Abbreviation AMUNC Type NGO Location Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Formation 1995 Purpose Education Main organ Secretariat | |
The Asia Pacific Model United Nations Conference (AMUNC) is an annual travelling Model United Nations conference for university students. Each conference is hosted in a different city within the Asia-Pacific region, attracting approximately 600 students from Asia, the Pacific Islands, Australia and New Zealand, making it one of the largest regional model UN conferences in the world. AMUNC is run entirely by student volunteers, usually coordinated through a relevant student association, with the support and backing of the host university. The conference typically takes place over a week in July, encompassing a variety of activities, including role-playing committees, guest speakers, career information stalls, and an extensive evening social activities program.
Contents
The twenty-second session of AMUNC was hosted by Taylor's College and held in Kuala Lumpur for the year 2016.
History
Established in 1995 as the Australian Model United Nations Conference, the inaugural AMUNC was hosted by the University of New South Wales and consisted of only a single General Assembly. For the next few years, AMUNC was held alternately by universities in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane, and gradually grew in size. The conference eventually left the south-east in 2004 for James Cook University in Townsville in northern Queensland and was hosted overseas for the first time in 2007 by Auckland University in New Zealand.
As AMUNC grew, the increased number of foreign students and international standing warranted two amendments to its name to reflect the changed nature of the conference. In 1997 the conference became the Australasian Model United Nations Conference, and the conference changed name again in 2003 to its current version.
The conference has been held at 17 universities across Australia and New Zealand, the most recent being held by the University of Western Australia in Perth.
Committee Sessions
Delegates at AMUNC are assigned to represent countries, governments, non-governmental organisations, or individuals within the United Nations and other regional or global organisations. Delegates are challenged to combine their personal talents and capacities with their ability to play their assigned role accurately.
Social Events
Evening social events are a major component of the AMUNC itinerary, and past conferences have included committee dinners, cocktail events, club nights, and river cruises. AMUNC historically concludes with a gala on the final night of the conference.
Speaker Events
Previous speakers have included Gareth Evans, former Australian Foreign Minister, Robert French, Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, Michael Kirby, former Justice of the High Court of Australia, and Sir Geoffrey Palmer, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Professor Gillian Triggs, President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, and Laura John, the Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations.
Opening and Closing Ceremonies
The AMUNC conference is officially opened and closed by the host team, with the week's committee sessions culminating in a General Assembly session showcasing the achievements of the conference proceedings.