Welcome to Harvard National Model United Nations 2013!

Dear Delegates, Faculty Advisors, and Friends of HNMUN,

Welcome to Harvard National Model United Nations 2013! It is my honor and pleasure to serve as your Secretary-General of this conference’s 59^th session.  The conference will be held from Thursday, February 14th to Sunday, February 17th, 2013, at the historic Park Plaza Hotel in downtown Boston.

Founded just a few years after the San Francisco Conference on International Organization, HNMUN has always tasked itself with recreating the spirit of diplomacy that originally defined the United Nations. As the oldest, largest, and most diverse Model United Nations conference on the circuit, HNMUN has, for the past six decades, exemplified what I believe to be the true spirit of the United Nations: substantive excellence, innovation, and a commitment to the delegate experience, both inside and out of the committee room. Looking back at the final resolutions from the past 58 sessions of the conference, one will notice that HNMUN delegates have often presented bold and creative solutions to some of the most important global issues of their day.

However, what I believe makes HNMUN truly unique and special are you, the participants.  It is the passion with which you approach debate, the dedication you bring to drafting comprehensive resolutions, and the spirit of international diplomacy with which you approach your fellow delegates and Faculty Advisors that make HNMUN an unparalleled conference experience. We are humbled by the prospect of bringing together 3,000 university students from over 40 nations throughout the world in order to engage in enlightening debate over the most pressing issues that face the international community today. Our staff of over 200 Harvard undergraduate students works tirelessly for over 11 months to create a conference that will promote instructive dialogue and cultural exchange. We are thrilled to offer realistic General Assemblies, substantively rich Economic and Social Councils and Regional Bodies, Non-Governmental Organizations and Press Corps programs, and innovative Specialized Agencies. In addition, HNMUN prides itself in the cultural exchange that occurs outside of the committee room. From our Summer Opportunities and Career Fair to the Delegate Dance, we encourage delegates to use HNMUN as a platform for connecting with tomorrow’s leaders and affecting change today.

We truly hope that you will join us in February for a fantastic Model UN experience. If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to contact us. On behalf of the entire staff of the conference, I look forward to welcoming you in person at HNMUN 2013!

Sincerely,

Gillian T. Farrell

Secretary-General

Harvard National Model United Nations 2013