AntwerpMUN 2024

Applications for delegates who need a visa to attend the conference close on January the 23rd. 

Welcome to the 10th edition of AntwerpMUN!

Join us in commemorating a decade of diplomacy at our Model UN simulation set in the heart of Europe's diamond capital from the 22nd-25th of February 2024. AntwerpMUN welcomes students from across the globe to engage in thought-provoking discussions within simulations of the UN committees. Our conference is a dynamic platform that not only sharpens critical thinking and negotiation skills but also nurtures intercultural understanding, seamlessly integrating diplomacy with current global events and their far-reaching impacts.

Immerse yourself in this four-day simulation, where participants not only delve into global-scale international relations but also discover the cultural setting of Antwerp City. Through additional activities, we aim to fully immerse you in the life of a delegate.

Our carefully curated committees provide each delegate the opportunity to choose the council in which they wish to participate and represent a state of choice. AntwerpMUN promises an unforgettable experience at the intersection of diplomacy, cultural exploration, and global collaboration. Join us for a celebration of a decade of diplomatic deliberation! 

The following topics will be discussed in the UN Councils:

1) Global Intervention in Myanmar: The Responsibility to Protect Activated?

   - Council: Security Council

   - Info: The military coup in Myanmar in February 2021 has led to widespread protests and the formation of civilian militias resisting military rule. The Security Council will discuss whether the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) should be activated. R2P involves collective international action, possibly including military intervention, when a state fails to protect its people. The Security Council needs to decide on the activation of R2P and its endorsed measures.

2) Fate of Refugees in Geopolitical Turmoil: A Crisis of Humanity?

   - Council: Human Rights Council

   - Info: The UN Human Rights Council's Fact Finding Mission on Libya has reported grave human rights abuses, including war crimes and crimes against humanity. Migrants have been systematically targeted and tortured, with evidence of sexual slavery. The Human Rights Council should address the humanitarian crisis, investigate violations, and discuss measures to prevent further deterioration of the human rights situation.

3) The Global Race for Technological Superiority: At what cost for the global south?

   - Council: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

   - Info: Electric cars are rapidly becoming more popular amongst consumers, and studies predict that some 23 million will be sold over the coming decade. While the shift to electric mobility is in line with ongoing efforts to reduce the world’s dependence on fossil fuels, and reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change, some critics warn that the raw materials used in electric car batteries, are highly concentrated in a small number of countries, which raises a number of concerns. For example, two-thirds of all cobalt production happens in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). According the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), about 20 per cent of cobalt supplied from the DRC comes from artisanal mines, where human rights abuses have been reported, and up to 40,000 children work in extremely dangerous conditions in the mines for meagre income. It is necessary to address the social and environmental impact of the extraction of these raw materials which include human rights abuses.

4) Chinese Belt and Road Initiative: One Belt, One Road

   - Council: WTO

   - Info: China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a global infrastructure development strategy, raising concerns about its impact on global affairs and its costs. Some countries fear it as a Trojan horse for regional dominance, while others criticize its investment practices, particularly in Africa. The WTO needs to examine whether the BRI violates its rules, discuss concerns about China's 'debt trap diplomacy,' and assess the implications of China's involvement in African countries through the BRI.

More info regarding our MUN-Simulation will follow shortly, to stay updated on our events, follow our social media accounts on @AnwerpMUN!

Where to stay…

Antwerp Citybox

• Molenbergstraat 2, 2000 Antwerpen
• T +32 36 33 32 73
• E antwerp@cityboxhotels.com
• https://citybox.no
• This hotel is situated in the student quarter and is a 3-minute walk from the university where the conference is held.

Antwerp City Hostel

• Grote Markt, 40, 2000 Antwerp
• T 0032 03 500 50 40
• E info@antwerpcityhostel.be
• http://antwerpcityhostel.be

HiHostel Pulcinella

• Bogaardeplein, 2000 Antwerp
• T +32 (0)3 234 03 14
• E antwerpen@vhj.be
• www.jeugdherbergen.be
• Distance from University 1.3 km. 16 minutes by feet.

Boomerang Youth hostel

• Lange Leemstraat 95
• T +32(0)3 238 47 82
• E boomeranghostel@hotmail.com
• www.boomeranghostel.be
• Distance from University 2.0 km. 25 minutes by feet.

Antwerp Backpackers Hostel

• Kattenberg 110, 2140 Borgerhout
• T +32(0)473 57 01 66
• E abhostel@hotmail.com
• Distance from University: 2.5 km. 32 minutes by feet.

Hotel Condo Gardens

• Booking possible via www.tripadvisor.be or www.booking.com
• Address: De Pretstraat 11, 2060 Antwerp
• Located in the neighbourhood ‘’t Eilandje’, surrounded by plenty of restaurants, dance cafés and clubs.

 Dubois Apartements

• Duboisstraat 3, 2060 Antwerp
• Booking possible via www.booking.com
• Also located in the neighbourhood ‘’t Eilandje’, surrounded by plenty of restaurants, dance cafés and clubs.

 Ibis hotel

• Meistraat 39, 2000 Antwerp
• Booking possible via www.booking.com
• Located in the Centre of Antwerp, 10 min by feet to the University.

What to see in Antwerp… 

Antwerp isn't your typical student city, but a cosmopolitan village with around 500 000 inhabitants and more than 170 nationalities. The city has so much to offer! Whether you love art, history or architecture, there is something for everyone!  Here are some of the landmarks that you should not miss…

MAS/ Museum aan de Stroom www.mas.be

Located in the neighbourhood of 't Eilandje, MAS is one of the city's trendiest museums. We recommended climbing to the top of the building to enjoy a stunning panoramic view of the city, for free! 

Station Antwerpen Centraal 

Antwerp's central station is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the world so make sure to take a look inside! 

Groenplaats

Groenplaats is located right in the middle of the city centre, lined with cafés and restaurants. A solemn Rubens Statue observes the people who used to be buried in the cathedral, while the poor were laid to rest on the 'green cemetery'; hence the name Groenplaats. Different events, markets or spectacles take place here in different seasons. 

Grote Markt

The Grote Markt is the main square where the town hall is located. You will spot a statue throwing a giant’s hand in the river. Around the square, there are many cafés and restaurants. Also make sure to take a look in the Cathedral while you are there!

Are you easily moved by a theatre play, inspired by a gripping exhibition or do you prefer being swept off your feet by a contemporary dance performance?

With the Rubenshuis, Letterenhuis Vleeshuis/Klank van de Stad, Mayer Van Den Bergh, the cathedral and many more places where history is key or interesting objects are being archived, there is truly something for everybody! 

FOMU www.fotomuseum.be

In their permanent collection, the FOMU (Museum of Photography) takes you back to the very beginning of photography. From Edward Muybridge to William Klein: the museum shows the history of photography from all angles. 

MOMU (Modemuseum) en Flanders Fashion Institute www.momu.be

Every year, many fashionistas and fashion students travel to Antwerp to get a glimpse of all the beauty in store in the city's shopping streets, but also to take a look at the gallery of Antwerp's fashion museum, MoMU. 

KMSKA https://kmska.be/en: Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp

Houses a collection of paintings, sculptures and drawings from the fourteenth to the twentieth centuries

How to get around?

From Brussels airport, the Antwerp-Brussels Airport Express Bus is arguably the most convenient way to get to Antwerp. The bus reaches the centre of Antwerp (Astridplein next to the Central Station) in approximately 45 minutes. Alternatively, you could take a train from the airport to Antwerp Central Station. 

Public transport gets you just about everywhere in and around Antwerp.  Tram and premetro stops are scattered throughout town, while most buses take you in and out of town and the suburbs. Make sure to check www.delijn.be for up-to-date info on your line and www.slimnaarantwerpen.be if you get around by car. 

If you are planning to rent a bike for short or long term you can check out www.swapfiets.be. For only 15 euros you can rent a bike for a whole month. 

Velo Bikes might also be a solution for you. Those bikes have bike stations scattered all over Antwerp, where you can drop off and pick up bikes however it suits you. You can go to the website www.velo-antwerpen.be to register and pick the formula that suits you best. (Velos are meant for short distances between stations)

Other expenses such as plane tickets and hotel costs will not be compensated by AntwerpMUN.