• On the membership of Kosovo 

• On the membership of Somaliland 

Recently, I had my first meeting with the Chair Mentor for the UNMC Committee – Mr. Christie.

Mr. Christie works in the HS Science Department, and joined UNIS in 2019. He has been involved with UNISMUN Mentorship programs for multiple years now, and had many valuable pieces of advice to share, including tips on how to engage committee members, insights into the different responsibilities of MUN Positions, and even several recommendations for good Ice-Breakers.

To begin, I asked him how he sees the role of a Chair. In response, he stated: “Your goal is to act like a role model, but also like the Cattle Prod.” This metaphor really highlighted the significance of achieving a balance between creating an energized committee, and ensuring debate is productive. To me, it reinforced the dual responsibilities of Chairs, reminding me of the role approachability plays in supporting delegates efficiently, while also demonstrating the importance of staying firm in your role to keep a committee on track.

He laid strong emphasis on the significance of energy & engagement in a committee, creating a surprising, but memorable comparison between MUN and acting. He described how MUN is almost “a big theatre”, and how fully leaning into your role, whether that be as delegate, chair, SG, or even Administration, can make the event so much more memorable. By doing so, you not only make it an unforgettable experience for yourself, but you inspire others to act with the same energy and enthusiasm– at the end of the day, this is exactly what MUN is all about.

When discussing tips for MUNers, Mr. Christie mentioned something which really resonated with me: “You aren’t trying to convince people this is who you are, you’re trying to convince people of your country’s stance”. 

This is an incredibly good piece of advice, especially for beginner delegates. It can feel extremely scary to be given the role of representing a controversial state, yet the beauty of MUN, as Mr. Christie said, is the fact that “you are modelling what happens without consequences”. The platform conferences like this give you to deep-dive into a delegation is something extremely special. So experiment, explore, and most of all, engage with eagerness into the debate

Overall, my meeting with Mr. Christie was both encouraging and eye-opening, it allowed me to gain more knowledge on how to manage a group efficiently, build bonds with committee members, and truly embody an MUN role.

Honorable delegates, fellow chairs, and most esteemed guests,

My name is Sunwoo Kim and I’m currently in Year 12 in the British International School, Hanoi. I am incredibly honored to be your Head Chair for the United Nations Membership Council (UNMC) for this conference. I’ve had the opportunity to experience MUN as a delegate before, and this will be my first time chairing. I’m thrilled to be stepping into this role, especially in a committee like UNMC, which evokes lots of thought-provoking questions. I’m really looking forward to meeting all the delegates and also working with my co-chairs to see the creative discussions that will take place in our committee.

This year’s conference theme, “The role of sovereignty in diplomacy towards international responsibility,” is very relevant to what our committee stands for. UNMC asks us to think critically about what makes a state sovereign, and more importantly, what responsibilities come with that status. As you explore this theme through our topics, I encourage you to consider not only the legal qualifications for membership but also the ethical and political aspects of recognition in today’s world.

Our topics, “On the membership of Kosovo” and “On the membership of Somaliland”, raise important questions about the complexity of statehood and international recognition. They challenge us to consider how political and diplomatic factors come together in the decisions surrounding UN membership. Both topics encourage us to reflect on how sovereignty and international responsibility are closely connected.

As your chair, I hope this space becomes more than just a place for debate. I want it to be a committee where everyone feels welcome to speak, challenge ideas, and enjoy the experience. If you ever need help, I’m always happy to chat. I can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!

Thank you!

Sunwoo Kim.

Honorable delegates, fellow chairs, and esteemed guests,

My name is Maite Olivia Senff, and I’m a Sophomore at UNIS Hanoi. I’m both incredibly honored and excited to be chairing in the UNISMUN November Conference  for the United Nations Membership Committee (UNMC). Throughout my time in MUN, I’ve seen conferences unfold from just about every angle – as an admin, as delegate, and now, as chair– and I am looking forward to observing the creativity, passion and diplomacy delegates bring to this year’s agenda topics on: “The Membership of Kosovo” and “The Membership of Somaliland”.

This year’s General Conference Theme “ The role of sovereignty in diplomacy towards international responsibility” connects directly to the fundamental role of the UNMC (United Nations Membership Council): exploring a state’s right to sovereignty, while considering global political factors and adherence to international law. To me, this conference theme asks the question: Where do we draw the line between a State’s sovereign rights, and its role as a member of the international community in maintaining global peace and stability?

Looking at the Agenda topics of the UNMC Committee, both topic #1: “On the membership of Kosovo”, and Topic #2: “On the Membership of Somaliland” will require a thorough understanding of UN Charter, Article 4, which discusses the obligations any State must fulfill for Membership to the UN. These topics examine the impact a State's sovereignty holds on not only domestic affairs, but also global political relations. Therefore, finding that balance between a State’s sovereign rights and its obligation to ensure 

humanitarian justice and maintain global peace will be very important to creating a passing resolution.

I hope that throughout this conference every delegate– whether new or experienced– is encouraged to bring their own unique debating styles to the committee. It's so important to me that every delegate feels welcome, and I will do my best as chair to make sure that everyone feels confident throughout the debate.

Thank you, and I’m looking forward to meeting everyone!

Maite Olivia Senff

Honorable delegates, fellow chairs, and esteemed guests,

My name is Nguyen Tra Vien, and I’m a senior at Singapore International School @ Gamuda Gardens. I’m incredibly honored  to serve as your procedural chair for the United Nations Membership Council at this year’s UNISMUN conference. MUN has helped me grow both as a speaker and as a person. Being a delegate in my past conferences has taught me the importance of listening, understanding different perspectives, and even finding common ground even in disagreement. Now, as a chair, I can’t wait to see the same passion and creativity from all of my delegates during the sessions ahead.

This year’s conference theme, “The role of sovereignty in diplomacy towards international responsibility,” ties perfectly to what we do in UNMC. Our council focuses on the balance between a nation’s sovereignty and its responsibilities to the international community.

This conference, UNMC will dive into two topics: “The Membership of Kosovo” and “The Membership of Somaliland.” Both deal with questions of recognition and legitimacy. These discussions will look into views regarding sovereignty and human rights. I hope delegates approach these debates with open minds and a willingness to understand both sides.

As UNMC’s procedural chair, I want every delegate to feel welcome, confident, and respected throughout the conference. I’ll try, to the best of my abilities, to ensure that delegates are not afraid to speak up, challenge ideas, and enjoy the experience. 

I look forward to meeting all of you and watching the discussions unfold. Let us make this a memorable and meaningful conference!