The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) is an annual Model United Nations conference. It has a long history and is the oldest and largest United Nations simulation for high school students in the world. It is usually held at The World Forum Convention Centre in The Hague (formerly the "Nederlands Congres Centrum"), from Sunday to Friday in the last full week of January.

The concept of THIMUN

At THIMUN high schools form a UN-delegation, representing a country or Non-member delegation (NGOs, IGOS etc.) in various commissions. The conference itself is managed by a student-formed 'Secretariat' of over 100 members, including Secretaries General, Chairs, Press Staff and Administrative Staff. All in all, each year sees around 3700 youths of over 100 different nationalities coming to The Hague and taking part in THIMUN. In fact it is possible to explain to outsiders who live in The Hague what THIMUN telling them AbOUT "all those high school kids in suits swarming all over the city in January."

All the major bodies of the of the United Nations are represented at THIMUN: the General Assembly, consisting of six specialised committees; the Security Council; the Special Conference (which discusses a different issue-area each year); the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC); the Environmental, Disarmament and Human Rights Committees (each with two sub-committees); and the International Court of Justice. In 2006 there was also an Advisory Panel on the Question of Sudan (APQS) and there will be an Advisory Panel on the Question of Kosovo at the 2007 conference as well. THIMUN also has its own Press Team and its own newspaper called "MUNITY".

The structure of THIMUN

Each student-delegate is expected to bring a draft resolution to the conference and prepare his/herself for the topics on the agenda (which are decided on by THIMUN staff and students each year). The delegates then lobby and discuss their resolution in their respective commissions in order to come to a "resolution" (a written solution to a problem. During the discussions formal procedures are employed, which are as close to the procedures of the real UN as possible. As this is a high school event, however, there is intermittently time for lightheartedness.

Resolutions that are passed during the week are bundled together in a booklet and sent to the UN in New York, the idea being that they offer new insight and IDeaS to the members and councils of the United Nations.

The programme of events at the conference breaks down into of Opening Speeches and informal lobbying on Monday and Tuesday, committee debates on Wednesday and Thursday and plenary sessions and the Closing Ceremonies (along with the dance) on Friday.

The culture of THIMUN

THIMUN has, since its inception, been known for the nature and sheer amount of partying that occurs before, during and after the conference. The ultra-liberal environment of The Hague provides an excellent location to host what might one day be considered to be the greatest invention of man to date. Notorious for the promiscuous nature of activities partaken in by the adolescents and renowned as the most prestigious of the international Model United Nations conferences, THIMUN will always hold a special place in the hearts of many a teen who has walked through the halls of diplomacy, danced through the floors of hormone-crazed adolescents and fared the freezing winds of Holland while waiting for that tram which always seems to be late.

But it is to be hoped that MUN is more than just one big party. Perhaps some of the 3700 kids participating are showing one of the smallest, yet most important, traits a human being can show: that they care; about poverty, about war, about [...], about famine, about disease, about development, about the environment, about humanity and about the world of tomorrow. After the young people of today are, quite literally, our future. Maybe, just maybe, MUN shows that they care about something other than where their next beer, date or wild night out is coming from; that they care about the world; quite simply, that they care about other people.

Affiliated conferences

THIMUN has several affiliated conferences, many of which are held in different countries around the world, including DSAMUN in Greece*1 at the German School of Athens, TIMUN in Turkey, BERMUN in Germany, PAMUN in Paris, France, JOMUN in Johannesburg, South Africa, MUNOS in Seoul, Republic of Korea, AISMUN in Cairo, Egypt,MUNOM in Munich, Germany, BEIMUN in Beijing, China, and IMUN in Lisbon, Portugal. THIMUN has also developed the THIMUN-Singapore conference which began in 2005 and takes place annually in Singapore.

Annual themes

  • 2002: "Science and Ethics"
  • 2003: "Human Rights - A Human Obligation"
  • 2004: "Information - A Power for Change"
  • 2005: "Health and Youth"
  • 2006: "Promotion of Gender Equality"
  • 2007: "Eradication of extreme poverty and hunger"

de:THIMUN tr:The Hague International Model United Nations