DELEGATE GUIDE

DELEGATE GUIDE

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Introduction....................................................................................................................2
Position Paper................................................................................................................3
Policy Statement.......................................................................................................... 5
The Conference.........................................................................................................................................7
Committee work...................................................................................................................................... 8
Motions............................................................................................................................ 9
Points.............................................................................................................................. 10
GSL................................................................................................................................... 10
Resolution.......................................................................................................................11
Who what where – roles at MUN conferences................................................. 12
Tips for first-time delegates.................................................................................... 13
What you should take to your first MUN:...........................................................14
Outside of committee sessions - a guide to Wrocław................................... 15
Basic facts............................................................................................................................................ 15
Getting around the city..............................................................................................................................16
Restaurants.........................................................................................................................................16
Sightseeing................................................................................................................... 16

Drafted by:
Amelia Zielińska
Maja Musiałowicz
Wiktoria Sietczyńska
Magdalena Styś
Aleksandra Pindral

Designed by:
Nicole Pawłowski
Bartek Miszkiel

COPYRIGHT © WROCŁAW MODEL UNITED NATIONS

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Introduction

Dearest Delegates,

It is my utmost pleasure to present you with the Delegate Guide. This

document was created by and is a courtesy of the lovely chairs of
WrocMUN 2023, Maja Musiałowicz and Amelia Zielińska, who constructed
it in order to guide you through the journey of being a Model UN delegate.

I know that being a beginner might seem overwhelming but fear no more,
we are here to make WrocMUN 2024 a unique event, and offer you our
help based on our own delegate experience. Whether you are a first-timer
or you’re just looking for advice, I hope that our Delegates Guide will
enable you to get comfortable with your position before joining our
conference, improve your skills and extend your knowledge on being a
participant of Model UN.

The entirety of the Secretariat as well as our exceptional Chairboard and

staff members are committed to making this Conference an unforgettable
experience for all of you. Every member of our team will be happy to guide
you through the conference proceedings and offer assistance whenever
necessary, so should you have any questions or concerns, please do not
hesitate to reach out to us or to the chairs of your committees!

We wish you a pleasant experience during WrocMUN 2024!

All the best,

Vice-President of the General Assembly

Aleksandra Pindral

PS. We also included some helpful information on our magnificent city of

Wrocław!

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Position Paper

This is a type of document (of length of 2–3 pages) to ensure a good start
for you as a delegate. Before the MUN conference starts and specifically
before the committee sessions take place, you are obliged to upload your
Position Paper (PP) onto the MUN platform, to the respective committee.
Your Chairs will establish a deadline to do so. At this stage, the task is to
write a document summing up the policy and stance of your country on
the discussed topic using information acquired during prior research. It is
crucial for you to compile the most important information there, which
potentially could influence the proceedings during the debate – if you
consider something to not be useful, do not put it in. Focus on previous
strategies implemented in the country, their outcome (Were they
successful? If not, state what might have led to the failure), reasons to
consider them in the first place, but also pay attention to suggesting new
ways of tackling the issue and be ready to propose functional models for
the rest of the committee, given that each country has a different
geopolitical situation shaping their capabilities. Speaking of which, refrain
from using an insensitive and exclusive language relative to other country’s
financial and political situations as well as historical background.

You do not need to know absolutely everything about your country – be

selective! Before getting to the research needed, answer questions such as:
What is the core topic of my committee? What should I research in the first
place? Which information might turn out to be useful during the session?
In order to write a PP efficiently, search for both supporting and opposing
arguments directed towards the policy of your country. It will help you to
prepare better for the dynamic discussions, working on the Resolution
paper as well as raising a Point of Information. Be aware that part of your
research will serve you as a ‘fact sheet’- at some point you might be asked
about quite deciding issues, then it is good that you will support your
speech with some factual data (some of which will be used in the PP).

While writing, try to include some of the numerical data along with
justification of what it represents and why it is important in discussing a
given topic. Such data provides other delegates with a dimensional image
of what a policy in your country looks like and serves as a comparison
ground in terms of success criteria. Not including facts and figures might

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be an opportunity for other delegates in the committee to ask you some
more (sometimes uncomfortable) questions. In a well-structured PP, there
should be only USEFUL information that might contribute as a base for the
later course of debates. Think of it as a building block for the negotiations.

The importance of PP is that it is the most direct and relatively quick way
to familiarise yourself with the policies of other countries in your
committee – based on that, you will have to estimate which countries have
similar strategies to yours, and which ones are rather on the opposite side
of the discussion. Remember – no country is your “opponent” or “ally”! It is
all about establishing a dialogue and looking for applicable solutions and
law-founded strategies cooperatively. Prepare yourself that other delegates
will represent a country’s view contrasting to yours, but still the common
goal is to find the most agreeable working model for all of – the nations
economically/ socially/ politically/ ethnically. Beware – discussions are not of
legislative power. The final conclusions from the sessions are not meant to
change the law of any country participating. At the same time, do not be
afraid of defining what are your expectations towards other committee
members.

When you’re done with your Position Paper, it is recommended that you
will read Position Papers of other committee members. While reading
them, denote down possible questions that arise in your mind. Later on,
you could use this opportunity to clarify vague terms or unexplained
matters tackled in the papers of others. It also works reversely – while
compiling bits of research into one, try to think of any POIs you can get
from others, and consequently – come up with possible answers that
would exhaust the issue covered. Especially, if the country you represent is
considered a HIC (high-income country) or is relatively developed
technologically, there is a chance you will have to propose (realistic) ways of
help towards LICs (low-income countries) – know the strengths and
weaknesses of your policy and justify why implementing the suggested
solution would be beneficial. The same goes with LICs – if your country
applies to those criteria, you should contain in the Position Paper clearly
stated requests as to which form of help is needed by the government
(whether it is base-needed more on finances or technical support), in
which field of development. Determine it in a concise way so that the
others have a clear view of what are your aims.

It is a crucial tool to make sure that your committee understands/

considers the discussed topic the same way. Position Paper may also

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contribute as a scaffolding to your Policy Statement – do not be afraid of
repeating some stuff – it actually may highlight important points the
country's policy strives towards. The finished paper should be read by you
several times and be exhaustive enough, so that there are presented major
strategies developed by the country’s government, genesis of obstacles
enabling the development to go further, suggestions of how to implement
any improvements. Your Position Paper will be seen not only by fellow
delegates, but also by the respective Chairs. If needed, they will usually
provide you with a comment on what to improve/ include in the paper
before the session starts.

In other technical terms, refrain from using in Position Paper set phrases
like: honourable Chairboard and distinguished delegates; yield the
floor; wish fruitful debates. This part however should be found in the
Policy Statement referred out loud during the session. Always remember
about putting all the resources used to write the Position Paper into the
bibliography. There is no one type of citation/ making references – you can
use in-text citations, footnotes. However, try not to “overuse” the Internet
resources – it cannot constitute the majority of your work written.

Policy Statement

The starting point of each committee session is a Policy Statement – a

speech that is short (usually lasts for about 90 seconds) and to the point is
delivered by each delegate. It is a summary of your Position Paper which
highlights only the most crucial aspects. At the beginning of your speech,
refer to the Chairboard and fellow delegates by acknowledging words. At
the end, remember to finish your statement with words: the delegate
yields the floor – otherwise, you will be reminded about that procedure a
few times by the Chairs and not abiding by the rules might lead to getting
penalised.

Example:

Chairs: Since the number of Points of Information to the Delegate of

Lithuania has been exhausted, we will now proceed to the next speech.
Delegate of Nauru, you may have the floor.

Delegate of Nauru: *stands up* Honourable Chairs, distinguished

delegates… (content of the Policy Statement) …the delegate is open to
Points of Information and yields the floor back to the Chairs.

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Chairs: Thank you for the floor delegate, are there any points of
information?

Delivering a speech was a tip of an iceberg – the real skill-shaping debates

are about to happen! Other committee members might raise some Points
of Information – brief questions relating to the content of your speech or
your Position Paper (therefore it is advised to have it accessible each
moment). Their default number is 2 – after answering these, you don’t
need to allow for others. However, if you are feeling up to it and you
consider yourself as well-prepared, you might actually want to answer all
the other Points of Information. It is the first chance to establish some
alliances with other countries and set the willingness to cooperate.
Remember that if you do not know the answer to the raised POI, there is a
diplomatic way of getting out of the stagnation – you may promise to
answer questions in the later course of the debate.

On the other hand, if you are the one who raises a POI, after listening to the
replying speech of the answering delegate, it is always in a good manner to
express some words of appreciation (for providing an answer) or to voice
your dissatisfaction with the answer. Beware that one has a right to reply
only if they had raised a motion to do so beforehand. Usually, you will be
prompted by the Chairs.

Example:

Delegate of China: (content of the Policy Statement) … the delegate is

open to points of information. Thank You.

Chairs: Delegate, do you yield the floor?

Delegate of China: Yes, the delegate yields.

Chairs: Thank you for the floor, are there any points of information to the
delegate of the People’s Republic of China?

Delegates: *raise their placards*

Chairs: Delegate of the USA.

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Delegate of USA: Few weeks ago an American research agency found out
that China has murdered several European journalists because of their
articles regarding the Tiannament Square Massacre. Is that your
interpretation of “ensuring media freedom to all citizens”, that you talk
about so proudly? The delegate yields the floor back to the Chairs.

Chairs: Delegate of China, do you wish to answer?

Delegate of China: Yes, the delegate wishes to answer.

Chairs: You may now have the floor.

Delegate of China: The Delegate of China is simply disgusted by the

outrageous and factless allegations of the United States. They are the
perfect example of Western Propaganda, that 15 simply wants to discredit
a democratic country that cares about its citizens, only because of some
political and economical differences. Thank you, the delegate yields. Chairs:
Is there a motion for a follow up?

Delegate of USA: Yes, there is. Chairs: The floor is yours. Delegate of USA:
It’s strange, that a country that is famous for its media censorship dares to
say that the United States of America, a capital of freedom, spreads any
form of propaganda. Hopefully, if China is so much in favour of media
freedom, they will have nothing against international regulations that will
ensure it around the world. The delegate yields the floor.

Chairs: Thank you delegates, you may be seated. Are there any other
points of information?

The Conference

The General Assembly (GA) It is the most powerful policymaking organ of

the UN. The Assembly brings all the delegacies together and is mandatory
in attendance. During the MUN conference, there are a total of 2
Assemblies. At the beginning of each gathering, there is an attendance
check – every country must say if they are present or present and voting.
The first check is actually of little power, because in the first General
Assembly there is no resolution to vote upon. That is why it is usually just a

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formality. The deciding attendance check is at the end of the MUN – where
the voting upon resolutions (whether they pass or fail) proceeds.

If you and/or other delegates who were assigned the same country decide
to be present, there is no obligation to vote upon the matters. Yet, if you
are present and voting – the voice of your country is required to move
forward. Sometimes it may happen that someone from the GA will set the
motion to explain the vote – these are usually the cases with some
countries having controversial decisions and policies. In this case, publicly
justify the choice you have made. Or maybe you consider some other
country’s decision as biased and skewed with the presence of some
backing resources of your assumption? You might also set the motion then
– most importantly, keep it short and ask for specificities!

During the GA, focus on the resolutions prepared by other committees –

independently from your own committee, you and/or other delegates
representing the same country have to vote upon the matter. It is
recommended to make a brief research on what is the actual view of the
country’s government upon the discussed topic. You can prepare some
notes about that (for your own use) and read if your country has ever
expressed publicly the justification of its decision. Then you and your
colleagues have to make a decision together if the reasons behind the
policy of your country are strong enough that it would be permeable to
vote for or against it.

It is very comforting when you and other delegates have been assigned
the delegation of the same country, but it may also happen that you will be
the only representative of the country within the whole MUN conference,
but there’s nothing to worry about! Either way, you will be surrounded by
other helpful delegates representing different countries – you can always
ask them for advice. It may feel as a great responsibility to represent the
whole nation just by yourself, but remember that the goal is to gain
experience and polish your skills, so don’t let stress eat you up. Listen
carefully to what’s been told and learn about the country's strategic moves
from reliable sources.

Committee work

The first committee session

The committee session will most probably start with the ice-breakers

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designed by your Chairs, such as the 2 trues & 1 lie.. You’ll have the chance
to get to know the people you’re going to debate with, and hopefully, you’ll
feel more comfortable while speaking. If there are many first-timers in your
committee, there will also probably be a mock debate with some fun topic.
We recommend you to speak up, since it will make things much easier for
you later. We can assure you that no one will judge you if you do anything
wrong.

The basic course of committee sessions

Committee sessions consist of debates and discussions on the topic in your

committee. You and other delegates exchange ideas, opinions, views on
the topic that later on should be included in the resolution. Remember
that your ideas should be within your assigned country’s policies!

The first committee session after the ice-breakers will be the GSL, which
will be explained later. After the initial GSL, the debates can have two
forms: a Moderated Caucus (colloquially called a mod) and an
Unmoderated Caucus (colloquially called an unmod). The first one is more
formal and has to have a topic (the delegate who motions for a mod is
supposed to state it), you can only speak once you raise your placard and
the chairs permit you to & remember to not use personal pronouns during
a mod! As for the unmod – you can walk around freely, use personal
pronouns and speak whenever you want (this does not mean you should
be disruptive). Mods are usually at the first committee sessions and you
move onto unmods when you want to start working on the working paper
and then the draft resolution.

Motions

Motions are what gets the committee sessions going. Without a delegate
raising specific, required motions, the sessions would not work. The
motions are explained in the ROP and there isn’t much to add to that! As a
first timer, you don’t have to know straight away which motion to raise
when – you’ll definitely get the hang of it with time, don’t worry because
another delegate will most likely raise it. However! If you’re feeling
ambitious and you’re aiming for an award, then it’s good to get acquainted
with the motions prior to the conference and raise them during the
committee sessions – this shows your chairs you know your stuff.

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Points

Points are used for things not regarding the debates per se and are also
explained in the RoP. The most important ones for you as a first timer are
Point of Information (used during the GSL) and Point of Personal
Privilege (used whenever you have an issue regarding your person, for
example you have to go to the bathroom or you’re not feeling too well). The
other points you don’t use as often but make sure to read about them in
the RoP.

GSL

The General Speakers’ List is the most formal type of debates conducted
during committee sessions, and it is the thing which the sessions start off
with. During the first General Speakers’ List, you’re supposed to present
your policy statement (explained previously). The policy statement is very
important because it’s the first impression others get of you – be confident,
speak clearly and make sure what you’re saying makes sense. After you’ve
read the policy statement, you have to say “The delegate yields the floor
back to the chairboard” and state whether you’re open or closed to points
of information. If you state that you’re closed, other delegates may raise an
appropriate motion in order to open you (the delegate) to points of
information. Then it’s up to the Chairs to decide whether it will pass,
considering your experience and importance of your country. This means
that if the motion passes, others may ask you questions regarding either
your position paper or policy statement. Be prepared for that – go through
your position paper and see what you would ask yourself if you were one of
the other delegates. This also means you can or even should prepare POI’s
for other delegates – especially if you’re aiming for an award. In this case, it
is very good to be active during the GSL, but you have to find a fine line
between being active and tryharding. Don’t do too much because asking
irrelevant questions just to ask a POI puts you in a bad light. Remember –
quality over quantity!

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Resolution

According to the UN, resolutions

are formal expressions of the
opinion or will of United
Nations organs. This means the
resolution is the thing which the
debates are supposed to lead to.
Everything you discuss, conclude
with other delegates, solutions
you come up with and agree on
should be in the resolution. So it’s
a good idea to write down what’s
being discussed somewhere
because then you can come back
to it. It’s important that anything
you want to include in the
resolution should be discussed
during the debates – don’t come
up with new ideas when writing
the resolution because at that
point there’s not enough time to discuss them.

Every solution should be written in a formal way and begin with an

operative clause. You can go to the official UN website and see what the
resolutions look like, to get an idea of what you’ll be writing. You don’t have
to know how to write it because your chairs or other more experienced
delegates will definitely help you with it. When writing the resolution with
other delegates, you can either just listen or try and contribute – it’s all up
to you, but taking part in writing it can be really fun. And of course
participating in the writing process increases your chances of getting an
award.

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Who what where – roles at MUN conferences

Your chairs are the ones moderating the

debates in your committee, but they’re
also there to help you if you need
anything or simply don’t know
something. Don’t be afraid to ask them
questions – that’s what they’re there for.

If you want to contact another delegate,

you can send a page note by raising
your hand – a page is supposed to come
over to you and transfer the note to the
appropriate person. However, remember
not to send unnecessary page notes
(especially when other delegates are
speaking, for example during the GSL)
because it can cause disruption in the
committee.

During the breaks, in the cloakroom, etc., pages are always there to lend
you a helping hand. They ensure that the rooms are ready for delegates,
coffee breaks are going well and most logistical aspects of the conference
are covered.

Pages are lead and organized by Queens of Pages, who make sure that
every page knows what they're doing and that every single one of them is
working smoothly. If you have any questions or issues regarding the work
of the pages, feel free to talk to them during the conference – you'll
recognize them by their IDs!

To be fair, if you don’t know something, you can just ask other delegates.
Usually everyone is nice and friendly, so there will definitely be someone
who can help you out.

The Secretariat is also there if you need something or for example have a
problem regarding your chairs.

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Tips for first-time delegates

● Don’t be afraid to ask questions. The chairs are there to help you and
guide you throughout the conference. They'll be more than happy to
answer all of your questions regarding the Rules of Procedure or the
conference itself. Don’t hesitate to contact them through messenger.
Their MUN experience is at your disposal, and they all remember all too
well how confusing it was to be a first-timer, so they’ll love to share some
tips or words of advice.

● Remember about the Point of Parliamentary Inquiry. If you happen to

have a question during the committee sessions or completely don’t know
what’s going on, you can raise a Point of Parliamentary Inquiry. You can do
it by raising

● Read the Rules of Procedure! When you open the document, you may
be discouraged with the amount of pages, but it is very important to read
it. It contains information on all the motions, points, etc. and just how the
conference looks, so please read it thoroughly.

● Try not to stress too much. You might be scared as this might be a
completely new experience for you, but to be fair, it’s not as frightening as
it seems! The moment the conference starts, you’ll see everything will be
alright. Noone, including your chairs, expects you to know everything. You’ll
learn as you go. Noone will force you to speak up if you don’t feel
comfortable enough. It's completely okay to just observe, listen, and learn
during the committee sessions. However, once you find the courage to
speak up, you realise that it was a lot less stressful than you thought it
would be.

● It is very important to know what you’re talking about during the

committee sessions. Get to know your country – the basics, i.e. the
government, what their stance is on the specific topic. Not knowing
anything will probably not turn out well for you as someone will most likely
notice that you’re improvising. It will also be stressful for you because you
won’t know what to say.

● Preparation is crucial. This doesn’t mean you should start doing your
research a month before the conference, but for your first time, one week
prior to the conference should be more than enough. Read articles, watch
videos, go through many websites – everything you read will help you write

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your position paper, policy statement and will definitely help you during
the debates. The better prepared you are, the more likely you are to receive
an award.

● As mentioned before, a good thing to do before the conference is to go

through the other delegates' position papers – this will allow you to be
more active during the debates and during the GSL – you can ask POI’s.

● REMEMBER to not go too over the top – this is supposed to be a fun

experience which doesn’t take up all of your time for a week. It’s okay not
to know everything because that is simply impossible. So remember to set
some limits for yourself with your preparations, but this does not mean to
come unprepared – find a fine line.

● To make the conference a more pleasant experience, try talking with

others, make some new friends. People from all over the world come to
MUNs, so this is a great opportunity to meet new people. This is the best
part of MUNs and can also help you break the ice and feel more
comfortable. You can do that by talking to delegates from your committee
or simply come up to people during the coffee breaks and ask where they
are from and what committee they are in. A lot of people make friends for
life during MUNs, especially because you’ll most likely meet at other
conferences.

What you should take to your first MUN:

● As cliché as it sounds, bring a good attitude with you. Being positive

about the conference and looking forward to it will make the whole
experience worthwhile.

● When it comes to the basics, you should prepare appropriate clothing,

fitting for the dress code. This simply means clothes like: a nice shirt, smart
pants or a skirt, a jacket, maybe a suit if you’re feeling fancy. Just
remember to dress smart because you don’t want to look out of place.
Dressing nicely also helps you really get into the UN mindset.

● Bring something to write on – people most often bring their laptops or

iPads because they’re the easiest to type on. It is also very helpful with
research during the committees, for example when you want to open
someone else's position paper or check something last minute. You can

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always just have a notebook but have something to write on!

● Don’t forget about the chargers because the committee sessions are
long and you’ll probably need them seeing as you’re going to use your
devices for a couple of hours straight.

● Definitely bring something to drink with you or maybe even a snack

because committee sessions can be really draining and you might need an
energy boost.

Outside of committee sessions - a guide to Wrocław

Wrocław Old Town Hall, source: https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/kraj/wroclaw-najwazniejsze-informacje-i-ciekawostki/wnpknb6

Basic facts
The capital city of the Lower Silesian voivodeship in Poland. Nominated as
a 2016 European Capital of Culture, Wrocław brings entrepreneurships,
artistics events and is regarded by many as a technological hub. Our city
combines both civic initiatives with some urban planning projects –
Wrocław is among 10 of the greenest cities in Poland, sticking out by
individual electric transport, local community or public health. Wrocław
nowadays combines what’s left from the history of the city with the fresh
view upon the future.

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Getting around the city
In Wrocław, it’s best to use the app “Jakdojade” to move around, because it
shows you whether the bus/tram is delayed or not. To get to the venue, you
can take trams 9 and 15 or buses 124, 133, 134 and 143. Remember that if
you’re a high school student and have a valid Polish student ID card, you
can use public transport in Wrocław for free!

Restaurants

The venue is located on Kamienna 43/45 street, thus it is easy to use

public transport or go by foot to the nearby gastronomic places. Some
of our recommendations include:

● Restaurants in Wroclavia (a shopping mall): Sucha 1 Street

○ How to get there: 10-15 minutes by trams 9/15

● Restaurants in Sky Tower ex. Road American Restaurant,

Sky Marche: Powstańców Śląskich 95 Street
○ How to get there: 10-15 minutes by foot

● Pełna Para restaurant: Powstańców Śląskich 7a/ Globis Street

○ How to get there: 15 minutes by foot; 10-13 minutes by buses 255/ 259

● Napa Restaurant: Nasypowa 1 Street

○ How to get there: 20-25 minutes by buses 243/ 249; 20 minutes by
buses 247 /248/ 257

● MEET & EAT: Swobodna 1 Street 11 WrocMUN 2023

○ How to get there: 15 minutes by buses 255/ 259

Sightseeing

The Centennial Hall

Counting about 110 years, Centennial Hall was listed as a UNESCO World
Heritage Site in 2006. Currently, the Hall is used to organise cultural
events, concerts, exhibitions, lectures and book premieres. Its
breathtaking rib vault ceiling is a good reason to visit this place
surrounded by the Japanese Garden, Park Szczytnicki, Pawilon Czterech
Kopuł (a museum). The Town Hall Embellished by picturesque and

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 colourful tenement buildings, the Town Hall was and still is an
important administrative building in Wrocław. Nowadays, visitors can go
there to a museum to learn about the historical bourgeois of the city.
There is also an accumulation of famous Wroclawian dwarfs – mini
statues being an emblem of the city. One can’t forget about visiting the
Old Town and Cathedral Island too.

The Centennial Hall, source: https://www.kopalnia.pl/kopalnia-wiedzy/hala-stulecia-wroclaw-czyli-zabytki-na-liscie-unesco-m2ql

The National Museum

Beautiful exhibitions about Lower Silesia art, historical changes of the

region, Polish positivism paintings and European art are just a few
things you can see at the National Museum. Go there in your free time
to learn some fascinating facts about the region and city of Wrocław-
the history of its origins may be surprising. There is an option of taking
English guided tours to some of the exhibitions.

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 The National Museum, source: https://miejscawewroclawiu.pl/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/muzeum-miejsca-we-wroc%C5%82awiu-1024x680.jpg

The Oder River & boulevards

Over the course of the last years, the green infrastructure has expanded in
Wrocław enormously, including the boulevards. From there, you can spot
the oldest part of Wrocław and famous isles on which the city was
predominantly founded. These days, the islands are transferred into
meeting hubs and business incubators. It’s definitely worth it to see it all.

The Oder River & Boulevards, source:https://bi.im-g.pl/im/b4/e8/18/z26117044IEG,Bulwary-Wroclawia.jpg

COPYRIGHT © WROCŁAW MODEL UNITED NATIONS

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