OM - MUN 2022

Delegate Handbook

OM-MUN 2022
Open Minds Model United Nations 2022-23

18th October – 20th October 2022

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Letter from the Principal’s desk

Dear Delegates,
It gives me immense pleasure in welcoming you to the 6th session of Open
Minds Model United Nations Conference.
I am sure this OM-MUN 2022 will be a unique experience for all the delegates
researching and learning about world issues and promoting peace and the
work of the United Nations through cooperation and diplomacy. The
teamwork, expository and persuasive writing skills, art of debating and
negotiation skills developed in Model UN experience will surely pave the way
for future success.
This Conference will surely boost the active participation of our thoughtful
learners to interact and experience the chance to debate on pressing global
issues; challenging them to take on new perspectives and thought processes
to build strong friendship bond with a larger and far sighted aim, to nurture
future leaders of tomorrow!
In this interdependent world, Model UN makes for informed global
citizens making them understand the decisions their nation makes and also
reflects how those changes effect politics nationally, regionally, and globally.
My best wishes to each delegate and may your discussions emerge into
worthy, exemplary ideas for the world leaders to initiate and implement. My
sincere gratitude to the OM-MUN Secretariat and the Organizing Committee
for their utmost passion and commitment; may this dedicated effort scale new
heights of excellence in this endeavour.
Each one of you be well prepared to contribute effectively and make this
conference a grand success.

Syamali Chowdhury

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Table of Contents
1. Introduction [Pg 4]
2. Mission of Birla MUN [Pg 5]
3. Secretariat Members [Pg 6]
4. Bureau Members [Pg 7]
5. Committees and their Agendas [Pg 8]
6. Brief Information about the Committees [Pg 10]
7. Conference Policies and Dress Code [Pg 13]
8. Delegate Code of Conduct [Pg 14]
9. Rules of Procedures [Pg 15]
a) Flow of Debate
b) Formal and Informal Debate
c) The Speaker’s List
d) Yields
e) Moderated and Unmoderated Caucus
f) Points and Motions
g) Resolutions
h) Voting
i) Special rules of voting

10. Conference Schedule [Pg 24]

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Introduction:
Birla Open Minds International School provides a
plethora of opportunities to the students for their
holistic development – cognitive learning along
with social, emotional and behavioural aspects to
undertake the responsibility of being a global citizen. In
connection to this, the school provides an opportunity
to the students to organize and participate in Open
Minds Model United Nations (OM-MUN) as an annual
activity.

In Academic Year 2022-23, the Open Minds Model

United Nations (OM-MUN) will be conducted In-person
at school, from 18th October to 20th October 2022.
To give an exposure to the proceedings and functioning
of United Nations Organization, students of Grade 7 to
12 (CBSE and CAIE) will get an opportunity to
represent as World Leaders and participate in
scintillating deliberation.

Fifteen Committees of the UNO will be represented by

the students (delegates). Each delegate will represent a
particular country raising their issues/agenda
and concerns to the Chair and Vice Chair of the
Committee in order to pass resolutions at the end of the
session. Delegates with rigorous research on their
allotted Country and Committee have to discuss and
debate during the proceedings.

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Mission of Birla MUN:

Open Minds MUN believes in democratizing the

availability of the Model United Nations experience, to
engage the students in the collaborative process
of problem solving and consensus building; to foster
leadership and positive engagement through the
discussions and debate on the world’s most
pressing problems.

OM-MUN trusts that there is inherent worth in bringing

together diverse age groups of students, in real time, for
the process of sharing and gaining knowledge and
laying the foundation for openness and
understanding between people thereby learning to
develop the right perspective in true spirit at all times.

OM-MUN believes in the levelling effect of technology

and support, through its academic program, the ability
to bring diverse students together in an online
environment, working together at the highest academic
standards, to promote human development, tolerance,
and peace.

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Secretariat Members:

Sl. No Position Name of the Student Grade/Sec

1 Secretary General Ameya Shukla 11 A

2 Director General Anjana Kumar Rao 12 A

Parepalli

3 USG- 1) Divija Goel 11 B

Administrations 2) Koushik Vatsavai 10 B

4 USG-Policies 1) Lakshmi Sarupa 12 A

2) Karthikeya Vankineni 10 A

5 USG- Logistics 1) Rajdeep Dekate 12 A

2) Sujay Indupuru 11 A

6 USG-Technology 1) Shria Puppala 12 A

2) Anjika Kumar 12 A

7 USG-Committees 1) Viprakshi Gupta 12 A

2) Anya Sarkar 11 B

8 USG-Delegations 1) Samaira Chadha 11 B

2) Aanya Reddy 10 B

9 USG-Public 1) Shushruth Kodavati 10 B

Relations 2) Taneesha Nair 10 C

10 International Press Faaris Quamar 12 A

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Bureau Members:

Committee Secretariat Secretary/President Deputy

Member Secretary/President
UNGA Karthik Vankineni Vanga Lalith Reddy Karthikeya Kollu (9A)
(11A)
UNESCO Koushik Vatsavai Sujay Indupuru N. Sarayu (CAIE 9A)

UNDP Rajdeep Dekate Aaruushi Dhar (10C) Varshitha Reddy (11B)

UNEP Anjika Kumar Sai Sri Aishwarya Nida Rummaana Mohd

(11A) (12)
UNMC Viprakshi Gupta Faaris Quamar (12A) Aagam Mehta (CAIE
10A)
SOCHUM Shushruth K. Krishna Koushik Shreeya Patnaik (9C)
Kodavati (9A)
UNHRC Aanya Reddy Utkarsh Macha (12B) Akshay Rao K. (12A)

ECOFIN Koushik Vatsavai Siddharth Nimmagadda Priyansha Kalra (11A)

(CAIE 10A)

DISEC Koushik Vatsavai Aditi Nalla Reddy Asha Nukala (CAIE

(CAIE 9A) 9A)
WHO Karthik Vankineni Rishit Sood (10A) Tanvi Dubey (12B)

UNSC Samaira Chadha Bhavana Viswanathan Shria Puppala (12A)

(12B)
NATO Anya Sarkar Archishman (10B) Evan Nikhil (9B)

UNCPD Divija Goel Samhitha (10A) Sai Sri Petluru (CAIE

9B)
WORLD Lakshmi Sarupa Inderneel Talasila Anirudh Munipalli
BANK (CAIE 9A) (9B)
UNICEF Taneesha Nair Vikyath Reddy (10B) Gatik Mehta (9B)

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Committees and their Agendas

DISEC - Resolving Cyber Warfare as a Threat to

International Security.

WHO – Unification of local and religious abortion laws

with emphasis on female foeticide.

UNSC - Discussing the Palestinian Situation with

Respect to Israel Being a Nuclear Nation.

NATO - Addressing Afghanistan’s and its regional

security needs.

UNCPD - Addressing the Socio-Economic Effects of The

Growing Population.

World Bank - Discussing the Sovereign Wealth Funds.

UNICEF – Safeguarding the rights of migrant and

displaced children.

UNESCO - Improving Literacy Rates Among Indigenous

People; With Respect to SDG #4: Quality Education.

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UNGA - The War Against Drugs; Building a

Comprehensive Approach to Prevent and Eliminate

Illegal Trade of Drugs.

UNDP – Dealing with the challenges for humanitarian

intervention in crises.

UNEP - Translating Agenda 2030 for Sustainable

Development into Reality.

UNMC – Curbing the Use of Nuclear Weapons, Keeping

in Mind the Current Happenings of the World.

SOCHUM - Eliminating Racism, Xenophobia and

Related Intolerance.

UNHRC - Addressing the Stateless Nations with

Respect to the MENA (Middle East and North Africa)

Region.

ECOFIN – Russian act in Ukraine and its Effect on

International Energy Consumption.

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Brief Information about the

Committees:
There are 15 committees in OM-MUN 2022.

1. UNSC - United Nations Security Council. The Security Council

has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international
Peace and Security. It has 15 Members, and each Member has
one vote. Under the Charter of the United Nations, all Member
States are obligated to comply with Council decisions.

2. UNDP - United Nations Development Program. UNDP focuses

on poverty reduction, HIV/AIDS, democratic governance, energy
and environment, and crisis prevention and recovery.

3. WHO - World Health Organization. WHO is responsible for

promoting higher standards of living, full health, and health
progress; identifying solutions to international health problems,
facilitating international cooperation; and encouraging
universal respect for health freedom.

4. ECOFIN - Economic and Financial Affairs Council. ECOFIN is

one of the oldest configurations of the Council of the European
Union and is composed of the economic and finance ministers
of the 28 European Union states, as well as Budget Ministers
when budgetary issues are discussed.

5. UNGA - United Nations General Assembly. UNGA is one of the

six principal organs of the United Nations (UN), the only one in
which all member nations have equal representation, and the
main deliberative, policy-making, and representative organ of
the UN.

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6. DISEC - Disarmament and International Security Committee.

DISEC is one of six main committees at the General Assembly
of the United Nations. It deals with disarmament and
international security matters. All 193-member states of the UN
can attend DISEC.

7. NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organization. NATO is an

international alliance that consists of 30-member states from
North America and Europe. It was established at the signing of
the North Atlantic Treaty on 4th April 1949.

8. SOCHUM - Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee.

SOCHUM is one of six main committees at the General Assembly
of the United Nations. It deals with human rights, humanitarian
affairs and social matters.

9. UNHRC - United Nations Human Rights Council. UNHRC is a

United Nations body whose mission is to promote and protect
human rights around the world. The UNHRC has 47 members
elected for staggered three-year terms on a regional group
basis.

10. UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and

Cultural Organization. UNESCO is a specialized agency of the
UN based in Paris. Its declared purpose is to contribute to peace
and security by promoting international collaboration in
education, sciences, and culture to increase universal respect
for justice, the rule of the law, and human rights along with
fundamental freedom proclaimed in the United Nations Charter.

11. UNEP - United Nations Environmental Program. UNEP is a

program of the United Nations that coordinates the
organization's environmental activities and assists developing
countries in implementing environmentally sound policies and
practices.

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12. UNMC - United Nations Management Commission - Exists as

a review committee of the happenings of the world and was
made by the special powers of the Secretary-General.

13. UNCPD - The commission on Population and Development is

one of the ten Functional Commissions of the United Nations
Economic and Social Council.

14. World Bank – The world Bank is an international financial

institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of
low- and middle-income countries for the purpose of pursuing
capital projects.

15. UNICEF – The United Nations International Children’s

Emergency Fund, now officially the United Nations responsible
for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children
worldwide.

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Conference Policies and Dress Code

• In simulation of the United Nations, we at OM-MUN strive for

professionalism in all aspects of the conference.
• Delegates are expected to follow a dress code during all
committee sessions and conference events.
• The Secretary General solely reserves the right to modify any
code of conduct at any time before or during the conference.
• The Conference President and the Secretary General solely
reserve the right to expel any delegate, based on their
discretion on any major dispute caused by the delegate.

Dress Code:

The dress code for Day 1 and Day 3 of the conference for the
delegates is “Western Business attire”.

• Boys must wear a formal suit/blazer along with formal shirt

with tie and formal dress pants. (NO jeans)
• Girls must wear a formal dress suit, full length formal
trousers (NO jeans and NO Skirts) along a formal top or a
sweater.
• In case the delegate does not have formal outfits, they are
requested to wear school uniform.
• All delegates are requested to wear formal shoes only or school
shoes (black)

Delegate Code of Conduct:

• All delegates are expected to always follow respectful
parliamentary spoken and written language.

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• Delegates must strictly follow the dress code decided by the

organizers.
• Any delegate unable to follow the decided dress code may be
expelled from the conference at the discretion of the Secretary
general and the Director General.
• Delegates are requested to have a courteous behavior towards
the Executive Board Members, advisers and others assisting
in the program.
• All delegates are requested to always use English as the
medium of communication.
• No food is allowed inside the committee rooms during
committee sessions.
• A spirit of collaboration rather than competition is highly
valued.
• No participant should be discriminated on the grounds of
nationality, race, religion, age, color, creed, ethnicity, gender,
and physical attributes.
• Each participant is legally and financially liable for any kind
of damage caused to private school property.
• No prewritten resolutions are allowed at any cost, and if done
so will be considered as an act of plagiarism. (Which is strictly
not allowed)
• The Chairs along with the Secretary General and the Director
General reserve rights to suspend or gag any delegate who is
not able to follow the code of conduct.
• The Secretary General solely reserves right to expel any
delegate for their issue of misconduct during the conference.
(There may be other actions taken in case of a serious
misconduct)
• All delegates are requested to wear their school ID cards at
all times.
• No delegate is allowed to carry any electronic device.

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Rules of Procedure:

Flow of Debate
The flow of debate refers to the order of committee proceedings and
provides a bird’s eye view of the entire conference. Using the flow
of debate, we can understand the rules of procedures, types of
debate, and various other regulations that are needed for you to
meaningfully participate in the committee.

In a Model UN conference, student participants (referred as

delegates) are organized into various committees, each of which
has a specific agenda or topic area. Over the course of a couple of
days, the delegates in that committee will go back and forth
debating various solutions and outputs for the problem area,
before attempting to draft a resolution document.

The flow of debate breaks down the debate processes, in order of

their proceedings, as follows:

▪ Roll Call
Each committee session begins with a roll call, which is like
taking attendance, to establish the number of delegates that
are present and participating.

▪ Debate
Once the roll call is completed, the committee moves into the
debate process, which includes formal and informal debate.
The committee moves back and forth between formal and
informal debate until there is enough consensus (agreement)
in the committee for the drafting of a resolution document.

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▪ Resolution
Once the resolution process is underway, the debate on the
agenda is closed. Delegates spend the remainder of their time
in trying to build more support for the resolution and writing
out the entire document.

▪ Amendments and Voting

Finally, the resolution is made open to amendments or edits,
after which it is voted upon by the entire committee. In case
there are enough positive votes, the resolution passes, and
the conference ends. In case the resolution fails, the
committee may attempt to draft another resolution fails, the
committee may attempt to draft another resolution, or it may
choose to end the session without having passed a resolution.

Formal and Informal Debate:

The debate process is divided into two types: formal and informal
debate.
Formal debate includes something known as the Speakers List,
while informal debate includes something know as caucuses.
Each type of debate has its own specific purpose and role in the
flow of debate, and the committee moves between the two types as
needed.

Generally, formal debate takes the form of long, formal speeches

and allow one to address the committee, taking a broad perspective
of the agenda. On the other hand, informal debate takes the form
of short, focused engagements with other delegates and allow one
to address a particular delegate and/or to address only specific
parts of the agenda, as well as to draft resolution documents and
other paperwork.

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The Speakers List:

The general speakers list is a physical list of the order of the

speakers and constitutes the formal debate in model UN. At the
beginning of the session, the executive board will commence with
the speakers list speeches, asking delegates to add their names to
the list. After this is done, the delegates will make speakers list
speeches in that order.

A speakers list speech is usually 90 seconds or longer and does

not have a specific topic.

Delegates may speak an unlimited number of times through the

speaker’s list but cannot be re-added to the list more than once.
This means that a speaker may be re-added to the speaker’s list
after they have completed their previous turn on the list.

Yields:

The speakers list speech allows a delegate to engage in something

called a yield.
A yield is essentially a tool to use any remaining time from the
speakers list speech to answer questions or to invite another
delegate to speak for the remaining time.

If a delegate has at least a few seconds of time remaining in their

general speakers list speech, they may choose to yield that time.
There are various types of yields, described below:

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• Yield to the Executive Board: In a yield to the executive

board, the delegates chooses to pass up any remaining time
of their speech.
• Yield to Points of Information: In a yield to points of
information, a delegate may respond to questions from other
delegates at the end of their speech.
• Yield to another Delegate: In a yield to another delegate, the
speaker gives up their remaining time to another delegate of
his or her choosing.
• Yield to Comments: In a yield to comments, the speaker
wishes to utilize the remaining time to receive comments
(positive or negative) from the fellow delegates of the
committee.

Moderated Caucus:
In a Moderated Caucus, delegates make short, focused speeches
in a back-and-forth manner, on a predetermined sub-agenda of
the main committee agenda, for a specific duration of time, which
is considerably shorter than the speakers list.

Unlike during the speakers list, delegates will be called on one at

a time during moderated caucuses, which allow delegates to
respond to or elaborate on comments made by the previous
speakers. The moderated caucus allows delegates to discuss each
of these sub-topics individually and comprehensively to develop
consensus around possible solutions and actionable steps.

Unmoderated Caucus:
An unmoderated caucus is an unmoderated discussion, which
essentially means that there is no formal structure for such a
caucus. In an unmoderated caucus, delegates are free to move

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around the committee for a pre-specified time, during which they

may choose to engage other delegates one-on-one, or in group, to
build consensus and draft any paperwork, including resolutions.

Points and Motions:

Points and Motions are a system to manage committee proceedings
in Model UN and allow for delegates to direct the flow of the debate
to another, are an expression of the committee’s wanting to engage
in a particular type of debate or session. For instance, the
moderated and unmoderated caucus may be initiated through a
motion, as is the case for breaks, recesses, resolutions, voting, roll
call, and more.

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Points:

1. Point of Personal Privilege- A delegate may rise

the Point of Personal Privilege in case of
whichever kind of personal discomfort which
prevents him/her from full participation in the
debate. Such thing can be for example audibility
of other speakers, switching of air-conditioning
etc. A Point of Personal Privilege can interrupt
speaker only in the case of bad audibility or
clarity.

2. Point of Parliamentary Inquiry- A delegate may

raise the Point of Parliamentary Inquiry to clarify
certain aspects of the Rules of Procedure by the
Chairs. Such Point may not interrupt speakers
and can be introduced only when the Floor is
open for Points and Motions.

3. Point of Order- A delegate may raise the Point of

Order if there is a discrepancy or any
improperness in the application of the Rules of
Procedure by the delegates or Chairs. It is in the
discretion of Chairs to decide whether their point
is valid and to clarify any irregularities. The Point
of Order may not interrupt a speech.

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Resolutions:

A resolution is the main outcome document of the United

Nations (and of model United Nations). It is essentially a
document that lists various solutions and undertakings
towards solving or addressing a particular agenda or
problem, and usually includes information about
measures that member countries can/ must in that
regard.

The resolution guides the work of the UN, its agencies, and
member countries, and as such, has extreme importance.
It must be carefully considered and drafted, ensuring that
it is comprehensive, and effective. Any resolution must be
agreeable enough for it to be passed in the committee,
which requires a simple majority of 50% + 1 of the voting
population.

In certain cases, like the Security Council, the resolution

must also have approval from permanent members apart
from having 50% + 1 approval in the committee, to pass.
The resolution must also have approval from all
permanent members apart from having 2/3rd majority in
the committee, to pass. The Resolutions has a particular
format and is divided into two sections: the preamble and
the operative.
Each section comprises of various paragraphs of ‘clauses’.

The preamble is the first part of a resolution, which

provides context and helps in interpreting the rest of the
document. The operative is the second part, which

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comprises of actionable ideas, directives, and

undertakings towards solving the problem/issue at hand.

All clauses in the resolution must begin with a pre-

approved ‘clause word’, which it italicized. Clauses in the
preamble are not numbered, and end with a comma,
which operative clauses are numbered, and end with a
semi-colon. The last clause of the resolution ends with a
period.

Voting:

The United Nations is a democratic organization, and all

decisions, including procedural decisions and substantive
decisions, are undertaken through a popular vote, in
which each member gets an equal and singular vote.
Procedural voting refers to voting on procedural matters
like points and motions, while substantive voting refers to
voting on substantive matters like the resolution, and
amendments.
Usually, procedural votes are tallied through a show of
placards, while a substantive vote is tallied by a roll call
vote.

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Conference Schedule

Day of the Description Dress Code

Conference

9 AM to 9:50 AM - Opening Ceremony

10 AM to 10.45 AM – Committee
Session 1
10.45 AM to 11 AM – Break Business
Day 1 11 AM to 12.40 PM – Committee Formals
Session 2
12.40 PM to 1.10 PM – Lunch
1.10 PM to 2.50 PM – Committee
Session 3

9 AM to 10.45 AM – Committee Session

4
10.45 AM to 11 AM – Break
Day 2 Business
11 AM to 12.40 PM – Committee
Session 5 Formals
12.40 PM to 1.10 PM – Lunch
1.10 PM to 2.50 PM – Cultural Events
and Delegate Dance

9 AM to 10.45 AM – Committee Session

6
10.45 AM to 11 AM – Break
Day 3 11 AM to 12.40 PM – Committee Business
Session 7 (Final Session) Formals
12.40 PM to 1.10 PM – Lunch
1.10 PM to 2.50 PM – Closing Ceremony
and Awards Distribution

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“ The Secretariat and the Bureau Members

await to make this the best conference of Birla

Open Minds! ”
- Executive Board
OM-MUN 2022

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