Ohio High School Model United Nations
A Program of UNA-USA Columbus
OHSMUN Conference Details
 Flags of UN Member StatesWorking toward achieving the principles and purpose of the United Nations. |  RegistrationDelegates register for UNA-USA Columbus' 2013 Model UN Symposium. |  Research and Preparation are key!Here, a delegate uses down-time for a little last minute research. |
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 General Assembly Plenary |  Economic and Social CouncilParticipants of ECOSOC 2013 leave their committee session with smiling faces after passing a resolution with unanimous support. |
Introduction to OHSMUN 2015
The United Nations General Assembly [GA], one of the six principal organs of the United Nations [UN], forms committees to investigate and to research various proposed methods and actions that the UN hopes will bring positive change to the world and its inhabitants. In their committees, they debate the merits of each proposal, with the hope of bringing it to the GA plenary for a vote and passing a resolution. Each resolution should embody the goals of the UN, such as promoting human rights and preserving peace and security. Even though resolutions of the GA are not binding, for it cannot enforce that every member-state follows its regulations, they set important conventions that many governments feel compelled to follow.
Currently, the GA is debating the proposed Sustainable Development Goals and its post-2015 agenda. Significant progress on important issues such as climate change are also expected from the UN. Thus, great hope and anticipation stir in activists around the world. Many expect that this year could mark a pivotal change in the way that the member-states of the UN have approached pressing challenges.
With this expectation, we at the United Nations Association of Columbus want to help high school students experience this exciting process of producing resolutions. Our Ohio High School Model United Nations conference at Otterbein University will simulate working- committees of the UN General Assembly. Delegates will have the opportunity to follow the same procedures that world leaders and their representatives use when they speak at the UN. Before the conference, the students will choose which country they want to represent and which committee they want to debate in. Students will then research their country’s positions on the topics of the committee and arrive to the conference prepared to support their proposals in front of other delegates.
Committees and Topics
One student from each delegation will serve on one of six committees. The committees and topics to be discussed are outlined as follows:
Committee One: Addressing poverty and hunger during conflicts and/or natural disasters
a. Increasing employment rates after disasters
b. Improving food disbursement during crises
Committee Two: Increasing access to education
a. Establishing policies to guarantee right to education and free speech (UNICEF)
b. Strengthening educational tools in the 21st century
Committee Three: Empowering women and girls
a. Eliminating all forms of gender-based violence against women and girls (UN Women)
b. Promoting career and educational opportunities for women
Committee Four: Promoting health and wellness
a. Strenthening the capacity of all countries, particularly developing countries, for warning, risk reduction, and management of national and global health risks (UNDP)
b. Ensuring access to healthcare services in all countries, particularly developing countries
Committee Five: Enhancing environmental sustainability
a. Helping states respond to climate change
b. Encouraging sustainable development in all countries
Committee Six: Improving international security
a. Promoting weapons control in all states, especially rogue states
b. Establishing norms for cyber security
Visit the RESOURCES page for background guides concerning your committee of choice.
Country Assignments
Delegations will be assigned one country to extensively research and represent at the Model UN Conference. As a part of the registration form, delegations will be asked to indicate three different countries they prefer to represent. Be sure to indicate three different countries or your registration will be returned. Delegations will recieve country assignments within five days of "complete" registration status.
UN Member-states to consider include:
Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Australia
Brazil
Canada
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Colombia
Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Ecuador
Egypt
Fiji
France
Gambia
Germany
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
India
Israel
Japan
Jordan
Libya
Lithuania
Malaysia
Mexico
New Zealand
Nigeria
Pakistan
Panama
Republic of Korea
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Spain
Sudan
Syrian Arab Republic
Thailand
Turkey
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United States of America
Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)
Registration Fees
Delegate fee:
2015 Conference Location
This year's OHSMUN Conference will be held at Otterbein University.
1 South Grove Street
Westerville, OH 43081
Click the logo to the left to learn more about Otterbein University.
UNA-USA is a program of the United Nation Foundation. Over 100 Chapters make up the United Nations Assocition of the United States of America. More than half of UNA-USA's membership base consists of student members. At the Columbus Chapter of UNA-USA we live and breathe student programs because we know that investing in the leaders of today means providing for a better tomorrow.
Ohio High School Model United Nations is a program of UNA-USA Columbus.