Simulation Exercises Key to Strengthening Diplomats' Skills in Drafting and Adopting UN resolutions

15-16 April 2015, Geneva, Switzerland – Member States of the United Nations have, among other duties, the responsibility to suggest, discuss, draft, negotiate and adopt resolutions at the General Assembly, the Security Council as well as the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. Engaging in these various fora can be complicated if a diplomat is not informed about the rules of procedure and how to compromise in order to obtain the best possible outcome.

This workshop equipped participants with the ability to negotiate, draft and adopt resolutions in an efficient manner.

Participants were fortunate enough to be instructed by H.E. Jean-Marc Boulgaris – a former Swiss Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, with many years of experience in diplomacy. His Excellency was able to share his experience and intimate knowledge of negotiation processes within the UN, often drawing on past experiences that grounded the theoretical elements of the workshop in concrete practical examples.

Key to the workshop’s success were the simulation exercises led by H.E. Boulgaris. These immersive exercises placed participants in a situation where negotiation and compromise were the only means by which to adopt a resolution. One participant noted that the workshop was, “very useful for our day-to-day activities as diplomats”, whilst another commented that H.E. Boulgaris’ “experience and explanation were very good”.

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