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CONTENTS
Mission and Goals................................................................................................................... 2
Setting the Stage.................................................................................................................... 3
Resolutions and Case Studies.................................................................................................. 4
PART 1: GROUND WORK TASKS............................................................................................... 5
Current Issues Before the UN............................................................................................... 5
UN Background and History................................................................................................. 5
Helpful resources................................................................................................................. 5
Understanding Internationalism........................................................................................... 6
Part 2: PREPARING FOR THE SPECIAL SESSION........................................................................7
Country background: Understanding national interests.......................................................7
Observor organizations background:...................................................................................8
Understanding internationalist organization interests..........................................................8
Proposal of solutions:........................................................................................................... 9
Preparing arguments for the special session......................................................................10
Defining Position and Arguments.......................................................................................10
Part 3: THE SPECIAL SESSION................................................................................................11
Special session format....................................................................................................... 11
FINAL REPORT....................................................................................................................... 12
RESOURCES AND REFERENCES............................................................................................. 13

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MISSION AND GOALS

OBJECTIVE:
The Secretary General has called for a Special Session of the General
Assembly. At this session, both nations and various organizations with
observer status will be present.
As a representative of your country, you have been given directives from
your country and organization to attend the Special Session because it deals
with organizational, national, and international matters of importance.
Matters of discussion before the UN Special Session will include issues
around security and stability, improvement of peoples lives, and partnering
with regional organizations.
PROCESS:

In groups of three, you will prepare a diplomat brief to be submitted

that outlines your organizations or countrys position on the
resolutions that will be debated in the General Assembly. You will use
the diplomat brief to present your position during the Special Session.
Following, you will prepare a Final Report to communicate the results of
the Special Session.
Timeline:
Part 1 (2 Day)
Introduction to the UN Special
Session
Organization of Groups
Initial Research
Part 2 (1 Days)
Preparation of Diplomat Brief
Part 3 (1-2 Days)
Special Session
Part 4 (1 Day)
Report on Proceedings
Potential Participating
Countries:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

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Ukraine
Russia
China
USA
Australia
Sweden
Germany
Sierra Leone
Canada

10.Turkey

Participating Observers:
1. International Committee
of the Red Cross
2. African Union
3. World Health
Organization
4. Organization for Security
and Co-operation in
Europe

SETTING THE STAGE

CONTEXT
Vienna, Austria, 4 November 2014 - Secretary-General's address to the
Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in
Europe
On November 4, 2014, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon met with the
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. A statement was later
released outlining some of the major concerns on the worlds stage. He
noted that we are still wrestling with much unfinished business and striving
to ward off the return of Cold War ghosts to haunt our times. We are a world
in transition. New powers are emergingWe are striving for a more
sustainable and equitable path of development. Distinctions between the
national and the international are falling away.
He further recognized that the inability of Member States and the United
Nations in recent decades to prevent and stop a number of large-scale
human rights violations has had disastrous consequences.
Declaring that We are determined to make the changes to avoid such
problems in the future, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon presented the
following objectives as ways to better work towards an equitable future:

Security and stability.

Improving peoples lives
Enhancing UNs ability to act together with regional organizations

The UN is looking to improve its ability to positively affect global relations.

OUR MISSION
As members of the General Assembly, we will consider the following
proposed resolutions as ways to address the above mentioned objectives. We
will debate how we can take measures to prevent future problems and
develop a final resolution.

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SPECIAL SESSION TOPICS

1. Security and stability. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon states the

inability of Member States and the United Nations in recent decades to
prevent and stop a number of large-scale human rights violations has
had disastrous consequences. Given the recent infringement of
Ukraines national sovereignty by Russia, The General Assembly will
consider ways to maintain international accountability and what
actions members of the General Assembly should take to protect
national rights.
2. Improving peoples lives. Considering the recent crisis of Ebola in Africa
and the appearance of several cases around the world, an environment
of fear has swept over the world. Several western countries have
adopted rules that restrict international responses to the health crises,
and seem to view the Ebola crisis as strictly a problem of the
developing world. The General Assembly must decide what needs to be
done to better respond to health crises so that peoples lives can be
improved, regardless of where they live and the wealth, power, and
influence of their countries.
3. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon states, Addressing global
challenges requires a collective and concerted effort, involving all
actors. Through partnerships and alliances, and by pooling
comparative advantages, we increase our chances of success." Given
that the UN has not proved effective in reaching many of its proposed
Millennium Developmental Goals (MDGs), how can the UN partner with
other groups to better respond to international concerns? Are political
alliances enough to achieve the MDGs?

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PART 1: GROUND WORK TASKS

CURRENT ISSUES BEFORE THE UN
Read the full version of the Secretary Generals statement and respond to
the following questions.
Link: http://www.un.org/sg/statements/index.asp?nid=8169
1. What is the Secretary Generals role in the UN?
2. What are some of the specific concerns or problems that the Secretary
General outlined? What case studies are mentioned?
3. How does the Secretary General propose the UN and other groups work
to resolve these issues?

UN BACKGROUND AND HISTORY

Take a look at the Charter of the United Nations and the Statue of
International Court of Justice (1945)
Link: https://treaties.un.org/doc/publication/ctc/uncharter.pdf
Read over the Charter (page 2) and Chapter 1 Purposes and Principles (page
3).
1.
2.
3.
4.

What led to the creation of the UN?

Whose rights are protected and recognized by the UN?
What are some of the goals of the UN in terms of international relations?
After reading the document, what does the UN believe to be the goals of
internationalism? What should the practice of good international
relations look like?
5. What does the Purposes and Principles sections seem to suggest about
nationalism and nations pursuing their own interests?
HELPFUL RESOURCES

The UN has created a webpage of resources for speakers that provides

summary of its major work. Visit this website and read information about
many of the issues we will be talking about at the Special Session.
http://www.un.org/en/globalissues/briefingpapers/efa/

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UNDERSTANDING INTERNATIONALISM

LEVELS OF INTERNATIONAL
INVOLVEMENT

Unilateralis
m
Bilateralism

Multilateralism

Supranationalism

Internationalism

TERM
Unilateralism
Bilateralism
Multilateralis
m
Supranational
ism
Internationali
sm

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MEANING

EXAMPLE

PART 2: PREPARING FOR THE SPECIAL SESSION

COUNTRY BACKGROUND: UNDERSTANDING NATIONAL INTERESTS

1. Country Name, Location
2. Relevant background information about
your country that will help you prepare
for the Special Session
Demographics
Economics
Government
Social Issues
Military status and goals
Major religion(s)
3. To what extent is pursuing national
interests important to your country (see
pyramid of international involvement)?
What does your country have to gain or
lose by participating in the UN in the
Special Session?
4. What is the history of your country
regarding international involvement?
What foreign policy, treaties, or
international agreement has your
country developed regarding the issues
up for debate?
5. What impact do the resolutions have on
your country/organization (think
political, social, economic, cultural
impact)?
6. What is your country/organizations
position on the resolutions?
7. To what extent to which does your
position relate to national vs.
international interests (should include
mention of foreign and domestic policy
goals)
8. Sources (include a bibliography of your
research)
If you are representing a country, fill out this section. Respond to the
following questions with information that is relevant to the topics that will be

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debated at the UN Special Session. Your response can be in the form of your
choosing.

OBSERVOR ORGANIZATIONS BACKGROUND:

UNDERSTANDING INTERNATIONALIST ORGANIZATION INTERESTS
If you are representing an organization, fill out this section. Respond
to the following questions with information that is relevant to the topics that
will be debated at the UN Special Session. Your response can be in the form
of your choosing.
1. Organization Name, Location
2. Relevant background information about your
organization that will help you prepare for the
Special Session
Who, when, what, and why your organization
was formed
What are your organizations goals?
How does your organization achieve its goals?
What issues are important to your organization
(political, social, environmental, economical,
health, moral, etc.)
What are the sources of funding for your
organization?
3. What is the history of your organization
regarding international involvement? What
international agreements or initiatives has
your organization participated in that relate to
the resolutions?
4. To what extent is pursuing the interests of your
organization on the international stage
important (see pyramid of international
involvement)? What does your organization
have to gain or lose by participating in the UN
in the Special Session?
5. What impact do the resolutions have on your
organization?
6. What is your organizations position on the
resolutions?
7. To what extent does your position relate to
national vs. international interests (should
include mention of foreign and domestic policy
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goals)
8. Sources (include a bibliography of your
research)

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CREATION OF YOUR RESOLUTION:

Both organizations and countries need to complete this section.

a) Previous actions taken by your organization/government on similar

issues and results (successes and failures)
b) Conventions and resolutions your organization/country has signed
or ratified
c) What your organization/country believes should be done to address
the issues
d) What your organization/country would like to accomplish with the
final resolution
e) How the positions of other organizations/countries affect your
countrys position

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PREPARING ARGUMENTS FOR THE SPECIAL SESSION

DEFINING POSITION AND ARGUMENTS
After completing the background research, you are now ready to define state your
position and arguments.

1. Write a statement of position (thesis) with regard to the

resolutions.
THESIS STATEMENT:

2. Create your arguments

Argument (reason to support thesis)

Issue 1: Security and Stability

(Situation in Ukraine)
Position:

Arguments:

Suggested Resolution

Issue 2. Improving Lives for

Everyone (Ebola Crisis)
Position:
Arguments:
Suggested Resolution

Issue 3. Partnering with other

organizations to achieve Millennium
Development Goals
Position:

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Supportive evidence
(case studies, facts and
statistics)

Arguments:
Suggested Resolution:

PART 3: THE SPECIAL SESSION

SPECIAL SESSION FORMAT
1)

Presentations of countrys/organizations positions

2)

Un-moderated debate groups will have the opportunity to interact with

others in order to discuss similar, differing and opposing positions and to
begin discussing potential solutions. Groups can also use this time to
prepare for the moderated debate by reviewing countries positions.

3)

Moderated Debate: Countrys will question, refute arguments and offer

support to other countries with regard to their opening statements on their
position.

4)

Proposal of solutions (see attached guidelines to help you identify and

articulate your countrys solutions to the issue)

5)

Un-moderated debate groups will have the opportunity to interact with

others in order to discuss similar, differing and opposing solutions. Groups
can also use this time to prepare for the moderated debate by reviewing
countries proposals for solutions.

6)

Moderated Debate: Countrys will question, refute arguments and offer

support to other countries in terms of their ideas proposed to help resolve
the issue.

7)

Voting on proposed solutions: Each country will vote once on each

proposal, which will only be approved with a simple majority.

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FINAL REPORT

1. How well was your group able to achieve and/or communicate its
national/organizational interests?

2. How did your position compare to the opinions of other groups?

3. What were some examples of extreme positions when considering the

general consensus? What are some possible reasons for these extreme
positions?

4. Were countries willing to sacrifice national/organizational interests for

the benefit of the international community? Why or why not? Give
examples.

5. Would you consider todays session a success for nationalism or

internationalism? Explain your answer.

6. After participating in this experience, what are your thoughts on

internationalism? Should internationalism be pursued? Write your
response using examples from your research, case studies, and your
experience during the Special Session.

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CHECKLIST
Please use this checklist to ensure you have finished all of your work. You must show your
work to the teacher before you proceed to the next section.

Checklist
At this point, I have completed
Part 1: Ground Work.
I have shown evidence of the
following to my teacher:
Current issues before the UN
reading and questions
UN Background and history
reading and questions
Understanding
internationalism definitions
chart
I have a good understanding
of the background information
to move on to Part 2
At this point, I have completed
work for Part 2: Preparing for the
Special Session
I have shown evidence of the
following to my teacher:
Country/Observer
Organization Background
References list for
Country/Observer
Organization Background
Proposal of Solutions
Preparing Arguments for the
Special Session
At this point, I am ready for Part
3: The Special Session. I have
practiced with my group and
gone over our main points.
I have reviewed Part 3 (The
Special Session Format) and
understand how the Model UN
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Teacher Comments

Session debates will proceed

I have completed my Final Report

INDIVIDUALLY
I have submitted Part 1, Part 2,
and the Final Report on Edmodo

RESOURCES AND REFERENCES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2014). 2014 Ebola Outbreak in West
Africa http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/2014-west-africa/index.html

Ki-moon, B. (20140). Latest statements: Vienna, Austria, 4 November 2014 Secretary-General's address to the Permanent Council of the Organization for
Security and Co-operation in Europe. United Nations. Retrieved from
http://www.un.org/sg/statements/index.asp?nid=8169
United Nations. (2014) Millennium Development Goals. Retrieved from
http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/bkgd.shtml
United Nations. (2014). Permanent missions to the United Nations. Retrieved from
http://www.un.int/protocol/bluebook/bb304.pdf
United Nations. (2014). Resources for speakers on global issues. Retrieved from
http://www.un.org/en/globalissues/briefingpapers/efa/

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