Second Committee

(Economic and Financial Committee)

Committee Handbook
By
Zunayeed Noor Alam
Chair
Before we start!!
Dear Delegates,

It is a pleasure to welcome you to the 2013 Dhaka University National UN and specifically to the
United Nations Committee on Economic and Financial, commonly referred to as the ECOFIN. The
following pages intend to guide you in the research of the topics that will be negotiated at
DUNMUN 2013 in committee sessions.

Please note - this guide only provides the basis for your investigation. It is your responsibility to
find as much information necessary on all the topics - how they relate to the country you represent.
Such information should help you write your Position Paper, where you need to cite the references
in the text and finally list all references

The more information and understanding you acquire on the topics, the more you will be able to
influence the Resolution writing process through debates [formal and informal caucuses], and the
DUNMUN experience as a whole. Please feel free to contact me if and when you face challenges in
your research or formatting your Position Papers.

I encourage you to learn all you can about your country first with regard to the selected topics and
committee members need to be well versed in each topic. Enjoy researching and writing your
Position Papers.

I look forward to seeing you in DUNMUN 2013!!


Zunayeed Noor Alam
Chair
ECOFIN
Dhaka University Model UN
zunayeed@hotmail.com









Getting to know ECOFIN!!

The Economic and Finance Committee (ECOFIN) is a committee within the United Nations that
solves problems in the area of global finances and economics. It is one of the six standing
committees of the General Assembly, and also referred to as the "Second Committee".
During session, it will deal with issues relating to economic growth and development such as
macroeconomic policy questions (including international trade, international financial system, and
external debt sustainability), financing for development, sustainable development, human
settlements, poverty eradication, globalization and interdependence, operational activities for
development, and information and communication technologies for development.

History
The Economic and Financial Committee is one of six committees that constitute the United Nations
General Assembly. The United Nations Economic and Financial Committee, otherwise known as
the Second Committee of the General Assembly or ECOFIN, handles issues relating to
development, financial sustainability, and economic cooperation between states.

The committee has 18 functional programs, departments, organizations, and commissions and is
composed of all member states. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and international
organizations can sit in on meetings and give their input. ECOFIN works in coordination with the
World Bank and IMF (International Monetary Fund) to promote economic sustainability and
welfare.

At the sixty fourth session, the committee took action on 45 draft proposals, and is expected to do
the same this year. These proposals covered a wide variety of economic and socio-economic issues,
including third world sustainable development.





Purpose and mission statement
The Economic and Financial Committee of the General Assembly (ECOFIN) serves as one of the
primary forums for the members of the United Nations to tackle the global financial issues that face
the global economy. This is evident in the way in which black market dealings or debt crises in one
corner of the world can profoundly affect the economic well-being in another corner.

In particular, ECOFINs focus is on the first of the Millennium Development Goals (MGDs),
which calls for the eradication of poverty. This goal is divided into three general targets for
improvement: to halve the number of people living under one dollar a day, to achieve full and
productive employment and decent work for all (including women and young people), and to halve
the proportion of people who suffer from hunger.


Membership and authority
The committee offers suggestions to member countries on macroeconomic policy relating to
economic growth, international trade, and debt sustainability. With the recent economic downturn,
ECOFIN has been persuading states to make economic policies that are beneficial not only to
themselves, but the whole international system. The failed regulation of international markets has
caused uproar of protectionist and isolationist tendencies within nations, a trend that is troubling to
say the least. Premature austerity policiesdebt reduction by cutting spendinghas become a
prevalent action for debt ridden states. The Committee fears that an early retreat from stimulus
packages may pose a risk of plunging economies into a new recession. (Second Committee)

Additionally, the importance of balancing budgets should not come at an enormous expense to the
social services of citizens, as the Committee believes special efforts must be made to ensure the
social needs of vulnerable groups are still met. Budget cuts are a necessary tool for austerity and
debt reduction policies; however, the Committee attempts to limit the ill effects on impoverished
and endangered peoples.

The responsibility of the Committee is to promote general economic development, but in a
sustainable manner. Development is an important tool for the eradication of poverty; however, it
must be done with environmental sustainability in mind. Fossil fuels such as carbon dioxide have
caused unmitigated environmental damage due to the use of oil and coal. Both resources are cheap
forms of energy, yet cause substantial environmental damage, most notably contributing to
anthropogenic climate change. The Rio Summit emphasized the Committees belief in sustainable
development, furthering the United Nations commitment to both development and
accordance with the Kyoto protocols, which are intended to significantly reduce CO2 emissions.
The Second Committee of the General Assemblys goal is to help eradicate poverty through
development. Development must be done responsibly to not harm the environment. Environmental
damage from climate change would have a disproportionate effect on those in developing countries;
therefore it is in their interests to develop in a sustainable fashion.
Delegates are challenged to broker solutions from the diverse ideas and viewpoints of the General
Assembly, with a focus on building consensus. Decisions made by the committee take the form of
written resolutions, which in most cases are adopted by acclamation or a simple majority vote.



































Topic 1: Economic Impact of Migration.

Introduction:
Migration has become an integral part of globalization processes associated with increasing integration of
national economies, internationalization of production and ownership in goods and services, demographic
changes, and emerging employment patterns. Modern communications and transportation has made
migration more accessible to the worlds poor. Economic migration has deepened as labour deficits and
mismatch are increasing in the North with ageing populations and declining birth rates, and as population
growth rapidly outpaces job creation in the South. According to estimates from the United Nations DESA,
over the past 50 years the number of the worlds international migrants has more than doubled, the number
of migrants could reach 214 million in 2010, or 3.1 percent of global population. Economic migrants account
for over 85 percent of total migrants with the rest being refugees. It is probable that future migration flows
will increase as processes of urbanization and globalization continue their advance, and the full impact of
climate and population changes take effect. Global migration flows are fairly balanced in three directions:
South-to-North (33 % of total flows), North-to-North (28 % of total flows) and South-to-South (33 % of total
flows).

Migration contributes to economic growth and development by enhancing its trade, investment and
development linkages including by serving as a channel for development finance (remittances), the transfer
of skills and ideas, and the establishment of commercial and cultural networks. Migration is not free from
economic and social costs. The costs to sending countries in terms of brain drain in high-skilled labour,
including engineers and medical doctors, can be significant. For receiving countries, migration requires
regulatory frameworks and supervision and can be a source of social friction particularly during periods of
unemployment.


Background:
The current global economic crisis has adversely affected migration as sectors employing a large number of
migrant workers such as financial, distribution, construction and tourism services, as well as in
manufacturing have been severely hit. However several sectors (e.g. healthcare, domestic service and
education) have witnessed a growing labour demand. With the widespread and deepening economic
downturn, global unemployment is projected by the ILO to rise from 5.9 % in 2008 to a level of between 6.5
to 7.4 per cent in 2009. There has been corresponding deceleration in the growth of the number of migrants.

Representing one of the largest private sources of external finance for developing countries, remittances are
the main transmitter of migrations development benefits to sending country economies.
Remittances flow directly to households and are widely distributed throughout the economy, providing direct
income for the poor and stimulating consumption of basic education, healthcare and nutrition needs.





Remittances can also be an important source of investment in productive sectors. In developing countries
they are directed at small scale investments such as homes, farms and SMEs, and can generate employment
in critical services sectors. Moreover, in contributing to foreign exchange earnings, remittances can spur
economic growth by improving sending countries creditworthiness.

According to recent World Bank estimates, officially recorded remittance flows to developing countries in
2008 reached $338 billion; well over half the value of estimated FDI inflows ($490 billion) and over three
times as large as official development aid received by developing countries. Several developing countries
and transition economies are critically dependent on remittances as a source of income and foreign
exchange. While remittances increase income, it is yet to be proven empirically that they stimulate economic
growth especially when one takes into account associated transaction costs such as high transfer and
recruitment fees. Developing countries must also guard against an over-reliance on these flows as sources of
finance, investment and foreign exchange earnings. Remittances and outbound migration, especially of
skilled personnel, are not a substitute for endogenously powered domestic economic growth.

Financial sector development is central to facilitating remittance transfers and its use as a source of
productive investment. This requires expanding the number of users of banking services and introducing
innovative funding schemes, so the large amount of savings and remittances by Diaspora communities can
be effectively captured by the banking system and channelled into investment in the productive sector.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) can help reduce migration pressure through the development benefits it
generates by enhancing economic growth and supporting employment creation. Through the tangible and
intangible assets it brings to host countries, FDI can offer alternatives to labour movement. Related are
important non-equity links between transnational corporation and local enterprises, e.g. subcontracting
arrangements, which can help dampen migration by providing additional employment opportunities in the
local economy. Also of importance is the less tangible effect that increased FDI inflows, economic growth
and employment can result in a greater sense of economic opportunity, reducing the desire of people to
migrate.

While FDI has helped reduce migration pressure in the majority of middle- and upper-income developing
countries and countries with economies in transition, a threshold level of domestic development is usually
required for countries to benefit fully from the potential for economic growth, opportunities-enhancement
and reduced migration pressure that FDI can provide. Some developing countries that have entered the
global outsourcing market by providing low-cost information and ICT-enabled services have attracted
related FDI that has in turn helped reduce migration pressures by expanding domestic opportunities for
employment. The financial crisis may have setback some of these positive developments as preliminary
UNCTAD estimates indicate global FDI inflows plunged by 54 % in the first quarter of 2009, and FDI
inflows to developing countries, after reaching $549 billion in 2008, were estimated to have fallen by 25 %
in 2009.





Possible Solutions:
Return and re-integration of migrants including through temporary migration has been proposed as a policy
framework to enhance the development benefits of migration. The opening up of more legal avenues for
labour migration directly reduces irregular migration flows. Also referred to as circular migration when it
is facilitated through private, government and/or international programmes, temporary migration provides
sending countries with greater overall development gains than remittances alone.

World Bank estimates indicate that gains from more open temporary migration could generate global welfare
gains greater than expected gains from the completed Doha Round negotiations in trade in goods. Circular
migration can mitigate the risk of brain drain by facilitating the continuing return of migrant workers to their
home countries. Incentive-based, rather than sanctions-based, national policies and bilateral cooperation
mechanisms have proven to be more effective in promoting circular migration. Data suggest that temporary
migration maybe becoming more prevalent. In developed countries, temporary migrants outnumber
permanent migrants three to one, and between 20 and 50 percent of migrants leave their destination country
within 3-5 years.

Aspects of temporary labour movement can be supported by labour cooperation arrangements as well as
multilateral and regional trade agreements. There has been a significant increase in bilateral recruitment and
labour agreements, with 176 bilateral agreements signed by OECD countries in 2004. Many countries
choose to enter into bilateral labour agreements as they offer an effective method for regulation, recruitment
and employment of foreign workers, can be tailored to specific supply and demand characteristics and can
provide effective mechanisms for protecting migrants. Agreements cover areas such as short-term
employment, recognition of qualifications, and technical and cultural exchange, among others. Agreements
on short-term employment allow for the temporary migration of workers, often for periods of less than one
year, to help parties meet seasonal labour requirements in sectors such as agriculture, tourism and
construction.

Strengthening the contributions of migrants to development by enhancing migrations positive trade,
investment and development links has become an increasingly important and timely endeavour, as the scope
and depth of globalization has advanced. Policy interventions introduced through national policies and
international cooperative mechanisms are critical in increasing beneficial effects of temporary migration.
The high transaction costs of migration can be reduced by regulating recruitment fees and introducing
greater transparency to increase competition in remittance transfer markets. Bilateral, regional and
multilateral trade and cooperation agreements can be redesigned to facilitate temporary and circular
migration.

Developing countries can also provide incentives for circular migration to reduce brain drain and promote
skill transfers within their domestic economies as well as incentives to encourage investments by migrants
in their home communities. They can also focus greater attention on building stronger links with their
Diaspora communities by strengthening relevant national institutions and outreach programmes. Trade and
investment liberalization agreements can also be geared to increasing inward FDI flow to developing
countries to create enhanced employment opportunities in the home countries of migrants and potential
migrants.

Topic 2: The Role of Climate Change on the Global Economy.

Introduction:
Climate change is already contributing to the deaths of nearly 400,000 people a year and costing the
world more than $1.2 trillion, wiping 1.6% annually from global GDP, according to a new study.
The impacts are being felt most keenly in developing countries, according to the research, where
damage to agricultural production from extreme weather linked to climate change is contributing to
deaths from malnutrition, poverty and their associated diseases.

Air pollution caused by the use of fossil fuels is also separately contributing to the deaths of at least
4.5m people a year. By 2030, the researchers estimate, the cost of climate change and air pollution
combined will rise to 3.2% of global GDP, with the world's least developed countries forecast to
bear the brunt, suffering losses of up to 11% of their GDP.

Sheikh Hasina, prime minister of Bangladesh, said: "A 1C rise in temperature [temperatures
have already risen by 0.7C globally since the end of the 19th century] is associated with 10%
productivity loss in farming. For us, it means losing about 4m tonnes of food grain, amounting to
about $2.5bn. That is about 2% of our GDP. Adding up the damages to property and other losses,
we are faced with a total loss of about 3-4% of GDP. Without these losses, we could have easily
secured much higher growth."

But major economies will also take a hit, as extremes of weather and the associated damage
droughts, floods and more severe storms could wipe 2% of the GDP of the US by 2030, while
similar effects could cost China $1.2tr by the same date.
While many governments have taken the view that climate change is a long-term problem, there is a
growing body of opinion that the effects are already being felt. Scientists have been alarmed by the
increasingly rapid melting of Arctic sea ice, which reached a new record minimum this year and, if
melting continues at similar rates, could be ice free in summer by the end of the decade. Some
research suggests that this melting could be linked to cold, dull and rainy summers in parts of
Europe such as has been the predominant summer weather in the UK for the last six years. In the
US, this year's severe drought has raised food prices and in India the disruption to the monsoon has
caused widespread damage to farmers.

Connie Hedegaard, the European Union's climate chief, warned that extreme weather was
becoming more common, as the effects of climate change take hold. "Climate change and weather
extremes are not about a distant future," she wrote in a comment for the Guardian last week.
"Formerly one-off extreme weather episodes seem to be becoming the new normal."

Michael Zammit Cutajar, former executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate
Change, said: "Climate change is not just a distant threat but a present danger its economic impact
is already with us."



Background:
The global climate is projected to continue to warm in coming decades, as new GHG emissions
augment the already large stock of past emissions. Increases in energy-related emissions of carbon
dioxide, the largest and fastest-growing source of GHG emissions, are driven by growth in GDP per
capita and increases in population, and these increases are only partially offset by improvements in
the intensity of energy use

Catching-up economies, especially large and fast-growing countries such as China and India,
contribute most to the growth in emissions. Advanced economies account for most past energy-
related emissions and thus for most of the current stock of these emissions. However, when changes
in land use and deforestation are considered, a different conclusion emerges: advanced economies
account for less than half of the current stock of total emissions

Without changes in policy, GHG emissions are projected to accelerate. However, these projections
are wide-ranging, given uncertainty about the rates at which productivity will grow,
energy intensity will improve, and emerging and developing economies will converge toward the
living standards of advanced economies. For example, even studies based on the widely used
Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES) developed by the United Nations Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) show significant variations in projected emission growth.

Business-as-usual (BAU) projections imply a sizable risk that global climate would change
dramatically by the end of the century. The IPCC projects that, in the absence of emission control
policies, global temperatures will increase by.8C on average over the next century,
Global warming would have a multifaceted and potentially devastating impact on climate
patterns (IPCC, 007). Precipitation would increase at high latitudes and decrease in most
subtropical land regions.

Other likely manifestations of warming include increasing acidification of the ocean; melting of
snow and sea ice; and an increase in the intensity of extreme events such as heat waves, droughts,
floods, and tropical cyclones. At higher temperatures, the probability of catastrophic climate
changes would rise (for example, melting of the west Antarctic ice sheet or permafrost; a change in
monsoon patterns in south Asia; or a reversal of the Atlantic Thermohaline Circulation, which
would cool the climate of Europe).

Possible Solutions:
Societies have historically adapted to changing environmental conditions, and individuals
and firms can be expected to continue altering their behavior in response to changing climate
conditions (for example, by planting more drought-resistant crops). However, government
involvement is also likely to be needed to spur adaptation, in order to overcome market failures
(individual firms and households unable to incorporate the full social benefits of adaptation
into their decision making), to meet the need for public goods and services to support adaptation
(for example, coastal protection or investment in public health infrastructure), and to augment the
private sectors capacity to adapt, for example, in poor countries.

Quantitative analyses of adaptation costs are scant, but studies focusing on public sector costs
suggest that adaptation may put a strain on government budgets, especially in developing
economies that have weak adaptation capacities and are likely to be more severely affected by
climate change. Based on simple extrapolations of current expenditure patterns, the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change estimates additional annual adaptation investment in
agriculture, health, water and coastal protection of about $40 billion a
year in 2030, perhaps half of which might be expected to fall on the public sector. The study
also projects additional infrastructure needs of $8 billion$130 billion, some of which would fall
directly on governments. Further refinements of adaptation cost estimates are needed in order
to try to narrow the wide range of uncertainty surrounding these estimates and to broaden
their coverage where possiblefactoring in, for example, the need to adapt to increased climate
variability.

Economic and institutional development is perhaps the best means of improving climaterelated
adaptive capacity. Development promotes diversification away from heavily exposed sectors;
improves access to health, education, and water; and reduces poverty. To be effective in fostering
adaptation, development strategies need to take climate change vulnerabilities into
account, while seeking to avoid maladaptation.

Higher-quality institutions also strengthen countries ability to adapt to climate
change. Fiscal self-insurance against climate change is also needed. Government budgets must
include room for adaptation expenditures, and social safety nets must be strengthened, especially in
countries that will be severely affected. External financing may be needed to complement domestic
resources in cases where the demands of adaptation overwhelm poor countries capacity.

The recent launch of a UN fund to provide dedicated financing to such countries is a welcome step
in this regard. A flexible exchange rate regime and policies that make capital and labor more
flexible may help reduce the macroeconomic cost of the types of abrupt shocks (such as extreme
weather events) that are likely to accompany climate change.

Topic 3: The Inuence of Gender Inequality on Economic Growth

Introduction:
Inequality between man and woman can be of various kinds. As far as economic aspects are considered,
biases in life expectancy, education, jurisdiction, and professional life are among the top suspects that might
deserve closer investigation. However, in very general, it seems necessary to clarify that inequality in itself
does not necessarily need to be something to be considered as negative. As a blunt example, dierences in
height and bodily strength between the two sexes are certainly not of discriminatory nature, but simply a
biological fact. Thus, when attempting to measure inequality, one should take care not to incorporate a priori
ethical aspects into the items explaining inequality. Nonetheless, it may not be forgotten that gender
inequality itself can well be considered bad and require political counteractions, regardless of the existence
of a link with economic growth

Most importantly, a bias in education directly impacts economic growth via lowering the average quality of
human capital and inequality in employment is also linked with lower growth. Gender inequality in
education also seems to inuence other factors impeding economic growth, such as fertility and child
mortality rates, thus indirectly lowering economic progression. These eects are sizeable, as inequality in
education accounts for up to 0.9% lower annual growth in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, while
growth in the same regions may have been prohibited by another 0.3% when compared to East Asia.

Background:
Gender equality is a key factor in contributing to the economic growth of a nation. The United Nations
Population Fund believe that economic growth and social equality should go hand in hand, arguing that
gender inequality holds back growth of individuals, development of countries, and the evolution of
societies, to the disadvantage of men and women (Women 1). The discrimination against women remains
a common occurrence in todays society and serves to hinder economic prosperity. The empowerment of
women through such things as the promotion of womens rights and an increase in the access of women to
resources and education proves to be key to the advancement of economic development. Namely, gender
equality in the work force and in social relationships are the two primary factors that instill economic
growth.

The influential role of gender equality on economic growth is most directly illustrated in the participation of
women in the labor force. When women are not involved in the workforce, only part of the able workforce is
being utilized and, thus, economic resources are wasted. Gender equality allows for an increase in women in
the working sector, thereby leading to an expansion of the labor force and an increase in economic
productivity. Figure 1 illustrates the increasing contribution of women to the gross domestic product (GDP)
as well as to the economic growth of specific countries (Lofstrom 4), proving that an increase in female
participation in the workforce undoubtedly will create economic growth.






Possible Solutions:
The participation of women in the labor force allows for changing social relationships that bring
about economic progress. In their article, Does gender equality spur growth? Roger Mortvik and
Roland Spant argue that the birth rate trend is positive and the demographic structure more
balanced in countries where gender equality in the workplace is more developed. For these
countries, that points to higher labor activity and a more robust economy. Entering the work force,
women will be preoccupied with their jobs, and there will be less time to devote to caring for a
family.

Consequently, women will display positive birth trends in that they will restrict themselves from
having too many children, creating a constant population growth rate and structuring the population
in such a way that a constant working-age population will exist. Through their participation in the
workforce, women display the demographic trends needed for economic growth to occur.

In addition to gender equality in the workforce, economic growth is also witnessed with the
empowerment of women in familial roles that ultimately allows for advancement in the social
sector. In Gender Equality: An End in Itself and a Cornerstone of Development, the United
Nations Population Fund argues that empowered women contribute to the health and productivity
of families and communities and to improved aspects for the next generation. Women can use
decision-making to provide an environment that is most suitable for economic progress. A womans
decision to participate in the paid labor force, for example, enables mothers to alleviate their
families from such harsh condition as poverty that prove detrimental to economic growth.

By assuming a role in the decision-making process, women are also able to influence human
development. For example, children whose mothers have an equal voice in family decisions have
been found to be more likely to receive proper nourishment, education, and health care services.
Women create a beneficial environment where they improve the well-being of offspring so that the
offspring can go on to survive and contribute to future economic growth. Thus, the ability to voice
decisions allows gender equality to be crucial to economic progress and human development.








This Rules of Procedures (RoP) is for a
common Idea. DUNMUN 2013 RoP might
not be as precise as to this RoP.
1. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
1.1. Scope
The following rules apply to DUNMUN. Please note that for Specialized Agencies, Committee
Chairs are responsible for determining rules that are in order to facilitate debate and discussion.
In case of conflict of interpretation, the Committee Chair is the final authority for determining
the applicability of the rules of procedure.

1.2. Language
English will be the official language of DUNMUN. A Delegate wishing to speak in a language
where simultaneous interpretation is not provided will be required to provide his or her own
translation. Please note that time spent in translation will be counted towards total time allotted
for a given speech.
1.3. Diplomatic Courtesy

During committee session, Delegates are expected to exercise diplomatic courtesy when addressing
members of the committee and the dais. Although being diplomat in character involves the
accurate presentation of your countrys diplomatic style, delegates should not model inappropriate
stereotypes or character traits. Any undiplomatic behavior is inherently out of character for United
Nations delegates. In addition, delegates must remember that any observation, comment or
complaint regarding another delegates portrayal of his/her national or organizational character is
highly inappropriate, and such comments are themselves inherently out of character for a
diplomat. Yelling, standing on chairs and other examples of unprofessional behavior are not
characteristics of model diplomats. Remaining in character includes consistent and accurate
diplomacy and caucusing in a manner consistent with the countrys position and power, i.e.,
behind-the-scenes negotiator vs. in-the-forefront debater. Well-prepared delegates are typically
committee leaders, whether or not such leadership is consistent with relevant foreign policy.
Delegates will not be punished for natural leadership tendencies; however, delegates must
recognize that there are limits to what is acceptable in this situation.


The diplomatic behavior will be:
1. Delegates should not yell and shout at other nations;
2. Delegates should not speak in a rude manner; or use inappropriate language
3. Delegates should not interrupt someone while they are speaking;
4. Delegates should listen attentively while someone is speaking;
5. No side talk is appropriate; Delegates can pass chits if they want to share anything with
other delegates or chair;
6. Delegates should NEVER try to coerce or force someone to do what you want;
7. Delegates should NEVER try to bribe someone to do what you want.
8. Fellow delegates must be referred to as Miss/Mister Delegate or the Honorable Delegate
from ______.
9. Without raising placard and getting permission, delegates should not talk or stand up in
the formal sessions.

2. STAFF
2.1. Dais
Every dais of the General Assembly and Security Council committees shall be composed of a
Chair, a Co-chair, a Director and a Rapporteur.
2.1.1. Competence of the Dais
The competence of the dais may not be questioned by Delegates. However, if
necessary, a member of a Dais may be removed by the Conference Secretariat.

2.1.2. Dais composition: Chair
2.1.2.1. Authority of the Chair
The Chair shall exercise ultimate authority over his/her respective committee
proceeding in an equitable and objective manner.

2.1.2.2. Responsibilities of the Chair
The Chair is responsible for all procedural matters pertaining to the
committee including, but not limited to, moderating debate, determining the
applicability of rules and proposing the adoption of new rules without
approval from the committee, if necessary.

2.1.2.3. Appeals
With the exceptions of rules that cannot be appealed, any decision of the
Chair can be appealed. Should a Motion to Appeal be made, the Chair will
have the right to defend his/her ruling. The Motion will then be put to a vote
at the committee in question. A Chair can be overruled by a two-thirds (2/3)
majority resulting from this vote.

2.1.2.4. Motion for Censure
This motion can be raised only by the Chair. If a Delegate is clearly
misrepresenting either deliberately or by lack of preparation his/her country,
or is disruptive, Delegates may Motion for Censure of the Delegate in
question. The Chair may rule the Motion out of order. If the Motion is in
order, the Delegate in question will have two (2) minutes to explain his/her
conduct. A delegate that is censured will be prohibited from speaking during
a given committee session. A second censure will mean that the delegate is
prohibited from speaking for the remainder of the conference. This motion
does not require a vote.

2.1.3. Dais composition: Co-chair
2.1.3.1. Authority of the Co-chair
The Co-Chairs shall oversee, monitor, and regulate all MUN activities with
all other Dias members and assist the chair.
2.1.3.2. Responsibilities of the Co-chair
The Co-Chairs shall oversee the organization and implementation of all
MUN activities. The Co-Chairs are the designated leader of the Club and
shall represent the MUNs interests to administration, the Chairs advisor/s,
the conference host, and all others needed.

2.1.4. Dais composition: Director
2.1.3.1. Authority of the Director
The Director shall have authority over all committee support staff and ensure
that Delegates are accurately representing the position of their countries, with
respect to substantive issues and topics.
2.1.3.2. Responsibilities of the Director
The Director shall be responsible for ensuring relevancy of the content and
format of Resolutions. The Director shall also assist the Chair with all
committee proceeding matters.


2.1.5. Dais composition: Rapporteur
2.1.4.1. Responsibilities of the Rapporteur
The Rapporteur shall be responsible for all administrative matters pertaining
to the committee including, but not limited to, the maintenance of an
attendance roster, a Speaker List and the recording of voting results.



2.1.6. Support staff
Under the authority of the Director, the support Staff shall assist the Dais in all
committee functions as needed.

3. FORMAL PROCEDURE/ ROLL CALLING
3.1. Attendance shall be conducted by the Rapporteur by a Roll Call at the beginning of every
committee session or by the Director for committees without Rapporteurs. Delegates shall
establish their presence in the committee in either of the two following manners:
3.1.1. Present and Voting
A Delegate that is declared "Present and Voting" shall vote in favour or against any
substantive matter without the possibility of abstention.
3.1.2. Present
A Delegate that is declared "Present" shall vote in favour, against or abstain on any
substantive matter.

3.2. Procedural matters
Procedural matters are defined as those matters relating to the structure of the committee
session. All Delegates must vote on procedural matters and no Delegate may abstain. Roll Call
vote is not in order for procedural matters.

3.3. Substantive matters
Substantive matters are defined as those matters relating to the specific topic at hand. Delegates
that have established their presence at the initial role call as set out in sections 3.1.1 and 3.1.2
shall act accordingly. Roll Call vote on substantive matters is in order following voting
procedure as set in section 15.5.1.

4. DELEGATIONS RIGHTS
A country delegation shall be represented by one voting Delegate per committee. A group/school
may be comprised of many country delegations. All Delegates shall have speaking and voting rights
on all matters, however, Delegates representing UN Observers shall not have voting rights on
substantive issues.

5. SPEAKERS LIST
A Speakers list is opened following a Motion from a Delegate and the subsequent approval of the
Chair. The opening of Primary and Secondary Speakers lists does not require a vote. A Delegation
can add its country name to the List pending only if it is not already on the List. The Delegate may
either raise his/her placard when the Chair calls for Delegates to do so or send a note to the
Rapporteur. Debate is automatically closed when the Speaker's List is exhausted.

5.1. Primary Speakers List
A primary Speakers List shall be opened to discuss the order in which the Agenda will be set.
The Primary Speakers List shall remain open in case the committee wishes to revisit the
Agenda. This list is mainly formulated during the formal caucus.

5.2. Secondary Speakers List
A Secondary Speakers List shall be opened after the Agenda has been set to proceed with the
discussion of the first topic as designated by the committee. Whenever deemed necessary, the
Chair may decide to open additional Speaker's Lists on other substantive issues. Once the
Speakers List is exhausted, the committee will enter voting procedure on Amendments and
Draft Resolutions on the floor. This list is mainly formulated if any sub agenda were passed to
be discussed under a running agenda.

6. MAJORITY
Unless otherwise specified, no motions are debatable and all require a simple majority vote to pass.
6.1 Simple majority
A procedural or substantive matter requiring a simple majority to pass implies that fifty percent
plus one vote (50% + 1) of the committee must vote in favor of the matter to pass. If the vote is
a tie, the matter will be considered to have failed. This majority can be used to pass any matter
like motion, points etc except the matters that are used in two-thirds majority.

6.2 Two-thirds (2/3) Majority
A procedural or substantive matter requiring a two-thirds (2/3) majority to pass implies that
two-thirds (2/3) of the committee must vote in favor for a matter to pass. This majority is
basically used to pass the working paper and resolution.

7. AGENDA
The Agenda reflects the order in which topics will be addressed by the committee. This is the
primary order of business to be considered by the committee in the first session. At this time the
chair may entertain a motion to set the speaking time as set out in section 9.1.
7.1 Only topics set on the provisional Agenda provided by [Name of Conference] shall be
considered by a committee.

7.2 Specialized Agencies, with the exception of those agencies with pre-determined topics shall
set the Agenda following the guidelines that are provided by the Chair.

7.3 Motion to set the Agenda
7.3.1 Following the Motions put on the floor by Delegates suggesting the order of
topics for the Agenda, the Chair will consider the Motions in the order in which they
were made.
7.3.2 The Chair will take two (2) Speakers in favor and two (2) Speakers against the
Motion and proceed with a vote.
7.3.3 If the Motion is accepted by simply majority, the Agenda will be set in the
manner suggested by the Motion; a Secondary Speaker's List will automatically be
opened.
7.3.4 If the Motion fails, the Chair shall consider the next Motion and repeat the
process laid forward in 7.3.2 and 7.3.3.
7.3.5 The order of the Agenda set at the beginning of the conference shall remain for
the duration of the conference. Should Delegates wish to revisit the Agenda at a later
time, they can request to do so after a topic has either been completed and all
substantive matters voted on or if a topic has been tabled. The relevance of such a
Motion shall remain at the discretion of the Chair.
7.3.6 The Directors of Specialized Agencies shall call for tabling of the debate if
committee updates and news need to be considered immediately by the Delegates.
The committee shall return to the regular Agenda once the given updates and news
have been addressed.

8. DEBATE
8.1. Formal Debate
A committee shall by default be in Formal Debate unless otherwise advised by the Chair.
Delegates should refer to the Secondary Speakers List for the speaking order.

8.2. Informal Debate
During formal debate, a motion can be made by any Delegate for a Moderated Caucus or an
Un-moderated Caucus, both of which constitute informal debate. Informal debate can only
occur on substantive issues and is out of order once a motion to close debate has been passed.
Motion to enter informal debate is in order following the procedures outlined in sections 14.3
through 14.6.

8.3. Recognition
A Delegate may only address the committee if he/she has received permission from the Chair.
8.4. Interruptions
A Speaker may not be interrupted by another Delegate unless the Delegate has risen to a Point
of Personal Privilege or Point of Order.





9. SPEECHES
9.1. Motion to Set Speaking Time
A delegate may Motion to set a time limit on speeches. The Chair may either rule the Motion
dilatory at his/her discretion or put it to vote. A Delegate exceeding the allotted time for a
speech may be called to order by the Chair.

9.2. Relevance of speech
A Chair may call a Delegate to order if his/her speech is not relevant to the subject matter being
discussed.

10. POINTS
10.1. Point of Personal Privilege
A Delegate may rise to a Point of Personal Privilege if a matter impairs him/her from
participating fully in committee activities. The Dais shall try to effectively address the source of
impairment. This point may interrupt a Speaker.

10.2. Point of Order
A Delegate may rise to a Point of Order if a rule of procedure is not properly observed by a
Delegate or by a member of the Dais. The Chair will rule on the validity of the point. A
Delegate rising to a Point of Order may not comment on the topic of discussion. A Point of
Order ruled dilatory by the Chair may not be appealed. This point may interrupt a Speaker.

10.3. Point of Parliamentary Inquiry
A Delegate may rise to a Point of Parliamentary Inquiry to request an explanation from the
Chair on rules of procedure. This point may not interrupt a Speaker and is out of order during a
Moderated Caucus.

10.4. Right of Reply
Delegate who feels that his/her country or person has been insulted by another Delegate may
rise to a Right of Reply. Disagreement with the content of a Delegate's speech is not grounds for
a Right of Reply. The Chair will recognize the Right of Reply at his/her discretion. Should the
Chair rule the Right of Reply out of order, his/her decision cannot be appealed. The Chair may
also request that the Delegate submit his/her Right of Reply in writing for further consideration
before granting it. The Chair might choose to set a time limit for a Right of Reply. No delegate
may call for a Right of Reply on a Right of Reply.




11. MOTIONS
11.1. Motion to Set Comments
During substantive debate, Delegates of the Committee may choose to set two thirty (30)
second comments at the end of every speech during formal debate by moving to set comments.
If this motion passes, Delegates wishing to comment may raise their placards at the end of the
Speaker's speech and await recognition from the Chair. Comments must be relevant to the
preceding speech.

11.2. Motion for the Adjournment of the Meeting
A Delegate may motion for the Adjournment of the meeting to suspend all committee activities
until the next scheduled meeting time. The Chair may rule the Motion out of order without
possibility of appeal or put it to vote.

11.3. Motion for the Adjournment of the Session
A Delegate may Motion for the Adjournment of the Session to suspend all committee activities
for the duration of the conference. The Chair may rule the Motion out of order without
possibility of appeal or put it to vote. In the event that a chair approves this, there should be two
(2) speakers for and two (2) speakers against and the motion will require a 2/3 majority to pass.

11.4. Motion for a Moderated Caucus
A Delegate may Motion for a Moderated Caucus thereby suggesting a change from formal
debate to moderated informal debate. A Delegate who moves for Moderated Caucus must
suggest a time length of the caucus, speaking time and justification for the Motion. The Chair
may suggest a more appropriate caucus length or speaking time or may rule the Moderated
Caucus out of order without possibility of appeal. If the Motion passes, the committee will enter
informal debate whereby the Chair will recognize Delegates who raise their placards to speak
about the issue at hand.

11.5. Motion to Extend the Moderated Caucus
A Delegate may Motion to Extend the Moderated Caucus if he/she feels that additional time
would benefit committee work. The Delegate moving for an Extension of the Moderated
Caucus must suggest a length for the extension. The Chair may suggest a more appropriate
caucus length or speaking time and put it to vote or may rule the Motion out of order without
possibility of appeal.

11.6. Motion for an Un-moderated Caucus
A Delegate may Motion for an Un-moderated Caucus thereby suggesting a change from Formal
to Informal debate. The Delegate who makes this motion must suggest a length and justification
for the Un-moderated Caucus. The Chair may suggest a more appropriate caucus length and put
it to vote or may rule the Un-moderated Caucus out of order without possibility of appeal. Once
the Motion has passed, the committee will depart from the Speaker's List and Delegates will
carry an informal discussion on the topic specified in the Motion.

11.7. Motion to Extend the Un-moderated Caucus
A Delegate may Motion to Extend the Un-moderated Caucus if he/she feels that additional time
would benefit the work of the committee. The Delegate who moves for an Extension of Un-
moderated Caucus must suggest a length for the extension. The Chair may suggest a more
appropriate caucus length and put it to vote or may rule the Extension of the Un-moderated
Caucus out of order without the possibility of appeal.

11.8. Motion to Appeal
As laid out in section 2.1.2.3, should a Motion to Appeal be made, the Chair will have the right
to defend his/her ruling. The Motion will then be put to a vote at the committee in question. A
Chair can be overruled by a two-thirds (2/3) majority resulting from this vote

11.9. Motion to Dismiss a Topic/Table Debate
A Delegate may motion to Table Debate in order to end debate on a substantive issue without
voting on any Draft Resolutions that may be on the floor. If the Chair rules the Motion in order,
two (2) Delegates shall speak in favor and two (2) Delegates shall speak against before
proceeding with a vote. If the Motion passes, substantive debate will stop and the committee
will return to the Primary Speakers List.

11.10. Motion to Return to a Dismissed Topic
While in the Primary Speaker's List, the Chair may entertain a Motion to go back to a dismissed
topic. In that event, the Chair will entertain one (1) Speaker for and one (1) Speaker against. A
two-thirds majority (2/3) vote is required for the Motion to pass. If the Motion carries, debate
on the dismissed topic resumes and the committee automatically returns to the existing
Secondary Speakers List.

11.11. Motion to Close Debate
A Delegate may Motion to Close Debate in order to end debate on a substantive issue whereby
the committee will enter voting procedure on all amendments and Draft Resolutions presented
to the floor. If the Chair rules the Motion in order, there will be only two (2) Delegates speaking
against the Motion. A two-thirds (2/3) majority vote is required to pass the Motion to close
debate.

11.12. Motion to Close the Speakers List
A Delegate may Motion to Close the Speaker's List to prevent any additional names from being
added to the end of the List. If the Chair rules the Motion in order, there will be a two-thirds
(2/3) majority vote required to pass.

11.13. Motion to Re-Open the Speakers List
In the event that a Speakers List has been closed and not exhausted, a Delegate may Motion to
Re-open the Speaker's List to allow for additional names to be placed on the List. If the Chair
rules the Motion in order, there will be a two-thirds majority (2/3) vote required to pass.

12. RESOLUTIONS AND AMENDMENTS
12.1. Motion to Question Competence
A Motion to Question the Competence of the Body to consider a Draft Resolution or
amendment is in order upon introduction of the documents. The Chair will recognise one (1)
Speaker in favour and one (1) Speaker against the Motion. There will be a two-thirds (2/3)
majority vote required to pass. If the Motion is approved, the document will be retracted and
will not be allowed to be re-introduced.

12.2. Working Paper
A Working Paper is an informal document used by committee Delegates to work on building a
Draft Resolution. A Working Paper should be written under Resolution format and will be
distributed at the Chair's discretion if requested by a Delegate. Delegates should refer to a
document as a Working Paper in a speech until the document has been submitted and approved
by the Director at which point it will be referred to as a Draft Resolution (see 13.3.1).

12.3. Resolutions
12.3.1. Draft Resolutions
A Working Paper submitted to the Director under proper Resolution format will be
referred to as a Draft Resolution. Delegates may refer to a document as a "Draft
Resolution" in a speech only after it has been assigned a number by the Dais. If
Draft Resolutions are complementary or fairly identical, the Chair may recommend
that the Sponsors of the Draft Resolutions combine the documents prior to the end of
the debate.
12.3.2. Resolution denomination
A Draft Resolution that has been put to a vote by the committee and passes may be
referred to as a "Resolution".
12.3.3. Format
Draft Resolutions must be properly formatted as per the guidelines found in the
Model UN Delegate Handbook.
12.3.4. Sponsors
Sponsors are recognized as the writers of the Draft Resolution. The respective
number of Sponsors must be present on a Working Paper to be introduced to the
floor as a Draft Resolution. Sponsors must agree to support a Resolution unless
major changes have been introduced through the amendment process.
12.3.5. Cosponsors
Cosponsors are recognized as the contributors of the Draft Resolution. The
respective number of cosponsors must be present on a Working Paper to be
introduced to the floor as a Draft Resolution..
12.3.6. Signatories
Signatories are recognized as the supporters of the Draft Resolution. The appropriate
number of Signatories must be present on a Working Paper to be introduced to the
floor as a Draft Resolution. Amendments to the Draft Resolution are not required to
be approved by Signatories. Signatories are not required to support the Draft
Resolution during voting procedure; they only agree to put their names as those who
are interested in seeing the Working Paper become a Draft Resolution for further
debate.
12.3.7. Introduction of a Draft Resolution
A Delegate may Motion to Introduce a Working Paper as a Draft Resolution. Once
the Working Paper has been assigned a Draft Resolution number by the Dais, the
Chair will invite the Sponsors of the Resolution to read out only the operative
clauses of the Draft Resolution to the committee. This will be followed by a vote in
order to determine whether or not the Draft Resolution is allowed on the floor to be
further debated.

12.4 Amendments
12.4.1. Amendments to Pre-Ambulatory Clauses
Amendments to Pre-Ambulatory Clauses are not in order.
12.4.2. Non-Substantive Amendments
Grammatical, spelling or formatting errors on Draft Resolutions will be made at the
discretion of the Director. Voting doesnt needed for it.
12.4.3. Friendly Amendments
Substantive Amendments approved by all the Sponsors of a Draft Resolution will
automatically be integrated to the Draft Resolution without vote from the committee.
A Friendly Amendment may be further amended through the Unfriendly
Amendment process.
12.4.4. Unfriendly Amendments
Substantive Amendments to a Draft Resolution not approved by each of the
Sponsors of a Draft Resolution are considered unfriendly and require one fifth (1/5)
of the committee's approval and approval from the Director to be introduced.
Unfriendly Amendments will be put to a vote prior to the vote on the Draft
Resolution as a whole. Amendments to Unfriendly Amendments are out of order.



12.5. Withdrawal
The Sponsors of Draft Resolutions and Friendly Amendments may request withdrawal of the
documents at their discretion. The Signatories of an Unfriendly Amendment may request
withdrawal of the document at their discretion.
Withdrawn Resolutions or Amendments may be re-introduced to the committee by obtaining
the support of one fifth (1/5) of the committee. The re-introduced Resolutions or Amendments
will then be voted on during voting procedure.

13. VOTING PROCEDURE
When the Chair announces that the committee is entering voting procedure, no entering or existing
from the room will be permitted, unless there is an emergency or until voting procedure has come
to an end. At this time, Motions to Divide the Question, for an Important Question or for Roll Call
Voting are in order.
13.1. Method of Voting
Each Delegate of the committee has one vote and must demonstrate his/her voting intentions by
raising his/her placard at the Chair's request unless there is a Roll Call vote (see rule 14.1.1). In
accordance with rule 3.1, Delegates must vote in favor, against or abstain. No Delegate shall
vote on behalf of another Delegate.


13.1.1. Roll Call Vote
Roll Call Motions may only be in order for substantive matters. This Motion is
automatically accepted unless the Chair rules it out of order; the decision is not
subject to appeal.
13.1.2. Passing
During Roll Call, a Delegate may choose to pass. The Chair will place the
Delegate at the bottom of the voting list. A Delegate who has passed once during
a voting sequence may not pass again but must vote definitively.
13.1.3. Voting with Rights
A Delegate may request a right of explanation after voting. Upon completion of
voting, the Delegate will be permitted to explain the reasons as to why he/she has
chosen to vote a certain way. The Chair may limit the speaking time at his/her
discretion.

13.2. Voting on Draft Resolutions
A committee can vote on and pass more than one Resolution on a given topic. Draft
Resolutions will be voted on in the order that they were numbered by the Dais.

13.3. Voting on Amendments
All Unfriendly Amendments shall be voted on in the order in which they were proposed
before the committee moves to vote on the Draft Resolution as a whole. If one Amendment
implies the rejection of a second Amendment, the second Amendment will not be voted
upon. A passed Amendment shall be automatically included in the Draft Resolution. Once all
the Amendments relating to a Draft Resolution have been voted on, the committee shall vote
on the Draft Resolution as a whole.

13.4. Motion to Divide the Question
Prior to the start of the voting process on a Draft Resolution, a Delegate may request through
a Motion to Divide the Question to vote on an individual or group of operative clauses. A
Delegate must specify how he/she wishes to divide the operative clauses during his/her
Motion. Should there be more than one Motion to divide the question on the floor, the
committee shall vote on the Motions from the least to the most damaging to the draft
resolution. The Chair shall take two (2) Speakers in favour and two (2) Speakers against the
first Motion to divide the question for a speaking time of fifteen (15) seconds each. A simple
majority is required to pass the Motion. If the Motion passes, subsequent Motions to Divide
the Question will be ruled dilatory and the committee will proceed to vote on the Draft
Resolution in the manner suggested in the Motion. If the motion fails, the remaining motions
made will be considered in accordance with the above procedure. The divided section that
fails during voting will be taken out of the final Draft Resolution; only those sections that
have been passed will remain. The committee will then proceed to vote on the new final
Draft Resolution as a whole after all the divisions have been voted on. If all operative clauses
fail, the Draft Resolution, as a whole, fails.

13.5. Motion to have a Draft Resolution Considered an Important Question
A Motion to have a Draft Resolution considered an Important Question may be ruled out of order
at the discretion of the Chair. If the Chair rules the Motion in order, one (1) Speaker shall speak
in favour and one (1) Speaker shall speak against the Motion. A simple majorit y is required to
pass the Motion. If the Motion is passed, the Draft Resolution will require a two-thirds (2/3)
majority to pass as a Resolution.

16. PRECEDENCE
Motions shall be considered in the following decreasing order.
Point of Order (10.2)
Point of Personal Privilege (10.1)
Right of Reply (10.4)
Point of Parliamentary Inquiry (10.3)
Motion to Appeal (2.1.2.3)
Motion to Set Speaking Time (9.2)
Motion to Set Comments (11.1)
Motion to Adjourn Session (11.3)
Motion to Adjourn Meeting (11.2)
Motion for Censure (2.1.2.4)
Motion for Un-moderated Caucus (11.6)
Motion for Moderated Caucus (11.4)
Motion for Closure of Debate (11.11)
Motion for Closure of the Speaker's List (11.12)
Motion for Re-Opening of the Speaker's List (11.13)
Motion to Table Debate (11.9)
Motion to Divide the Question (13.4)
Motion for an Important Question (13.5)
Motion to Introduce a Draft Resolution (12.3.7)




Appended part
USEFUL MUN WORDS
In committee:
Decorum: Proper way of acting. Being quite. Not talking when the chair is talking. Typically heard when
the chair is yelling DECORUM DELEGATES! at a committee that will not quiet down after a break.
Dilatory: intended to delay the committee, defer action or sometimes simply abusive. For example, if the
delegate from Pakistan keeps asking for a change in speaking time from 30 seconds to 45 seconds and
every time it fails, at a certain point the chair should say Im going to rule that dilatory.
Placard: Pretty thing that says your countrys name on it!
Out of order: A procedure that cannot be taken at that time. For example, if you are in voting block, you
cannot ask to the suspend the meeting, this would be out of order. Or, also, just a motion that does not
exist.
Director: Highest person in charge in a committee, typically responsible for proofing and accepting
resolutions.
Chair: Person whom the director appoints to run the session, leading the parliamentary procedure and
calling on countries.
Dais: the literal raised platform/desk/both at the front of the room where the director, chair and rap sit. If
you want to speak to the director or be added to the speakers list you can typically just send a note to the
Dais.
Rap/Rapporteur: Aid to the chair. Typically in charge of keeping track of the speakers list, timing
speeches, and keeping things running smoothly.
Page: Most of the time this person will be pulled from the committee and asked to act as page or
message deliverer for the given session.
Motion/Move:
The Republic of Korea MOVES for the suspension of the meeting for fifteen minutes.
Thank you delegate, there is now a MOTION on the floor for a suspension of the meeting for fifteen
minutes.
Resolutions:
Sponsors: Those sponsoring the resolution in the since that they are the main states working on actually
writing the resolution. In each committee there will be a designated number of sponsors, a percentage of
the quorum, needed for a resolution to be considered and submitted to the dais.
Signatories: States that support the resolution either directly believing in what it says or simply willing to
see it debated on the floor. Like sponsors, a certain number of signatories will always be required as well.
Pream /Preambles/ Preambulatory Clauses: Clause at the first part of a resolution intended to supply
background information/facts/appeals and reasons for the actions/suggestions/recommendations in the
operative clauses. These will almost always be something like arfirmING or recognizING.
Ops/Operative Clauses: Clauses in the second half of a resolution that call for specific action and aim to
provide solutions to the given problem. These will always be active as well, using words such as calls
for or endorses.
Working paper: When a resolution has not been submitted to the chair, it can ONLY be referred to as a
working paper.
Draft resolution: Once a working paper has been submitted to the dais and is approved it then becomes a
draft report and will be given a number such as Draft report 1-1 (probably meaning the first draft report
on the first topic).
Resolution: Only once a draft resolution has been voted on and passed can it be called a true resolution
and it will then be renumbered.
CLAUSES



EXAMPLE: FINAL RESOLUTION
COMMITTEE: General Assembly Plenary
TOPIC: Strengthening the UN System: A Follow-up to the Agenda for Change
Sponsors: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Comoros, Egypt, Gambia, Mali, Mauritius
Co- sponsor: Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe, South Africa, Zambia
Signatories: Argentina, Chile, Djibouti, Germany, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Madagascar, Mexico,
orocco, Namibia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Swaziland, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, Zimbabwe
Recognizing with respect the efforts and accomplishments of the current leadership and the perpetually
changing geo-political dynamics,
Acknowledging the comments of the Secretary-General and noting the importance of the Millennium
Development Goals as the fundamental reasons for reforming the Security Council to ensure a lasting
global society,
Understanding the necessity for reform to be a compromise and accommodating to increase the
strength and legitimacy of the Council to become a more effective body by expanding the membership
to be more representative of the diverse interests of the world population,
Accepting in principle the 2004-2005 recommendations of both the High-Level Panel and The Secretary-
General with regards to model A for reforming the Security Council,
further outlined in GA Resolution A/59/2005,
Taking note of the Razali Plans recommendation that a specific enumeration of the Agenda for Change
within the Security Council must precede the election of new permanent and non-permanent members
of the Council,
Further noting the precedence for the expansion of the Security Council set by the 1965 decision which
expanded the membership from 11 to 15 members following the first great wave of decolonization,
THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY PLENARY:
1. Recommends the Security Council of the UN to Amend Article 23 of the Charter of the United Nations;
2. Decides, in accordance with Article 108 of the Charter, to submit the following amendments to the
Charter:
a) In Article 23, Paragraph 1, substitute the word fifteen in the first sentence with twenty-four, and
the word ten in the third sentence with thirteen,
b) In Article 23, Paragraph 1, insert after the first sentence:
Additional Permanent seats shall be allocated as following:
i. Two seats to African states, with the provision that one seat shall be allotted to a Northern African
state,
ii. One seat to European states,
iii. One seat to Latin American and Caribbean states,
v. Two seats to the Asian and Pacific states,
c) In Article 23, Paragraph 2, in the first sentence substitute the word two with the word four,
d) In Article 23, Paragraph 2, in the second sentence substitute the words eleven to fifteen with
fifteen to twenty-four and the word four with three,
e) In Article 23, Paragraph 2, strike the last sentence, which reads A retiring member shall not be
eligible for immediate reelection,
f) In Article 27, Paragraphs 2 and 3, substitute the word nine with thirteen,
3. Decides to restructure the non-permanent members as follows:
a) Four seats to African states, with the provision that one seat shall be allotted to a Northern African
states,
b) Three seats to Asian and Pacific states, with the provision that one seat shall be allotted to a Middle
Eastern state,
c) Two seats to European states, with the provision that one seat be allotted for an Eastern European
state,
d) Four seats to Latin American and Caribbean states,
4. Further Decides that it shall be the responsibility of established Regional Groups within the UN
system, to put forth candidates from each geographical region, from which the members will be elected
by the General Assembly, no later than three months after the entering into force of the present
amendments;
5. Suggests the formal establishment, within the Rules of Procedure of the Security Council, of a system
of indicative voting, whereby each original permanent member of the Security Council may vote no
without invoking their right to veto;
6. Requests the Secretariat to monitor and maintain a right of observation status for member states not
on the Council during non-emergency times in order to establish a more effective body;
7. Urges the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations to expeditiously conclude
negotiations on the Declaration on the Basic Conditions and Standard Criteria for the Introduction of
Sanctions and other Coercive Measures, as a means to establish internationally agreed guidelines for the
establishment and implementation of measures under Chapter VII of the Charter;
8. Further Urges the Security Council to adopt, as a matter of priority, upon the completion of the work
of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations, a Declaration on the Criteria for the
Introduction of Sanctions;
9. Call Upon the Security Council to adopt a Declaration, establishing clearly defined guidelines for the
use of force to address a breach of peace, within the framework outlined in Paragraph 207 of A/59/565:
Report of the Secretary- General High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change;
10. Requests an Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice as to whether humanitarian
disasters fall under the authority of Chapter VII of the Charter, as a threat to the peace as defined by
the Charter;
11. Encourages the Secretary-General to increase the utilization of his powers under Article 99 of the
Charter to reinforce the emerging understanding of threats to the peace, by bringing these issues to the
attention of the Security Council.
























SAMPLE POSITION PAPER
State represented: THE KINGDOM OF NETHERLANDS
Topic: Situation of Mexican National Human Rights Commission
The Kingdom of Netherlands expresses its deep concern in relation of
the present situation in the Mexican National Human Rights Commission
and strongly believes that this wide ranging problem should be of a great
concern by The United Nations Human Rights Council and the
international community in the present moment.
According to last reports by Human Rights Watch, we regretfully
determine, that less has changed on the matter of human rights in the
region since the crucial events, that marked not only Mexico, but the whole Latin America area in the
1960s and 1970s of the 20
th
century. It is obvious that besides the democratic social and politics
structure in Mexico, basic human rights, discrimination based on racial, political and other matters, still
occur not only by separated groups of people, but in the whole country and on all its political and social
levels. This is why The Kingdom of Netherlands believes that in such unstable situation the role of the
Mexican National Human Rights Commission is of a crucial meaning where a clear violation of basic
human rights is obvious. We express our deepest concern regarding the Mexican National Human Rights
Commission and its inability to face the situation in an adequate way, acknowledging of what is in best
interest of the harmed people.
The Kingdom of Netherlands recognizes as major problems on the behalf of the Commission the huge
influence of the local state political authorities in its work, which seriously endangers the fairness and
openness of the commissions work, and violates not only the international law, but also founding
chapters of the Charter of The United Nations organization; lack of publicity of cases brought to the
attention of the Commission which practically makes its work useless. The Kingdom of Netherlands are
calling upon fast and effective measures on the matter on the behalf of the international community
and reaffirms its readiness to play an active role in it. We are calling upon the establishment and
development of a working collaboration in the field of practices between the international community
and with the Commission, whereas to improve publicity level of all cases that are in concern of the
Commission and the creation of a working mechanisms for abolishing the precarious influence of the
local political authorities over the work of the Commission. The Kingdom of Netherlands calls for the
introduction of legislation reforms in order to harmonize Mexican law with international human rights
regulations especially the promotion of guaranteed opportunity of public access to information
regarding the work of the Mexican National Human Rights Commission. This should be a step closer
towards the idea the state initiations to remedy human rights abuses.