Consensus beyond Sovereignties
As we celebrate the conclusion of the 12th TIANMUN, the theme ‘Consensus Beyond Sovereignties’ confronts our era’s defining paradox: while conflicts, climate disasters, and technological disruptions grow more interconnected, responses remain trapped in outdated notions of national borders. From rising sea levels to AI governance, these cross-boundary crises demand more than temporary alliances – they require revolutionary frameworks where nations pool sovereignty to implement binding Sustainable Development Goal commitments through shared institutions, equitable resource distribution, and technocratic collaboration. TIANMUN XIII challenges delegates to transform this moment of compound vulnerabilities into an opportunity for systemic change, replacing zero-sum diplomacy with innovative governance models that measure success not by individual advantage but by collective resilience, proving that our interconnected threats can only be solved through equally interconnected solutions.
INTRO TO THE COMMITTEES
General Assembly
The General Assembly (GA) is the largest and most representative organ of the United Nations, interfacing with all its 193 member states, where they are represented. Each year, having scope as the chief body of the United Nations, the GA mournfully deliberates on security matters as well as on the Sustainable Development Goals. The hallmark feature of the GA, differentiating it from specialized committees, is the emphasis placed on reaching common agreement and building coalitions of all nations, regardless of size and strength.
Delegates to the General Assembly will be able to engage in formal debate, drafting working papers and resolutions that reflect various and sometimes opposing views. Through the multidisciplinary scope of the mandate of the GA, the challenge presented to delegates is to put into action diplomacy and public speaking, as well as cooperation on GLOBA level. No matter the fact that the resolutions accepted in the GA are non-binding, they still carry powerful moral attestation and express the consensus opinion of the members of the international society.
Human Rights Council
The Human Rights Council (HRC) is a UN body tasked with promoting and protecting human rights around the world. Comprising 47 member states elected by the General Assembly, the HRC addresses issues such as freedom of expression, discrimination, and humanitarian crises. The Council plays a crucial role in holding nations accountable and responding to global human rights concerns.
Delegates in the Human Rights Council will engage in in-depth debate and negotiation to create comprehensive resolutions that address both immediate violations and long-term structural reforms. The HRC encourages empathy, ethics, and international awareness, challenging delegates to think critically about justice and human dignity. With a focus on collaboration, delegates must balance national interests with universal human rights principles.
Economic and Social Council
The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, established to advance the three pillars of sustainable development—economic progress, social inclusion, and environmental protection. Serving as a central platform for dialogue, policy recommendations, and coordination, ECOSOC plays a critical role in fostering international cooperation on global economic, social, and health challenges.
Comprising 54 member states elected by the UN General Assembly, ECOSOC works closely with UN agencies, civil society, academia, and the private sector to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Through its annual high-level forums, functional commissions, and regional bodies, ECOSOC addresses pressing issues such as poverty reduction, gender equality, and social welfare, ensuring a more equitable and sustainable future for all.
Disarmament Commission
The Disarmament Commission serves as a vital forum within the United Nations system dedicated to advancing global peace and security through arms control, non-proliferation, and disarmament initiatives. Composed of all UN member states, this deliberative body facilitates multilateral dialogue and consensus-building on critical issues such as nuclear disarmament, conventional weapons regulation, and emerging threats posed by new military technologies.
As part of its mandate, the Commission works to strengthen international norms, verify compliance with existing treaties, and propose practical measures to reduce global military tensions. Through open debate and cooperative negotiation, it plays a key role in shaping policies that prevent conflict escalation and promote sustainable peace.
Environment Commission
The Environmental Committee within the United Nations is a vital platform for resolving pressing global environmental challenges. This committee focuses on issues such as biodiversity loss, climate change, sustainable resource management, and pollution control. It encompasses all member states of the United Nations, thus it comprises a diverse forum where every nation’s perspective on environmental stewardship holds significant influence.
Staying in line with the United Nations’ mission, this committee has the task of deliberating over environmental policies, debating creative solutions, and constructing recommendations to promote global environmental sustainability. Resolutions developed here aim to guide international cooperation, though their direct enforceability hangs on the commitment and cooperation of member states. Nevertheless, the committee plays a pivotal role in determining the environmental actions taken by member states.
World Health Assembly
The World Health Assembly is the decision making body of the World Health Organization within the United Nations system. It focuses on global health agendas and goals that significantly impact the wellbeing of people worldwide, discussing critical issues like pandemic preparedness, universal healthcare access for all, disease elimination efforts, and health equity in various regions. Consisting of all 194 member states of the World Health Organization, it serves as a universal platform for important discussion. Here, nations deliberate on health-related policies that have tremendous consequences, ranging from local health systems to health security worldwide.
Operating under the United Nations and WHO framework and structure, the WHA plays a large role in debating crucial health challenges, spreading knowledge of successful health initiatives across various regions, and formulating strategies to improve global health outcomes. It upholds the fundamental principle that health is an indispensable human right, which addresses a wide array of concerns, whether it is improving maternal health in less-developed countries or combatting emerging diseases worldwide. While resolutions produced in the WHA rely on member states’ commitment to effective implementation and enforcement, they set the guiding attitude for international health cooperation, determining how countries collaborate in order to confront and address shared health threats.
Security Council
The Security Council (SC) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, cooperating to ensure international peace and security. As such, the Security Council remains as one of the most prominent and high-stakes committees in Model United Nations, comprising with 5 permanent members and 10 non-permanent members. The 5 permanent members (P5) include the United States of America, the United Kingdom, People’s Republic of China, Russia, and France, where each nation gains a veto power to refuse a clause or resolution. When a veto is raised, the P5 nations gather to discuss and resolve the dispute to move forward, being known as the P5 caucus.
Delegates in the Security Council will engage in dynamic discussions followed by the unique procedures of “unmoderated caucus” and “clause-by-clause debate”. Participating in the Security Council requires notable diplomatic, critical thinking, and problem solving skills, where adaptability and decisiveness are essential. During the last day of the conference, the Security Council will perform a joint session with the Advisory Panel, where delegates of the Security Council will review and vote on the resolution proposed by the Advisory Panel.
Advisory Panel
The Advisory Panel (AP) is a unique committee lying under the Security Council, where delegates focus on a single theme throughout the conference. Unlike other committees, the Advisory Panel consists of both members states and non-governmental organizations, aiming to offer the most feasible solution to the issue. Over the first two days of the conference, delegates cooperate to construct a single resolution known as the action paper, which will then be presented to the Security Council during the joint session performed on the final day.
Delegates in the Advisory Panel will face various crisis followed by its unique procedure of clause-by-clause debate, where each clause will be closely examined and debated to effectively resolve the issue. Unlike the Security Council, the Advisory Panel does not offer the P5 nations with a veto power, allowing active participation and cooperation. Due to its small size of the committee, delegates will have more opportunities to present their opinions and enhance their problem solving skills through diplomatic discourse.
RESEARCH YOUR COUNTRY AND ISSUES
When researching about your country, the main thing to look for is your country’s stance and position on the issues being debated in your forums. You should also know basic information about your country, such as geographical location, main language, main religions, and main ethnic groups. A widely used source to look up information about countries is the CIA World Factbook.
The issues being debated in this conference could be found on the UN website and information on the issues is widely available on the internet. You can also search for your country’s Permanent Missions at the UN webpage. Below is a list of helpful websites to aid your research.
WRITING INSTRUCTION
DRESS CODE
Expect to wear professional business attire for the conference. Coat and Ties for men. Dress slacks or skirts for women.
DAY OF THE CONFERENCE
Note: The rules of procedure for TIANMUN adheres to that of THIMUN (The Hague International Model United Nations). While we are not affiliated with THIMUN, we use their format to run the conference.
Please bring your prepared resolution on a laptop or USB stick. Wifi will be provided to all delegates.
1.Opening Ceremony
The TIANMUN conference will begin with an opening ceremony that will consist of a welcome and a few short speeches. You will also be given directions on where to go for your committees meetings.
2.Opening Speech
Delegates in every committee must deliver an opening speech in their committees. The length of the speech should be 1-2 minutes.
3.Lobbying and Merging
Usually on the first day of the conference, lobbying and merging is a period where delegates get together and merge clauses to form complete resolutions. The main submitter of the resolution should compile the resolution, give it to the chair for proof reading, and go to the approval panel for final proof reading and approval.
4.Debate
After the lobbying and merging, finalized resolutions are able to be debated. The chair would call up the main submitter and ask he or she to read out the operative clause. Then, the floor would be open to any Points of Information (POI). At this point, the chair would select a few delegates to ask the main submitter questions about the resolution. After that, the main submitter could choose to yield to floor to the chair or another delegate. If the floor is yielded to the chair, the chair would pick another delegate wishing to speak. Please keep in mind that while giving speeches or POIs, delegates should speak in third person. This means that “I” or “you” is not allowed.
The chair is in charge of conducting the debates and maintaining order.
Everyone except for the Chair in the committee.
This is the only point that can interrupt the speaker and refers to the comfort and well-being of the House. It is used to voice out personal needs or requests such as “audibility” if the delegate is having a hard time hearing.
A question directed at the Chair by a delegate about rules of procedure or order of debate.
A question directed at the delegate occupying the floor or the chair.
A motion to urge the House to move on to the next agenda.