Bratmun 2023: It’s All Coming Together!

Propelled by the shared passion for debate and collective determination to shape a brighter future, a selection of students from all the various programs at Gymnázium Jura Hronca (GJH) have gathered to form the secretariat of a MUN conference. After the initial conception of the values and ideals which are to stand at the very core of Bratislava Model United Nations 2023, the organising team are already tirelessly working around the clock to ensure the smooth framework of the conference. Above all, MUNs are an excellent opportunity to polish leadership, public speaking, and critical thinking skills, all invaluable in the twenty-first century. Venturing to build on the past, honour the legacy of BratMUN, and shape the future, the conference will be an experience taking place this December.

The Secretariat

Behind BratMUN’s return stands the secretariat; a community of individuals determined to persevere the values the conference has represented in the past, and create an environment fostering productive debate and elevated discourse. In what is a historically first integration of students from GJH’s national programs into the secretariat thus far comprised solely of international (IB/MYP) programs, an influx of commitment to excellence and resolve to meet high standards guarantees the exceptionality of the 20th edition of BratMUN. With a larger talent pool, the diversity of skills and world-views in the secretariat ensure that the conference remains thought-provoking, engaging, and truly, an event to remember.

A YEAR’S WORTH OF CHANGES

When organising a conference, the at times lengthy process of course has its setbacks, and in many ways each conference is a completely unique experience. While numerous positive lessons can be learned from looking to the past, a concurrent stream of innovative ideas and changes is always needed in order to assure we effectively move forward, drawing on history while building the future. As the end of the year and December, though seemingly out of sight, slowly but surely approach, it is appropriate to go over the details of what to expect from BratMUN 2023.

The application process for this year’s conference happens through Mymun, which helps us simplify the process of applications and processing delegate fees, and provide early means of effective communication before we transition to a different platform. This way, we benefit from a collaborative shared online space for all MUNs across the world and provide you with a more smooth and comfortable delegate experience.
We also managed to get our hands on a new venue. About a 15-minute walk from the previous one and equally well connected by public transit to the rest of the city, it is accessible even from more remote accommodations, and provides you with a direct link to the very centre of Bratislava’s Old Town. The new spaces are another symbol of BratMUN’s rebirth, ready to host delegates for the unforgettable experience that is an MUN conference.
Finally, since the epidemiological situation in 2020 and the subsequent years prevented BratMUN conferences from taking place, a few changes have been made to the communication platforms used by the BratMUN team. Though the official website and Facebook account remain the same, due to technical difficulties, our official Instagram account has been replaced with @bratmun2023.

SEE YOU SOON!

Our secretariat will continue to update you on any changes or news about the upcoming conference in December through this website, Mymun, and Instagram. In the meantime, go check out the committees we’ve set up on Mymun, and think about which committee you will be applying to once the delegate applications open.

See you at the General Assembly!

~Tatiana Petovská

T

July 8, 2023/0 Comments/by bratmun_admin

The Conference, The Team

BratMUN and Corona

Like everyone and everything, BratMUN was and is strongly affected by the Covid pandemic. The important question is, what does it mean for You?

Preparations Preparations…

In 2012, some people thought (and hoped) the world would end, so they spent all they’re money, left their jobs and went crazy. It was probably quite unpleasant to see life continue as before even after 2012 ended. This is not our case.

We hope BratMUN will take place and we are doing everything just as we would without any viruses. It is hard to honestly and authentically show the amount of people contributing to this project; the section about our team can help illustrate this.

Similarly, we are also preparing for the pandemic situation regarding all the hygienic standards. We aim to hold a constructive conference, not a Corona-sharing party. And yes, we are firm supporters of face-masks and hand-sanitizer as everyone should be.

This is not correct, do not wear your face-mask like this under any circumstances

Hope for the Best, Prepare for the Worst…

To be honest, it is sometimes difficult to stay motivated. With everything around going to…bad, it is hard to convince yourself AND other people to keep deadlines and spend hours preparing for something that may not even happen.

The positive thing is that we are not alone; the whole team works essentially like a ‘safety-net’ with everyone having good days and bad days while mutually supporting each other (and occasionally arguing and pushing each other the ‘rough’ way).

After all, the whole world is going through this at the same time and unfortunately, we are constantly reminded that we are definitely not the ones suffering the most. Still, hours of motivational rap have been played via my phone in the last months.

This is a completely unrelated image, but it does show us working together and cooperating and it did happen recently so I might as well put it here for illustration

What Does This All Mean?

We cannot change the situation, so we have to learn to live in it. It is hard to say what we will do if…

All we can do is hope, all we need is love (I think). We will keep You informed and do everything so that BratMUN 2020 can take place. It is on a good path and we are all quite hyped.

So, stay positive (in the good way)! We are looking forward to seeing each other soon!

September 21, 2020/0 Comments/by bratmun_admin

The Conference

About BratMUN

In this piece information on the segments of the BratMUN conference will be provided, as well as information on the ‘side events’ of the conference, including social gatherings, a city tour and of course a major party. This article will be frequently updated, so as to provide accurate and up-to-date info.

The first part will concern the conference itself and the second part will be dedicated to the various activities. Enjoy!

The Conference

Opening Ceremony

BratMUN will begin with a grand opening ceremony were all of the staff and delegations will gather. Multiple speakers will participate in the official opening of the conference, together with a cultural performance which will be kept as a surprise.

Committee Sessions

The bulk of the conference will be spent in the committees of various UN bodies. The topics discussed as well as the concrete UN bodies will be announced beforehand, together with the chairs and underchairs in charge of them.

Each delegate will have the opportunity to choose the committee they want to participate in and the country they wish to represent. Materials to prepare for the committee discussions will be will be made digitally available in time.

For the time of the conference, the delegates will hold negotiations which should result in a resolution to be presented before the General Assembly in the very end.

General Assembly

Here delegates from all of the standard committees will gather to discuss resolutions passed by their committees. The General Assembly will then hold a vote on whether these resolutions should be implemented into practice.

Delegates from the expert committees will continue their negotiation process as an unexpected crisis (spoiler alert) will force them to postpone the standard negotiation process. They will then proceed to hold a vote on their resolutions.

A single resolution stands in the way of mutual agreement and understanding

Closing Ceremony

The chairs of each of the committees will select the best delegates from their committees and these delegates will then be awarded in the closing ceremony. Not to worry though, the feeling of accomplishment and of a job well done will be a reward in itself for all of the delegates.

The 20^th anniversary of the BratMUN conference will then be officially closed, to open again on the following year.

Best delegates coming at you from the past

Apart from the Exhausting Discussions…

Party

Conferences are hard, life is hard. To end BratMUN 2020 on a positive note, we will be throwing a party in on the last day. All of the delegates and staff will be able to meet in an unofficial setting and enjoy a program consisting of bands, DJs and sick dance moves.

City Tour

History and culture are not for everyone. Don’t worry, no boring tour guide will force you on a 4 hour ‘death march’ through the city of Bratislava. Given the sheer number of delegates, no centrally organized city tour will be organized; we prefer a more personal approach.

Simply tell your delegation guide which part of the city you want to see and they will. Or if you are out of ideas, ask them or your favorite staff member which part of Bratislava they recommend seeing and you will be taken there when it suits you best.

And if you do not want to amazed by the wonders of Bratislava, better make sure to keep your eyes shut during your stay. Its hard to avoid all of the beauty…

Can you recognize all of the landmarks in the picture?

Quiz Night

For all of the delegates (and staff) wishing to put their general knowledge to the test this is your opportunity. All of the winners will be given handsome prizes!

And more…

We fully understand if you don’t want us to organize your free time for you. We are a bit offended, but we get it.

If you want to see any museum, go to some bar, have a glimpse of Slovak nature or hang out with the seems-like-a-nice-guy delegate of China, go for it. Ask the staff or your delegation guide for any info or assistance you may require and we’ll make it happen.

All of the activities are of course purely optional, but strongly recommended!

Thinking about which part of Bratislava will he go and see today?

Afterword

If you are unfamiliar with the official lingo or process of the conference, not to worry. Everything will be explained thoroughly on the conference. And if you want to come prepared or you prefer self-study check out our Rules of Procedure article, which will be published soon.

Should you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask via our Facebook, Instagram or e-mail.

April 24, 2020/0 Comments/by bratmun_admin

The Conference

Why Choose BratMUN?

A Proper MUN Experience

Model United Nations is a great concept and we recommend that all of the interested participants read the description provided by the amazing bestdelegate website here.

BratMUN is organized by students for students, which we believe makes us more capable of relating to our dear participants and prepare the experience accordingly.

All parts of the organizational team, from the secretariat to the PR team have experience from other MUNs, such as JasMUN, KatMUN or AntwerpMUN and will be more than pleased to utilize this experience during BratMUN.

*A magnificent moment from BratMUN 2019…*

20^th Anniversary

Isn’t it unbelievable? BratMUN has been around longer than the vast majority of its participants and organizers.

This is a distinctive reason for us to make the 20^th edition special and unique, an MUN to remember. We are thinking of some quiz nights, parties and a couple of surprises.

On this occasion, we want BratMUN to prosper in the future, with all of its history in mind. We have already introduced a new elegant logo, a modern website and much more is to come!

For Everyone

BratMUN is great for MUN beginners, as it offers numerous large committees with many experienced MUNers, who will gladly provide any guidance.

BratMUN is great for experienced MUNers, as our chairs will make sure to lead professional debates and challenge your arguments, as well as our other dedicated and well-versed delegates.