When will registration for the MonWHO conference open and where do I find the registration form?
Registration for delegates will open January 1st, 2012. A registration hot button will appear on our homepage that will bring you to our registration form.
Who attends MonWHO?
Any student from any faculty with any major from any university can attend the MonWHO conference. Many of our delegates are students in health-related programs such as Medicine, Public Health, Medical Anthropology, Medical Sociology and Biology.
When does the MonWHO conference take place?
The conference takes place in March from a Friday to a Sunday. The specific dates are released on our website in September.
Does the conference have any fees?
There is a registration fee of $70 that covers your attendance to all workshops and speakers, participation as a delegate in the simulation for the weekend, the opening banquet, Saturday and Sunday breakfasts, and coffee and tea for the weekend. The Saturday night social is not included but is subsidized by the Secretariat. Tickets will become available in February.
Do I need to find my own hotel to stay at?
As part of the registration process, you will have the opportunity to register to stay at the hotel near where the simulation is held, for the weekend.
Can I pick who I am sharing the hotel room with?
Yes, you can specify who you would like to room with when you register to stay at the hotel.
Do I have to stay at the hotel in order to attend the conference?
No, you do not. We do recommend that delegates stay in the downtown area to make it easier for them to get to and from the conference.
Are there options available other than representing a country at the simulation?
Yes, there are. In addition to registering to be the ambassador to the WHO of a specific country, participants can also register to be a journalist as part of the MonWHO media team, to represent a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) or to act as a representative of a pharmaceutical or medical supplies company.
Can a group of people represent a single country/NGO/company?
No, each delegate must represent a different country/NGO/company.
How does the conference work?
Basically, country delegates are divided into 4 regional blocks for the first half of the conference, where they have the chance to debate with their colleagues, form alliances, and draft their version of a Charter of Refugee Health. NGO delegates, Pharmaceutical delegates and Media delegates are allowed to participate in all of the different regional blocks, and are encouraged to form alliances with countries to help further their ideas of what elements should be included in the Charter. All delegates come together for the final portion of the conference in order to combine the different Charters they have drafted in the goal of creating a single Charter that is voted on and passed by the majority of Country delegates.
Are there other ways for me to participate in the conference without being a delegate?
Yes. Several Chair and Vice-Chair positions are available to volunteers during the conference. These positions require an intermediate knowledge of debating rules as they will be required to moderate the debates. Applications to be a Chair or Vice-Chair will be available on the website as of January.
Do I need to know debating rules or to have taken part in a model UN conference before in order to participate in this conference?
No. MonWHO accepts all delegates who have an interest in global health, regardless of prior debating experience. Prior to the conference, debating training videos will be posted on our website, and we will offer delegates a brief in-person training session at the beginning of the conference.
What is this year’s theme?
This year’s theme will be Refugee Health.
What is the goal of this year’s conference?
The goal of the conference is to draft a Charter of Refugee Health that is accepted and voted on by a majority of the country delegates. After the conference, this Charter will be sent to the real WHO.
What do I need to do to prepare for this year’s conference?
Delegates are expected to research their country’s relevant health policies on this year’s conference theme, “Refugee Health”. Delegates will be required to submit a one-page position paper that briefly outlines the refugee context in their country, their country’s allies and enemies specific to refugee health, and what future direction their country is moving towards in terms of affording health care for refugee populations.
As the conference date approaches, we will make available to you, through our website, several documents that will help you prepare for the conference. These documents will include a background guide that will provide you with information regarding this year’s theme, a document describing what to expect at a MonWHO conference, and our rules of procedure document (which is complemented by short training videos), meant to orient you to the language and procedures of debate and resolutions writing. In addition, we host training sessions for delegates before committee sessions begin.
