National Model United Nations - New York

The annual National Model United Nations NY brings together more than 4000 delegates from all over the world to New York City and bears a more ancient history than the United Nations itself. Starting in the early 1920s as a simulation of the League of Nations, the predecessor of the United Nations, the National Model United Nations in New York is one of the oldest University Model United Nations in the world.

The aim of Model United Nations is to create a conference as close as possible to United Nations conferences. University students from all over the world do not only reside in New York City to debate actual political current events with the aim of ascertaining the political process of the United Nations, but they also have a chance to conquer the United Nations headquarter for a few days, as part of the simulation takes place in one of the most influential buildings of New York.

However, only successful participants form a successful conference. Therefore university students fully take on roles as diplomats and prepare themselves at least half a year beforehand about political and historic background, culture and economies of the country they will be representing, and turn in a Position Paper explaining the country’s position on an issue of the agenda. This implies technical research and critical evaluation of all consulted sources.  In addition to that, it is highly advisable to gain insight into the debating model of the United Nations, the UN Charta and the UN Rules of Procedure.

As a result, all participants will experience life as a delegate and gain insight into the procedure of democratic executions in the United Nations as well as employing skills as communication, public speaking, effective research, analysis, and conflict resolution. Despite the high workload, Model United Nations New York offers a platform for university students all over the world to meet with like-minded young, ambitious students and to create new suggestions to solve the world’s problems and contribute to a better world.