United Nations General Assembly (1956) Special Emergency Session
Approximately 70 Delegations - Double Delegate
Topic A: The Suez Crisis
Topic B: The Hungarian Revolution
Welcome to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for ILMUNC XLII! In this committee, delegates will confront two pivotal events of 1956: the Suez Crisis and the Hungarian Revolution. Both crises challenged the authority of the United Nations, exposed the deep divisions of the Cold War, and reshaped global power dynamics. Delegates will grapple with questions of sovereignty, intervention, and the balance between national interests and international peace. Through thoughtful debate and diplomatic collaboration, participants will work to craft resolutions that reflect the UN’s founding ideals: preserving peace, protecting independence, and promoting global stability in a time of unprecedented tension.
Dear Delegates,
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the United Nations General Assembly’s 1956 Special Emergency Session at ILMUNC. My name is Ben Binday, and I will serve as your moderator throughout this committee. Together, we will navigate two of the most urgent crises of the mid-20th century, occurring in the same year: the Suez Crisis and the Hungarian Revolution.
The UNGA holds a unique position as the most representative body of the United Nations, where every member state has a voice and a vote. During this extraordinary session, we will explore how the world responded to two simultaneous turning points: the confrontation in the Middle East over the control of the Suez Canal, and the uprising in Hungary challenging Soviet domination. Both moments tested the international system, revealed the limits of Cold War diplomacy, and raised enduring questions about sovereignty, intervention, and the role of the United Nations in maintaining peace.
Allow me to share a little bit about myself. I am currently a senior in the Penn’s College of Arts and Sciences studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics with minors in History and Spanish. I am the President of Penn’s International Affairs Association, and am therefore involved with both Penn’s competitive Model UN team and our organization which hosts an annual college Model UN conference. I’m a New York City native (and hate Philadelphia sports teams). I’ve enjoyed helping organize ILMUNC throughout my college experience, and I’m looking forward to doing so again this year. Outside of Model UN, I enjoy writing, journalism, playing tennis, and traveling.
My fellow chairs and I are looking forward to a dynamic and engaging weekend with you. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions as you prepare for the conference.
Sincerely,
Benjamin Binday
Moderator, UNGA 1956 Special Emergency Session
bbinday@sas.upenn.edu
Dear Delegates,
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the United Nations General Assembly’s 1956 Special Emergency Session at ILMUNC. My name is Enne Kim, and I will serve as your moderator throughout this committee, alongside Mariam ElNaggar and Benjamin Binday.
In 1956, two major crises challenged the international order and brought the UN General Assembly into a Special Emergency Session. The Suez Crisis began when Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal, sparking military intervention by the United Kingdom, France, and Israel, and raising tensions over colonial influence, freedom of navigation, and Cold War rivalries. At the same time, the Hungarian Revolution saw citizens rise up against Soviet domination, only to be crushed by a massive Soviet military response. This prompted debates on sovereignty, self-determination, and the limits of international action. Together, these events tested the UN’s ability to mediate global conflicts and address both decolonization and Cold War power struggles.
To briefly introduce myself, I am currently a senior majoring in International Relations and English. I am the Co-Editor in Chief of the Sigma Iota Rho (SIR) Journal of International Relations, serve on the Student Committee of Undergraduate Education (SCUE), and am the Co-Director of The Signal Society. I’m originally from Atlanta, Georgia, and my greatest passion in life is eating while traveling (favorite destination: Taiwan; favorite cuisine: Mexican or Korean or both). I’ve helped staff ILMUNC Special Emergency Sessions before, and I’m looking forward to doing so again this year.
My fellow chairs and I are looking forward to a dynamic and engaging weekend with you. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions as you prepare for the conference.
Sincerely,
Enne Kim
Moderator, UNGA 1956 Special Emergency Session
ennekim@sas.upenn.edu