Model United Nations

Since 1994, SAIIA has been running a Model United Nations (MUN) programme, with over 50 schools participating in our annual conference held at SAIIA headquarters in Johannesburg. Since 2001 SAIIA's Model United Nations programme has partnered with Global Classrooms, an initiative of the United Nations Association of the USA.

The MUN programme is an opportunity for learners from around Gauteng to research and debate various international topics together, and learn how the United Nations functions. Differing from other MUN programmes in South Africa that focus only on the General Assembly, SAIIA's conferences offer other model UN bodies like the Security Council, World Health Organisation, and the UN Environmental Programme. MUN is an important tool that allows learners to expand their world view. University students serve as tutors for participating schools, to ensure that all schools have a fair chance in the competition.

Model United Nations 2012

Youth@SAIIA is proud to announce the sponsorship from ABSA Bank to expand our Model United Nations programme in 2012. Please see this year's SAIIA-Global Classrooms Johannesburg Model United Nations Conference sessions and topics. Participating schools are requested to return the School Registration Form by no later than 18 May 2012. Handbooks with more detailed background guides on each topic will be issued once your school has been allocated a country and topic. Topics and countries will be allocated on a first come first serve basis and so it is recommended that your school register early.

SAIIA UNA-USA Global Classrooms®: Johannesburg Model United Nations Conference

15 September 2012

COMMITTEE 1: UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME (UNEP)

Topic: Rhino poaching crisis

This special session of the UNEP will discuss the current situation of rhino poaching globally, and will attempt to come up with new and innovative approaches to dealing with this situation.

Countries Represented:

COMMITTEE 2: UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND (UNICEF)

Topic: The use of child labour in the production of chocolate

This session of UNICEF will discussed the progress made on the Cocoa Protocol, and will look at what more can be done to ensure that the use of child labourer and even worse child slavery within the harvesting of cocoa is eliminated.

Countries Represented:

COMMITTEE 3: UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION (IMO)

Topic: Piracy in the Gulf of Aden

It has become clear that in order to better prosecute and punish pirates more regional cooperation is required. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has called delegates of this session to come together for a meeting where regional members and interested parties can discuss the creation of a treaty that includes a regional court to prosecute and punish pirates within the Gulf of Aden region. While focussing on the issue of piracy in this one area of the world, delegates are encouraged to consider the fact that their actions might influence other similar events involving piracy in other parts of the world.

Countries Represented:

COMMITTEE 4: UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL

Topic: Situation in Syria

Please note that this session, like all sessions, will require that delegates continue to follow breaking news and updates on the situation as it continues to unfold. It is expected that the situation in Syria will not be resolved by the time of the debate in September, and we expect delegates to be aware of developments. Closer to the conference day further updates on the nature of the debate will be issued if deemed necessary by global events.

Delegates of this session are tasked with finding a possible alternative plan of action for ending the violence in Syria. Can the UN Security Council come up with an agreement to encourage President al-Assad to step down and to allow for a peaceful transition in the country?

Countries Represented:

COMMITTEE 5: UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL

Topic: Historic Security Council – 1978 Situation in South Africa

Please note that for this session participants are asked to 'travel back in time' to place themselves into the shoes of historical delegates of the United Nations Security Council in 1978. Like with the other sessions, detailed background guides will be given to all participants. Participants in this session will also be invited to take part in a separate debrief session to discuss their involvement after the debate has taken place.

Events like the Soweto Uprising in 1976, and the murder of Steve Biko in September of 1977 have now pushed the international community to take stronger action with regards to South Africa. While a number of resolutions, meetings and committees have already been created to address apartheid and the issue of Namibia, all actions and resolutions have been on a voluntary basis. This session of the UN Security Council has been convened to take a closer look at the current situation of South Africa, and to determine whether mandatory embargoes and sanctions, especially on arms and oil need to be placed upon the government of South Africa.

 Countries Represented:

New in 2012: Mini-MUN

In efforts to create more opportunities for learners and educators to be able to participate in Model United Nations, SAIIA is pleased to announce the expansion of Mini-MUN. We encourage your school to take part in at least one Mini-MUN conference before the large conference in September to better prepare your teams.

Tutoring

Tutoring continues to be a crucial part of Youth@SAIIA's programmes. Youth@SAIIA is increasing engagement with university level students, and is pleased to be working with students from across South Africa. This year we are trying to improve our tutoring programme by providing more training to tutors, and by providing free tutoring sessions for learners at SAIIA's library. More information about our tutoring programme will be available in this year's Handbook. If you know of MUN alumni that would like to volunteer with Youth@SAIIA please get them in contact with the Youth Development Officer.

If you have any further questions or concerns please contact Desirée Kosciulek at 011 339 2021, 072 685 7746 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .