- North American Invitational Model United Nations
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North American Invitational Model United Nations 
Abbreviation NAIMUN Formation 1963 Type NPO Purpose/focus Education Location Washington Hilton Hotel, Washington DC Official languages English Conference Executives Taylor Wettach and Caitlin Pharo The North American Invitational Model United Nations, or NAIMUN, is one of the oldest Model UN simulations for high school students in North America. Since 1963, the conference has been a forum in which a dynamic range of young students come from around the world to seek, through discussion, negotiation and debate, solutions to the various problems of the world. The 3,000+ participants convene for four days, simulating their role as delegates to the United Nations from a particular nation and serving as representatives of that country's policies. NAIMUN runs over 35 mini-simulations, including standard committees from the UN General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Security Council, as well as crisis simulations of various regional organizations, national cabinets and political organizations. The conference is organized by the Georgetown International Relations Association, Inc.Official Web Site, a non-profit 501(c)(3) that seeks to introduce potential leaders to the fundamentals of international relations, enabling them to face the challenges of tomorrow. In NAIMUN's stimulating learning environment, delegates are challenged to address global issues and conflicts. Students are pushed to heighten their understanding of the international system from both political and legal perspectives, while also testing their negotiation, judgment, and problem-solving skills. The conference and the corporation are staffed and managed by over 200 undergraduate students with keen interest and substantial understanding of international relations from Georgetown University. Currently in its 49th year, NAIMUN has established itself as one of the premier conferences on the high-school Model UN circuit, boasting notable speakers such as former CIA lawyers, high-ranking ambassadors, and Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations.[1] The NAIMUN conference is held at the Hilton Washington, located on 1919 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC, one of the largest conference centers in the city. The forty-ninth session of NAIMUN (NAIMUN XLIX), will be held from February 16, 2012 to February 19, 2012.
Contents
Programming and Events
The Hilton Washington
In order to enrich the educational experience, the conference provides delegates with several programming options and events that encourage delegates to apply what they learn in Model UN simulations to the real world. Below is a brief summary.
Embassy Briefings
As the hub of international politics, many embassies in DC welcome conference participants for briefings and information sessions about the day’s pertinent topics. The opportunity for the delegates to meet their actual counterparts in the field is an invaluable experience for many delegates.
Speakers
NAIMUN has a strong record of bringing important speakers to address its delegates. These have included high-ranking ambassadors, professors, to former CIA lawyers, and Ban Ki-moon the Secretary-General of the UN itself.
Georgetown Tours
Delegates have a chance of visiting the scenic hilltop neighborhood of Georgetown. With guided tours of Georgetown University, the conference is infused with a taste of the 'Hilltop', from which all of the staff hails. Delegates can also enjoy a tour of the historic campus and discover the boutique packed M street strip.
Monuments and Museums
Executives at Jefferson Memorial in 2010The District also has a beautiful display of history, with monuments and museums that brighten the city's skyline and its heritage. Students will have the time to tour the many wonderful sights all around of the city. An organized tour of the Phillips Gallery led by the Georgetown Art Aficionados will give delegates a brief glimpse of the culture the city has to offer.
Hilltop Madness and the Delegate Dance
Traditionally, the Friday night of the conference schedule is reserved for NAIMUN's 'Hilltop Madness', which brings all of the outstanding dance and performance groups of Georgetown to perform exclusively for the delegates. The Conference Dance of Saturday night is also a hugely anticipated event of NAIMUN.
Midnight Crisis Simulations
Sometimes in the real world, international crises strike at night; in Model UN it is no different. Certain committees will entail a midnight crisis simulation, where delegates awoken in the middle of the night and called back to work on a pressing global issue.
Community Service Project
NAIMUN believes in giving back to the community and as a part of expanding its delegates’ global perspective. A voluntary Friday morning community service project is arranged for the students to get active and broaden their experience in social justice.
Conference Preparation
Georgetown UniversityPreparation for NAIMUN is a large endeavor, and can require an almost year-long commitment from its large staff of over 200 dedicated Georgetown students, who are dues-paying members of the Georgetown International Relations Club. These students serve as valuable assets to the conference by writing background guides, chairing committees, performing security walks, and running crisis simulations. The conference is led by the two conference executives, the Secretary General and the Executive Director. The two executives handle different aspects of the conference, which are mainly divided into substantive work (e.g. topic assignments and committee designs etc.) and executive issues (e.g. conference promotion, informational updates, budget allocation, registration etc.). The conference executives for NAIMUN XLIX (2012) are Taylor Wettach (SFS 2013) and Caitlin Pharo (SFS 2013).
The conference executives are supported by the senior staff of 16 or so members, with half aiding the Secretary-General's work and the other half focusing on helping the Executive Director. On the substantive side, the Under-Secretaries-General will each take charge of one of the five main committee types, which are:
- General Assemblies,
- Economic and Social Councils,
- Regionals,
- Councils, Summits and Courts,
- Cabinets
NAIMUN XLIX (2012) will also feature five committees simulating the U.S. National Security Apparatus response to the attacks of September 11, 2001.
NAIMUN XLVII Highlights
Just days before the start of the conference, the largest snowstorm in Washington D.C.'s history fell across the district. Commonly referred to as the infamous "Snowpocalypse", all contingencies for the conference were implemented. From leading walks of hundreds of staffers across the snow covered roads to pushing car loads of supplies up a snowy hill, NAIMUN was still successful. More than half the delegates were able to make it to the conference. Even with a low number of students, NAIMUN XLVII managed to break the record of raising more money than any previous conference for its annual charity drive. Donations from NAIMUN XLVII went to "Save the Children".
Under the leadership of executives Ena Dekanic (COL 2011) and Mathew Shapiro (SFS 2011), NAIMUN XLVII featured thirty-six innovative committees and simulations for delegates to connect to affairs that shape our world, learning diplomacy in an engaging environment created by its student staff. The conference reflected the varied structure and agenda of the United Nations through its many large and small UN bodies, including the Third Committee: Social and Humanitarian (SOCHUM), a Special Summit on the Seas, the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice(CCPCJ), and the United Nations Security Council. NAIMUN also featured regional and international organizations, including the Pan American Health Organization, and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. Delegates addressed important historical issues in the National Security Council: Iran Contra Affair and the Military Tribunal: Abu Ghraib, 2005 and even tackled future conflicts through a Joint Crisis, 2012: Israel v. Palestinian Authority. Additionally, NAIMUN XLVII offered several pioneering simulations, including the Meeting of the Estates-General, 1789; the Majlis: Iranian Parliament, and the Delian League. NAIMUN also offered two application-only opportunities. In the centrally coordinated Press Corps, students interested in journalism can report on developments among the committees and create a cohesive conference culture by publishing “The NAIMUN Daily.” NAIMUN XLVII also introduced the NGO Forum, where a select group of delegates simulated the critical role of nongovernmental organizations in the international arena.
NAIMUN XLVIII Highlights
New committees featured in NAIMUN's 48th session included a United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change simulation and a joint-crisis regional committee on the break up of Pakistan. In addition, the conference raised $25,000 for the non-governmental organization Free the Children.
NAIMUN XLIX
The forty-ninth session of NAIMUN will be held from February 16, 2012 to February 19, 2012.
References
External links
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