Model UN Committees: every body and format
Updated Oct 25, 2026
Most upcoming conferences
UN Security Council (UNSC)292 upcoming conferences, 165 accepting applications now, Armed conflicts 24% UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC)219 upcoming conferences, 134 accepting applications now, Human rights 48% Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) and UN Women139 upcoming conferences, 82 accepting applications now, Women and children 82%
UN General Assembly committees (DISEC, ECOFIN, SOCHUM, SPECPOL, Legal)
5 committees
DISEC (GA First Committee)Every UN member state, one vote each and no veto, on disarmament and international security.Arms control and disarmament SOCHUM (GA Third Committee)Human rights, refugees, children and racism, debated by all 193 states rather than the Human Rights Council's 47.Human rights SPECPOL (GA Fourth Committee)Decolonization of the 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories, plus peacekeeping, UNRWA and outer space.Decolonization and self-determination ECOFIN (GA Second Committee)Development finance, debt, trade and food security, where developing countries bargain as the G77 and China.Economy and development Legal Committee (GA Sixth Committee)International law, from the International Law Commission's drafts to terrorism and crimes against humanity.International law and justice
Main UN organs
4 committees
UN Security Council (UNSC)Fifteen members, five with a veto, and decisions on peace and security that bind every UN member.Armed conflicts UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)Coordinates the UN's economic, social and environmental work; 54 members elected for three-year terms.Economy and development UN General Assembly (UNGA)All 193 UN member states, one vote each; it can discuss any question under the Charter and recommend action.Economy and development International Court of Justice (ICJ)The UN's court: 15 judges in The Hague who settle disputes between states and give advisory opinions.International law and justice
Other UN bodies and agencies
11 committees
UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC)47 elected states that review every UN member's rights record and can open inquiries, but only recommend.Human rights Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) and UN WomenThe UN's main body for gender equality: 45 member states and one two-week session in New York each year.Women and children World Health Organization (WHO)The UN's health agency since 1948, steered by a World Health Assembly where every member state votes.Health and pandemics UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)The UN office against drugs, organized crime, corruption and terrorism, based in Vienna since 1997.Crime and drugs UN Environment Programme (UNEP)The UN's leading environmental authority, founded in 1972 and based in Nairobi.Climate and environment UNESCOThe UN organization for education, science and culture, founded in 1945 and based in Paris.Education and culture UNICEFThe UN agency for children, created in 1946, working in more than 190 countries and territories.Women and children UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)The UN Refugee Agency, created in 1950; its work rests on the 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol.Refugees and migration Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ)The UN's main policymaking body on crime prevention and criminal justice: 40 states elected by ECOSOC.Crime and drugs UN Development Programme (UNDP)The UN's lead development agency, working in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality.Economy and development Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD)An ECOSOC commission of 43 member states on science, technology and development, meeting yearly in Geneva.Cyber and AI
Regional and other organizations
7 committees
NATOAn alliance of 32 countries that decides by consensus and treats an armed attack on one as an attack on all.Cyber and AI International Criminal Court (ICC)The permanent court that tries individuals for genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and aggression.International law and justice INTERPOLThe police organization of 196 member countries, which shares data on crimes and criminals from Lyon.Crime and drugs Arab LeagueThe League of Arab States: 22 members, one vote each in its Council, founded in Cairo in 1945.Armed conflicts World Trade Organization (WTO)The organization for the rules of trade between more than 160 members, 98% of world trade; it is not a UN agency.Economy and development European CouncilThe leaders of the 27 EU member states, who set the EU's political direction and priorities but pass no laws.Refugees and migration African Union (AU)The union of 55 African member states, launched in Durban in 2002 as successor to the Organisation of African Unity.Terrorism and extremism
National bodies
2 committees
All India Political Parties Meet (AIPPM)A Model UN committee where delegates play named Indian politicians and debate national policy across party lines.Democracy and governance Lok SabhaThe lower house of India's Parliament, directly elected from 543 constituencies, where money bills must start.Democracy and governance
Crisis, historical and other formats
6 formats
Crisis CommitteesA scenario that keeps changing: you answer crisis updates with directives and private crisis notes.Armed conflicts Historical CommitteesRecreates a body on one past day, the freeze date, using only what people knew by then.Armed conflicts Courts and Mock TrialsTries a case before a bench of judges, with counsel for each side, often as the ICJ or the ICC.International law and justice Press CorpsJournalists for named outlets who cover the other committees and publish articles during the conference. Futuristic CommitteesSet at a future date, often as a Security Council facing events that have not happened yet.Future and science fiction Fictional CommitteesSet in an invented world from a book, film or myth, where delegates play its characters.Fiction and fantasy
Compare committees
| UN Security Council (UNSC) | 292 | 165 | 15 delegations | Armed conflicts 24% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) | 219 | 134 | 22 delegations | Human rights 48% |
| Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) and UN Women | 139 | 82 | 20 delegations | Women and children 82% |
| DISEC (GA First Committee) | 136 | 73 | 24 delegations | Arms control and disarmament 27% |
| UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) | 126 | 72 | 21 delegations | Economy and development 53% |
| World Health Organization (WHO) | 119 | 74 | 20 delegations | Health and pandemics 73% |
| Crisis Committees | 114 | 69 | 15 seats | Armed conflicts 22% |
| Historical Committees | 100 | 55 | 17 seats | Armed conflicts 28% |
| UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) | 86 | 55 | 20 delegations | Crime and drugs 72% |
| UN Environment Programme (UNEP) | 77 | 49 | 20 delegations | Climate and environment 68% |
| Courts and Mock Trials | 72 | 38 | 12 seats | International law and justice 62% |
| UN General Assembly (UNGA) | 63 | 33 | 28 delegations | Economy and development 13% |
| UNESCO | 63 | 43 | 23 delegations | Education and culture 50% |
| Press Corps | 56 | 24 | 9 seats | No theme stands out |
| SOCHUM (GA Third Committee) | 54 | 28 | 30 delegations | Human rights 28% |
| UNICEF | 53 | 32 | 22 delegations | Women and children 84% |
| UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) | 46 | 27 | 25 delegations | Refugees and migration 91% |
| SPECPOL (GA Fourth Committee) | 42 | 17 | 26 delegations | Decolonization and self-determination 18% |
| International Court of Justice (ICJ) | 41 | 19 | 13 seats | International law and justice 66% |
| NATO | 33 | 19 | 23 delegations | Cyber and AI 12% |
| Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) | 28 | 17 | Too few simulations to say | Crime and drugs 56% |
| All India Political Parties Meet (AIPPM) | 27 | 9 | Too few simulations to say | Democracy and governance 21% |
| ECOFIN (GA Second Committee) | 27 | 9 | 26 delegations | Economy and development 63% |
| International Criminal Court (ICC) | 21 | 10 | 12 seats | International law and justice 65% |
| UN Development Programme (UNDP) | 19 | 11 | Too few simulations to say | Economy and development 34% |
| INTERPOL | 18 | 10 | Too few simulations to say | Crime and drugs 52% |
| Legal Committee (GA Sixth Committee) | 18 | 8 | Too few simulations to say | International law and justice 21% |
| Arab League | 17 | 7 | 20 delegations | Armed conflicts 18% |
| Futuristic Committees | 17 | 13 | 17 seats | Future and science fiction 35% |
| World Trade Organization (WTO) | 16 | 11 | 20 delegations | Economy and development 69% |
| European Council | 15 | 10 | 21 delegations | Refugees and migration 13% |
| Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) | 14 | 8 | 20 delegations | Cyber and AI 51% |
| Fictional Committees | 14 | 4 | Too few simulations to say | Fiction and fantasy 32% |
| African Union (AU) | 9 | 6 | Too few simulations to say | Terrorism and extremism 10% |
| Lok Sabha | 9 | 3 | Too few simulations to say | Democracy and governance 16% |
- UN Security Council (UNSC) 292 upcoming,
- UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) 219 upcoming,
- Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) and UN Women 139 upcoming,
- DISEC (GA First Committee) 136 upcoming,
- UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) 126 upcoming,
- World Health Organization (WHO) 119 upcoming,
- Crisis Committees 114 upcoming,
- Historical Committees 100 upcoming,
- UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) 86 upcoming,
- UN Environment Programme (UNEP) 77 upcoming,
- Courts and Mock Trials 72 upcoming,
- UN General Assembly (UNGA) 63 upcoming,
- UNESCO 63 upcoming,
- Press Corps 56 upcoming,
- SOCHUM (GA Third Committee) 54 upcoming,
- UNICEF 53 upcoming,
- UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) 46 upcoming,
- SPECPOL (GA Fourth Committee) 42 upcoming,
- International Court of Justice (ICJ) 41 upcoming,
- NATO 33 upcoming,
- Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) 28 upcoming,
- All India Political Parties Meet (AIPPM) 27 upcoming,
- ECOFIN (GA Second Committee) 27 upcoming,
- International Criminal Court (ICC) 21 upcoming,
- UN Development Programme (UNDP) 19 upcoming,
- INTERPOL 18 upcoming,
- Legal Committee (GA Sixth Committee) 18 upcoming,
- Arab League 17 upcoming,
- Futuristic Committees 17 upcoming,
- World Trade Organization (WTO) 16 upcoming,
- European Council 15 upcoming,
- Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) 14 upcoming,
- Fictional Committees 14 upcoming,
- African Union (AU) 9 upcoming,
- Lok Sabha 9 upcoming,