1:00 PM 2:30 2:40 3:00

Explanation of Events ThursdayMarch 21st, 2013 8:30 AM Registration

As schools arrive at the UW-Milwaukee (UWM) Student Union, advisors will register their delegations. Delegates will receive information packets and will take their seats in the General Assembly.

9:00 AM

Opening Ceremonies

Representatives of UW-Madison, UWM, and the Institute of World Affairs will give opening remarks followed by the keynote speaker. Lastly, the Secretary-General will address the General Assembly.

10:15 AM Subcommittee Meetings, Special Committee Meetings

All delegates not in the special simulations (SC, HSC, CEU, ICJ, HRC and JCC) should report to their assigned subcommittee meetings. Each delegation will be assigned to 6 of 15 subcommittees. Accordingly, each delegate will have a subcommittee to attend and a subcommittee topic on which to prepare a position paper. Delegations are allowed to send only one delegate to each subcommittee. To ensure a successful simulation of the United
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Nations processes, delegates must accurately represent their nations and attempt to work out problems diplomatically. Delegations must submit one position paper for each of their assigned subcommittees. Papers must be received by March 1st, 2013. At WHSMUN, each subcommittee will write one draft resolution on its topic. The Secretary-General will determine specific procedures for subcommittees, each to be conducted by an assigned staff member.

Crisis Committee Sessions: SC, HSC, and CEU

The Security Council (SC), the Historical Security Council (HSC), and the Council of the European Union (CEU) will meet to address their agenda as well as any developing international crises. Delegations will receive crisis information throughout the simulation via the Secretariat. The SC and HSC may request the presence of non-SC/HSC delegations, which will be role-played by the Secretariat.

International Court of Justice Meeting

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) will begin session at this time. The first meeting will include an overview of rules and important information before cases are presented. Students will then assume the roles of justices. Members of the Secretariat will be presenting the case(s) and will facilitate deliberations.

Human Rights Council

The Human Rights Council (HRC) will also begin session at this time. Joint Crisis Committee The Joint Crisis Committee (JCC) will also begin session at this time.

1:30 PM

Lunch Break

Delegates should take advantage of this valuable opportunity to caucus with fellow delegates while enjoying lunch in the UWM Student Union or at a nearby restaurant. At the United Nations, diplomacy is often conducted best in the Delegate Lounge between official meetings. WHSMUN delegates may even want to plan meetings over lunch with members of their committees.

2:30 PM

Main Committee Meetings Commence, Special Committee Meetings Resume

The Main Committees will consider the resolutions drafted in their respective subcommittees. Each Main Committee will debate, amend, and either pass or reject each subcommittees resolution. Those draft resolutions that are passed will be placed on the General Assemblys agenda as amended. SC, HSC, CEU, ICJ, HRC, and JCC Meetings resume as well.

5:00 PM 5:15 PM 7:00 PM

Break Main Committees, Special Committees Resume Dinner and Diplomacy

During this break, delegates may wish to caucus once again.

8:15 PM

Evening Activities

Enjoy a night of activities with your fellow delegates hosted by the Secretariat. Optional activities include a delegate dance and recreational activities within the UWM Student Union.

10:30 PM Buses Depart from UWM

Buses will leave the UWM Student Union, bound for the Doubletree Hotel, under Secretariat supervision. Delegates should assemble in lines for their designated bus by 10:15 PM.

FridayMarch 22nd, 2013 7:15 AM Buses Begin to Depart from Doubletree Hotel
Buses will leave the Doubletree Hotel, bound for the UWM Student Union, under Secretariat supervision. Delegates should assemble in lines for their designated bus by 7:00 AM.

8:30 AM

General Assembly Plenary Convenes, Special Committees Resume

Resolutions passed in the Main Committees will be discussed, possibly amended, and put to a vote in the General Assembly Plenary. All delegates who were assigned to a subcommittee must be in attendance. The SC, HSC, CEU, ICJ, HRC and JCC will continue their sessions until lunch. .

11:30 AM Lunch, Faculty Evaluation Session

All faculty advisors are invited to meet in the UWM Student Union (room to be announced at conference) for lunch and a discussion of the conference.

1:00 PM 2:40 PM

General Assembly Plenary, Special Committees Resume Special Committees to General Assembly

This is the final session for each of the special committees.

All delegates from the SC, HSC, CEU, ICJ, HRC, and JCC should report to the General Assembly. Representatives of each body will present a progress report on their work to the General Assembly.

3:00 PM

Closing Ceremonies

The Secretary-General will offer closing remarks and distribute awards. The General Assembly will then end its session for the year.

Conference Information General Conference Information Number of Delegates

WHSMUN provides an engaging and educational experience for as many delegations as possible. In an effort to increase and diversify the conference, we have to limit the number of delegations per school and delegation sizes. The minimum size of any delegation is three students. The maximum size shall be six delegates for delegations not assigned to a special simulation. Additional delegates will be required for delegations
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assigned to the Security Council (2), Historical Security Council (2), Council of the European Union (12), International Court of Justice (1), Human Rights Council (1), and Joint Crisis Committee (1). Delegations cannot exceed the maximum number. The guidelines are important both due to the desire to maintain optimal diversity of delegations and due to space limitations at the UWM conference facilities.

Dress Code
Delegates will be expected to dress in professional (Western) business attire for all WHSMUN meetings. This means jackets and ties for young men and dresses or suits for young women. No jeans, casual wear, or attire traditional to the country they are representing are permitted. Delegates presenting themselves in military attire will not be permitted to participate. If students are dressed inappropriately, the staff will discuss the situation with the student and faculty advisor. Students will be asked to change, or under serious circumstances, will not be permitted to participate. Please also note that in accordance with official UN rules, overt national symbols are not permitted at WHSMUN. This means that delegates may not wear pins of their national flag, bring in flags, or decorate their placards with national symbols.

WHSMUN 2013 Delegate Code of Conduct General Courtesy

Delegates are expected to conduct themselves in a manner reflective of international diplomats at all times. This means every courtesy, both in speech and in behavior, should be extended to all delegates, faculty members, and conference staff. The importance of both proper attire and behavior befitting of diplomats cannot be stressed enough. Delegates are expected to take their roles seriously.

Badges
All delegates must wear their names badges at all times. This allows other delegates and staff to quickly recognize who you are and which nation you represent. Name badges serve as your credentials as a UN delegate. Badges are color-coded. Certain areas of the conference are off limits to those not wearing a staff badge. Dark Blue: Senior Staff Blue: Staff Yellow: Faculty White: Delegate

Placards
In the General Assembly, a placard with the country name of each delegation will be placed at the delegations group of seats. These are the property of WHSMUN and must not be defaced or damaged. Please be good environmental stewards and leave the placards in reusable condition. Leave placards on their assigned tables throughout the course of the conference. Delegations caught using placards for nations of which they are not assigned will have that placard confiscated and will be dismissed from the conference. Schools will be billed for careless damage to placards.

General Assembly Page Service

Members of the staff will act as pages to circulate notes during the General Assembly session so as to ease communication between delegations. All correspondence must be through the pages. This privilege is not to be abused. Notes that are inappropriate or irrelevant to the agenda of the General Assembly will not be delivered, and disciplinary action may be taken. The Secretary-General reserves the right to discontinue use of the page service.

Prohibited Items
During ALL SESSIONS, no mobile phones, games, drawing, music players, newspapers, magazines, or
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other diversions (at the discretion of the Secretariat) will be tolerated. The staff will confiscate such items for the remainder of the conference, and the students faculty advisor will be informed. Delegates may be dismissed from any WHSMUN meeting if the rules of conduct are not observed.

Illegal Substances
The consumption, purchase, transport, and possession of illegal drugs or alcohol are strictly prohibited during the conference and conference events, including during evening activities and at the hotel. Delegates who appear to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol at any time during WHSMUN or any affiliated activity will be removed from the conference and their faculty advisors notified.

Hotel Behavior
Out of respect to fellow delegates and other hotel guests, noise in the halls and rooms of the hotels should be kept to a minimum. Conference staff will work in close contact with hotel security and faculty advisors to ensure the enforcement of quiet hours. At midnight delegates should be in their rooms with doors closed. Conversation and caucusing will be permitted as long as conversation is not audible outside of individual rooms. If the hotel security or conference staff feel the caucusing privilege is being abused in any way, delegates will be asked to return to their own rooms immediately.

Safety
To ensure your safety, please notify your faculty advisor if you leave the hotel premises during evening free time. Furthermore, if you decide to leave the hotel, be sure to travel in groups of no fewer than three people. The safety of the delegates is of the utmost importance to WHSMUN staff. Should you ever feel unsafe, please inform your faculty advisor or a staff member immediately.

Promptness
The conference runs on a very tight schedule. Please be considerate to other delegates and be on time to all meetings. Committees will start promptly according to schedule. The presence of each delegation is extremely important to debates and voting. Role call will be taken at the beginning of each session.

Respect
WHSMUN does not tolerate harassment or inappropriate behavior toward other delegates or staff members. Please remember that proper diplomatic decorum is appropriate during the conference and common courtesy is expected during all free time activities. Delegates are asked to remember that they are a representative of WHSMUN, their schools, and themselves. Delegates should ensure that they are in compliance at all times with the rules and regulations of UWM, the hotel, and the WHSMUN conference.

Concerns/Suggestions
Please inform either a member of the Secretariat or your faculty advisor of any problems or suggestions that you have at any time during the conference.

Disciplinary Action
Please understand that should you violate any of the terms of the above code of conduct, you may be subject to disciplinary action including dismissal from WHSMUN and all conference activities without financial compensation and up to a year suspension for your school. Furthermore, in extreme cases, disciplinary or legal action may be taken against any delegate by the conference staff, the hotel, faculty advisors and the Milwaukee Police.

Universality
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Please note that all conference participants are bound, through their agreement to partake as a delegation, to uphold in good faith the principles, rules, and regulations of the WHSMUN code of conduct.

Conference Staff
The WHSMUN staff is composed of University of Wisconsin-Madison and Milwaukee students. All have experience in Model United Nations (MUN) and in the areas of international relations and diplomacy, but the degree of experience varies among the staff. Each staff member has been trained by the Senior Staff. The staff serves as the Secretariat, which supervises all activities and simulations at the conference. They work as committee chairs, rapporteurs, delegate services officers, and pages. Any seniors wishing to participate as a staff member in next years WHSMUN should speak to their committee chair for information. We are always seeking new people to help run the conference and make it a success in the future. For more information after the conference, email this years Secretary-General, Charlotte Stein, at wisconsinhighschoolmun@gmail.com.

Delegate Services
The Delegate Services room will be located within the Student Union. WHSMUN staff will be available to answer questions about procedures, like amendments, replace name badges, provide directions to rooms, and assist you with other information about the conference such as research questions.

Awards
While awards are an attempt at a formalistic measure of pre-conference preparation and conference performance, there is much more to the MUN experience than winning awards. WHSMUN is not a contest; rather, it is a means of providing participants with an introduction to international issues, foreign policy, consensus building, negotiation, conflict resolution and the United Nations. WHSMUN delegates should not be motivated by the prospects of winning an award alone. Instead, an award should come as a pleasant surprise for an overall well-prepared and well-executed work at the conference. At WHSMUN, there are two types of awards: position paper awards and comprehensive awards. There will be one position paper award for each subcommittee. To be considered for recognition, papers must be received by March 1st, 2013. Papers will be judged primarily on the clarity of the information presented and the consistency of the position with the countrys actual policy. Use of proper spelling and grammar and overall quality of writing will be factored into award calculations. The second type of award is the comprehensive award. These awards are designed to take into account the overall performance of delegations throughout the two days of the conference. Actions in subcommittees, main committees, and the General Assembly will count toward this award. Awards are given to an entire delegation based on the performance of its delegates throughout the conference. For example, if the delegate from Nigeria does extremely well in his/her particular subcommittee by actively participating in debate and resolution writing, but the rest of his/her delegation performs at a lower level; it is unlikely that the Nigerian delegation will earn a comprehensive award. Delegations with consistent performance in each subcommittee will have a much better chance. Comprehensive awards are solely based on the voting of fellow delegates, and not of Secretariat members. Ballots will be distributed to delegates in committees, where they will vote on award winners. However, violation of any conference rule may render a delegation ineligible for an award, at the discretion of the Secretary-General. There are a total of three outstanding delegation awards in the
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General Assembly. For those delegates in the SC, HSC, CEU, ICJ, HRC, and JCC two awards will be given on an individual committee basis, one for most accurate diplomatic portrayal of a country and another for exceptional research and position paper. Performance in these committees will not affect the ability to earn a comprehensive award.

Blocs
In the past, WHSMUN has scheduled bloc meetings as a preparation for subcommittee meetings. Though bloc meetings have been eliminated from WHSMUN, it is extremely useful to know which other countries share your foreign policy goals. In subcommittee and, later, in main committee sessions, it may be useful to find these delegations and compare ideas for resolution writing. Blocs can be defined by geographical proximity, membership in regional organizations like the African Union (AU), European Union (EU) and Arab League, or shared cultural, political, or economic goals.

Subcommittees
The subcommittees are smaller groups of delegates, between 25 and 45 students, who discuss specific topic areas. The meetings are run informally and the discussion is in depth. Due to the small group interaction, delegates find that subcommittees are often the most productive and enjoyable sessions of the conference. Each delegation will be assigned to six subcommittees (two in each main committee) and may only send one delegate to each meeting. Please make sure that students know all of the subcommittees to which your delegation has been assigned. Delegates will not be allowed to change subcommittees once at the conference. Delegates should try to become familiar with all aspects of their subcommittee topics in their preconference research. Collect useful facts and statistics, and become an expert on the topic. Determine your nations comprehensive position on the topic. Write a position paper that reflects your nations views and concerns. Background guides for all subcommittee topics as well as position paper guidelines and tips for research are found later in the handbook. Delegates must submit a position paper on their topic by March 2, 2012. A great deal of work goes into distributing the position papers before the conference so please make sure you submit your position papers on time! In each subcommittee, delegates will discuss and debate the topic at length, working towards a resolution. Each subcommittee will report to its Main Committee during the Monday afternoon session. These Main Committees will consider the subcommittee resolutions. Those that are passed in the Main Committee will be reviewed by the secretariat and eventually placed on the General Assembly agenda for Tuesday. In your preparation, do not neglect the other topics that will be considered at the conference. Develop an understanding about the research your fellow delegates are doing. Participate in your delegations discussion and strategy sessions. After the subcommittee meetings are over, you will participate in the Main Committee and the General Assembly sessions, so be prepared to discuss topics other than your own. This general understanding is absolutely essential for a productive session in your Main Committee.

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Main Committees
The General Assembly meets on Thursday in the form of Subcommittees and Main Committees. These committees join together to form the General Assembly Plenary Session on Friday. The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security), Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural), and Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) all begin by considering the draft resolutions presented by their subcommittees. Resolutions passed by the Main Committees are submitted to the GA Plenary Session for final consideration. In preparing for the Main Committees, delegates should review the revised edition of parliamentary procedure that is featured at the end of the handbook.

General Assembly Plenary Session

The final step in the resolution adoption process is the General Assembly (GA). The GA meets for this purpose on Friday. The agenda consists of all the resolutions that are passed by the Main Committees. The GA allows each delegation the opportunity to debate and vote on each resolution. To get through as many resolutions as possible, a time limit is set for all speakers and may be revised with the appropriate motions. The GA also gives delegations one final chance to amend resolutions. To propose an amendment, it must be written neatly on an official WHSMUN amendment form, must bear the signatures of 15 delegations, and must be presented to the Dais of the GA. Once the amendment has been presented to the Dais and approved, it may be brought to the floor. Caucusing and other talking in the GA room can cause disruption and make the efficient operation of the meeting extremely difficult. Delegates are asked to keep their discussion quiet and relocate either to the back of the room or to the outer corridor. The WHSMUN staff also provides caucus rooms for blocs upon request. Delegates may call for a suspension of the meeting, if they feel a break is needed to plan strategies with other nations. Please maintain diplomatic decorum in the General Assembly at all times.

Security Council / Historical Security Council

Please read this section even if you are not assigned a Security Council/Historical Security Council nation. It concerns all delegations. During the opening ceremony on Thursday morning, the Secretary-General (SG) will announce an international crisis. The SG calls the crisis to the attention of the Security Council (SC) /Historical Security Council (HSC), which will meet separately in emergency sessions to address the issues. As the SC and HSC simulations run the full length of the conference, delegates participating in this simulation will not be assigned to a Subcommittee, Main Committee, or to the Plenary Session of the General Assembly. In January, the Secretariat will inform the delegations of several possible threats to international peace and security for the SC and HSC in the background guides for these simulations. The WHSMUN crisis evolves from one or more of these possible threats. Prepare by determining what your reaction might be to a crisis in each of the areas identified and consider what the UN could do to resolve the crisis. The Security Councils will meet for the full duration of the conference. SC and HSC nations should
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prepare position papers on the possible crisis areas, no more than one paragraph in length per topic submitted to WHSMUN by March 1st, 2013.

Council of the European Union

After the opening ceremony is completed Thursday morning, the Council of the European Union (CEU) will meet to discuss the issues on the agenda. This unique simulation is a way to understand both the growing importance of regional organizations and the radically different European Union that has existed since several formerly socialist states joined in 2004. The expansion of the EU, as well as its growing political clout on the world stage has been accompanied by internal divisions within the EU member states. Only through skilled diplomacy will the complex issues of this simulation be dealt with successfully. The CEU simulation will attempt to be not only unique in substance from other parts of the WHSMUN conference, but in the style and format as well. An independent parliamentary procedure will be used to ensure both debate and civility, and the unique format of CEU voting procedure will hopefully provide new challenges to diplomacy. The CEU delegates will meet together for the duration of the conference, and will not participate in subcommittees, main committees, or the plenary session of the General Assembly. CEU delegates should also have a thorough knowledge of the CEU parliamentary procedure to be used in the simulation detailed in the back of this handbook. CEU delegations should have position papers of no more than one paragraph per issue submitted to WHSMUN by March 1st, 2013.

International Court of Justice

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) will also run for the entire two days, beginning after the opening ceremonies. Students taking part in the simulation will not be representing a country, but will instead be acting as independent justices. These students will not take part in subcommittees, main committees, or the GA Plenary session. In the ICJ, students will hear two to three cases presented by the WHSMUN staff. As justices, they will hear both sides of the case, and then will deliberate. They will work together to write a court opinion. This is a smaller simulation, with between five and fifteen students participating. Each school has the opportunity to select one student to participate in the ICJ. Students chosen to be part of the ICJ simulation will receive background guides for the cases in January. The structure of ICJ is less formal than some of the other committees, particularly when deliberating the case, and is most closely related to subcommittees in this regard. This simulation is relatively new to WHSMUN and it will be a learning experience. More information and a background guide will be available and provided to participating schools on January 25th, 2013. We encourage you to read the primer, found on page 23. Students selected to be on the ICJ will be asked to do some research on the cases and prepare a summary and analysis of their research in a preliminary justice report to be submitted to WHSMUN by March 1st, 2013.

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Joint Crisis Committee: Cuban Missile Crisis Simulation

The intention behind this committee is to allow students to reenact the events of 1962 culminating in the Cuban Missile Crisis in a historical simulation. Students will represent senior officials in both the Soviet Union and the United States of America. Decisions made by the students will effect how the events proceed effecting both sides of the issue. Members will be selected by advisors to participate. Roles will be assigned randomly by WHSMUN staff, and will focus on positions within Soviet Politburo and President Kennedys Cabinet and close advisers. Background guides will contain detailed explanations of each committee to ensure that students will be fully comfortable and prepared for their position. Multimedia will be an important aspect of this committee, with delegates receiving both in person updates from the crisis room, as well as TV reports of information leaks or important media coverage of their actions. Overall, these committees will involve about 12 delegates each, and will offer a fantastic perspective into a different aspect of international relations.

Conference Preparation and Research Role-Playing

WHSMUN is primarily an exercise in role-playing. Students assume the identities of diplomats from member states of the UN. It is important that delegates shed their American bias to the greatest extent possible. Keep in mind that when voting, students should make an effort to vote according to their countrys position on an issue and not their personal beliefs. The more you submerge yourself in the identity of a UN delegate from your assigned nation, the more fun you will have and the more insight you will gain by participating in WHSMUN. At the same time, do not become frustrated that you are unable to exactly duplicate the role of UN delegates or know everything there is to know on certain issues. WHSMUN delegates should remain aware that it is only a simulation, and that not everything that occurs actually replicates the real UN. Delegates in the UN may have days, weeks, or months to prepare for debates on issues, while the time and resources of WHSMUN delegates are limited. Real UN delegates often make lengthy prepared speeches and caucus for several days with others. WHSMUN runs only for two days; quick compromises must be worked out and speeches given with minimal preparation. When actions taken at the conference do not directly mimic those of the actual UN, try to make the best of fast-paced simulations. Their purpose is to enable learning about the UN and to practice skills that will benefit you later. If everyone prepares to represent their country accurately, all will go well.

The Head Delegate

Each delegation at WHSMUN should select one person on the delegation to act as the head delegate.
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This person acts as the coordinator and in some instances, the final decision-maker. Usually this person is the most experienced delegate representing the nation. The head delegate helps your nation to maintain a coherent policy on similar issues that may arise in the different simulations. Other delegates should keep in close contact with the head delegate throughout the conference. The head delegate has the important task of coordinating and supervising the activity of all delegates from a particular nations delegation. The head delegate should have a good grasp of everything the others in the delegation have done and should know who on the delegation is most familiar with each topic. Other delegates, rather than going to staff or an advisor, will often come to the head delegate when they have a question on an issue or resolution. Head delegates should also be familiar with all aspects of the conference and the special rules of the conference. This facilitates their planning of the delegations strategy on particular issues. The head delegate may sit on any committee at WHSMUN. The head delegate, however, should also be assigned to a subcommittee, Security Council, Council of the European Union, or Historical Security Council.

Researching Your Topic

In order to ensure proper preparation for the conference, each delegate should find and research the following five items: 1) Brief history of your subcommittee or special committee topic In order to write a comprehensive position paper and prepare yourself for committee, you must reach a broad understanding of your issue, especially as it pertains to your country. 2) Brief summary of your countrys foreign policy and history Know the international organizations (especially regional entities like the African Union or the Organization for American States) to which your country is a member. Often, countries in these organizations have shared interests and can serve as great diplomatic allies at the conference. 3) Important documents and organizations related to your topic In order to create purposeful and efficient resolutions, you must find out how the United Nations has acted on your particular topic in the past. Look for organizations, programs, or other UN bodies that could be extended, changed, eliminated, or replaced. Moreover, you do not want to re-write an existing resolution; innovation is essential. 4) Your countrys reaction to existing UN resolutions You should understand your countrys position on previous UN resolutions. It is not necessary to research every vote your country has made; simply apply what you have already learned about your countrys general foreign policy (see step #2) to important resolutions and create an educated and accurate position. 5) Recent Developments on your Topic, both Domestic and International Read the newspaper! Keep up-to-date on substantial occurrences affecting your country and the international community. Foreign policy and international relationships can change very quickly.

Resources
The United Nations Foundation has designed an excellent up-to-date news service about the UN that you will find helpful in preparing your research (www.unfoundation.org). Other good resources to consult include The New York Times (www.nytimes.com), The Wall Street Journal (www.wallstreetjournal.com), The Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com/), The Christian Science Monitor (www.csmonitor.com/), The Economist (www.economist.com), Foreign Affairs (www.foreignaffairs.org/), the CIA World Fact Book (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html).
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For more specific information about the UN, you should consult A Global Agenda: Issues before the United Nations 2010-2011, the InterDependent (both by UNA-USA), and the UN Monthly Chronicle. Your school or community librarian should be able to assist you with the UN document searches of subcommittee topics. Current GA resolutions and documents are easiest to locate on-line at http://www.un.org/en/ga/64/agenda/index.shtml. http://www.un.org/en/ga/67/agenda/ The Public Inquiries Unit of the UN will send upon request a Model UN Kit, which provides general information. You may also request particular information or resolutions on any issue the UN is currently addressing. Mail your request to: Public Inquiries Unit, UN Department of Public Information, United Nations, New York, New York 10017 or call (212) 963-4475. One of the best sources for carrying out Model UN research in recent years is the Internet. Ask your school librarian to help you conduct research on the computer.

United Nations Research:

United Nations Issues on the Agenda http://www.un.org/issues/ United Nations Cyber School Bus (Model UN Discussion Area) http://cyberschoolbus.un.org/modelun/index.asp United Nations Association of the United States http://www.unausa.org United Nations Foundation www.unfoundation.org

World Research Information:

CIA World Fact book https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/ US Department of State http://www.state.gov The Electronic Embassy http://www.embassy.org

Regional/Intergovernmental Organizations:
Organization of American States http://www.oas.org African Union http://www.africa-union.org Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
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http://www.aseansec.org European Union (EU) http://europa.eu/index_en.htm Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) http://www.osce.org The Commonwealth http://www.thecommonwealth.org/ The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) http://caricom.org/ South African Development Community (SADC) http://www.sadc.int/ South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) http://www.saarc-sec.org/

Review of the United Nations

The creation of the United Nations in October of 1945 marked, not the first noble effort at saving succeeding generations from the scourge of war, but rather the transcendence and evolution of mans continual struggle for peace throughout history: toils formerly confronted by those few who dreamt of international relations in the form of an organization or association of states. The first such organization, The European Concert, was established following the Napoleonic wars to prevent wars of conquest. Following the First World War, still decades before the founding of the United Nations, a group of victorious generals and statesmen met as delegates of their respective Allied states at the 1919 Paris Peace Conference with a common goal of providing a lasting era of peace, not only for their own people, but for the world. After long days of work at the conference, a committee headed by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson and including delegates from the British Empire, France, Poland, and Greece met to draft the covenant of the League of Nations. The ideals embodied in the covenant, many drawn from Wilsons famous Fourteen Points, included collective security, arbitration, economic and social cooperation, arms reduction, and open diplomacy. Although the United States Senate would not approve the covenant without it being amended, President Wilson refused to negotiate on its terms, provisions, or wording, making the United States, whom originally strove for its implementation, the first to abandon it. Subsequently, the covenant of the League of Nations took effect as an essential component of the Treaty of Versailles on April 28, 1919, without American support. While the League lacked no abundance of bold speakers in favor of peace, arms reduction, and negotiation, it appeared that they were willing to offer little more than lofty speeches. The Leagues
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existence was marred by a chronic inability to enforce its resolutions. States that disagreed with the Leagues decisions merely withdrew and suffered virtually no consequences. After failing to prevent World War II, its chief objective, the League met for the final time in Geneva on April 18, 1946. The League of Nations, in its final act, formally dissolved itself and resolved to transfer all of its assets to its successor, the United Nations. Well before the dissolution of the League in 1946, the international community resolved to continue its search for an organization that could better insure the implementation of its ideals of peace and the prevention of war. In 1944, following a conference in Tehran, the international community took the most concrete action to-date toward the formation of the United Nations at Dumbarton Oaks in Washington D.C. The conference took place in two phases and included representatives from the USSR, UK, US, and China. The representatives focused primarily on the purposes and principle organization of the body. Their work spanned proposals on membership, the organizations main organs, and arrangements for the maintenance of peace and security, including the establishment of a security council. These issues carried over to the February 1945 conference at Yalta where the delegates settled unresolved issues of the Dumbarton Oaks Conference and set a date for a Conference of United Nations that was to be held in San Francisco on the 25th of April, 1945. In late April, delegates from 50 countries converged in San Francisco to create, based on the deliberations of the Dumbarton Oaks and Yalta conferences, a charter for their new international organization. On October 31st, 1945, ratification of the Charter by the majority of the delegates, including the US, USSR, UK, France, and China, brought into force the United Nations. The United Nations Charter establishes the United Nations with the intentions of practicing toleranceliving together in peace, uniting strength to ensure peace through collective security, ensuring that armed force not be used, save in the common interest, and promoting economic and social advancement of all peoples. Its high-reaching goals, as stated in the preamble, incorporate [promoting] social progressestablishing respect for the obligations arising from treaties, reaffirming faith in fundamental human rights and human equality, and chiefly, the prevention of another world war. Chapter one of the Charter outlines several principles imitating the ideals set forth by the League, including, among numerous others, both the notion of collective security and the principle of sovereign equality. Collective security relies on the united action of the many peace-loving states to ensure effective prevention of threats to their peace. Article two states that the Organization is based on the principle of sovereign equality, meaning simply that the equality of all states is respected in the UN. Every state, regardless of stature, size, economy, religious affiliation, or political history, shares the same privileges and responsibilities set forth in the charter. Furthermore, as exemplified in the voting procedures of the General Assembly, the voice of each state in all matters of relevance is weighted equally and without bias. Also key is the Charters specification of the UN as a center for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of [their] common ends, a luxury not previously enjoyed by members of the international community. Another important aspect of the Charter, as stated in its second article, is its provision for the respect of state sovereignty in domestic issues. The 13 articles of the 7th chapter of the Charter provide possibly the greatest advancement from the Leagues subjection. These articles deal with actions to be taken by the organization in the case of a situation the Security Council may deem a threat to peace or an act of aggression. Should the SC identify such a situation, the United Nations, under the authority of chapter 7 retains the power to act either with force or through the interruption of economic relations to restore international peace. Much of the UNs peace enforcement success has come through the Security Councils successful implementation of the articles of chapter 7. A complete text version of the United Nations Charter may be viewed online at http://www.un.org/aboutun/charter/index.html.
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As specified in the charter, the United Nations is composed of six principle organs, the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Secretariat, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and the Trusteeship Council, which is now defunct. The largest of these organs, the General Assembly, is comprised of representatives of each member nation and is tasked with dialogue and debate on any matters within the scope of the Charter and may make recommendations as to possible resolutions for such matters. Questions considered by the Assembly range from maintenance of international security to promoting cooperation among developing nations to the UNs finances and budget. With the exception of certain important issues, voting procedures in the General Assembly require a simple majority to pass, embodying the principle of sovereign equality and making the GA the UNs most democratic organ. To maintain order and efficiency within the GA, it has organized itself into six main committees, including the GA plenary, the 1st Committee (Political and Security), 2nd Committee (Economic and Financial), 3rd (Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural), 4th (Special Political and Decolonization), 5th (Administrative and Budgetary), and the 6th Committee (Legal). These committees meet to make recommendations to be approved in the General Assembly Plenary sessions. Undoubtedly the most notable organ of the UN is the Security Council, composed of the 5 permanent members (P5) China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, and the United States along with ten, GA-elected, non-permanent members who hold two-year terms. The permanent members of the SC possess a permanent veto over substantive motions, meaning the assent or abstention of all the P5 members is almost always necessary for the adoption of substantive matters. The SC is delegated with the responsibility of insuring the maintenance of international peace and security and is the only organ with the authority to act on what it determines to be a threat to security or act of aggression. Along with its enforcement authority comes several other important functions including making recommendations for the selection of the Secretary General, annual reports to the GA, and electing the judges of the ICJ. ECOSOC, the Economic and Social Council is a 54 member body whose representatives are elected to a rotating 3 year term under which new members replace retiring associate members every year. ECOSOC is accountable for, as its name implies, the economic and social activities of the UN including initiating studies and reports ranging from economic, social, cultural, educational, and health issues. The ECOSOC, much like the GA, works through six subsidiary committees: Statistical, Population, Social Development, Human Rights, and Status of Women, and Narcotic Drugs. The charter also specifies provisions for consultation of ECOSOC with non-governmental organizations that specialize in specific topics of interest to the council. The Secretariat, led by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, is charged with managing the varied day-to-day tasks of the organization. From coordinating peacekeeping and enforcement operations along with scheduling international forums and conferences on pertinent issues of international concern to translating documents into the official languages of the UN, the Secretariat comprises an enormous staff of nearly 9,000 international civil servants and incorporates the broadest range of responsibilities in the UN. The only principle organ to be headquartered in The Hague is the International Court of Justice whose permanent seat is located at the Peace Palace in The Netherlands. The primary judicial organ of the United Nations serves as the chief settlement body of disputes among states. The court can also advise international organizations on questions and legal issues submitted by the former. Consisting of 15 Justices, selected by the GA and Security Council to 9-year terms, the judges act as independent magistrates and are not biased by the government of their home state. As is the case with most UN bodies, states brought before the ICJ may only be subject to its jurisdiction upon their prior submission. The sixth and final primary organ of the UN is the Trusteeship Council. Set up by the Charter and tasked
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with the administration of trust territories, the primary goal of the Council was to promote the economic and political status and self-sufficiency of trust territory inhabitants so as to prepare them for eventual self-governance and independence. The overwhelming and complete success of the Trusteeship Council in guiding Trust Territories toward self-governance prompted its suspension in 1994, with the independence of the last trust territory. The Trusteeship Council has resolved to no longer meet yearly as originally specified in its rules, but to reconvene only when necessary. Accompanying the six principal organs are the myriad of autonomous international organizations affiliated with the UN. The United Nations deals directly with hundreds, perhaps thousands, of NonGovernmental Organizations through the Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS). The Service is not member-oriented and does not officially register NGOs. Rather, its purposes are to offer advice, expertise, and support for NGOs to advance the initiatives of the UN. As mentioned previously, ECOSOC works closely with a number of NGOs on a consultative status. Non-Governmental Organizations work with the UN on nearly every matter of international concern ranging from Peace and Security, to Health and Human Rights, to Education, to Sustainable Development. Some notable NGOs include the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR). An index and complete list of international organizations and NGOs affiliated with the UN may be accessed on the United Nations web page at http://www.un.org/partners/civil_society/ngo/ngoindex.htm. Today the United Nations has evolved into a versatile and responsive organization with far-reaching influence in the international community, while never abandoning its primary objectives of promoting social progress, reaffirming faith in fundamental human rights, achieving international cooperation, and providing a center for harmonizing the actions of nations. The success of an organization may be judged in many fashions; however, critics of the United Nations must concede that never before has an organization of states attained such prestige or such regard. Nor has any before acted, with such overwhelming success, to fulfill the principles and ideals upon which it was founded. Written by Eric Olson and edited by staff members for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee & Institute of World Affairs' Wisconsin High School Model United Nations Program. Bibliography: Armstrong, David, Lloyd, Lorna, and Redmond, John. From Versailles to Maastricht: International Organization in the Twentieth Century. St. Martins Press. New York. 1996. Kahler, Miles. International Institutions and the Political Economy of Integration. The Brookings Institution. Washington D.C. 1995. Office of Public Information. Everymans United Nations: A Complete Handbook of the Activities and Evolution of the United Nations During its First Twenty Years, 1945-1965. United Nations. New York. 1968. Rubin, Jacob A. A Pictorial History of the United Nations. Thomas Yoseloff Ltd. London, England. 1962. Scott, George. The Rise and Fall of the League of Nations. Macmillan. New York. 1973.

Review of the International Court of Justice

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the judicial organ of the United Nations. The court is housed in The Hague, Netherlands. The ICJ was founded in 1945, replacing the Permanent Court of International Justice, which was the international court affiliated with the League of Nations. The ICJ was established under Chapter XIV of the UN Charter and consists of 15 judges. Each judge is elected by the General Assembly and Security Council to serve 9-year terms and may be elected for up to three terms. Each of the Permanent Five members of Security Council - the United States, Russia, China, France and the
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United Kingdom all have a judge on the court and no nationality may have more than one representative. The Court has two official languages, English and French. The ICJ serves many purposes within the UN. The ICJ mediates conflicts between disputing states as well as answering any legal questions posed by the Security Council or General Assembly. Any state within the UN may bring a case to court, provided they have accepted the jurisdiction of the Court. The Court typically handles between three and five cases a year, though that number tends to fluctuate. Article 38 of the Statue of the ICJ outlines the sources of law, which may be applied in a legal dispute: International Conventions and Treaties International Customs, as evidence of a general practice accepted as law General Principles of Law as recognized by Civil States. A case presented before the Court consists of many aspects. The disputing parties must present the Court with a written statement outlining their opinions on the case, and how they feel they have been slighted. Each country is also allotted a brief period for opening statements to the Court. After hearing the case, the court gives an advisory opinion. Although the decisions of the Court are not binding because there is no mechanism of enforcement, they are considered to be respected and authoritative legal decisions. The most common cases brought to the Court are those of boundary disputes and damage claims between countries who have been at war.

Human Rights Council

On June 16, 2006, the United Nations Commission of Human Rights met for the last time. This body had been in existence since December of 1946 and undoubtedly changed the face of human rights for the entire world. The Commission, as it came to be called, bore witness to many international human rights crises across its 60 years of existence, such as Apartheid in South Africa, the Dirty War in Latin America, ethnic cleansing in the former Yugoslavia, genocides in Africa, and the war in Iraq. In some cases, the Commission was able to take action, while in other situations it was silent. The last few years of its existence the Commission became discredited and lost any clout in the international community. In 2005, then United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, produced a report entitled In Larger Freedom: Towards Development, Security, and Human Rights for All, designed to address many of the problems faced by the global community. Of the suggestions he proposed, all primarily mechanisms for strengthening the United Nations, one was the creation of a new council to address human rights violations: If the United Nations is to meet the expectations of men and women everywhere and indeed, if the Organization is to take the cause of Human Rights as seriously as those of security and development then Member States should agree to replace the Commission of Human Rights with a smaller standing Human Rights Council. Annans suggestions were followed and the Commission was replaced with the new United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), referred to as the Council, which met for the first time in June of 2006. The Council is made up of 47 member states, with a specific number of countries from each geographic bloc. Countries wishing to join the Council must present their commitment to human rights in the form of a pledge. Prior to election to the Council, countries must present the ways they have promoted human rights to the UN General Assembly. Once members are elected, they serve three-year terms and are not eligible for immediate re-election if they have served two consecutive terms. If the General Assembly decides that a state has committed gross human rights violations while sitting on the Council, the state in question may be removed from the Council by a two thirds majority vote in the GA.
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The responsibilities of the Council, as set out by General Assembly resolution, are to: Address situations of human rights violations, including gross and systematic violations, and make recommendations; Undertake a universal periodic review of each and every state; Contribute, through dialogue and cooperation, to the prevention of human rights violations; Respond promptly to human rights emergencies; Serve as a forum for dialogue on thematic issues; Make recommendations on the promotion and protection of human rights and, more specifically, make recommendations to the General Assembly, for the further development of International Human Rights Law; Cooperate closely with governments, regional organizations, national human rights institutions and civil society; Promote universal respect for human rights; Promote human rights education and learning, advisory services, technical assistance and capacity building; Promote the full implementation of human rights obligations undertaken by states and the follow up of UN human rights conferences and summits; and Promote the effective coordination and mainstreaming of human rights within the UN system. The Council has many channels in which they can act upon the responsibilities outlined above, one of which is producing resolutions. Although the Council has already come under heat for its failure to act in the face of some human rights abuses, there is a review scheduled for 2011 in which members will reflect on the previous five years and chart the way forward.

WHSMUN 2013 Topics and Subcommittee Guides 1st Committee (Disarmament and International Security):
1. Prevention of Non-State Actors from Acquiring Weapons of Mass Destruction 2. Measures to Prevent and Deter Cyber Warfare 3. The Role of the Media in International Security 4. Implications and Violations Surrounding the Act of Targeted Killings 5. Concerning the Ban on Landmines

3rd Committee (Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural):

1. Combating the International Trade in Illicit Narcotic Drugs 2. Establishing a Global Strategy for Persons Displaced by Climate Change 3. Safeguarding the Rights of International Migrant Populations 4. Mitigating the Impact of Climate Change on Food Supplies 5. Womens Access to Contraceptive and Other Sexual Health Materials

4th Committee (Special Political and Decolonization):

1. Creation of New States: The Arab Spring 2. The UNs Role in Watching Over Elections 3. Child Soldiers
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4. Palestinian Refugees 5. Ethnic and Racial Discrimination in Europe

Topics and Background Guides for the following Special Committees will be available by January 31st , 2013:
Security Council Historical Security Council (1948) Council of the European Union International Court of Justice Human Rights Council Joint Crisis Committee

1st Committee 1.1 Prevention of Non-State Actors from Acquiring Weapons of Mass Destruction
Weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) are defined as weapons that can kill or significantly harm a large number of humans and cause damage to man-made and natural structures. Types of WMDs include biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons. There are three main treaties relating to WMDs. The first is the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, promote cooperation of peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and promote disarmament. The Biological Weapons Convention and the Chemical Weapons Convention each aimed to achieve the total elimination of biological and chemical weapons, respectively. WMDs are desirable to terrorist organizations (and other non-state actors) in carrying out or threatening to carry out attacks on states. Terrorism, commonly defined as the use of violence in order to intimidate or coerce a government or civilians in order to further social or political objectives, is already a huge concern for the international community. If terrorists were to acquire WMDs, this threat would only stand to increase. UNSC Resolution 1540 (2004) was passed unanimously by the Security Council in 2004. It addresses the prevention of non-state actors from acquiring WMDs. This resolution is the main piece of international legislation that addresses the risk that terrorist organizations may obtain, proliferate, or use WMDs. Under current international law, all states are prohibited from providing any means of support to non-state actors wishing to acquire WMDs. States must also adopt and enforce laws criminalizing the possession and acquisition of WMDs by non-state actors. Finally, all states must adopt and enforce domestic controls over WMDs. While this resolution is very important, the acquisition of WMDs by non-state actors is still possible. It is important to further discuss measures that can be taken to prevent of non-state actors from acquiring WMDs in order to largely eliminate the threat posed by them. Questions for Consideration 1) What are some non-state actors that are currently considered a threats to international security? 2) Which state actors are known or speculated to provide WMDs to non-state actors? 3) What are some areas of the resolution that can further be developed and strengthened?
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4) What measures can the international community take to further prevent non-state actors from acquiring WMDs? Helpful Resources and Works Cited http://www.armscontrol.org/taxonomy/term/27 http://www.state.gov/t/isn/c18943.htm http://www.state.gov/t/isn/73519.htm http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/144576.pdf http://www.un.org/disarmament/WMD/Nuclear/NPT.shtml http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/terrorism-2002-2005/

1.2 Measures to Prevent and Deter Cyber Warfare

Cyber warfare is defined as politically motivated hacking to conduct sabotage and/or espionage. Actions involving cyber warfare are usually performed by one nation-state against another in order to cause damage or disruption, although the risk of non-state actors using cyber warfare is an issue of increasing concern. With the recent rise in technology and of the internet, cyber warfare is now one of the most dangerous security threats to a state. Cyber warfare attacks are numerous and on the rise due to the easy accessibility of the internet. One example is North Korea's organized attacks to disable many computers (President's office, banks, ministries, etc.) in South Korea. Another example of a cyber attack is that of the Stuxnet virus, which targeted Iran's nuclear facilities and aimed to reprogram commands. The attack destroyed 1000 of Iran's 6000 centrifuges. It was suspected that the U.S. and Israel were behind the attack, a claim that was recently confirmed. While the UN has already published charters on war and terrorism, formulating laws and conventions on cyber warfare will be more difficult. So far, the UN has responded to this threat with minor actions. The only UN body currently dealing with cyber terrorism is the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) which is responsible for information and communication technologies. At present, the threat of a cyber attack for any organization with an internet connection is very high, and states, businesses, and individuals currently have to protect themselves against cyber warfare. However, it is the UN's goal to issue an effective multilateral treaty to fight against this dangerous threat. This treaty must be founded on the principle of reciprocity, as it is impossible to combat cyber warfare without cooperation. Questions for Consideration 1. What can the international community do to deter cyber warfare, especially among not state actors? 2. What are measure the UNGA can take to help prevent cyber warfare? 3. Can a committee be set up to aid or lead the efforts against cyber warfare? Helpful Resources and Works Cited http://www.auscert.org.au/render.html?it=3552 http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/stuxnet-was-work-of-us-and-israeli-expertsofficials-say/2012/06/01/gJQAlnEy6U_story.html http://www.huliq.com/10282/cyber-war-underway-citizenry-targeted http://www.itu.int/en/Pages/default.aspx http://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/research/cybersafety/extensions/pdfs/papers/maura_conway.pdf

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1.3 Concerning the Ban on Land Mines

Land mines are explosive devices which are concealed under or on the ground and designed to destroy or disable enemy targets as they pass near the device. Land mines were created for two main uses. First, they can be used to create defensive barriers which allowed the defense to reinforce its number of men against the attackers. Second, they are area denial weapons, meaning they deny the enemy of valuable terrain, resources, and facilities. During war, land mines are used to slow the enemy down, to deny the enemy territory, and to reduce morale. The Ottawa Treaty, formally known as the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, aims to eliminate antipersonnel landmines (abbreviated AP-mines, used to harm humans) around the world. There are 160 signatory states to the treaty while 34 UN states are non-signatories, including China, Russia, and the United States. One major criticism of this treaty is that not all states have ratified it. In fact, some of the signatory states have yet to ratify the treaty. To this day, many of the countries that have not ratified the treaty still manufacture land mines. While many states aim to eliminate the use of land mines, there are some that feel they are a necessity. Therefore, the ban on land mines is a very controversial topic. While some argue they are inhumane deadly weapons, others believe they are necessary to keep the enemy from penetrating into defensive territory. Questions for Consideration 1. How is the ban on land mines a positive initiative for all states? 2. Are land mines (especially AP-mines) a necessity in war, or are they a deadly nuisance? 3. How can non-signatories be persuaded to sign the treaty? 4. How can states that have not yet ratified the treaty be persuaded to do so?

Helpful Resources and Works Cited http://www.un.org/disarmament/convarms/Landmines/ http://www.icrc.org/ihl.nsf/FULL/580?OpenDocument http://www.icbl.org/intro.php http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1997-09-08/news/1997251008_1_mines-ban-land-treaty

1.4 Implications and Violations Surrounding the Act of Targeted Killings

While not a topic or even a term expressly utilized by international law, the act of targeted killing has, within past years, gained prevalence amidst the various discrepancies arising between countries. The legality of this act and its violence-ridden connotations are what bring the issue before this Committee. Considering the term is not yet recognized by international law, there are varying imprecise or definitive definitions. One states that a targeted killing is any intentional killing enacted by a government or its persons onto a targeted individual deemed an unlawful combatant not held within their custody, while another expresses that targeted killings are premeditated acts of lethal force employed by states in times of peace or during armed conflict to eliminate specific individuals outside their custody.

Chapter Seven of the UN Charter succinctly dictates that the Security Council be given powers to maintain peace, by allowing the jurisdiction to "determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach
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of the peace, or act of aggression of which targeted killings takes part. Specifically stated in Article 51, the UN Charter maintains that Member States not be denied the individual or collective right of selfdefense if an armed attack occurs against a Member Nation. When considering this topic, delegates should keep in mind the effects of various methods of targeted killing such as drone strikes and kill/capture missions. Delegates should additionally be mindful of the implications of allowing such self-defense on the international political and legal sphere. Questions for Consideration 1. What are the implications of targeted killings versus assassinations? 2. How has your country specifically responded to recent and past acts of targeted killing? 3. In what ways have targeted killings been justified? 4. What Member States are the largest employers of targeted killing and in what ways do said nations consider the legality of the act? 5. How does the use of targeted killings infringe upon the basic rights put down by both the U.N. Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? Helpful Resources and Works Cited http://www.cfr.org/counterterrorism/targeted-killings/p9627#p2 http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/ http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=40136&Cr=heyns&Cr1#.UHZTM2l26_Y http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jun/06/targeted-killing-campaign-propaganda http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/08/13/targeted_killings

1.5 The Role of the Media in International Security

With the advent of new technologies, faster connections, and easier worldwide access, the role of media in international affairs has grown increasingly present and powerful. Whether by Wikileaks, Al-Jazeera, or Twitter alike, the role of media has begun to take a much stronger role within the international community. What makes this a topic for debate for the First Committee is the implication that the growing presence of media has on international security and the ethics of its role as a means of information to the masses. Agenda-setting, a major part of what media coverage means to the public, at a media level is simply determining what will be discussed, debated, and made important at a local level. With the changing waves of citizen journalism and the ease of Twitter, the idea of media conglomerates maintaining the power of the news, has diminished in favor of the publics ability to share news and set the news, all without the agenda-setting nature of the international societys top powers. What this ultimately gives both the individual media maker and the media consumer is choice. It is the ability to disseminate the news at all levels, a right given to all, even those within terrorist cells. The regulation of media in light of potential terrorist abuse is a question of ethics and an issue of public censorship. What complicates this issue, however, is the individual right of access to information, a right for which not all are easily given, though a right which when denied consequently allows for more powerful government. What delegates should be mindful of when reviewing these rights to access and freedom to citizen journalism news dissemination are the rights different international communities give to its citizens. Additionally, delegates should look into the outcomes of the Internet and citizen journalism as the
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adapting future of media agenda-setting. Questions for Consideration 1. What are the rights of access given to the citizens of your Member State? 2. What would regulation of media mean to the aggregation of news between international spheres? 3. What role do war correspondents play in international security? And are such journalists able to keep a neutral outlook when living amidst and embedded within a military force? 4. What type of regulation on media, if any, would allow for increased international security? 5. With citizen journalists creating news, what role can any international government take in mediating the diffusion of both bystander and terrorist on-the-ground news? Helpful Resources and Works Cited http://www.epsusa.org/publications/policybriefs/harris.pdf http://www.colorado.edu/conflict/peace/example/youn7500.htm http://globalsecuritystudies.com/Media.pdf

Third Committee 3.1 Combating the International Trade in Illicit Narcotic Drugs
The illicit trade of drugs is an issue that affects virtually every country in many ways. The third committee will explore the different areas in which the illegal narcotics trade impacts countries. A UN report in 2003 estimated the economic impact of the illicit narcotics trade to be $321.6 billion. This is a significant number given that it is greater than the gross domestic product of 88% of the worlds countries individual GDPs. Illegal drugs claim thousands of lives each year both directly, through overdoses and drug-related deaths, and indirectly, through the criminal culture associated with the organized units that control the world drug trade. Drug use also impacts the lives and well-being of many people due to violence, theft, and other crimes. The drug trade spawns conflict between groups that desire to reap the vast profits that come with the control of the drug market. The scale of drug production in some countries surpasses that of any legal crop. Clearly, drug cultivation and trade does play a large role in the welfare and sustenance of many people. This makes the drug issue a particularly complicated one. There are many routes to consider in combating the trade of illicit drugs, but one cannot overlook the reliance of many individuals on the drug economy for survival. The narcotics trade is particularly attractive for persons in lesser developed countries, which often lack well-developed legitimate industries. The drug trade is very complex in nature and involves a variety of actors as well as an intricate transportation network. Combating the illicit narcotics trade requires great consideration from the international community. Delegates should consider the wide variety of approaches that may be taken to deal with the issue of illicit narcotics trade. They should also be prepared to contemplate the many social issues that arise from the trade of illegal drugs. Questions for Consideration 1) Which member states are the largest suppliers of illicit narcotics? 2) Which member states are the largest consumers of illicit drugs? 3) What social issues arise from the international drug trade? 4) What approaches can be taken to encourage the development of legitimate enterprise, especially in less developed countries?
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5) What measures should be taken by member states to better enforce or prevent the trade of illegal drugs? Helpful Resources and Works Cited http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2005/06/30/un_report_puts_worlds_illicit_drug_trade _at_estimated_321b/ http://www.unrisd.org/80256B3C005BCCF9/(httpAuxPages)/4C3D0BE90FAD550480256B6400419B57/ $file/bp2.pdf http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/142364.pdf http://www.unodc.org/unodc/data-and-analysis/WDR.html http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/drug-trafficking/index.html http://www.oas.org/en/topics/drugs.asp http://www.incb.org/pdf/e/ar/2002/incb_report_2002_1.pdf

3.2 Establishing a Global Strategy for Persons Displaced by Climate Change

The threat of global climate change poses many difficult questions for the international community. One major issue is the risk of the mass displacement of populations as a result of changing climate patterns. While the topic has been raised before, there is not yet a major international agreement focusing on how to address it. The process of climate change intertwines with other major trends contributing to migration, intensifying already powerful factors leading to the displacement of populations. Because of the wide-reaching nature of the effects of climate change, it can induce migration in numerous ways. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has identified five climate-related factors leading to migration: major natural disasters (hurricanes, flooding, etc.), territory becoming uninhabitable due to climate shifts, environmental degradation, the disappearance of island states, and conflict triggered by increased completion for ever more sparse vital resources (water, arable land, etc.). These factors tend to affect the populations of developing countries the most, as they are disproportionately located in danger zones and are often more dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. Thus, those states with the fewest resources to mitigate the effects of climate change are also the worst affected by it. There is currently a very limited framework for dealing with people displaced by climate-related events. While many may remain in their state, and thus be classified as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) the classification of those who move across international borders is more difficult. The term refugee, as defined in the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (CRSR), is often difficult to apply to groups displaced by climate-related phenomena. Other legal questions, such as the status of people fleeing island countries that risk becoming submerged by rising sea levels, create entirely new dilemmas for the international community. Thus, the role of the international community, and the rights of these displaced persons, is not always clear a major problem for coordinated action on the international level. While the international community already supports migrants affected by conflict, natural disasters, and lack of access to food and water resources, these phenomena will become more intense as climate change progresses. If there is not a coherent strategy to prevent mass displacement and to mitigate the effects of climate change on the worlds most vulnerable populations, then the international community may find itself unprepared and unable to act as the number of migrants increases over the coming decades. Questions for Consideration 1. What should be the respective roles of the Member State governments and the international
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community in addressing migration issues? 2. How can the international community help to mitigate the risks faced by vulnerable populations? 3. How should the UN go about developing a coherent strategy for assisting populations at risk from climate change? 4. In what ways can the UN promote cooperation between states in dealing with the effects of climate change? How can potential conflicts be avoided? 5. How can the unique legal questions posed by climate change be addressed? Helpful Resources and Works Cited http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49e4a5096.html http://www.ipcc.ch/index.html http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2009/gashc3964.doc.htm http://www.unhcr.org/4901e81a4.html http://www.unhcr.org/3b66c2aa10.html http://www.nrcfadder.no/arch/img.aspx?file_id=9904600

3.3 Safeguarding the Rights of International Migrant Populations

With the rise of globalization and increasing international mobility, migrant populations have become an indispensible element of the global economy. According to the United Nations Population Division, in 2010 the number of international migrants worldwide totaled 214 million people. The reasons why these people leave their countries of origin are numerous and varied: wars, poverty, famine, natural disaster, unemployment, family connections, and the search for better economic opportunities can all be factors. However, migrants, like any vulnerable population, often face serious threats to their human rights. In 2004 the International Labour Conference noted that a significant number face undue hardships and abuse in the form of low wages, poor working conditions, virtual absence of social protection, denial of freedom of association and workers rights, discrimination and xenophobia, as well as social exclusion. Many international conventions protecting the rights of migrants, such as ILO Conventions Nos. 97 and 143, or the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families, have not been universally ratified. Some states fear these agreements would infringe on their national sovereignty or pose security risks. Other states may simply lack the resources to implement such wide-ranging reforms. Some migrant groups face greater risks when they move between countries. Irregular migrants, lacking legal permission to work in the host country, risk exploitation with limited recourse to the authorities. Female migrants often face many additional risks, notably in the form of human trafficking. Since they are often also irregular migrants, these women and girls are unable to request assistance from law enforcement agencies, leaving them trapped in a form of modern slavery. Child migrants are also at an elevated risk for exploitation and discrimination, and often find themselves in work or living situations that violate their rights as stated in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Both women and children are disproportionately affected by limited access to health and medical services. Migration will clearly remain an important part of international life. However, as the number of migrants continues to grow, the risk of exploitation and the violation of human rights will grow as well. Migration is an issue that affects all states, and must be addressed with both better domestic policy, as well as stronger and more coherent international cooperation. No one state can hope to solve the issues presented by the growing global migrant population on its own.

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Questions for Consideration 1. How has migration affected your state? What is your governments current migration policy? 2. In what ways can the international community ensure that the rights of migrant populations are not violated? 3. How can existing legal protections be better implemented? In what areas are implementation gaps the most severe? 4. What groups of immigrants are especially vulnerable to human rights abuses? What can the UN do to protect these groups? 5. What are the larger forces driving international migration, and how should the international community address them? Helpful Resources and Works Cited http://www.ilo.org/global/lang--en/index.htm http://www.globalmigrationgroup.org/ http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/migrant/download/rights_based_approach.pdf http://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:12000:1435748257917474::::P12000_INSTRUMENT_SO RT:4 http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/pdf/cmw.pdf http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/crc.htm http://www.ipu.org/splz-e/hrbodies07/conclusions.pdf

3.4 Mitigating the Impact of Climate Change on Food Supplies

Climate researchers estimate that the average global temperature will increase between 2-11.5 degrees Fahrenheit within the next 100 years. They expect that this increase in temperature will lead to many devastating effects on the earth that will greatly impact peoples lives across the globe. Among these, the issue of food production and security is a particularly grave issue relating to the survival of humans on the planet. Changes in temperature and climate will undoubtedly affect the amount of precipitation, and therefore, which crops, if any, will be able to be grown. Events such as floods and droughts are expected to happen more frequently with direct consequences on food supplies. Additionally, the effects of climate change will also impact livestock populations. Due to the increase in ocean temperatures, climate change could have devastating effects on cold-water species; increased acidity from CO2 means that certain species such as shellfish will suffer due to depleted calcium levels and therefore, weaker shells. Climate change will not impact all areas equally, so it is important to have international cooperation in this area. With the rapid increase in population, food production is a particularly pertinent issue. The U.N. has yet to address this issue in great detail, so it is greatly important that this committee take steps to address the status of food supplies, given the worlds changing climate. The committee should focus on actions the world can take to mitigate the impact of climate change on food supplies, as well as ways that humans can adapt to the changes. Questions for Consideration 1. What steps can nations take to mitigate the effects of climate change on food supplies? 2. What steps can countries take to adapt to the changes that will come from climate change, specifically relating to food security? 3. What are the best strategies for changing the behavior of member states? 4. How will the distribution and scale of food production change because of climate shifts?

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Helpful Resources and Works Cited http://www.ifpri.org/publication/food-security-farming-and-climate-change-2050 http://ccafs.cgiar.org/ http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/impacts-adaptation/agriculture.html http://ciesin.columbia.edu/docs/004-138/004-138.html http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/climate-change-threatens-food-crisisstudy/story?id=13757662#.UAnwM_WG7To

3.5 Womens Access to Contraceptive and Other Sexual Health Materials

The issue of contraception and other sexual health materials is controversial; none the less, it is an important issue for the third committee to consider. Contraception has been important no only in preventing pregnancy, but also in protecting against a wide variety of deadly sexual diseases. There are many areas in which the U.N. may promote womens health including contraception, family planning, health infrastructure, and education about sexual health issues. Lack of education and access to contraception has devastating global consequences. Roughly 100,000 women die each year due to unintentional pregnancies as well as about 600,000 babies who were not planned. Unplanned pregnancies also result in dangerous secretive abortions in areas where abortions are banned. Additionally, 33 million individuals are currently living with H.I.V., while 340 million persons contract curable diseases (e.g. syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia) annually. Currently, the United Nations Population Fund to cut down the number of unwanted pregnancies and promote sexual health. Different moral views make the issue politically tenuous and complicate the ability to ensure that women receive full protection. While the access of women to contraceptive and sexual health materials is not without political controversy and debate, it is an important issue for this committee to consider. There are many approaches to consider in improving womens access to sexual health resources. Due to the health risks associated with the lack of access, it is a particularly pertinent issue. Delegates should approach the issue with respect for the cultural differences of member states and also keep in mind the issue of state sovereignty. Questions for Consideration 1. How can the U.N. improve access to sexual health resources? 2. Which approaches (education, clinics, contraception) will be most successful in promoting sexual health and which will be easiest for women to obtain? 3. Which approaches are more successful for preventing unwanted pregnancies versus preventing sexual diseases? Helpful Resources and Works Cited http://www.unfpa.org/rh/planning.htm http://www.unfpa.org/rh/planning.htm http://www.unfpa.org/webdav/site/global/shared/documents/publications/2011/Contraception.pdf http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/05/06/melinda-gates-new-crusade-investing-billions-inwomen-s-health.html http://www.ourbodiesourselves.org/book/companion.asp?id=31&compID=52

Fourth Committee

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4.1 Creation of New States: The Arab Spring

The Arab Spring was a series of revolutions beginning on December 18th, 2010 that forcibly removed rulers in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, and Yemen. Apart from the majorly recognized and iconic images of Tahrir Square, Cairo and Habib Bourguib Avenue, and Tunis, there were also significant uprisings and protests in Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwaid, Morocco, and Syria along with smaller exhibitions of social unrest in Bahrain, Lebanon, Mauritana, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan. Looking back on history, the Arab Spring has been seen as similar to the Autumn of Nations, a major democratic collection of revolution in Eastern Europe in the late 1980s sparked by the crumbling of sizeable communist powers. The initial spark of these revolutions has actually been linked to the rising cost of food, which by creating a higher cost of living has caused a lower standard of living. These current major protests began, mainly, through the organization allotted through social media. For the first time revolutionaries were expressed their frustration in an online medium, were connected instantaneously with others who felt the same, and were fueled to take action. As of now, the Tunisian, Egyptian, Yemeni, and Liberian governments have been overthrown with major protests ongoing in various other countries. The question now is not how the government will be overthrown, but what will happen to those states where the governments have been overthrown. Tunisia: For the first time in late October of 2011, Tunisians elected their first Constituent Assembly and are currently developing a constitution. Also, newly created executives are the positions of both President and Prime Minister that were filled in December 2011 with the primary purpose of serving as interim government officials. The idea is to jump start the political system in order to create the imagined system that fueled the revolution. Egypt: Since the widely recognized protests in Tahrir Square, the Egyptian government has changed significantly. Officially the government is a republic, but for the time being military rule is in the hands of the Supreme Council of Armed Forces. There have been elections held in June 2012, and while they were declared unrigged or corrupt, there have been serious assertions that the Muslim Brotherhood, the past party of the ousted Hosni Mubarak, can not return to rule the nation. Mohamed Morsi was elected as President however Ahmed Shafik claims that he in fact won the presidency. Morsi is a past member of the Mubarak regime and Shafik is a member of the military. The Supreme Court, with members left from the Mubarak regime, dissolved the parliament and declared that Shafik, as a member of the military, could not run for president. Currently the military holds all oversight power until the transition of government is complete. Yemen: President Abd Rabuh Mansur Hadi was put into office in November 2012 when Ali Abdallah Salih was removed during the 2011 protests. The General Peoples Congress is the major political party within Yemen and is said to have ruled and to continue ruling to this day. Both Hadi and Salih are members. In November of 2011, Salih was nearly assonated so with assistance a peace treaty was set up. Salih was to transfer his presidential power to his vice president, Hadi in exchange for immunity for himself and his family. In exchange there would be a peaceful transfer of power until February 2012 when there would be a presidential election. In January of 2012 the Assembly of Representatives of Yemen confirmed the peace transfer as legitimate. When elections came around in February of 2012, Hadi was elected to the presidency with 99.8% of the vote. Libya: When the protests struck Libya the government of Muammar Gaddafi was punched down with vigor. In August 2011 Libya is under the temporary watch of the National Transitional Council (NTC). There have been promises of permanent government within the next year or so.

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Questions for Consideration 1) What was the Arab Spring really about? 2) Who rebelled and who was harmed? 3) What benefits do the Arab Spring revolutions bring to their respective nations and surrounding areas? What harms? 4) What are the international implications of the Arab Spring revolutions and protests? 5) What does the Arab Spring reveal about the state of the global political stage? 6) Are the newly established governments stable? Will they stand the test of time? 7) Do the newly created states solve the problems that fueled the revolution? 8) What role does the United Nations have in the aftermath of the Arab Spring? Helpful Resources and Works Cited http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2011/mar/22/middle-east-protest-interactive-timeline http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/35836.htm http://www.egypt.gov.eg/english/ http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5425.htm http://www.state.gov/p/nea/ci/eg/ http://www.state.gov/p/nea/ci/ym/index.htm

4.2 The UNs Role in Watching Over Elections

With upheaval of governance becoming increasingly common in the current day, the number of elections internationally has significantly increased. The role of the United Nations there has become increasingly muddled. The United Nations focuses its electoral efforts today on providing technical assistance to help Member States build credible and sustainable national electoral systems according to their Department of Political Affairs. The Electoral Assistance Division (EAD) defines more clearly the aims as ensuring consistency in the particular Member State appeals, procuring communication in light of those appeals, encouraging infrastructural procedure for years to come, and following up with elections and government procedures even after the elections have finished. Member states may request assistance from the UN through a formal written application, however the UN itself through the Security Council may procure Mandatory assistance for particular elections deemed needing assistance. These intentions of the UN are commendable, yet there is a great deal of gray involved in this intention. The questions of proper behavior and national sovereignty result in varied receptions and expectations of the United Nations roles and power therein. Additionally, some independent Non-Governmental Organizations have taken upon themselves to monitor elections. These powers and responsibilities are under high scrutiny. There have been some efforts in recent years to establish formal criteria and procedure for the UNs role in overseeing elections. Questions of implementing policies or favoring candidates are serious risks that any election monitoring involves. When the UN does actually get involved in elections, reports of their actions have generally been positive. An example of this was the UNs handling of the Suriname elections in May of 2000. In this situation, the government requested assistance from the EU and the UN to help with the shortened electoral cycle in
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order to secure a dependable election process. However, an outside force overseeing elections has become so common in certain areas of the globe, that hosting independent elections and away from assistance of international organizations, can be seen as a red light for electoral issues. It can be said that because of the immense electoral monitoring that there lacks the ability for those who are monitored to reach full self-sustainability. Questions for Consideration Does the United Nations have the power to monitor elections? If so what exactly are these powers? Should there be an official UN procedure and document informing the proper manner in which to monitor and oversee an election? Should the country that is being monitored have to agree? How is a government election defined? If there is a strong rebel group that has overtaken a country are they considered to be the new government? Helpful Resources and Works Cited http://www.un.org/wcm/content/site/undpa/main/issues/elections http://www.un.org/wcm/content/site/undpa/main/issues/elections/request_assistance http://www.unv.org/en/what-we-do/countries/suriname/doc/unv-election-observers-reach.html http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/67968/susan-d-hyde-and-judith-g-kelley/the-limits-of-electionmonitoring

4.3 Ethnic and Racial Discrimination in Europe

Ethnic and racial discrimination is not a problem limited to a single region or state, but a global issue faced by members of all human societies. However, the nature of such discrimination does vary considerably from region to region. The European Union often prides itself on its status as a role model for the rest of the world in terms of rule of law, human rights, and equality. Indeed, the promotion of such ideals is a vital aspect of the EUs Common Foreign and Security Policy. However, the European Union and its neighbors now face serious questions about how ethnic and racial minorities are treated within their own territories. The nations of Europe are facing a major demographic shift: as the native populations of European countries live longer and have fewer children, their growth is slowing down, and in some cases even reversing. At the same time, large numbers of immigrants from Africa and Asia continue to arrive in Europe every year. The combination of these two trends has led to major tensions, and in many cases discrimination based on race and ethnicity. While the nature of this discrimination often varies by Member State, there are certain groups that face more intense discrimination than others do. The EUs close proximity and historical connection to the Muslim world has resulted in a large influx of Muslim immigrants, who often find themselves marginalized in political, economic, and social spheres. In certain countries, these tensions have found their way into national legislation. In several EU Member States, such as France and Belgium, laws prohibit women from wearing the burqa a fact that has increased tensions with the Muslim communities in these states. Fears over terrorism and the presence of extremist groups, however small, only serve to exacerbate these tensions. Muslims are not the only group facing these problems. Roma and travelers also face both de facto and de jure discrimination, and as a result, they often find themselves ostracized from the community at large. Other groups seen as non-European such as Turks, Arabs, and Africans, also face disproportionally
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greater levels of discrimination in the workplace, creating higher levels of unemployment that in other segments of European society. Apart from these, there are many other ethnic and racial groups suffering from inequality across the EU. Not only does such discrimination violate both UN agreements and EU directives, it creates societal instability that threatens the very fabric of a multicultural Europe. While the EU has launched several initiatives to promote equality, the EU members and the international community cannot afford to turn a blind eye to the continuing injustices faced by many within the Unions borders. All people, European citizens as well as migrants, are ensured basic rights under EU law and UN treaties, and it is the role of the international community to ensure that those rights are upheld. Questions for Consideration 1. How is discrimination defined in international and European law? How can the UN go about measuring the level of discrimination faced by members of a society? 2. What larger demographic and social trends have an impact on racial discrimination in Europe? 3. What is the status of migrants and minority groups in your own country? How does your government deal with these groups? 4. What strategies can the UN adopt to fight discrimination in Europe? How can it strengthen existing policies and agencies? 5. How has the rise of extreme-right parties in Europe affected this issue, and what can the UN do to address it? Helpful Resources and Works Cited http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32000L0043:en:HTML http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=502&langId=en http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_168_Breport_en.pdf http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/ecri/default_en.asp http://www.enar-eu.org/Page_Generale.asp?DocID=15276&langue=EN http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N10/526/94/PDF/N1052694.pdf?OpenElement http://fra.europa.eu/fraWebsite/material/pub/comparativestudy/CS-Employment-en.pdf http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-SF-08-098/EN/KS-SF-08-098-EN.PDF http://www.un.org/en/ga/fourth/

4.4 Child Soldiers

According to United Nations statistics, there are thought to be around 300,000 children incentivized or forced to take up arms around the world. Most are found to be under the age of 15 and the youngest have been found to be seven years old. Currently over fifty nations recruit children under the age of fifteen into their official governmental militant forces, but most organizations that are utilizing child soldiers are unconnected to official government. Throughout recent history, the use of child soldiers has become an increasingly pressing issue. In the 1949 Geneva Convention, children were protected under the general legality of civilian but in the 4th Geneva Convention in 1947, seventeen provisions were made in order to ensure child security. Additional provisions were adopted by the convention as external groups became more interested in the issue of child security in a military setting. It wasnt until September of 1990 that a definition of a child in a military setting was agreed upon internationally. This came out of the Convention on Rights of a Child held in the United Nations. In this conference the United Nations defined a child as 18, but in an armed conflict a child is considered 15 years of age. The goals of the conference were put in to writing and ratified to become the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child. The major provisions are as follows:
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"States Parties undertake to respect and to ensure respect for rules of international humanitarian law applicable to them in armed conflicts which are relevant to the child. States Parties shall take all feasible measures to ensure that persons who have not attained the age of 15 years do not take a direct part in hostilities. States Parties shall refrain from recruiting any person who has not attained the age of 15 years into their armed forces. In recruiting among those persons who have attained the age of 15 years but who have not attained the age of 18 years, States Parties shall endeavor to give priority to those who are the oldest. In accordance with their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect the civilian population in armed conflicts, States Parties shall take all feasible measures to ensure protection and care of children who are affected by an armed conflict." However, even with this new declaration there are a plethora of child soldiers around the globe today. Unfortunately, there are many instances of using children to kill adults and other children. Listed below are some notables but there are many others: -In Burundi by Forces Nationales por la Liberation -In Rwanda by the government -In Sudan by the Sudans Peoples Liberation Army -In Uganda by the Lord's Resistance Army (led by Joseph Kony) - Throughout Asia, yet partially stopped by the semi-successful effort of CSUCS Thanks to non-governmental organizations, the issue of children in these horrendous situations is known throughout the world. Organizations such as Amnesty international and Invisible Children among others work diligently to both spread awareness and work to solve this problem. Questions for Consideration 1. What is your countrys policy on child soldiers? 2. What is your countrys history with the use of or protection of child soldiers? 3. What type of infrastructure or organizational support can your nation offer to stop the use of child soldiers? 4. What is wrong with the UNCRC? How can it best be fixed? 5. How can the current issues of child soldiers best be combated? Helpful Resources and Works Cited http://www.iss.co.za/pubs/asr/6no3/fontana.html http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/briefing/soldiers/index.htm http://www.cyberschoolbus.un.org/childsoldiers/whatsgoingon/ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/1815223.stm?storyLink=%23

4.5 Palestinian Refugees

It was December 11, 1948 when the first resolution regarding Palestinian refugees was passed within the General Assembly. Over fifty years after that first international call to action, the number of Palestinian refugees remains high and hostility equally so. The ever-constant dismissal of international sanctions on this issue is what brings this topic yet again before this committee. The operational definition of a Palestinian Refugee, as defined by the UNRWA, is people whose normal place of residence was Palestine between June 1946 and May 1948. Passed and reaffirmed every year since its initial assenting vote, the General Assembly Resolution 194 states that, [Palestinian] refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbors should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date. This resolution, and those passed subsequently, calls for action and collaboration of the international community; yet, over fifty years have passed with little progress on the
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Palestinian right of return. Article 13 of the UN Declaration of Human Rights affirms that, everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country. The creation of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in General Assembly Resolution 302, established December 8, 1949, was built to provide support and to carry out work programs and direct relief to Palestinian refugees. In lieu of a solution to the original issue of Palestinian Refugees, the General Assembly has renewed the mandate of the UNRWA each year to annually confirm the work that it does to supply many Palestinian refugees with needed aid and political advocacy. When approaching this issue, delegates should be mindful of its sensitive nature and the effect it has on much of the international community. Delegates should also recognize that while the issue remains to be a topic of political territories and the right to move back and forth from ones country, the issue of Palestinian refugees is in its very nature a topic for human rights debate; thus, it should be handled with respect. Questions for Consideration 1. Which Member States are affected by the displacement of these refugees? 2. What kind of change can be made in light of years of renewing already affirmed resolutions? 3. How can the international community collaborate to reach a solution? Helpful Resources and Works Cited http://www.unrwa.org/etemplate.php?id=85 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11104284 http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/C758572B78D1CD0085256BCF0077E51A http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/AF5F909791DE7FB0852560E500687282 http://www.aljazeerah.info/Documents/Palestinian%20Refugees,%20Frequently%20Asked%20Questions .htm

Position Papers
The purpose of the position paper is two-fold. First, the position paper assists delegates in keeping their preparatory research specific to the committee topic. This not only helps to reduce extraneous research, but also helps to ensure that delegates have all the necessary information to be an effective participant at the conference. Second, position papers also serve as a way for other delegations to research your countrys views. A good position paper will provide the essential details of a countrys position on a given issue. Papers should be written in a narrative format (full sentences please!) and should be between three and four paragraphs in length. When writing position papers, it is not necessary to include general background information on your topic, as this is covered in the background guides provided to each delegation. Delegates should take particular care to clearly and accurately reflect their countrys position. Additionally, spelling and grammar count, so please be sure to proofread. Finally, position papers will not be accepted unless they have been typed and are in the proper format. After you have written your position paper, review it with other delegates and your faculty advisor for suggestions. This provides useful practice in making a presentation before a critical but friendly audience.

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Position papers must be uploaded in *Microsoft Word format to the WHSMUN website, according to the directions provided. Position Papers must be submitted to the website by March 1st, 2013.
*Delegates must upload the papers in proper format if they wish to be considered for awards.

Following is a sample position paper written from the perspective of a representative of the Russian Federation in First Main Committee on the subject of the Prevention of Violent Disintegration of States: Intrastate violence and the fragmenting of governments is not a concern to be left to the citizens of a country alone. In an increasingly global world not only are the rights and sanctity of the individuals in these nations threatened by instability, but the economic and political future of the world is also implicated. The Russian Federation recognizes the importance of preventing the violent disintegration of states. We seek to work with our friends and allies to ensure not only stability and prosperity for the peoples of troubled regions, but also for the world. One of the major causes of social strife is the economic situation within the state. It is no coincidence that states in unrest are often among the poorest in the world. Russia sees economic stability as key to developing political and social stability. Through foreign investment in the growth of underdeveloped regions, states, which are often pushed into discord by an inability to meet economic needs, have a chance to focus on causes of strife without the catalyst of poverty. This investment by outsiders serves to further not only the state, but the investors own interests. This comes by creating a partnership that will allow for better trade relations in the future. In terms of protecting citizens before infrastructure can be built, Russia also advocates regional policing and the development of friendly boarders aided by international support. In times of internal conflict refugees often flee the fighting to safer nations. In order to prevent spillover conflict from the added burden of refugees, Russia advocates regional networks of states to help provide for persons in exile. This mutual system will provide a safety net for the participants should they face strife in the future as well as helping current victims. Both of these solutions provide the added benefits of allowing the state to pursue its own remedies, without having outsiders force solutions upon them. This preserves the legitimacy of government by leaving governance to those in the state. As well, the rights of all citizens can be guaranteed by making the aid and membership in the friendly boarder program contingent on respecting commitments to human rights as outlined in UN declarations and other agreements. Through interaction with outsiders in a positive context the racism and xenophobia, which is often triggered in times of strife, is eased. This helps to minimize the recurrence of violence in the future. By looking to the economic, political and social needs of nations in strife, Russia hopes we may find security for all people.

Resolutions
Resolutions are the basic formal declarations or statements of the United Nations. They are a call for action by some organ or member state(s) of the UN and an expression of global opinion. The resolutions submitted to the Main Committees and General Assembly will be the basis for all debate that will take place at WHSMUN. Each subcommittee will be responsible for writing one resolution per topic. Therefore, every delegate must understand and be proficient in using the proper format for resolution writing. Every resolution consists of two sections: preambulatory and operative clauses. The preamble serves to describe and outline the problem or subject that the resolution will be addressing. A good
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resolution will have a preamble that provides strong justification for taking action on a matter. The preamble begins with the name of the UN body being addressed. The preamble often includes statistics, facts, and quotations from the UN Charter and from previous UN resolutions that dealt with the same subject. The preamble then continues with the reasons supporting the resolutions actions. Each clause of the preamble begins with a present participle phrase, some of which are suggested on the following page. The second section of the resolution consists of operative clauses. These are numbered statements that delineate what actions should be taken, make recommendations, or express approval or disapproval. The resolution may request action by member states, the Secretariat, or by other bodies of the UN. Each of the operative clauses begins with a verb that emphasizes the statement. Resolutions are developed during the conference. Delegations are encouraged, however, to practice writing and debating draft resolutions. Pre-written draft resolutions will not be accepted at the conference, as the resolution should be a product of the entire subcommittee.

Preambulatory Phrases
Affirming Alarmed by Approving Aware Bearing in Mind Believing Confident Contemplating Convinced Declaring Deeply concerned Deeply conscious Deeply convinced Deeply disturbed Having heard 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 devoted attention to Having examined Having received Having studied Keeping in mind Noting further Noting with approval Noting with deep concern Noting with regret Noting with satisfaction Observing Recognizing Referring Seeking Taking into account Taking into consideration Taking note Viewing with appreciation Welcoming

Preambulatory clauses are the introduction to the resolution. The verbs that begin each phrase should be all caps and in bold type. These clauses end in a comma. __________________________________________________________________

Operative Clauses
Accepts Affirms Approves Authorizes Calls for Calls upon Condemns Confirms Designates Endorses Expresses its appreciation Expresses its hope Further invites Further proclaims Further resolves Has resolved Notes Proclaims
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Regrets Reminds Requests Solemnly affirms Strongly condemns Supports Takes note of Transmits Trusts

Draws the attention Emphasizes

Reaffirms Recommends

Urges

Operative Clauses must begin with a verb in the present tense, and is all caps and in bold type. They describe the action of the committee. These clauses are numbered and end in a semicolon, except for the last clause which ends in a period.

**These are only suggestions for the phrases that may be used in resolutions. There may be other phrases that delegates may find more appropriate for their particular resolution.

Example of Draft Resolution: The Economics of Global Warming

Draft Resolution 2.2 Wisconsin High School Model United Nations Subject of Resolution: Submitted to: Submitted by: General Assembly, AWARE that not all countries will be able to aid equally due to the current global economical situation, EMPHASIZING that climate change affects the global economy, DESIRING justice, equality, and fairness in the topic of global warming, OBSERVING that the Kyoto Protocol will not reach its goals by its deadline of 2012, RECOGNIZING that rapid climate change in the past has caused the collapse of complex societies, BEARING IN MIND that global climate change will have impact on all nation, NGOs, and multinational corporations, KEEPING IN MIND that many countries have traditional-fuel based economies and will be financially impacted by global warming regulations that limit international consumption, RECOGNIZING the anthropogenic nature of climate change, 1. Requests advisors to educate willing countries on actions they may take to combat climate change; 2. Encourages countries to join and follow the Copenhagen Accord; 3. Calls upon world organizations such as the WTO, the World Bank, and IRENA to provide resources for research and development on technologies designed to fight climate change; 4. Urges the creation of newer programs to aid the economic development of developing countries along a reduced-emission pathway; 43 Economics of Global Warming Second Main Committee Subcommittee on Economics of Global Warming

5. Allows countries with fuel-selling dependent economies to continue the practice of fossil fuel sale without penalty; 6. Urges member nations to create a pollution tax proportional to economic size, stability and environmental impact, based on UN standards; 7. Recommends a continuation of the current cap and trade system, in which industries adhere to emission limits ultimately, set by international consent, in order to retain control of government sponsored allowances; 8. Emphasizes the importance of international collaboration on technological advances aimed at reducing the impact of global climate change; 9. Supports fair and open trade of climate change-fighting technologies; 10. Supports development of alternative economic sectors in fuel-selling dependant countries.

Rules and Procedures Administration and General Conference Rules Section 1: Administration
1.1: Executive Committee:
The Executive Committee shall have under its authority all matters that deal with: the assignment of countries, substantive matters of the conference, and the Secretariat. The Executive Committee has sole authority at WHSMUN regarding staff and conference logistics. The Executive Committee is composed of the Secretary-General, the Director-General and the IWA WHSMUN Coordinator.

1.2: Senior Staff:

The WHSMUN Senior Staff shall consist of the Secretary-General, the Director-General, the Under Secretary-General(s), and other designates of the Secretary-General at his/her discretion. The Senior Staff provide a direct point of contact for problems, concerns and ideas for the future. Only members of the Senior Staff may act as the official and final voice of the Secretariat.

1.3: Conference Composition:

WHSMUN shall consist of a General Assembly, a selection of Main Committees of the GA, and their respective subcommittees, as well as special committees. The composition of WHSMUN may be altered at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

1.4: Final Authority:

In any situation not covered by these rules, the Secretary-General of WHSMUN will be the final authority, using the United Nations Charter as a guide. The Secretary-General shall have all powers assigned to that position under the Charter and shall be assisted directly by other members of the Secretariat so designated by the Executive Committee.

1.5: Presiding Authority:

The President of the General Assembly, the President of the Security Council, and the Committee Chairpersons shall have complete control over the maintenance of order during the meetings at which

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they preside, and can exercise any powers conferred upon them by the Secretary-General.

1.6: Rules Clarification(s):

In any parliamentary situation not covered by these rules, final authority shall rest with the WHSMUN Secretariat. Such decisions are final and may not be appealed.

1.7: Quorum:
A quorum will be one fourth of the member delegations in attendance at the conference. A quorum is required for all business to take place. The number required for quorum may be altered at the discretion of the Secretary-General.

Section 2: General Rules

2.1: Diplomatic Courtesy:
Delegates are expected to act respectfully to their fellow delegates, faculty advisors, and to the Secretariat. Delegates who are found to be in violation of this may be censured or expelled from their committee. This decision may not be appealed. Delegates are expected to be in Western business attire for the duration of the conference.

2.2: Speeches:
Delegations may only speak after receiving recognition from the Chair. Delegations, and not individual representatives, are recognized so multiple delegates may speak when a delegation is recognized. Delegates must speak only about the topic at hand. The Chair may censure speakers who are off topic; said decision may not be appealed.

2.3: Recognition of Speakers:

Delegations wishing to be recognized to speak must raise their placard. The Chairs will recognize only official WHSMUN issued placards.

2.4: Right of Reply:

The Chair may allow a Right of Reply to any delegation if a speech made by another delegation contains extraordinary language clearly insulting to personal or national dignity. Requests are to be made in writing to the Chair detailing the language used which was found to be insulting. If entertained, the time allowed will be set by the Chair. The decision of the Chair may not be appealed, and no reply to a reply will be entertained.

2.5: Withdrawal of Motions:

Any motion may be withdrawn by its proposer until voting begins. If the motion has been amended, it may not be withdrawn.

2.6: Dilatory Motions:

The Chair may rule dilatory any motion duplicating a similar motion that has already been recently decided by the body. Said decision of the Chair may not be appealed.

2.7: Languages:
The official working language of WHSMUN is English. Every attempt by delegations should be made to ensure that delegates can communicate effectively in spoken and written English.

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2.8: Censure:
Delegations found to be in repeated, severe violations of WHSMUN rules, regulations, and policies will be censured. Censure consists of removing voting and speaking privileges for a delegation for a period time as determined by the presiding authority. In extreme cases, expulsion will be considered. If a delegation is participating in actions that are considered severe enough, the presiding authority will attempt to issue a warning to the delegation notifying them they are in danger of censure, and why they will be censured if the behavior does not stop. Appeals to censures will be granted and conducted with the offending delegates, head delegate, and faculty advisor. The Secretary-General will act as presiding authority. Until the appeal is completed, the delegation will not be allowed to vote or speak in formal session.

Section 3: General Assembly (GA)

3.1: Agenda:
The order of the agenda of the plenary session of the GA on the second day of the conference shall be set by the Secretariat. New items may not be added to the agenda of the General Assembly.

3.2: Precedence:
The points and motions as listed in Section 4 are in order of precedence. This means that if there is a motion on the floor, only motions of higher precedence may be called for by delegates. Points are of higher precedence than motions.

3.3: Recognition of Speakers:

Delegations wishing to speak on an item before the body will signify by raising their placards when points, motions or speakers are requested by the Chair from the floor. When making a motion or speaking on a resolution/ amendment, delegates must raise their placards, when no other delegate is speaking, and wait to be recognized by the Chair. When making a point, delegates must state their point as they raise their placard. Only points of order (Rule 4.1) may interrupt a speaker. -The correct grammar to be used when making a motion is: The delegation of _______ moves to

3.4: Debate Time Limits:

The Chair sets predetermined limits to debate: -Delegates proposing resolutions in the General Assembly shall have five minutes to speak on their resolution. This does not include the time necessary for the resolution to be read to the Assembly. -Proposers of amendments shall have three minutes to speak, after the amendment is read by the Dais staff. -Substantive speeches, such as speaking on a resolution or amendment, will be limited to three minutes. -Procedural speeches, such as the pro and con speakers for a motion, will be limited to thirty seconds. All of these limits may be changed with Rule 4.11. The Chair may also, at his or her discretion, set a cap regarding the total amount of time available for discussion of any resolution or amendment.

3.5: Yielding the Floor:

Once a delegation is finished with a substantive speech (on a resolution or amendment), they must yield the remainder of their time to: -the Chair = no other delegations may respond -questions/points of inquiry = other delegations can ask questions of the delegate on the speech he or she just made
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-another delegation = that delegation will speak on the issue to which the first delegation was recognized No more than two yields between delegations shall take place for each speaker recognized by the Chair. There may be no yields of any kind after a procedural or a proposal speech.

3.6: Penalties:
Delegations who are recognized to speak to a position on a main motion and who speak on the opposite shall be censured. Delegations falling to observe diplomatic courtesy toward fellow representatives, Secretariat members, faculty, or other individuals may be censured and removed from their committee or the conference. The latter decision rests jointly in the hands of the Secretary-General and the IWA WHSMUN Coordinator.

3.7: Observer Status:

Observer nations represented shall not be allowed to vote in the General Assembly or in the Main Committees. In addition, observer nations may not make or second motions dealing with adjournment of debate, closure of debate or adjournment of the meeting.

3.8: Voting Rights

Each member state shall have one vote in each Committee/Council in which they have representation. No delegate may cast a vote on behalf of another state.

3.9: Simple Majority

Unless otherwise stated, motions require a simple majority to pass. Simple majority rules state that there must be more votes in favor than against to pass, which does not include abstentions. If there are more opposed or an equal division between votes in favor and those opposed, the motion fails.

3.10: Methods of Voting:

The General Assembly shall vote by a show of raised placards. A member nation may call for a roll call vote on substantive motions. This requires 15 delegations to second the motion, as it is not debatable or put to a vote. Delegates shall reply with yes, no, abstain, or abstain from the order. A delegation may abstain from the order once during a roll call vote; a second abstention from the order will be recorded as an abstention. Before the final results of a roll call are announced, delegations will be asked if they wish to change their vote. Delegates who request to change their vote must change their vote.

3.11: Conduct During Voting

Immediately prior to a vote, the Chair will explain to the Committee/Council the item to be voted on, and will explain the consequences of an in favor or opposed vote. Voting begins when the Chair states that we are now in voting procedure, and ends when the results are announced. Once in voting procedure, no interruptions are allowed, except a Point of Order or a Point of Information regarding voting procedure. During voting procedure, there must be silence on the floor and delegates may not enter or leave the Committee/Council chamber.

3.12: Explanation of Votes:

Delegations that vote in favor of or against any main motion may be allowed 30 seconds after the results of the vote have been announced to explain why the voted as they did. This only applies if the delegations vote may have been considered out of character or against foreign policy, and they wish to explain their decision. An explanation is only permissible after a roll call vote, if the delegation indicated with rights
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when stating their vote (It is not allowed if the delegation abstained from the vote).

3.13: Votes Inconsistent With Foreign Policy:

If a delegation believes that another delegation is acting out of character, please approach a member of the Secretariat, who will in turn resolve the issue.

Section 4: General Assembly Rules (Points & Motions in Order of Precedence)

4.1: Point of Order:
During the discussion of any matter, a delegate may rise to a Point of Order if he or she believes that the committee is proceeding in a manner contrary to the WHSMUN rules. When a representative feels that the committee is out of order, he must state the exact violation of the WHSMUN Bylaws. This would include not being able to hear the speaker, as that would be a violation of Rule 2.1, Diplomatic Courtesy. A Point of Order may interrupt a speaker, but it should be noted that it is discourteous to do so unless the problem is pertinent.

4.2: Point of Information:

A Point of Information may be called for if a representative is unclear about the business before the assembly, or if he wishes to obtain clarification about the procedure of the assembly. This point may not interrupt a speaker.

4.3: Point of Inquiry:

At the end of any substantive speech, delegates may rise to a Point of Inquiry to ask a question of the speaker if the speaker so chooses and distinguishes that choice by yielding their time to questions/points of inquiry. Points of Inquiry may not be made until after a delegation finishes their speech. Delegations wishing to raise a point of inquiry should rise immediately following a speakers substantive speech (but wait to be recognized by the Chair). Points of Inquiry are only in order if the speaker has not already yielded the balance of his or her time to the Chair. The speaker may decline to continue accepting points of inquiry at any time. This point may not interrupt a speaker.

4.4: Caucus:
Unmoderated Informal Session: A delegate may move to recess to an unmoderated informal session when the floor is open, prior to closure of debate. This motion requires a second and is not debatable. The motioning delegate must give a purpose and an overall time limit for the caucus. The time limit and acceptance of the motion are subject to the Chairs discretion. Once the motion is accepted, it is immediately put to a vote, requiring a simple majority to pass. Moderated Informal Session: A delegate may move to recess to a moderated informal session when the floor is open, prior to closure of debate. This motion requires a second and is not debatable. The motioning delegate must give a purpose, an overall time limit for the caucus, and a speaking time for the individual speeches. The time limit, number of speakers, and acceptance of the motion are subject to the Chairs discretion. Once the motion is accepted, it is immediately put to a vote, requiring a simple majority to pass. If the motion passes, the assembly will move directly into the moderated informal session for the specified amount of time. The Chair will accept speakers on the predetermined subject of the moderated caucus, and the Assembly will return to formal session when the time limit has expired.

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4.5: Suspension of the Meeting:

The motion for a suspension of the meeting is used to suspend the meeting for a specified amount of time and for a specific purpose (such as a meal or the end of the day). This motion requires a second. This motion is not debatable and requires a simple majority for passage.

4.6: Adjournment of the Meeting:

This motion is used to end substantive business of the committee for the year. This motion requires a second. This motion is not debatable and requires a simple majority for passage. The Chair may refuse to recognize a motion to adjourn the meeting if the Committee still has enough time to discuss substantive business.

4.7: Division of the Assembly:

Any representative may call for a division of the assembly if he feels that the results of a substantive placard vote were close enough to merit a roll-call vote. A delegation wishing for a roll-call vote should move to divide the assembly immediately following the announcement of the results of the placard vote. A motion for Division of the Assembly requires 15 delegations to second the motion. The motion may be requested up until the proposal speaker for the next agenda item is recognized.

4.8: Adjournment of Debate:

Moving for adjournment of debate has the effect of ending debate on a main motion a resolution or amendment without bringing that particular motion to a vote. In effect, this tables the main motion, to be brought back only with a motion to reconsider (Rule 4.14). This motion requires a second. This motion is debatable, with two speakers for and two speakers against the motion. This motion requires a simple majority for passage.

4.9: Closure of Debate:

A motion for closure of debate is used to end substantive debate on a main motion a resolution or amendment and bring the assembly to an immediate vote on that main motion. This motion requires a second. Two speakers will speak against this motion. This motion requires a 2/3 majority for passage.

4.10: Change the Order of the Agenda:

A motion to changing the order of the agenda is used to rearrange items on the agenda. Only one item may be moved each time this motion is made. This motion may only be made in the General Assembly, and only before the General Assembly enters substantive business on the first agenda topic. This motion is not debatable and requires a 2/3 majority for passage.

4.11: Consideration of Amendments:

Moving to amend a resolution is used to add, subtract, or modify the content of a resolution. All amendments must be written on official WHSMUN amendment forms and must be signed by at least 15 delegations before they may be accepted by the Secretariat. The amendment proposer must then move to amend the resolution, but only after the amendment has received approval from a member of the GA dais staff.
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The number of signatures required for amendment may be altered at the discretion of the Secretariat and said decision may not be appealed. This motion does not require a second. Once the motion is properly made, the amendment is automatically on the floor.

4.12: Change the Limits of Debate:

This motion is used to change the amount of time allotted to each speaker. Delegates moving to change limits of debate must state the new limit(s) they propose. This motion requires a second, and is debatable. This motion requires a 2/3 majority to pass.

4.13: Object to Consideration:

If the General Assembly does not wish to even consider a specific issue on the agenda, a delegation may make this motion when the agenda item comes up for consideration. If the motion is approved, then debate on the resolution ceases immediately and the agenda item is in effect skipped. This motion requires a second. This motion may be made any time until the proposal speech for the resolution in question is completed. This motion is not debatable. This motion requires a 2/3 majority for passage.

4.14: Division of the Question:

This motion is used to divide a resolution into multiple resolutions to be voted on separately. (It is used when different parts, although relating to a single subject, are capable of standing alone as complete resolutions, potentially due to their controversial nature. To completely remove a clause from consideration, make an amendment to strike it.) This motion must clearly state in what way the resolution is to be divided. This motion is only in order after debate has been closed on the resolution, but before moving into voting procedure. Delegations will first vote on whether or not to divide the resolution. This motion requires a second and is debatable, with the pro and con speakers only discussing the merits of the actual motion. o If there are multiple motions to Divide the Question, then they are disposed of in the order of descending disruption to the resolution. o If the first vote fails, the Assembly returns to voting procedure on the resolution as it stands. If the first vote passes, the resolution is divided into two pieces to then be voted on separately. The second vote is taken to determine whether or not to keep the divided out portion of the resolution. If the second vote passes, then the divided segment(s) will be kept but as an annex to the original resolution. If the second vote fails, the particular clauses under consideration are discarded and no longer part of the resolution. Both votes require a simple majority for passage.

4.15: Reconsideration:
This motion is used to bring back any main motion (resolution or amendment) for which debate was adjourned. This motion requires a second for consideration. This motion is debatable, with two affirmative, and two negative speakers. This motion requires a 2/3 majority for passage. Upon passage, the item to be reconsidered comes up for discussion immediately. This motion can only be made between substantive agenda times.
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Section 5: Main Committees

5.1: Applicability of GA Rules:
Unless provided for otherwise in this section, all rules of the General Assembly apply to the Main Committees.

5.2: Agenda:
The Main Committee agenda shall be set by the Secretariat and the order of it may not be changed. Only resolutions from subcommittees may be discussed in the Main Committees. All resolutions that pass in the Main Committee shall go onto the agenda for the General Assembly Plenary Session.

5.3: Debate Time Limits:

Proposers of resolutions shall be allotted ten minutes to speak on the resolution, not including the reading of the resolution. Proposers of amendments shall be allotted five minutes to speak on behalf of their amendment. Substantive speeches are limited to five minutes. Procedural speeches are limited to three minutes. These time limits may be changed with the proper motion.

Section 6: Subcommittees
6.1: Presiding Authority:
The Chair of each subcommittee shall determine the rules for their subcommittee.

6.2: Resolution Proposer:

Before the end of the subcommittee meeting, the delegations must select one representative of the Subcommittee to propose the resolution in the Main Committee.

Section 7: Security Council (SC) and Historical Security Council (HSC)

7.1: Presiding Authority
The Security Council President will be the Chairperson at all Council sessions and will have authority similar to that of the Secretary-General of WHSMUN. If the Council President should find it necessary to be absent during any part of the session, authority will be transferred to the Vice President or another member of WHSMUN staff chosen by the Security Council President.

7.2: Provisional Agenda:

Delegations in both of these committees must be prepared to debate all of the issues listed for their committee in the issue guide. The actual agenda shall be set by delegates of the committee and is subject to change. At any point during the committee session, the Secretary-General may call upon the committee to act upon an urgent international crisis, after which time they may return to their standard order of business.

7.3: Daily Order of Consideration for the Agenda:

The Council will establish the order of consideration for agenda topics at the start of the session. Once established, this will become the working agenda for the duration of the conference. Agenda topics will be discussed based on the order that they appear on the working agenda. A delegation wishing to change this order may move to change the order of consideration for the working agenda.
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7.4: Quorum:
Quorum shall consist of ten member states in the Security Council and the Historical Security Council. When the Historical Security Council is simulating the year 1965 or before, quorum shall be seven member states.

7.5: Attendance:
Each Security Council member delegation assumes the responsibility to have two accredited representatives present at each Council session.

7.6: Formal Session:

When the SC or HSC is in formal session, the Security Council President shall facilitate debate. Speakers on the main motion need not alternate between pro and con speakers. By a 2/3 vote, the SC and HSC may set their own rules relating to time limits. Passage of main motions may occur only in Formal Session.

7.7: Amendments:
All amendments must be written on official WHSMUN amendments forms and must be signed by at least 5 delegations before they may be accepted by the Secretariat. The amendment proposer, after Secretariat approval, must then move to amend the resolution. The number of signatures required for an amendment may be altered at the discretion of the Secretariat and said decision may not be appealed. There shall be no friendly amendments.

7.8: Voting:
All voting shall be subject to Article 27 of the United Nations Charter. Voting shall be by show of placards, except on Main Motions and amendments, when any member nation may call for a roll call vote (which is obligatory if called for). Each member state shall have one vote. On matters where there is little or no division among the members, unanimous consent may be requested of a motion. All votes of absentia shall not count toward the total vote for the purposes of determining a majority. During a roll call vote, before the final results are announced, delegations will be allowed to change their vote. Delegates who request to change their vote must change their vote. During voting procedure, there must be silence on the floor, and delegates may not enter or leave the Security Council Chamber.

7.9: Explanation of Votes:

Delegations that vote in favor of or against any main motion (but do not abstain) may be allowed 30 seconds after the results of the vote have been announced to explain why they voted in a way that may seem contrary to their nations foreign policy. Delegates wishing to do so must say with rights when they give their vote during the roll call.

7.10: Consent of the Five Permanent Members:

Per the Charter of the United Nations, each of the five permanent members China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States shall have the power to veto any substantive motion brought before the Security Council

7.11: Applicability of General Assembly Rules:

In Section 8, the rules of for the Security Council simulations are listed. Aside from the additions and changes, which are noted, many of the GA rules apply. For a complete description of these rules, please
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read under Section 4. Please refer to the short form for more information about each motion.

Section 8: Security Council Rules (Points of Procedure and Motions in Order of Precedence)
8.1: Point of Order
See GA Rule 4.1

8.2: Point of Information

See GA Rule 4.2

8.3: Point of Inquiry

See GA Rule 4.3

8.4: Suspension of the Meeting:

The President may use their authority to request an amendment to such motion if it is deemed necessary.

8.5: Adjournment of the Meeting

See GA Rule 4.6

8.6: Adjournment of Debate

See GA Rule 4.8

8.7: Closure of Debate on an Agenda Topic:

This motion is in order during any point of discussion of a particular agenda topic. If is passes, it has the effect of ending debate on a topic area, and it brings all remaining draft resolutions for that topic area to a vote. This motion is debatable. A simple majority is required for the motion to pass.

8.8: Closure of Debate:

Closing debate on a resolution or amendment has the effect of bringing that particular main motion to an immediate vote. This motion is debatable. A simple majority is required for the motion to pass.

8.9: Enter Consultative Session:

With a majority vote, the SC and HSC may enter into an informal consultative session. While in informal consultative session, the Chair facilitates discussion among the delegations. No motions may be made during informal consultative sessions, with the exception of a motion to suspend the meeting. When the motion to begin an informal consultative session is made, the moving delegation must specify the time that the body will move back into formal session. This motion is debatable. A simple majority is required for this motion to pass.

8.10: Add an Agenda Topic:

This motion is used to consider whether or not the body wants to add an additional topic to the agenda. If this motion passes, the new agenda topic is added at the end of the current agenda. This motion is debatable.
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A simple majority is required for passage.

8.11: Change the Order of Consideration for the Working Agenda:

A motion to change the order of the consideration for the working agenda has the effect of changing the order in which topics are discussed before the council. The delegate making this motion must state the new order in which the agenda topics are to be considered. This motion is debatable. A simple majority is required for passage.

8.12: Set Working Agenda:

At the start of each daily session the Security Council shall establish a working agenda. A delegation may move to set the working agenda. This motion must contain the order in which the agenda topics are to be considered. This motion is debatable. A simple majority is required for passage.

8.13: Limits of Debate:

A motion to limit or extend the time allotted to each delegation, or limit the number of times each delegation can speak on a proposal, is in order at anytime. A motion to limit the time of debate on an agenda topic, draft resolution, or amendment is in order. This motion is debatable. A simple majority is required for passage.

8.14: Division of the Question 8.15: Consideration of Draft Resolutions:

A draft resolution may be brought to floor at anytime, but only one draft resolution may be considered on the floor at any given time. This motion is not debatable. The sponsoring delegation will be allowed to speak first on the draft resolution, if desired.

8.16: Consideration of Amendments 8.17: Party to the Dispute:

When an issue before the Security Council involves a non-Council UN member nation or observer, the Council may request that the delegation be represented during Council sessions in which the issue is being discussed. To do this a Council delegation must move that the nation become a party to the dispute. A delegation that has been requested to attend Council sessions will usually be given debating privileges; this would allow the delegation to be recognized by the President during debate. A delegation requested to attend a Council session but not given debating privileges will be subject to a question and answer period monitored by the President and conducted by the Council as a whole. This motion is debatable. A simple majority is required for passage.

Section 9: Council of the European Union

9.1: Agenda:
The agenda of the Council of the European Union consists of the issues presented in the January supplement. Until modified by a motion to change the agenda, the agenda is considered to be the order as printed in the supplement. The motion to change the order of the agenda is in order except during a vote and when motions of higher precedence are on the table.
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9.2: Quorum:
Quorum for the Council of the European Union consists of 15 of the 25 member nations of the EU.

9.3: Formal Session:

Unless moved into an informal session or suspension, the Council of the European Union is considered in formal session. Formal session is facilitated by the President of the Council of the European Union, who is the presiding authority of the Council. Speakers in formal session will be recognized by the President to speak, and the President will be responsible for maintaining order.

9.4: Informal Session:

Informal session is an unmoderated period of debate where the President of the Council does not actively facilitate discussion. It is expected that delegations have at least one delegate sitting at their placard. If a delegation wants an extended period of time to discuss matters privately with another delegate or in small groups, they would be better served to suspend the meeting instead of moving for an informal session. No motions can be made during an informal session.

9.5: Resolutions:
Resolutions passed by the Council of the European Union must have at least 5 sponsors before they are brought to the floor with a motion to bring a draft resolution to the floor. Sponsors must vote for a resolution if it is voted on without amendment. Resolutions must have one operative and one perambulatory clause. Any number of draft resolutions can be on the floor for a particular issue, but only resolutions pertaining to the issue are considered on the floor. Therefore, if the agenda is changed before a resolution is voted on, the resolution can not be voted on until the agenda is changed again to address the relevant issue.

9.6: Amendments:
All amendments must be written on official WHSMUN amendments forms and must be signed by at least 5 delegations before they may be accepted by the President. The amendment proposer, after Secretariat approval, must then move to amend the resolution. The number of signatures required for amendment may be altered at the discretion of the Secretariat and said decision may not be appealed.

9.7: Explanation of Qualified Majority Voting (QMV):

The Council of the European Union uses Qualified Majority Voting for all substantive matters. Qualified Majority Voting is designed to ensure representation based on population, at the same time as maintaining sufficient relative power for smaller states. All states are assigned a number of votes based on population, but weighted towards smaller states. To be passed, a substantive measure must satisfy two conditions: a majority of the present member states in favor of it, and it must receive 72.3% of the total possible votes of the present member states. When a state votes yes, it is considered in favor of the measure, and its votes are added to the total necessary to be passed. If a substantive measure does not have sufficient majorities in either category, it is not passed. Statistics on number of votes per country and an example on how a qualified majority vote would take place are found in Appendix 4.

9.8: Points, Procedural Motions and Substantive Votes:

Points are made to request a clarification of the rules or question a speaker. They do not require a
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vote and are subject to approval by the President. Procedural Motions are implement the rules of the Council, and require simple majority votes, unless otherwise stated or unless a request for a Qualified Majority Vote is granted by the President. Substantive Votes are votes on the substantive matter of the Council (the resolutions and amendments up for debate). Substantive votes are taken only after a motion to close debate or a division of the question has passed, or if a request for a Qualified Majority Vote has passed on a procedural motion. Substantive votes always use Qualified Majority Voting. Procedural Votes are not subject to Qualified Majority Voting, and a procedural motion passes if a simple majority of states present are in favor (unless otherwise indicated), or unless a request for a Qualified Majority Vote is allowed and seconded.

Section 10: Council of the European Union Rules

10.1: Point of Order:
During formal session discussion of any matter, a Representative may rise to a Point of Order if he/she believes that the committee is proceeding in a manner contrary to these rules. When a representative feels that the committee is out of order, he must state the exact violation of the WHSMUN Bylaws. This would include not being able to hear the speaker, as that would be a violation of Rule 2.1, Diplomatic Courtesy. A Point of Order may interrupt a speaker, although should whenever possible wait until a speaker has concluded speaking.

10.2: Point of Information:

Point of Information may be called for in formal session when a representative is unclear about the business before the assembly, or he wishes to obtain clarification about the procedure of the assembly. This point may not interrupt a speaker.

10.3: Point of Inquiry:

See GA Rule 4.3

10.4: Request for a Qualified Majority Vote

To ensure the fairness of proceedings, the President will entertain a motion to make any procedural motion other than a point of order, point of information, or point of inquiry a Qualified Majority Vote. If the motion is ruled in order by the President and has two seconds, the vote on the motion will no longer be a simple majority vote, but a Qualified Majority Vote. This request has the effect of making a procedural motion a substantive motion. This motion requires two seconds. This motion is at the discretion of the chair.

10.5: Suspension of the Meeting:

The motion for a suspension of the meeting is used to suspend the meeting for a specified amount of time and for a specific purpose (such as to take a short break or to caucus). The President may ask that the proposer reconsider the amount of time for suspension. This motion is not debatable and requires a simple majority for passage. This motion requires a second.

10.6: Informal Session:

A motion for an informal session has the effect of moving into informal session, where no motions can be passed but where delegates are expected to remain in their seats to discuss issues before the body. When this motion is made, a period of time for the informal session must be stated; after that amount of time passes, the formal session resumes.
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This motion is not debatable and requires a simple majority for passage

10.7: Change the Agenda

A motion to change the agenda, if it alters the current agenda issue, has the effect of ending debate on the issue at hand and switching the agenda to another issue. All resolutions on the floor for that issue are considered tabled until the agenda is changed to return the issue to the current agenda topic. This motion requires a 2/3 majority for passage.

10.8: Closure of Debate:

A motion to close debate is made to end debate on a resolution that has been brought to the floor and bring it to an immediate vote. The motion must be made in reference to a specific resolution, and once the motion is made and passed, that resolution and all amendments to it will be voted on. Following the vote, regardless of its passage or failure, the resolution and its amendments can not be voted on again. The motion to close debate requires a 2/3 majority of states present in favor (unless a request for a Qualified Majority Vote is made and approved); however, the actual vote on amendments and resolutions requires Qualified Majority Voting. This motion is debatable.

10.9: Adjournment of the Meeting:

This motion is used to end substantive business of the committee for the year. This motion is not debatable and requires a simple majority for passage.

10.10: Consideration of a Draft Resolution:

To bring a draft resolution to the floor, the resolution must have 5 sponsors. Upon making a motion to accept a draft resolution, the President will ask for the sponsors to raise their placard to signify themselves as such. Sponsors of a resolution are required to vote for that draft resolution, unless it is amended. Multiple draft resolutions can be on the floor at one time. This motion is not debatable.

10.11: Consideration of an Amendment to a Resolution:

To bring a draft amendment to the floor, it must be printed on an official WHSMUN amendment form and have 5 signatures, or another number announced by the President if there is a drastic shortcoming in members present. Once a draft amendment has been brought to the floor, it will be voted upon during closure of debate to be added to the pertinent resolution. If it passes then, it will be added to the resolution. This motion is not debatable.

10.12: Limits on Debate:

A motion to limit or extend the time allotted to each delegation, or limit the number of times each delegation can speak on a proposal, is in order at anytime. A motion to limit the time of debate on an agenda topic, draft resolution, or amendment is also in order. This motion is debatable. A simple majority is required for passage.

10.13: Division of the Question:

Delegations will first vote on whether or not to divide the question at all. This motion requires a second and is debatable, with the pro and con speakers only discussing the merits of the actual motion. This motion requires a simple majority for passage. If the motion to divide the question passes, a second vote is taken to determine whether or not to divide the segments of the draft resolution and create separate draft resolutions. This vote is required
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to be a Qualified Majority Vote.

10.14: Party to the Dispute:

When an issue before the Council of the European Union involves a non-Council nation, NGO, or individual, the Council may request that the delegation be represented during Council Sessions in which the issue is being discussed. To do this a Council delegation must move that the nation, NGO, or individual become a party to the dispute. A delegation that has been requested to attend Council sessions will usually be given debating privileges; this would allow the delegation to be recognized by the President during debate. A delegation requested to attend a Council session, but not given debating privileges, will be subject to a question and answer period monitored by the President and conducted by the Council as a whole. This motion is debatable. A simple majority is required for passage.

Appendices Appendix 1: WHSMUN GA Parliamentary Procedure Short Form

Motion 4.1: Point of Order 4.2: Point of Information 4.3: Point of Inquiry 4.4 Caucus: -Unmoderated -Moderated 4.5: Suspension of the Meeting 4.6: Adjournment of the Meeting Second N/A N/A N/A Debate No No No Vote N/A N/A N/A Disrupt Speaker Yes No No Description
Used to point out a misuse of the rules Ask any question of the chair, or to gain clarification Ask a question of a speaker at the end of their speech, if yielded to accept them

-Yes -Yes Yes

-No -No No

-Majority -Majority Majority

-No -No No

-Used to discuss issues on

own; break -Discuss issues with Chair moderating both sides Recess the meeting for a specific amount of time, often for a meal or days end End the meeting for the year

Yes

No

Majority

No

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4.7: Division of the Assembly

Yes, fifteen Yes

No

N/A

No

Used to request a roll call vote

4.8: Adjournment of Debate 4.9: Closure of Debate 4.10: Change the Order of the Agenda (GA only) 4.11: Consideration of Amendments 4.12: Change the Limits of Debate 4.13: Object to Consideration 4.14: Division of the Question 4.15: Reconsider

2 Pro 2 Con 2 Con No No

Majority

No

Has the effect of tabling an issue, without a vote on the content Ends debate on any issue open to debate, and brings it to a vote Used to change the order of resolutions, in the GA only Bring an amendment to the floor for discussion Used to change the maximum amount of time per speaker or per topic Prevents discussion, for grave reasons, of a resolution Divides resolution/amend into separate parts for voting Bring back to discussion a resolution or topic that was tabled

Yes Yes No

2/3 2/3 N/A

No No No

Yes Yes Yes Yes

No No 2 Pro 2 Con 2 Pro 2 Con

2/3 2/3 Majority 2/3

No No No No

Appendix 2: WHSMUN SC/HSC Parliamentary Procedure Short Form

Motion 8.1: Point of Order 8.2: Point of Information 8.3: Point of Inquiry 8.4: Suspension of the Meeting 8.5: Adjournment of the Meeting 8.6: Adjournment of Debate 8.7: Closure of Debate on an Agenda Topic Debate No No No No No Yes Yes Vote? N/A N/A N/A Majority Majority Majority Majority Disrupt Speaker Yes No No No No No No Description
Used to point out a misuse of the rules Ask any question of the chair, or to gain clarification Ask a question of a speaker at the end of their speech Recess the meeting for a specific amount of time, often to caucus End the meeting for the year Has the effect of tabling an issue, without a vote on the content Ends debate on an agenda topic, which beings all motions to a vote

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8.8: Closure of Debate 8.9: Enter Consultative Session 8.10: Add an Agenda Topic 8.11: Change the Order of Consideration of the Working Agenda 8.12: Set Working Agenda 8.13: Limits on Debate 8.14: Division of the Question 8.15: Consideration of Draft Resolutions 8.16: Consideration of Amendments 8.17: Party to the Dispute

Yes Yes Yes Yes

Majority Majority Majority Majority

No No No No

Ends debate on any issue open to debate, and brings it to a vote Move into an informal debate period Add an additional topic to the working agenda Change the order in which agenda items are on the working agenda Set the daily order for the working agenda Impose (or repeal) a limit on the length of debate Divide a resolution into two or more pieces, to vote on Bring a draft resolution to the floor for discussion Bring an amendment to the floor for discussion Invite a non-Security Council member to the discussion

Yes Yes Yes No No Yes

Majority Majority Majority N/A N/A Majority

No No No No No No

Appendix 3: WHSMUN CEU Parliamentary Procedure Short Form

Motion 10.1: Point of Order 10.2: Point of Information 10.3: Point of Inquiry 10.4: Request a Qualified Majority Vote 10.5: Suspension of the Meeting 10.6: Informal Session 10.7: Change the Agenda Debate No No No No No Vote? N/A N/A N/A Two Seconds Majority Disrupt Speaker Yes No No No No

Description
Used to point out a misuse of the rules Ask any question of the chair, or to gain clarification Ask a question of a speaker at the end of their speech Request to make procedural motion subject to a QMV Recess the meeting for a specific amount of time, often to caucus Moves the meeting into an informal session Changes the order of the agenda, tabling issues if the current agenda is changed

No Yes

Majority 2/3 Majority

No No

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10.8: Closure of Debate 10.9: Adjournment of the Meeting 10.10: Consideration of a Draft Resolution 10.11: Consideration of a Draft Amendment 10.12: Limits on Debate 10.13: Divide the Question 10.14: Party to the Dispute

Yes No No No

2/3 Majority Majority 5 Sponsors 5 Sponsors Majority Majority Majority

No No No No

Ends debate on any issue open to debate, and brings it to a vote Ends the meeting for the year Brings a new draft resolution to the floor for debate and voting Brings a new draft amendment to the floor for debate and voting Impose (or repeal) a limit on the length of debate Divide a resolution into two or more pieces, to vote on Invite a non-EU representative to the discussion

Yes Yes Yes

No No No

Appendix 4: Qualified Majority Voting (QMV)

List of EU member states with the number of weighted votes each can cast: France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom 29 Votes Each Poland, Spain 27 Votes Each Romania 14 Votes Netherlands 13 Votes Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Portugal 12 Votes Each Austria, Bulgaria, Sweden 10 Votes Each Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Lithuania, Slovakia, 7 Votes Each Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Luxembourg, Slovenia 4 Votes Each Malta 3 Votes Total votes when all member states are present About 73.9% of 345 votes 345 Votes 255 Votes

Remember, when a vote is taken a majority of all present countries is needed as well as 255 of 345 votes. Additionally, a member state can call for verification that at least 62% of the entire EU population is represented by the majority for the resolution to be adopted. An illustrative example of QMV Debate has closed on Resolution 1.1, passing with a 2/3 majority of 27 countries 17 in favor, 3 in opposition and 7 in abstention. The Council is now in immediate voting procedure. Condition 1: Number of countries
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A majority of members present vote in favor of the resolution (20 of 27): Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden Members voting against (7 of 27): Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom The first condition necessitating a majority of member states in favor have been satisfied (20 out of 27). Condition 2: Number of votes Austria (10), Bulgaria (10), Cyprus (4), Czech Republic (12), Finland (7), France (29), Germany (29), Greece (12), Italy (29), Ireland (7), Latvia (4), Lithuania (7), Luxembourg (4), Malta (3), Poland (27), Romania (14), Slovakia (7), Slovenia (4), Spain (27), and Sweden (10) all voted in favor. 10 + 12 + 10 + 4 +7 + 29 + 29 + 12 + 29 + 7 + 4 + 7 + 4 + 3 + 27 + 14 + 7 + 4 + 27 + 10 = 256 Votes Belgium (12), Denmark (7), Estonia (4), Hungary (12), Netherlands (13), Portugal (12), and the United Kingdom (29) all voted in opposition. 12 + 7 + 4 + 12 + 13 + 12 + 29 = 89 Votes Therefore, 256 out of 345 weighted votes are in favor of the resolution, or 74.2%. The second condition is satisfied. Condition 3: Population size Belgium challenges that the majority represents less than the required 62% of the EU population. When calculated, however, the 20-member majority represents over 76% of the entire EU population. A majority has been achieved and the third condition satisfied. Resolution 1.1 passes.

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