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General Assembly
 
The General Assembly is one of the principal organs of the United Nations system where all of the members of the United Nations are equal and represented. The best part is the fact that it allows every member state to partake in finding the best solutions to world problems. The General Assembly consists of six committees that debate different aspects of world problems and concerns. In MUN conferences these committees gather on the last day of the conference to debate the resolutions that have passed in the committees. In JMUN, the six committees of the General Assembly are:
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1st Committee: Disarmament
2nd Committee: Economics
3rd Committee: Environmental
4th Committee: Humanitarian
5th Committee: Political
6th Committee: Legal


In JMUN, the best clauses of the passed resolutions will be selected by the delegates in the respective committees and sent to the General Assembly Plenary Session. These clauses form one big resolution related to the theme of the conference which will be debated and voted at the plenary session.

 
Special Assembly

The Special Assembly is one of the principal organs at most MUN conferences and just like the General Assembly all of the members of the United Nations are equal and represented. The Special Assembly debates issues directly connected to the theme of the conference. At JMUN, it consists of six committees that debate different aspects of world problems directly related to the theme. In JMUN, these committees gather at the last day of the conference to debate the passed resolutions. The six committees of the Special Assembly are:

1st Committee: Drugs and Crime
2nd Committee: Education
3rd Committee: Health
4th Committee: Sustainability
5th Committee: Urbanization
6th Committee: Gender Affairs

As, in the case in the General Assembly, in JMUN, the best clauses of the passed resolutions will be selected by the delegates in the respective committees of the Special Assembly and sent to the Special Assembly Plenary Session. These clauses form one big resolution on the theme, which will be debated and voted at the plenary session.

United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (UNDPPA)

As a central department of the United Nations Secretariat, the United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (UNDPPA) is responsible for supporting international efforts to prevent conflicts, facilitate peaceful resolutions, and promote sustainable peace and political stability. Established in its current form in 2019, the UNDPPA plays a significant role in conflict prevention, preventive diplomacy, mediation, and post-conflict peacebuilding. Working closely with the Security Council, General Assembly, and other United Nations bodies, the department seeks to address the underlying causes of political instability, encourage dialogue between conflicting parties, and strengthen national institutions to prevent the recurrence of armed conflict.

During the course of the conference, UNDPPA participants act as diplomatic representatives and policymakers tasked with examining political crises, evaluating threats to regional stability, and developing strategies for conflict prevention and resolution. Delegates engage in negotiations, diplomatic discussions, and collaborative decision-making to address ongoing conflicts and emerging security challenges. Through the examination of political developments, historical grievances, and international diplomatic efforts, participants formulate recommendations aimed at facilitating peace negotiations, strengthening political institutions, and supporting peaceful transitions in conflict-affected states. Particular emphasis is placed on preventive diplomacy, mediation, and the protection of political stability in regions experiencing prolonged instability, including the Middle East.

Unlike the Security Council, the UNDPPA does not possess the authority to impose binding sanctions, authorize military interventions, or adopt legally binding resolutions. Instead, it operates primarily through diplomatic engagement, political analysis, mediation support, and coordination with relevant United Nations organs and regional organizations. Its activities are guided by the principles of the United Nations Charter, particularly the peaceful settlement of disputes, respect for state sovereignty, and the maintenance of international peace and security. Through its initiatives, the UNDPPA seeks to strengthen multilateral cooperation, prevent the escalation of political disputes, and establish the foundations for lasting peace and stability.

Security Council

The Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations system and has the highest authority in the United Nations as well as MUN. It is responsible for maintaining international peace and security. The council debates complicated, challenging and controversial issues and has the authority to establish peacekeeping operations, authorize international sanctions and military action. It consists of 15 members of which 5 are permanent members (P5) who can strike out any clause or resolution without question or use their veto power. P5 countries are:
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French Republic
People’s Republic of China
Russian Federation
United Kingdom
United States of America
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The other 10 members of the Security Council are elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms.
When the Security Council is debating a topic directly concerning a member country that is not represented in the Security Council, they may call in the ambassador of such country as a guest to provide insight and enrich the debate. The ambassador only serves as an observer and has no voting rights. They can participate in the debate and present their view to the Security Council.

Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) serves as one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, overseeing international cooperation on economic, social, and environmental matters. Established in 1945 under the United Nations Charter, ECOSOC provides a central platform for addressing global development challenges, promoting sustainable economic growth, and advancing social progress. The Council plays an essential role in coordinating the work of specialized United Nations agencies, functional commissions, and other international bodies, while encouraging cooperation between governments, civil society organizations, and development institutions. Its responsibilities extend to tackling poverty, economic inequality, unemployment, and barriers to sustainable development, particularly in regions affected by political instability, humanitarian emergencies, and prolonged armed conflict.

Throughout the conference, ECOSOC delegates represent their respective member states in discussions concerning the economic and social challenges facing the international community. Participants are expected to examine the structural causes of economic instability, assess the consequences of regional conflicts on development, and propose practical measures to strengthen economic resilience and social inclusion. With particular attention to the Middle East, delegates explore issues such as post-conflict economic reconstruction, youth unemployment, unequal access to economic opportunities, and the integration of vulnerable populations into national economies. By engaging in multilateral negotiations, evaluating development strategies, and drafting resolutions, participants work towards establishing cooperative frameworks that encourage economic recovery, improve living standards, and support long-term sustainable development.

Although ECOSOC holds an important position within the United Nations system, its authority differs considerably from that of the Security Council. The Council primarily adopts recommendations, conducts policy reviews, facilitates international coordination, and promotes dialogue rather than imposing legally binding obligations upon member states. Operating under Chapters IX and X of the United Nations Charter, ECOSOC works closely with international financial institutions, specialized agencies, and regional organizations to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through its commitment to international cooperation and inclusive development, the Council aims to address the socioeconomic foundations of instability, reduce disparities between and within nations, and contribute to a more equitable and sustainable international order. Make this ECOSOC overview more conciseClarify the Middle East conference focus

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

As one of the world's most prominent political and military alliances, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is responsible for safeguarding the freedom and security of its member states through political cooperation, collective defence, and coordinated security initiatives. Established in 1949 under the North Atlantic Treaty, NATO operates on the principle of collective defence, enshrined in Article 5, which recognizes an armed attack against one member as an attack against all. Beyond its commitment to collective security, NATO plays a significant role in crisis management, conflict prevention, counterterrorism, and international security cooperation. Through diplomatic engagement and military coordination, the Alliance seeks to address emerging security threats, strengthen regional stability, and maintain peace across the Euro-Atlantic area and beyond.

During the course of the conference, NATO participants act as representatives of member states tasked with examining international security challenges, assessing military and geopolitical threats, and developing collective strategies to safeguard regional and international stability. Delegates engage in diplomatic negotiations, strategic discussions, and collaborative decision-making to address matters concerning collective defence, military cooperation, and crisis management. Through the examination of regional conflicts, security intelligence, and international developments, participants formulate coordinated responses to emerging threats, including terrorism, maritime insecurity, cross-border hostilities, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Particular emphasis is placed on NATO's strategic interests in the Middle East, where regional instability, armed conflicts, and evolving security challenges have significant implications for the security of Allied nations.

Unlike the United Nations Security Council, NATO is not an organ of the United Nations and does not possess universal authority to maintain international peace and security. Instead, it operates as an intergovernmental military and political alliance whose decisions are made by consensus among its member states. Its activities are governed by the North Atlantic Treaty and must be conducted consistently with the principles of the United Nations Charter, including international law governing the use of force and respect for state sovereignty. While NATO possesses the capacity to undertake military operations and coordinated defence measures, such actions remain subject to its established decision-making procedures and applicable international legal obligations. Through its initiatives, NATO seeks to strengthen collective security, enhance cooperation among Allied nations, and contribute to long-term regional and international stability.

Human Rights Council

The Human Rights Commission is a United Nations bounded committee. It is in compliance with the International Covenant on Civil Political Rights and is responsible for overseeing the implementation of a particular treaty. It is assisted by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights(UNHCHR). It is the UN's principal mechanism and international forum concerned with the promotion and protection of human rights.


Advisory Panel

The Advisory Panel is an organ that focuses on one regional question during the entire conference. At the end of the conference, they present their resolution to the General Assembly to be debated and voted on. The General Assembly will elect to accept (in part or fully) the plan of action proposed by the Advisory Panel at its plenary session. It has both countries and organizations that are relevant to the issue at hand. Advisory Panel experts debate clause by clause, just like the Security Council and instead of lobbying for resolutions, they create one together. No one has veto power in the Advisory Panel. This panel is designed for experienced MUN students from participating schools.


Historical Joint Crisis Committees

The Historical committee is a unique and challenging committee that is designed solely for experienced high school students. The Historical committee entertains one topic throughout the entire conference and delegates represent historical individuals relevant to the topic at hand as opposed to countries or Non Governmental Organizations. Similarly to the Security Council and the Advisory Panel, clauses are debated and voted on one by one. Much like any other committee, open debate is the norm and rules of procedure of Model United Nations are adhered to throughout debate sessions.

This year, we have expanded our Historical Committee into two joint crisis committees, which will be working in coordination with each other.

 
International Court of Justice

As the principal court, it’s the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) deals with legal conflicts between two states. The ICJ may judge disputes concerning international peace and security, even though these disputes may be the same as those heard in the Security Council and the General Assembly. The role of the ICJ is to deal with the legal aspects of such disputes.

During the course of the conference, the ICJ participants (judges, registrar, president) try to understand and resolve the conflict between the states after examining the evidence presented by the advocates for each state. They can call upon other United Nations organs for advisory opinion to better understand the case. Moreover, the Security Council and the General Assembly may ask the court to give an opinion on any legal question. The court follows the International Court of Justice Statue and the Rules of Court, which explain the ICJ procedure.

The ICJ is a civil, not a criminal court, and it concentrates on disputes between states. It has no authority over individual criminals. Therefore, it cannot try people such as war criminals. This is the task of special criminal tribunals established by the United Nations.

International Criminal Court

As a permanent international judicial institution, the International Criminal Court (ICC) is responsible for investigating and prosecuting individuals accused of committing the most serious crimes of concern to the international community. Established under the Rome Statute in 2002, the ICC exercises jurisdiction over four principal categories of international crimes: genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. Unlike the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which resolves legal disputes between states, the ICC focuses on individual criminal responsibility, ensuring that individuals, including political and military leaders, may be held accountable for violations of international criminal law.

During the course of the conference, ICC participants, including judges, the prosecution, defence counsel, and the registrar, examine allegations of international crimes through judicial proceedings. The prosecution is responsible for presenting evidence to establish the accused's criminal responsibility beyond a reasonable doubt, while the defence challenges the allegations and safeguards the rights of the accused. Judges evaluate the evidence, hear witness testimonies, consider legal arguments, and ultimately determine whether the accused is guilty or not guilty under the applicable provisions of international criminal law. Throughout the proceedings, participants follow the Rome Statute and the Rules of Procedure and Evidence, which establish the legal framework governing the Court's jurisdiction, admissibility, and judicial processes.

The ICC is a criminal court rather than a civil court and does not adjudicate disputes between states. Its jurisdiction is complementary to national criminal jurisdictions, meaning that it generally intervenes only when states are unwilling or genuinely unable to investigate or prosecute crimes falling within its jurisdiction. Furthermore, the ICC does not possess universal jurisdiction over all international crimes, as its authority is subject to the jurisdictional requirements established under the Rome Statute. Through its proceedings, the Court seeks to combat impunity, uphold international criminal justice, and ensure accountability for the gravest violations of international law.

Historical Security Council

The Historical Security Council is a unique committee that merges the Security Council (SC) and the Historical Committee. 

HSC entertains a historical time period in which the delegates debate upon complicated and challenging international conflicts that threaten global peace. Delegates can propose peacekeeping operations, military action, sanctions and more. A quality that is not present in the SC but is present in the HSC is that the committee is furthered by crises, similar to the Historical Committee. After crises, delegates will receive newspapers that explain the consequences of their decisions. 


HSC follows the procedure of the SC, and consists of 15 members. 5 of those members are the permanent members (P5) who have the right to veto or strike out clauses or resolutions without further explanation. The P5 countries remain the same and consist of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, People's Republic of China, and Russian Federation (or USSR depending on the time period). The other 10 members are selected by the General Assembly for two year terms. In the HSC, the other 10 members may not exactly be completely accurate as the committee deals with events happening throughout a decade. 

The committee follows the procedure of the SC going clause-by-clause to form a whole resolution. If a topic that concerns a member not currently in the Security Council is discussed, the Council may call an ambassador of that state as a guest to answer questions and provide insight. The ambassador cannot vote and is merely an observer.