UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in Model UN

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, was created by the General Assembly in 1950, is based in Geneva and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1954 and 1981. Its work rests on the 1951 Refugee Convention, which defines who is a refugee. In Model UN delegates represent states, as member states do on the real Executive Committee that approves UNHCR's programmes and budget.

Updated Oct 25, 2026

  • 4 countries: on 90 to 94% of seat lists
  • 21 more seats in a typical simulation of 25

Upcoming UNHCR conferences

46 conferences

Browse all Model UN conferences

UNHCR topics in Model UN

Of 712 UNHCR topics on mymun, 91% are about refugees and migration, 18% about economy and development and 15% about climate and environment. Rising this season: women and children (25% of topics this season, up from 12%).

ThemeShare of topics
  1. Refugees and migration 91%

    Example: Addressing Internal Displacement, Quarter MUN II

  2. Economy and development 18%

    Example: Refugee Access to Jobs and Financial Services, Quarter MUN II

  3. Climate and environment 15%

    Example: Establishing Legal Protections for Climate and Disaster-Displaced Refugees, European Model United Nations

  4. Women and children Rising13%

    Example: Protecting Refugee Children, Quarter MUN II

  5. Human rights 4%

    Example: Protecting refugees from discrimination in host countries, Voices of Tomorrow Model United Nations

  6. Armed conflicts 3%

    Example: Improving humanitarian access and protection for refugees affected by armed conflicts, BrusselsMUN Junior

  7. Health and pandemics 3%

    Example: Rising numbers of displaced persons/refugees in light of climate change & COVID-19, North American Model United Nations

  8. Humanitarian crises 3%

    Example: Addressing Humanitarian Concerns in European Refugee Detention Centers, Copenhagen Business School Model United Nations

From 712 UNHCR topics on mymun. A topic can touch several themes.

Places named in UNHCR topics

  1. Sudan 2%
  2. Syria 2%
  3. Ukraine 2%

Share of 712 UNHCR topics on mymun that name the place.

Recent UNHCR topics

  1. Addressing Internal Displacement

    Quarter MUN II
    Refugees and migration

  2. The Integration of Refugees into Host Communities

    NEXUS MODEL UNITED NATIONS
    Refugees and migration

  3. Ensuring emergency response and protection of displaced populations in active conflict zones

    ISBMUN
    Refugees and migration

  4. Displaced Persons at Sea: Addressing Maritime Limbo Through Asylum Access and Responsibility Sharing for Migrants and Stateless Individuals

    Model of United Nations Students Association Barcelona
    Refugees and migration

  5. Ensuring the Protection of Asylum Seekers and Refugees in the Context of Rising Tensions Across the Taiwan Strait

    The Regional Union of Youth Assemblies Model United Nations Conference — Amman
    Refugees and migration

  6. Externalization of Asylum: The practice of intercepting and processing asylum seekers in offshore detention camps outside national territory

    DMUN MUNners Forum
    Refugees and migration

  7. Addressing Internal Displacement

    Ezidxan Model United Nations
    Refugees and migration

  8. Addressing Forced Displacement and Protection of Vulnerable Populations in the Gulf Region

    Nile Egyptian School Model United Nations
    Refugees and migration

UNHCR countries in Model UN

The United States, France, Germany and the United Kingdom appear on 90 to 94% of UNHCR seat lists on mymun, and China on 89%. The real Executive Committee has 110 member states, elected by ECOSOC, and meets in Geneva every October to approve UNHCR's programmes and budget.

  • 4 countries: on 90 to 94% of seat lists
  • 21 more seats in a typical simulation of 25

Most often seated

CountryShare of seat lists
  1. 1United States94%
  2. 2France93%
  3. 3Germany90%
  4. 4United Kingdom90%
  5. 5China89%
  6. 6Russia84%
  7. 7Türkiye81%
  8. 8Italy79%
  9. 9India78%
  10. 10Brazil74%
  11. 11Bangladesh74%
  12. 12Mexico73%

Share of 521 UNHCR seat lists on mymun.

Most requested

CountryShare of applicants
  1. 1Germany8%
  2. 2United States6%
  3. 3France6%
  4. 4United Kingdom5%
  5. 5Canada5%
  6. 6Türkiye4%
  7. 7Italy4%
  8. 8India3%
  9. 9Australia3%
  10. 10Afghanistan3%
  11. 11Greece3%
  12. 12China3%

Share of 13,509 UNHCR applicants on mymun who asked for the country.

UNHCR in Model UN: quick answers

How many delegates are in a UNHCR committee?

The real UNHCR is an agency whose Executive Committee of 110 member states approves its programmes and budget. UNHCR simulations on mymun seated about 25 delegations.

What is non-refoulement?

It is the core principle of the 1951 Refugee Convention: a refugee must not be returned to a country where they face serious threats to their life or freedom. Non-refoulement is also part of customary international law, so it binds every state, not only the Convention's parties.

Is UNHCR a good committee for beginners?

Yes, after reading the 1951 Refugee Convention and the Global Compact on Refugees, which the General Assembly affirmed in 2018.

What topics does UNHCR debate in Model UN?

Top themes in 712 UNHCR topics on mymun: refugees and migration (91%), economy and development (18%) and climate and environment (15%). Places named most often: Sudan, Syria and Ukraine.