MUNs are student-run and usually extra-curricular activities in which students roleplay delegates to United Nations meetings. MUNs require a moderate amount of preparation time on the part of participating students; the role of the teacher is to guide and support the students as necessary in this process. In a larger MUN, it is recommended that students from various disciplines participate in the simulation, in order to enhance the learning experience for everyone.
In this Model Conference of the Parties to the Organized Crime Convention, the aim is for students to simulate the deliberations of the Working Group on International Cooperation of the Conference, as it deals with very practical aspects of the Convention which, in real life, are used in numerous different subject-matters and types of crime. The topics for discussion suggested in this Guide are tailored for this Working Group; however, the teacher and students may of course decide to simulate any other Conference working group, or even the Conference itself. Detailed information on all Conference working groups may be found here.
The roles indicated below are simplified versions of the actual roles of participants, but are complex enough to provide students with a general understanding of the workings of a UN intergovernmental meeting. Likewise, please note that the rules of procedure of the actual COP and its Working Groups are different and more complex than the ones normally used in a simulation. In order to properly prepare and run an MUN, it is recommended that, once the roles for the Secretariat and Bureau have been decided, for example halfway through the course, these students should sit down together and prepare the rules of procedure for their simulation exercise. Thereafter, the rules of procedure should be shared with the rest of participants to the simulation so that everyone has enough time to prepare. The rules of procedure for the simulation should be based on the actual Rules of Procedure for the Conference.
To plan and prepare the simulation, teachers and students should also consult the E4J Resource Guide for Organizing Model United Nations Conferences that Address Crime Prevention, Criminal Justice and Other Aspects of the Rule of Law .
SPs are those that have ratified the Organized Crime Convention. Each SP sends one or more representatives. The representative(s) shall constitute the SP's delegation that will speak and/or act on behalf of their country, reflecting their foreign policy. Each SP can be represented by one or more students.
SPs are entitled to:
The full list of States Parties to the Organized Crime Contention can be accessed here.
Signatories are States that have signed the Organized Crime Convention but have not ratified it. Interested signatories may send representatives to the COP and its Working Groups. Each signatory can be represented by one or more students.
Signatories are entitled to:
OS are States that have neither signed nor ratified the Organized Crime Convention. These may also include non-member States of the United Nations that have received a standing invitation to participate as observers in the sessions of the UN and its agencies. Each OS can be represented by one or more students.
OS are entitled to:
For the list of non-member States, consult the Blue Book (pp. 352-353).
This category of observers are representatives of entities and organizations that have received a standing invitation from the General Assembly to participate as observers in the sessions of all international conferences convened under its auspices. Each observer can be represented by one or more students.
IGOs are entitled to:
For the list of entities consult the Blue Book (pp. 356-411).
This category of observers are NGOs with consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and those without such status that can apply to be observers. Each observer can be represented by one or more students.
NGOs are entitled to:
See the full list of current NGOs here.
The Secretary-General of the simulation shall act in this capacity in all meetings. She or he may designate a member of the Secretariat (i.e. a "Deputy Secretary-General) to act as his or her representative, will lead the Secretariat staff and will be responsible for all the arrangements that may be necessary for the meetings.
The role of the Secretary-General is to:
The Secretary-General shall not directly guide the discussions but is entitled to provide some direction and guidance to participant delegates, whenever needed.
The Secretariat acts as the organizing committee of the simulation and provides support to the Secretary-General.
The role of the Secretariat is to:
The Bureau is in charge of the conduct of business during the meeting. The Bureau is composed of a Chair (or President, in the case of a Conference simulation), a Vice-Chair (or Vice-President) and a Rapporteur.
