WorldMUN 2009

Harvard World Model United Nations (WorldMUN) is the most internationally diverse college-level Model UN conference and the largest outside of North America. Every year around 1,650 college students from over 40 countries attend WorldMUN in a different location around the world; past locations include Puebla (Mexico), Geneva (Switzerland), Beijing (China), Belo Horizonte (Brazil), and Sharm el-Sheikh (Egypt).

But the Harvard World Model United Nations conference in The Hague 2009 will be so much more. WorldMUN should not be mistaken for a mere introduction to United Nations methods. The days are full of social events in which delegates can meet each other and get to know each other. They have breakfast together, drink coffee before the session starts, lunch together, have dinner together and meet each other for drinks at night. Some delegates get so enthusiastic that negotiation continues into the deep of the night, whether that’s around the logging or in a bar. Groups of delegates will look for their committee colleagues to visit the delegate dancing together, or drink cocktails. Friendships may grow, networks may be established and love affairs may settle.

In March 2009 the focus will be on a broad Model United Nations experience. The conference will open on Sunday 22nd of March 2009 and will be closed on Friday 27th of March 2009. This week will combine committee sessions and educative and cultural activities during the day with nightly social events. WorldMUN 2009 will then be continued with the Post Conference Trip (Saturday 28th till Wednesday April 1st) which will provide the opportunity for the delegates to see more of the host country, to forget about diplomacy and international politics and just relax and have fun with the other participants!

Delegates will get to know The Netherlands. They will be visiting The Hague, Amsterdam and Nijmegen. They will taste the Dutch culture and go out in Dutch clubs. Meanwhile they will get to know international politics, diplomacy, negotiation and debate. Delegates from all academic, cultural and social backgrounds and of all kinds of believes will work together towards common goals. On WorldMUN 2009, ideas will come together and new ideals will be shaped. The resolutions in this conference give us a glimpse of the world politics and world leaders of the future.

Delegates will learn many things from experts during in-committee lectures, during the symposium on International Criminal Justice, and from each other during the committee sessions and different workshops. 

While learning they will inspire others and be inspired themselves. Together with people from all over the world the delegates can exchange ideas and experiences. They will get to know cultural differences, share weird recipes for local food or clash about the time when you’re supposed to consume the food.

Americans will drink caipirinha cocktails with Africans and Asians will discuss the future of the NATO with Europeans. A girl from Argentina will write on a resolution together with a guy from South Korea and a guy from Canada will ask a girl from Belgium on a date. What the Olympics in Beijing are for sportsmen is the WorldMUN in The Hague for students.

The Netherlands has a long international tradition of cooperation, being one of the founding fathers of the European Union as well as the United Nations. We can not wait to show our country, our traditions and ourselves to students from all around the world, so that they discover their potential as global citizens. Teams from Harvard University and United Netherlands are preparing for a WorldMUN that will be bigger and better, one that will never be forgotten.