2021 MMUN Online February Matrix, Committees & Topics

Table of contents:

MMUN Online February Conference – Upper Elementary
MMUN Online February Conference – Middle School

FAQ Section

Upper Elementary 

Download the 2021 Online FEBRUARY Conference Upper Elementary Matrix, Committees and Topics PDF

First Committee
Disarmament and International Security
DISEC

This committee aims to create a more peaceful world. Talks in this committee center around reducing weapons in the world. It also identifies threats to peace and finds solutions to international security.

This committee believes the world can become stable through cooperation. Countries can protect their people better if they work together for peace. For example, this committee might discuss how to keep weapons from terrorists. Or, how less weapons can make the world safer. Also, countries talk about policing weapons and finding ways to reduce the weapons they have.

First Committee works closely with United Nations Disarmament Commission and Conference on Disarmament. They have passed resolutions on ammunition, military spending, and missiles.

Topic 1 – Cybersecurity

The topic encompasses the current state of technology, the measures that can be taken to improve the monitoring of cyberspace, and the need for accountability for misuse or malicious uses of cyber technology.

Topic 2 – Reduction of Military Budgets

The topic considers the current military expenditures around the world along with the positive and negative outcomes of investment in the military from various perspectives, as nations cooperate in their efforts to establish peace and stability.

Second Committee
Economic and Financial
ECOFIN

This committee works to improve the world economy in support of the least developed countries with citizens in poverty. The members discuss how national, regional, and international economies affect the world. They find ways for nations to improve their economies and obtain access to financial resources. 

Topic 1 – Protection of Global Climate for Future Generations

This topic promotes discussion about ways that countries might cooperate to protect the world from the dangers of climate change, reduce its effects where possible, and adapt to the changes that climate change might bring about.

Topic 2 – Sustainable Development Disaster Risk Reduction

The topic focuses on developing an understanding of the impact of natural hazards on communities, while proposing ways to reduce risk with preparation, efforts to minimize the effects, and effective response to disastrous situations.

ECOSOC – Economic and Social Council

The Economic and Social Council is at the heart of the United Nations system to advance the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental. It is the central platform for fostering debate and innovative thinking, forging consensus on ways forward, and coordinating efforts to achieve internationally agreed goals. It is also responsible for the follow-up to major UN conferences and summits.

The UN Charter established ECOSOC in 1945 as one of the six main organs of the United Nations.

Topic 1 – Increasing Access to Information 

The topic will enable exploration of the different uses of technology today, its increasing value in society, the implications of its inequitable availability, and related costs that should be taken into consideration to propose solutions for these concerns.  

Topic 2 – Access to Clean Water 

The topic surrounds effective water policies, strategies for achieving universal access to water, management of water and waste, scarcity in geographical areas, and what means are necessary for implementing improvements.

FAO – Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

FAO – The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.

Their main goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active healthy lives. The organization is focused on helping countries develop strong policies to support stable, sustainable agriculture.

The most important functions of the FAO are to:

• Promote the common welfare and raising levels of nutrition and standards of living of the people around the world
• Improving the production and distribution of all food and agricultural products
• Improving the condition of rural populations
• Contributing to an expanding world economy
• Ensuring humanity’s freedom from hunger

Topic 1 – Food Security 

The topic enables an examination of food supply, circumstances that can affect the supply, and the crisis of undernourishment, particularly in developing countries, in an effort to create solutions that will promote food production stability in the future.

Topic 2 – Fair Trade Policies 

The topic examines trade-related policies, treaties, and agreements that affect agricultural production worldwide in an effort to create and develop trade agreements that will be fair to everyone while taking into consideration economic and social inequalities.

Third Committee
Social, Humanitarian & Cultural
SOCHUM

This Committee relates to a range of social, humanitarian affairs and human rights issues that affect people all over the world.

An important part of the work of the Committee will focus on the examination of human rights questions. The Committee will hear and interact with special rapporteurs, independent experts, and chairs of working groups as mandated by the Human Rights Council.

The Committee discusses questions relating to the advancement of women, the protection of children, indigenous issues, the treatment of refugees, the promotion of fundamental freedoms through the elimination of racism and racial discrimination, and the right to self-determination.  The Committee also addresses important social development questions such as issues related to youth, family, aging, persons with disabilities, crime prevention, criminal justice, and international drug control.

 Topic 1 – Elimination of Racism 

The topic looks at racism and intolerance as an obstruction to the enjoyment of human rights, and opens the door for solutions for preventing and eliminating discrimination while encouraging countries to treat all people fairly. 

Topic 2 – Prevention of Substance Abuse 

The topic will enable discussions about the root causes behind the prevalence of substance abuse in the world today, while also promoting solutions that will educate and promote good health.

UNODC – United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

UNODC – United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is a global leader in the fight against illicit drugs and international crime. Established in 1997 through a merger between the United Nations Drug Control Programme and the Centre for International Crime Prevention, UNODC operates in all regions of the world through an extensive network of field offices. UNODC relies on voluntary contributions, mainly from Governments, for 90 percent of its budget.

UNODC is mandated to assist the Member States in their struggle against illicit drugs, crime, and terrorism. In the Millennium Declaration, Member States also resolved to intensify efforts to fight transnational crime in all its dimensions, to redouble the efforts to implement the commitment to counter the world drug problem and to take concerted action against international terrorism.

The three pillars of the UNODC work program are:

• Field-based technical cooperation projects to enhance the capacity of Member States to counteract illicit drugs, crime, and terrorism,
• Research and analytical work to increase knowledge and understanding of drugs and crime issues and expand the evidence base for policy and operational decisions,
• Normative work to assist States in the ratification and implementation of the relevant international treaties, the development of domestic legislation on drugs, crime and terrorism, and the provision of secretariat and substantive services to the treaty-based and governing bodies.

Topic 1 – Cybercrime Protect Election Legitimacy

The topic opens discussion about the use of technology in establishing fair elections and ways to improve electronic security and oversight of voting processes around the world.

Topic 2 – Preventing the Distribution of Fake Medicine

The topic explores the issues related to counterfeit and substandard medical products which can cause harm to individuals, and the regulations or agreements that are in place or could be established to support legitimacy.

UN Women

UN Women works to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, particularly in their ability to participate equally in leadership roles, work in reliable positions, earn an independent living, and exist freely without violence.

Topic 1 – Equal Political Representation for Women

The topic offers an opportunity to examine the need for political equality to achieve equal representation along with the social and cultural influences which affect the opportunities for women to participate in government.  

Topic 2 – Economic Gender Equality 

The topic will promote learning and discussion on economic gender equality as a means to transform the lives of women and society by prompting solutions that will specifically assist with creating more economic opportunities for women to succeed.

Note: Background Guides will be available online immediately following your registration for an MMUN conference.

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Middle School

Download the 2021 Online FEBRUARY Conference Middle School Matrix, Committees and Topics PDF

First Committee
Disarmament and International Security
DISEC

This committee aims to create a more peaceful world. Talks in this committee center around reducing weapons in the world. It also identifies threats to peace and finds solutions to international security.

This committee believes the world can become stable through cooperation. Countries can protect their people better if they work together for peace. For example, this committee might discuss how to keep weapons from terrorists. Or, how less weapons can make the world safer. Also, countries talk about policing weapons and finding ways to reduce the weapons they have.

First Committee works closely with United Nations Disarmament Commission and Conference on Disarmament. They have passed resolutions on ammunition, military spending and missiles.

Topic 1 – Cybersecurity

The topic encompasses the current state of technology, the measures that can be taken to improve the monitoring of cyberspace, and the need for accountability for misuse or malicious uses of cyber technology.

Topic 2 – Reduction of Military Budgets

The topic considers the current military expenditures around the world along with the positive and negative outcomes of investment in military from various perspectives, as nations cooperate in their efforts to establish peace and stability.

Second Committee
Economic and Financial
ECOFIN

This committee works to improve the world economy in support of the least developed countries with citizens in poverty. The members discuss how national, regional, and international economies affect the world. They find ways for nations to improve their economies and obtain access to financial resources. 

Topic 1 – Protection of Global Climate for Future Generations

This topic promotes discussion about ways that countries might cooperate to protect the world from the dangers of climate change, reduce its effects where possible, and adapt to the changes that climate change might bring about.

Topic 2 – Sustainable Development Disaster Risk Reduction

The topic focuses on developing an understanding of the impact of natural hazards on communities, while proposing ways to reduce risk with preparation, efforts to minimize the effects, and effective response to disastrous situations.

ECOSOC – Economic and Social Council

The Economic and Social Council is at the heart of the United Nations system to advance the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental. It is the central platform for fostering debate and innovative thinking, forging consensus on ways forward, and coordinating efforts to achieve internationally agreed goals. It is also responsible for the follow-up to major UN conferences and summits.

The UN Charter established ECOSOC in 1945 as one of the six main organs of the United Nations.

Topic 1 – Increasing Access to Information 

The topic will enable exploration of the different uses of technology today, its increasing value in society, the implications of its inequitable availability, and related costs that should be taken into consideration to propose solutions for these concerns.  

Topic 2 – Access to Clean Water 

The topic surrounds effective water policies, strategies for achieving universal access to water, management of water and waste, scarcity in geographical areas, and what means are necessary for implementing improvements.

FAO – Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

FAO – The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.

Their main goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active healthy lives. The organization is focused on helping countries develop strong policies to support stable, sustainable agriculture.

The most important functions of the FAO are to:

• Promote the common welfare and raising levels of nutrition and standards of living of the people around the world
• Improving the production and distribution of all food and agricultural products
• Improving the condition of rural populations
• Contributing to an expanding world economy
• Ensuring humanity’s freedom from hunger

Topic 1 – Food Security 

The topic enables an examination of food supply, circumstances that can affect the supply, and the crisis of undernourishment, particularly in developing countries, in an effort to create solutions that will promote food production stability in the future.

Topic 2 – Fair Trade Policies 

The topic examines trade-related policies, treaties, and agreements that affect agricultural production worldwide in an effort to create and develop trade agreements that will be fair to everyone while taking into consideration economic and social inequalities.

Third Committee
Social, Humanitarian & Cultural
SOCHUM

This Committee relates to a range of social, humanitarian affairs and human rights issues that affect people all over the world.

An important part of the work of the Committee will focus on the examination of human rights questions. The Committee will hear and interact with special rapporteurs, independent experts, and chairs of working groups as mandated by the Human Rights Council.

The Committee discusses questions relating to the advancement of women, the protection of children, indigenous issues, the treatment of refugees, the promotion of fundamental freedoms through the elimination of racism and racial discrimination, and the right to self-determination.  The Committee also addresses important social development questions such as issues related to youth, family, aging, persons with disabilities, crime prevention, criminal justice, and international drug control.

 Topic 1 – Elimination of Racism 

The topic looks at racism and intolerance as an obstruction to the enjoyment of human rights and opens the door for solutions for preventing and eliminating discrimination while encouraging countries to treat all people fairly. 

Topic 2 – Prevention of Substance Abuse 

The topic will enable discussions about the root causes behind the prevalence of substance abuse in the world today, while also promoting solutions that will educate and promote good health.

UNODC – United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

UNODC – United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is a global leader in the fight against illicit drugs and international crime. Established in 1997 through a merger between the United Nations Drug Control Programme and the Centre for International Crime Prevention, UNODC operates in all regions of the world through an extensive network of field offices. UNODC relies on voluntary contributions, mainly from Governments, for 90 percent of its budget.

UNODC is mandated to assist the Member States in their struggle against illicit drugs, crime, and terrorism. In the Millennium Declaration, Member States also resolved to intensify efforts to fight transnational crime in all its dimensions, to redouble the efforts to implement the commitment to counter the world drug problem and to take concerted action against international terrorism.

The three pillars of the UNODC work program are:

• Field-based technical cooperation projects to enhance the capacity of Member States to counteract illicit drugs, crime, and terrorism,
• Research and analytical work to increase knowledge and understanding of drugs and crime issues and expand the evidence base for policy and operational decisions,
• Normative work to assist States in the ratification and implementation of the relevant international treaties, the development of domestic legislation on drugs, crime and terrorism, and the provision of secretariat and substantive services to the treaty-based and governing bodies.

Topic 1 – Cybercrime Protect Election Legitimacy

The topic opens discussion about the use of technology in establishing fair elections and ways to improve electronic security and oversight of voting processes around the world.

Topic 2 – Preventing the Distribution of Fake Medicine

The topic explores the issues related to counterfeit and substandard medical products which can cause harm to individuals, and the regulations or agreements that are in place or could be established to support legitimacy.

UN Women

UN Women works to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, particularly in their ability to participate equally in leadership roles, work in reliable positions, earn an independent living, and exist freely without violence.

Topic 1 – Equal Representation for Women

The topic offers an opportunity to examine the need for political and economic equality for women to empower them, along with the social and cultural influences which create varying perspectives around the world.  

Topic 2 – Women in Development 

The topic will promote learning and discussion related to the ways that gender equality can improve the experience of all women and prompt solutions that will specifically assist with the advancement of women.

Press Corps

The press corps is made up of journalists, correspondents, and members of the media who report on local, national, and international politics. They are one of the keys to a healthy, stable, and honest democracy. Do you have what it takes to write a news story and inform others about what is going on in the world in an engaging way?

Learn more about Press Corps clicking here

Topic 1 

DISEC Cybersecurity  

UNODC Cybercrime Protect Election Legitimacy

ECOSOC Increasing Access to Information

Topic 2 

UN WOMEN Economic Gender Equality

SOCHUM Prevention of Substance Abuse 

ECOFIN Sustainable Development Disaster Risk Reduction

Note: Background Guides will be available online immediately following your registration for an MMUN conference.

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FAQ Section 

Q: Do both students in the delegation have to be knowledgeable about both topics addressed by their committee?

Yes, it is critical that both delegates are knowledgeable about both topics so they may both participate in the discussion and negotiations on those topics.

Q: If I have an odd number of students in my group, am I allowed to place three (3) students in a committee?

The conference matrix will not allow more than two (2) students per committee. In these unique cases, (1) delegate will have to take on the challenge of both topics in one committee. Keep in mind, it is not a requirement to make a speech.  All participants will be added to the Speakers’ List and can be removed by passing a note while in the committee session to be removed from the list. This is designed so the preparation process is not compromised for the delegates involved, as well as all delegates in the committee session. MMUN must also adhere to strict capacity guidelines within each committee room.

Q: Where can I find additional support/resources for topic research?

Please email info@nullmontessori-mun.org or if you are a Certified MMUN Teacher, join the Facebook Teacher Support Group for additional support.

Q: How many position papers does each delegation write?

Delegates are responsible for having in-depth knowledge about both topics. As a delegation, both delegates are responsible for researching and writing one paper per topic (one topic each), two papers total. Each delegate must be familiar with the other topic as they must share in the thinking and development of both topics.

Q: How long does it take between submitting the position papers and getting it back for corrections?

The MMUN Bureau will review each position paper, and if there are corrections to be made, the Bureau will notify you and give you a time frame to return it back to the Committee Chair. Typically, you will hear back about corrections needed within 10-14 days after submitting your papers. Just to clarify, students should follow the format in our Teacher Manual and use only MLA format for references. Please review the MMUN Position Papers page located online on our website under ‘Resources.’

Q: After we edit the corrections, must we re-submit again? When? 

Yes. Corrections need to be submitted to the Bureau within 5 to 7 days.

Q: Do Opening Speeches also need to be submitted?