History of YMUN LATAM

Yale Model United Nations Latin America (YMUN LATAM) was founded in 2023 as a constituent program of the Yale International Relations Association (YIRA). Created to expand access to high-quality Model United Nations opportunities throughout Latin America and beyond, YMUN LATAM brings together students from diverse backgrounds to engage with some of the world's most pressing political, social, economic, and environmental challenges.

Over the course of three days, delegates participate in rigorous committee sessions led by Yale undergraduate students, developing skills in public speaking, diplomacy, negotiation, critical thinking, and collaborative problem-solving. Through debate and dialogue, delegates also gain a deeper understanding of international affairs while building lasting connections with peers from across the region and around the world.

The inaugural edition of YMUN LATAM was held in São Paulo, Brazil, in 2024, welcoming more than 700 delegates and advisors. Since then, the conference has expanded its geographic reach and impact, bringing together students from an increasing number of schools and countries each year. By 2026, YMUN LATAM welcomed over 600 delegates and advisors representing 96 schools and 11 countries, making it the largest YMUN international conference to date.

As YMUN LATAM continues to grow, its mission remains unchanged: to empower the next generation of leaders through meaningful dialogue, global engagement, and educational excellence.

YMUN LATAM III (2026)

YMUN LATAM III (2026)

2026 Delegate Guide

YMUN LATAM III — Mexico City, MExico

The third edition of Yale Model United Nations Latin America was held in Santa Fe, Mexico City, Mexico, in May 2026. Hosted in partnership with Crimson Education and PrepaTec, YMUN LATAM III welcomed more than 600 delegates and advisors from 96 schools across 11 countries, including Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States, Peru, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Norway, Brazil, Australia, and South Korea. The conference was also sponsored by and received support from the Yale MacMillan Center's Council on Latin American and Iberian Studies (CLAIS) and Sainz Abogados.

Delegates examined topics ranging from international security, public health, and sustainable development to artificial intelligence, digital governance, environmental protection, and emerging technologies. Specialized committees explored historical and future-oriented scenarios, including the Cuban Missile Crisis, the 1964 Brazilian Coup d'État, a regional energy crisis, and the establishment of humanity's first lunar colony.

The conference featured distinguished speakers from government, academia, and public service, including Federal Deputy Margarita Zavala, former Foreign Minister of Mexico Jorge Castañeda Gutman, and Tecnológico de Monterrey professor Xóchitl Pimienta Franco. In addition to committee sessions, delegates participated in workshops, a Community Partner Engagement Fair, a Yale Undergraduate Panel, a College Admissions Panel hosted by Crimson Education, and a Delegate Dance, creating opportunities for learning, professional development, and cultural exchange.

YMUN LATAM III represented a significant milestone in the conference's history, expanding its international reach while reaffirming its commitment to academic excellence, meaningful dialogue, and leadership development.

Yale Secretariat

  • Secretary-General: Yoselin Colin (‘27)

  • Director-General of Committees: Matheus Nucci Mascarenhas (‘28)

  • Director-General of Operations: Sophia Li (‘27)

  • Under-Secretaries-General of Branding: Matthew Chen (‘27) and Andy Tan (‘27)

  • Under-Secretaries-General of Delegations: Gabriella Tejada (‘28) and Samantha Álvarez (‘28)

  • Under-Secretaries-General of Committees: Hannah Engel (‘29) and Darren Paredes (‘29)

  • Under-Secretary General of Outreach: Edmundo Chavez Ramirez (‘28)

  • Under-Secretary General of Conference: Leonardo Ladeira (‘28)

  • Directors: Constantine Semka (‘28), Paige Mahoney (‘28), Reyna Diamond (‘28), and Julia Clauson (‘29)

Assistant Secretaries-General

  • ASG Branding: Roberto Gael Sánchez Olguín

  • ASG Delegations: Jubin Kim, Isabela Lima Wiedemann, and Eduardo Lacerda Prates

Committees

General Assembly

  • DISEC (Spanish)

    • Director: Constantine Semka

    • Assistant Directors: Abraham Santiago Bañuelos Avalos & Ximena Pérez Gómez

    • Tema 1: Espionaje y Seguridad Internacional

    • Tema 2: Prevención de la Proliferación de Tecnología de Misiles

  • SPECPOL

    • Director: Reyna Diamond

    • Assistant Directors: Abril Valdés Calva & Luciana Maydon Keller

    • Topic 1: Establishing International Mechanisms for Cultural Artifact

    • Topic 2: Evaluating Permanent Olympic Host Nations

  • UNHRC

    • Director: Samantha Alvarez

    • Assistant Directors: Antonella Ardila Grillo & Jesús Emiliano Retama López

    • Topic 1: Re-evaluating the 1951 Refugee Convention in the Modern Era

    • Topic 2: Developing International Frameworks to Combat Gender-Based Violence

  • UNODC

    • Director: Darren Paredes

    • Assistant Directors: Regina Espínola Limón & Ana Lucía Reyes Casaopriego

    • Topic 1: Combating the Global Trade of Counterfeit Goods

    • Topic 2: Addressing the Global Threats Posed by Deepfake Technology

  • WHO

    • Director: Edmundo Chavez Ramirez

    • Assistant Directors: Valeria Castillo Hernández & Eduardo Lacerda Prates

    • Topic 1: Strengthening Global Preparedness for Future Pandemics

    • Topic 2: Regulating the Application of Biotechnology in Medicine

Economic and Social Councils

  • UNDP

    • Director: Julia Clauson

    • Assistant Directors: Mary Fernanda Tavares Galarza & Nayura Echeverria Rojas

    • Topic 1: Promoting Gender Equality in Sustainable Development

    • Topic 2: Measures to Improve Youth Employment Opportunities

  • UNEP

    • Director: Gabriella Tejada

    • Assistant Directors: Leo Flores Osnaya & Jubin Kim

    • Topic 1: Safeguarding and Restoring Natural Habitats

    • Topic 2: Mitigating Disaster Risks in Vulnerable Region

  • CSTD

    • Director: Matthew Chen

    • Assistant Directors: Francisco Hernández Vargas & Frida Camila Lucio Jimenez

    • Topic 1: Promoting Digital Connectivity in Rural Regions

    • Topic 2: Integrating Artificial Intelligence in Public Governance

  • UNCTAD

    • Director: Andy Tan

    • Assistant Directors: Antonella Bautista Aguilar & Abril Cornejo

    • Topic 1: Improving Sustainable Tourism Practices

    • Topic 2: Equitable Access to Digital Markets

Crisis and Specialized Committees

  • Operation Moonfall: The First Lunar Colony

    • Director: Hannah Engel

    • Assistant Directors: Xaviera Nazare Diez Canseco Chavez & Tami Natalia Hiromoto Marin

    • Topic 1: Resource Distribution: Creating an Equitable Moon Community

    • Topic 2: Alien Contact & Colony Safety: Crafting Protocols for Extraterrestrial Risk

  • Energy Crisis in South America

    • Director: Leonardo Ladeira

    • Assistant Directors: Isabela Lima Wiedemann & Vitor Samartini Souza do Carmo

    • Topic 1: Blackouts, Rationing, and Political Stability

    • Topic 2: Energy Diplomacy and Geopolitical Conflicts

  • Historical Security Council

    • Director: Paige Mahoney

    • Assistant Directors: Lucas Canfran Vaz & Melany Fayed Cervantes Espinoza

    • Topic 1: The 1964 Brazilian Coup d'Etat

    • Topic 2: The Cuban Missile Crisis

A comprehensive delegate guide of the 2026 conference can be found in the button below!

YMUN LATAM II (2025)

YMUN LATAM II (2025)

YMUN LATAM II — Mexico City, MExico

The second edition of Yale Model United Nations Latin America was held in Santa Fe, Mexico City, Mexico, in May 2025. Hosted in partnership with Crimson Education and PrepaTec, YMUN LATAM II welcomed more than 500 delegates and advisors from 79 schools across six countries: Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Costa Rica, Argentina, and Ecuador.

Building on the success of its inaugural conference, YMUN LATAM II expanded opportunities for students to engage in rigorous debate, collaborative problem-solving, and cross-cultural exchange. Delegates explored a wide range of contemporary global and regional issues, including climate displacement, artificial intelligence, economic sustainability, organized crime, and Cold War politics in Latin America. Through committee sessions led by Yale undergraduate students, delegates developed their skills in diplomacy, public speaking, negotiation, and critical analysis.

The conference featured distinguished keynote speakers, including Ambassador Miguel Ruiz Cabañas Izquierdo and OECD consultant Alejandro Solchaga. In addition to committee sessions, delegates participated in workshops, a Yale Undergraduate Panel, a College Admissions Panel hosted by Crimson Education, and a delegate dance.

Yale Secretariat

  • Secretary-General: Kate Foglesong (‘27)

  • Director-General of Committees: Samantha Moon (‘26)

  • Director-General of Operations: Elba Heddesheimer (‘27)

  • Under-Secretaries-General of Branding: Sophia Li (‘27) and Zitlali Garcia-Mondragon (‘28)

  • Under-Secretaries-General of Delegations: Sophia Brentlinger (‘27) and Deewa Rahim (‘27)

  • Under-Secretaries-General of Committees: Annie Gu (‘27) and Savan Parikh (‘28)

  • Under-Secretary General of Outreach: Lizzie Steeves (‘27)

  • Directors: Yoselin Colin (‘27), Gabriella Tejada (‘28), Matheus Nucci Mascarenhas (‘28), Suren Clark (‘28), and Ayden Lee (‘27)

Assistant Secretaries-General

  • ASG Delegations: Ícaro Teixeira Miranda Sena and Gabriela Buitrago Romero

  • ASG Branding: Halytza Dutra and Desiree Wong Rodriguez

Committees

General Assembly

  • SPECPOL

    • Director: Annie Gu

    • Assistant Directors: Maria Renee Lamoyi, Pablo Miñano

    • Topic 1: Foreign Influence/Investment in Latin America

    • Topic 2: Venezuelan Election Crisis

  • DISEC

    • Director: Sophia Brentlinger

    • Assistant Directors: Rubén Alcántar Rivera, Roberta Arenas Treviño

    • Topic 1: Space Without War

    • Topic 2: AI and Cyber Weapons

  • UNICEF

    • Director: Suren Clark

    • Assistant Directors: Eugenia Meneses Camacho, Elian Guerrero

    • Topic 1: Economic Support for Parents in Underdeveloped Countries

    • Topic 2: Impact of Climate Change on Children

  • ECOFIN

    • Director: Sophia Li

    • Assistant Directors: Maria Jose Lagunas, Camila Diaz

    • Topic 1: Economic Incentives for a Green Transition

    • Topic 2: Preparations for the Global Debt Crisis

Economic and Social Councils

  • CPD (Spanish)

    • Directora: Zitlali Garcia-Mondragon

    • Directores Adjuntos: Leonardo Garza Roldán, Regina Espínola Limón

    • Tema 1: Enfrentando Desigualdades Alimentarias

    • Topic 2: Preparando para el Desplazamiento Climatico

  • CESCR

    • Director: Gabriella Tejada

    • Assistant Directors: Ana Caroline Oliveria dos Santos, Leonardo Flores Osnaya

    • Topic 1: Protecting Indigenous Cultures and Rights against Extractive Industries

    • Topic 2: Promoting Health Equity in Manufacturing Cities

  • CSW

    • Director: Yoselin Colin

    • Assistant Directors: Alexa Gutierrez Arreola, Maria Eduarda de Lima Bastos

    • Topic 1: Gender-Based Violence

    • Topic 2: Combatting Human Trafficking and Forced Labor

  • CSTD

    • Director: Deewa Rahim

    • Assistant Directors: Gabriela Durán, Ana Julia Sanchez

    • Topic 1: Digital Inequality in Latin America

    • Topic 2: AI Misinformation

Crisis and Specialized Committees

  • Crisis in the Amazon, 2035

    • Director: Ayden Lee

    • Assistant Directors: Tomás Adrián Reátegui Espejo, Natália de Paula Oliveira

    • Topic 1: Rebuilding After Disaster

    • Topic 2: Climate Refugees and Regional Stability

  • Cuba in the Crosshairs: Cold War in Latin America, 1961

    • Director: Savan Parikh

    • Assistant Directors: Abraham Santiago Bañuelos Ávalos

    • Topic 1: Balancing Imperialism and Independence

      Topic 2: Addressing Internal Tensions

  • The PCC Uprising: Brazil’s Battle Against Organized Crime

    • Director: Matheus Nucci Mascarenhas

    • Assistant Directors: Lucas Araujo Faro Correa, Ysadora Monteiro de Araujo Azevedo

    • Topic 1: Restoring National Security: Capturing PCC Leaders and Reestablishing Order

    • Topic 2: Weakening Criminal Organizations Through Long-Term Socioeconomic Reform

  • Second Mexican Empire

    • Director: Elizabeth Steeves

    • Assistant Directors: Humberto A. Segura Ortiz, Isabela Lima Wiedemann

    • Topic 1: Founding an Empire

    • Topic 2: Combatting Foreign Interference

YMUN LATAM I (2024)

YMUN LATAM I (2024)

YMUN LATAM I — São Paulo, Brazil

The inaugural Yale Model United Nations Latin America conference was held in São Paulo, Brazil, in August 2024. In partnership with Crimson Education and hosted by Colégio Etapa and Faculdade ESEG–Grupo Etapa, the conference brought together more than 700 delegates and advisors for the first-ever YMUN conference in Latin America.

The conference featured a diverse selection of General Assembly, Economic and Social Council, and specialized/crisis committees, addressing topics ranging from environmental governance and indigenous rights to international security and regional political crises. Delegates also participated in workshops, a college admissions panel hosted by Crimson Education, a community fair, and a delegate dance.

Distinguished speakers included President of the Yale Club of Brazil Ya Ping Chang; Founder of Rede Mulher Empreendedora (RME) Ana Fontes; and Consul General of the United States in São Paulo Richard Glenn.

YMUN LATAM I established the foundation for what would become one of Yale's fastest-growing international Model United Nations conferences.

Yale Secretariat

  • Secretary-General: Sophia Chin McManus (‘26)

  • Director-General of Committees: Wei-Ting Shih (‘24)

  • Director-General of Operations: Samuel Bowles (‘25)

  • Under-Secretaries-General of Branding: Seung Min Baik Kang (‘26) and Karla Perdomo Núñez (‘26)

  • Under-Secretaries-General of Delegations: Felipe Tomaz Tancredo (‘27) and Yvonne Agyapong (‘26)

  • Under-Secretary General of Outreach: Madeleine Megal (‘25)

  • Under-Secretary General of Conference: Samad Hakani (‘26)

  • Under-Secretary General of Committees: Kate Foglesong (‘27)

  • Directors: Rafael Sousa (‘27), Clarissa Tan (‘26), Ingrid Rodríguez Vila (‘26), Zakira Bakhshi (‘26), Dylan Bober (‘26), and Henry Chen (‘26)

Assistant Secretaries-General

  • Halytza Dutra

  • Samuel Knijnik

  • Maria Fernanda Sant' Eufemia David Demarchi

Committees

General Assembly

  • DISEC

    • Director: Rafael Sousa

    • Assistant Directors: Victor Fernandes Más Bartolamei and Pietra Ferreira Yotsuya

    • Topic 1: Venezuelan-Guyanese Border Dispute

    • Topic 2: Ethiopian Regional Crisis

  • UNPFII

    • Director: Clarissa Tan

    • Assistant Directors: Isabela Violaro Bellini and Micaela Valentina Rivera Porras

    • Topic 1: Preserving Indigenous Ruins and Cultural Heritage

    • Topic 2: Protecting the Amazon Rainforest and its Communities

  • IMF

    • Director: Samad Hakani

    • Assistant Directors: Sofia Bollmann Piazza and Natália Oliveira

    • Topic 1: Financing Health Systems

    • Topic 2: Addressing the Argentine Economic Crisis

  • SOCHUM

    • Director: Kate Foglesong

    • Assistant Directors: Maria Clara Souza Rocha and Helena Miresh Kirtikumar

    • Topic 1: Combating the Effects of Brain Drain in Developing Countries

    • Topic 2: Eradicating Human Trafficking and Modern-day Slavery

  • UN Women

    • Director: Yvonne Agyapong

    • Assistant Directors: Carolina Pinheiro Flores and Maêva de Faria

    • Topic 1: Femicide in Latin America

    • Topic 2: Global Access to Menstruation Products

Economic and Social Councils

  • UNEP

    • Director: Zakira Bakshi

    • Assistant Directors: Allegra Sieh Ho and Maria Eduarda de Freitas Sales Pedroso

    • Topic 1: Promoting Environmental Governance and Multilateralism

    • Topic 2: Combating Climate-Induced Migration and Displacement

  • CCPCJ

    • Director: Dylan Bober

    • Assistant Directors: André Hiroki Matsudo Pinto and Maria Eduarda do Canto Menezes

    • Topic 1: Drug Trafficking

    • Topic 2: Money Laundering and Illicit Financial Flows

  • CELAC

    • Director: Henry Chen

    • Assistant Directors: Sofia Torres Ferreira Signorini and Isabel Tisselli Morisco

    • Topic 1: Improving Access to Quality Education

    • Topic 2: Sustainably Governing Natural Resources

Crisis and Specialized Committees

  • Operation Just Cause 1989

    • Director: Madeleine Megal

    • Assistant Directors: Caio Rodrigues Alves Knudsen and Mariana Moreno Redondo

    • Topic 1: Addressing Rising Tensions Between the US and Panama

    • Topic 2: Preserving Freedom in Panama

  • Assembleia Nacional Constituinte (1988) (Portuguese)

    • Director: Felipe Tancredo

    • Assistant Directors: Laura Oliveira De Carvalho and Angelica Zaneti Saegusa

    • Tópico 1: Instaurando um Regime Democrático

    • Tópico 2: Redigindo a Nova Constituição

  • JCC - Searching for Home: The U.S.-Mexico Border Crisis (Mexico)

    • Director: Seung Min Kang

    • Assistant Directors: Victoria Cipriani Lacerda and Mariana Lopes da Cunha Menossi Teixeira

    • Topic 1: Bricks, Buoys, and Bullets

    • Topic 2: Life on the Other Side

  • JCC - Searching for Home: The U.S.-Mexico Border Crisis (US)

    • Director: Karla Perdomo Núñez

    • Assistant Directors: Ícaro Teixeira Miranda Sena and Laura Frizzo Wilges

    • Topic 1: Bricks, Buoys, and Bullets

    • Topic 2: Life on the Other Side

  • The Spanish Civil War, 1936

    • Director: Ingrid Rodríguez Vila

    • Assistant Directors: Carolina Goldenberg Ayub and Amelia Elaine Martinez Cordones

    • Topic 1: Aftermath of the Spanish Civil War