At SMUSMUN 2024, there are three committees, each seeking to address a pressing (or formerly-pressing) issue in the world. Some, like UNHRC, are aimed at beginner delegates who want a way to get started in the world of MUN, while others, like HCC, are better-suited to delegates with more experience. Information on these committees can be found below.

Position papers are mandatory for all delegates and are due on April 1st. They should be written in a standard serif font like Times New Roman, with 1 inch margins and a text size of 12pt. Excluding the bibliography, the position paper should be one page long. Images such as watermarks and flags should be avoided, and should include a bibliography with all sources used. Again, the bibliography is not included in the one-page limit. Position papers should be saved as a PDF or Word document and emailed to the address found in your background guide, titled using the format “[last name] [first name] - Position Paper”. They must also include your name, country assignment, and committee in the header.

Registration closes for all committees on March 11th. If you know you cannot attend, please send an email to [email protected].

Please know that SMUSMUN has a zero-tolerance policy for position papers generated wholly or partly by Large Language Models like ChatGPT. All work submitted must be entirely the work of the delegate submitting it.

The country matrix can be found here. Please use it to inform your committee selections.

Information on Committees:

United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) - Censorship

“The first condition of progress is the removal of censorship.” -George Bernard Shaw

Censorship - the strategic withholding of information in order to advance a goal - is a practice which no government can truly say it has never committed in some form. For this beginner-focused committee, the ability to compromise and see beyond past intergovernmental differences will be crucial for delegates’ success. This year, double delegations - where two people work together and represent the same delegation - are available in UNHRC. Both delegates must fill out registration forms.

The background guide can be found here.

United Nations Security Council (UNSC) - Protecting Civilians in Conflict Areas

“The frightening human cost of waging war in cities is not inevitable; it is a choice.” -António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations

In today’s increasingly violent world, the protection of civilians in times of war is particularly pertinent. The UN Security Council, as the only UN body with access to military power, has a particularly strong duty to ensure the safety of civilians. This committee will be an excellent place for delegates who already have some Model UN experience to make their countries’ views heard.

The background guide can be found here.

Historical Crisis Committee (HCC) - Indian Independence and Partition

“I want for India complete independence in the full English sense of that English term.” -Mahatma Gandhi

This committee follows the struggle for the independence of the Indian subcontinent after more than 200 years under the control of the British. Beginning in 1919 after the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, this committee will serve as a challenge for more experienced delegates as they attempt to achieve their own political and religious goals over the backdrop of one of the defining movements of the 20th century.

The background guide can be found here.