HMUN (Harvard Model UN)

Harvard Model United Nations (HMUN) is one of the oldest and largest Model UN conferences for high school students, hosted annually in Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized by the Harvard International Relations Council (IRC), a student-run organization at Harvard University, and typically takes place over four days in late January or early February.

HMUN simulates a wide range of bodies, including:

• General Assembly committees (GA Plenary, DISEC, SOCHUM, SPECPOL, LEGAL, ECOFIN)
• ECOSOC and regional bodies (e.g., UNEP, WHO, UN-Habitat, regional economic commissions)
• Specialized agencies such as historical crisis cabinets, the Press Corps, and joint crisis committees
• Occasionally, Model ICJ and other adjudicative simulations

The conference draws thousands of delegates from dozens of countries, making it one of the most internationally attended MUN events in the world. Delegates submit position papers in advance, debate using a parliamentary procedure rulebook maintained by the IRC, and compete for awards including Best Delegate, Outstanding, and Honorable Mention, as well as the Best Large/Small Delegation cups.

HMUN's collegiate counterpart, Harvard World Model United Nations (WorldMUN), is a separate university-level conference hosted in a different host city each year in partnership with a local university. The IRC also runs Harvard Model Congress and HMUN China, HMUN India, and HMUN Latin America, extending the brand to regional high school audiences.

HMUN is generally regarded, alongside conferences like NHSMUN and Georgetown's NAIMUN, as a flagship circuit event in North American high school MUN. Its committees are known for substantive depth, detailed background guides, and an emphasis on diplomacy and substantive policy debate rather than pure crisis theatrics, though crisis committees are a significant part of the program. Proceeds from the conference help fund the IRC's outreach programming.