Geneva International Model United Nations (abbreviated GIMUN) is a non-governmental organization in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations since 2007. GIMUN is based in Geneva, Switzerland. It was created in 1999 by students of the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies. Its aim is to promote the ideals and principles of the United Nations by giving students a chance to participate in educative events.

Organizational Structure

Executive Board The members of the Executive Board are responsible for organizing and financing all GIMUN events (including the Annual Conference) and representing GIMUN on numerous platforms. The Executive Board oversees the different departments of the association.

+ 2026-2027 Executive Board Members Name Position Amelie Vinall President Jonathan Gatti Vice President Sofia Perez Stpiczynska Finance Director Anna Hauswirth Public Relations Director Arya Cagin Secretary General Cayetano Ortín Alcaraz Secretary General

Departments

Currently GIMUN has seven departments, each focusing on a specific area of the association’s operations:

Public Relations: The Public Relations department, led by the Public Relations Director, is responsible for managing communications, media relations, and the public image of GIMUN.

Finance: The Finance department, headed by the Finance Director, manages budgeting, financial planning, and oversees the allocation of funds for GIMUN activities.

Events: The Events department is responsible for organizing and managing GIMUN events, including conferences and workshops.

Human Resources: The Human Resources department manages recruitment, member relations, and supports the organizational structure by ensuring the smooth integration and communication between GIMUN members.

Translation: The Translation Team ensures bilingualism within GIMUN by translating and proofreading important documents, such as emails, registration forms, and official communications.

Delegation: The GIMUN Delegation provides students with opportunities to develop public speaking and debating skills through weekly meetings focused on international affairs and MUN preparation.

Each department consists of small teams, typically led by two department heads. The President and Vice-President oversee the department heads to ensure effective communication and the smooth functioning of the organisations.

Advisory Board The Executive Board is supported by the Advisory Board, composed of former members of the Executive Board. They ensure a smooth transition between terms and help with long-term planning of the Association.

+ 2026-2027 Advisory Board Members Name Position Elina Lampi President 2025-2026 Andrea Masciadri Vice President 2025-2026 Stefaniya Shevtsova Finance Director 2025-2026 Debora Mangone PR Director 2026 Abril Ortega Andrade Secretary General 2025-2026 Leen Alnajem Secretary General 2025-2026 Shavonne McDonald President 2024-2025 Lorenzo Tredici Finance Director 2024-2025 Tomás Espinosa Roja Secretary General 2024-2025 Yanna Spieser PR Director 2024-2025, 2025-26

Past Executive Board Members + Executive Board Members President Vice President Finance Director Public Relations Director Secretary Generals Mandate Yusra Suedi Maeva Cherpillod Aleksandar Stojanov Fanny Rannaud Alessia Anghileri, Fanny Charmey 2012-2013 Giulia Rigazio Lena Becker Charlotta Schuster Mona-Lisa Kole Aleksandar Stojanov, Quentin Nicaise 2013-2014 Simon Bianchi Francesca Dal Poggetto Esben Marcussen Camille Fenter Sandrine Chabbey, Jim Zouridis 2014-2015 Francesca Paschetta Aida Fernández Caroline Schmitt Guillaume Zwygart Antony Papadopoulos, Michaela Dorcikova 2015-2016 Flavio Baroffio Iman Sarteur Jesse Hanich Cristina Valdés Argüelles Emma Beelen, Pauline Legrand 2017-2018 Cristina Valdes Irene Cibiriain Florencia Lorca Natalie Joray Pauline Legrand, Alessandra Ciccolella 2018-2019 Bartosz Gdaniec Cindy Bischofberger Matthis Pasche Ylljeta Lufaj Natalie Joray, Mihail Mouhlov 2019-2020 Antoine Gouthuey Joanna Ruan Ethan Catanzariti Elisaveta Wermelinger Erin Hayes, Sarah-Luna Mongin 2020-2021 Emma Fischer Chiara Müller Hugo Fenoli-Rebellato Besma Abdallah Darius Harnisch, Nicolas Cavadini 2021-2022 Sophie Martin Erin Hayes Matteo Pal Minwoo Ki / Johanna Tirinelli Mathilda Pradal, Hibat-Allah Hably 2022-2023 Natacha Pambou Maria-Teresa Failli Mattia Morini Petri S. Räisänen Castañeda Matteo Dummar, Kara Djakou 2023-2024 Shavonne McDonald Alyssa Hersheson Lorenzo Tredici Iren Neeranzona Khan / Yanna Spieser Marlamaa Natsag, Tomás Espinosa Rojas 2024-2025 Elina Lampi Andrea Masciadri Stefaniya Shevtsova Yanna Spieser / Debora Mangone Abril Ortega Andrade, Leen Alnajem 2025-2026 Amelie Vinall Jonathan Gatti Sofia Perez Stpiczynska Anna Hauswirth Arya Cagin, Cayetano Ortín Alcaraz 2026-2027

Activities

Annual Conference

Every year in February, GIMUN organizes its Annual Model United Nations conference. GIMUN is the only Model United Nations conference in the world to hold its entire conference within United Nations grounds, which is the European Headquarters of the United Nations and formerly the League of Nations.

The Annual Conference consists of around six committees with a about 30 participants per committee. It is a bilingual conference, held in both English and French with live interpretation. All outcome documents are also translated into English and French. It includes the roles of Bloc Representative, Ambassador, as well as a team of journalists.

History of Annual Conferences

Year Dates Secretaries-General Theme Committees 1999 Example Nicolas Gérard, Jeremy Allouche, Jérôme Grimaud, Astrid Melchner Example Example 2001 13 – 16 March Alessandra Roversi Focus on African Issues Example 2002 Example Simon Blondin Example Example 2003 Example Elodie Schindler Example Example 2004 Example Idaho Menu Example SC, Conference on Disarmament, WTO, UNDP, UNHCR 2005 28 February - 4 March David Lanz, Philipp Lustenberger Rethinking Globalization SC, Conference on Disarmament, UN Commission on Human Rights, ILO, UNHCR, WTO 2006 4–10 March David Lanz, Philipp Lustenberger One Step Ahead: modelling a reformed United NationsRobert TATERSALL (2 September 2006), CCHRE student at Geneva International Model United Nations (GIMUN) Example 2007 3–9 March Andreas Lehmann, Fabian Grass One Step Ahead: modelling a reformed United Nations Conference on Disarmament, ECOSOC, Human Rights Council, International Court of Justice, Peacebuilding Commission, Security Council (reformed, 24 members), UNHCR 2008 31 March - 4 April Raphael Vogel, Caterina Luciani Example SC, HRC, ECOSOC, UNCTAD, UNFCCC, WHO 2009 14–20 March Martin Staub, Faraz Merchant Humanitarian Intervention and the Responsibility to Protect SC, ECOSOC, HRC, GA6 (legal), Historic SC, UNEP 2010 13–19 March Martin Staub, Faraz Merchant 2011 12–18 March Carla Niedek, Alexandre Steullet Women and Development - Promoting a gender-balanced approach to development ethics General Assembly Sixth Committee, UN Women, Security Council, Historic Security Council, Human Rights Council, ECOSOC 2012 17–23 March Fanny Charmey, Alessia Anghileri Example Achieving Dialogue and Development through Cultural Diversity 2013 16–22 March Fanny Charmey, Alessia Anghileri Science for Peace and Development 2014 22–28 March Alexandre Stojanov, Quentin Nicaise Access to Energy 2015 21–27 March Jim Zouridis, Sandrine Chabbey Cross-border challenges and the new world architecture Security Council, Human Rights Council, ECOSOC, International Organization for Migration, Sixth Committee (Legal), WHO 202104-7 MarchErin Hayes, Sarah-Luna MonginPriorities in the new age: reshaping the futureSecurity Council, Economic and Financial Committee, World Health Organization, United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Human Rights Council202214–18 FebruaryDarius Harnisch, Nicolas CavadiniRestoring multilateralism in a fractured world: Questions that divide and matters that uniteSecurity Council, MUN Refugee Challenge, International Labour Organization, UN Human Rights Council, UNESCO, Historical Crisis Committee202313–17 FebruaryHibat-Allah Hably, Mathilda PradalAddressing conflicts and crisis: the new perspectives of the regional and international institutionsInternational Labour Organization (Host), Security Council, MUN Refugee Challenge, African Union, Organization of American States, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, International Court of Justice202412–16 FebruaryMatteo Dummar, Kara DjakouUnited in Diversity: Fostering Inclusion, Equity, and Cultural UnderstandingInternational Labour Organization (Host), Security Council, High Commissioner for Refugees, Arab League, International Criminal Court, Human Rights Council, International Court of Justice, Bicameral Crisis202510–14 FebruaryMaralmaa Natsag, Tomás Espinosa RojasNavigating Global Conflicts: Fostering Peace Through Multilateral Cooperation(Several Hosts): United Nations Offices Geneva, Graduate Institute, University of Geneva, World Intellectual Property Organization, World Trade Organisation, International Telecommunication Union. (Committees) United Nations Security Council, Historical International Telecommunication Union, International Court of Justice (in French), World Trade Committee, World Intellectual Property Organization, International Labour Organisation, United Nations Office For Disaster Risk Reduction, United Nations Human Rights Council, Bicameral Crisis

UN Day

To celebrate the anniversary of the entering into force of the United Nations Charter, GIMUN annually collaborates with the United Nations Office at Geneva to bring a conference entitled “UN Day”, organised on the 24 October. UN Day gives young people the opportunity to express their visions regarding a selected topic under an underarching theme, in one of various panels led by selected speakers who are specially invited for the occasion and specialised in the particular area of debate. In 2012, a special edition of UN Day was organised, in partnership with the Swiss National Youth Council SNYC, Youth Rep, and Junes, entitled "Decade". This was to commemorate the 10 year anniversary of Switzerland's adhesion to the United Nations.http://www.sajv.ch/media/medialibrary/2012/10/FINAL_REPORT.pdf DECADE – Une journée de commémoration et de célébration

Youth Perspectives

Youth Perspectives is a conference aimed at giving young adults the opportunity to exchange their points of view, negotiate contrasting perspectives, elaborate a common position and then develop a sustainable solution for various issues of contemporary international relations. By gathering young people with the purpose of sharing their ideas, the conference aims at reaching conclusions that reflect the position of youth on those matters. Due to GIMUN's Special Consultative Status, the outcomes of this conference have been submitted to the United Nations ECOSOC Ministerial Review.

Delegation Trip

Since 2009, GIMUN has organised educational trips, inviting students to visit a certain region of the world for a duration of between 1 and 2 weeks, to develop research on a particular theme of relevance to the United Nations mandate.

MUN Delegation