SiegMUN 2020

Honourable Delegates,

We are delighted to invite you to participate in the 11th edition of SiegMUN! This year will, of course, be slightly different from previous years, but those things which make MUN special, including diplomacy, teamwork, and the chance to meet new people, will remain the same.

The current circumstances offer us an opportunity to use the power of technology to rethink the way we do things. By hosting these kinds of conferences online, we are able to feature delegates, chairs, and guests from all across the world. However, we recognise that not all of the features of a face-to-face conference can be replicated through videoconferencing software. For this reason, we intend for this year’s conference to be a hybrid conference, instead of one which will be entirely online.

 A hybrid conference is one in which participants have the choice to participate online or in person within committee rooms situated at the University of Siegen. This participation will be done in a manner which minimises risk and adheres to all legal safety requirements. Please note that if current restrictions were to be tightened, it is foreseeable that the conference would then shift to being completely online instead. For legal reasons we are only able to offer this possibility to those who are enrolled at the University of Siegen.  

Furthermore, we will also, for the very first time, be hosting a double delegate committee (ESCWA) in which each state shall be represented by two delegates. This new format will allow for innovative ways of working, and will enable delegates to practice new forms of teamwork with their co-delegates.  

What certainly has not changed is our array of exciting committees for you to participate in. SiegMUN 2020 will feature the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Food Programme (WFP), the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), and the United Nations Press Corps (Press).

2020 has certainly been a difficult year for many. COVID-19 has changed the way we live, work, and socialise, but the spread of the virus has underlined the need for the states of the world to come together to tackle global issues, not only COVID-19, but also climate change, food security, chemical weapons, and human rights. 

In a time of closed borders, it is more important than ever for us to consider different viewpoints and to engage in dialogue with others. It is our objective to promote these values throughout SiegMUN 2020. By participating in our conference, you will gain the opportunity to improve your soft skills, to practise public speaking, diplomacy, and crafting a persuasive argument.

Delegates, faculty advisors, friends, it is one thing to read about international diplomacy but it is quite another thing to experience it for yourself. We invite you to do so by becoming a part of this year's conference which will take place from the 18th – 21st of November.

Yours sincerely,

SiegMUN Organisational Team