UNIVERSITY STUDENTS FROM 57 COUNTRIES TO MEET IN GENEVA FOR FIRST

ANNUAL GLOBAL MODEL UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE, 5 TO 7 AUGUST

In Lead-Up to Model UN Conference, Senior United Nations

Officials Prepare Student Delegates Worldwide, via Internet

On 5 August, more than 500 students will gather at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland to participate in the first annual Global Model United Nations (GMUN) conference, organized by the United Nations Department of Public Information.

In an open welcome letter to the delegates, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon thanked them for their commitment to the Organization’s objectives and ideals –- and said that without young peoples’ idealism “we would have a far more difficult time imagining and building a better world”.

The United Nations Department of Public Information has been planning the first conference of its kind for close to one year.  The event will bring together the best university-level students from Model United Nations programmes around the world to discuss the priority United Nations issues.  In future years, the Conference will rotate among other United Nations duty stations in various regions. This year’s conference is partially funded by a contribution from the Swiss Government.

At the inaugural Conference, the students will take on the challenging theme:  “The Millennium Developments Goals:  Lifting the Bottom Billion out of Poverty”.  They will simulate four of the Main Committees of the General Assembly:  First (Disarmament and International Security), Second (Economic and Financial), Third (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural), and Fourth (Special Political and Decolonization).

The Global Model United Nations Secretary-General, Hannah Moosa of South Africa, said that she hoped the experience of the conference leaves the delegates with a more accurate understanding of the workings of the United Nations, and inspires them to remain passionate and committed to making a positive contribution to humanity.  She urged them to remember that “there is power in knowledge, and by empowering yourself with this knowledge, you not only have the privilege, but also the responsibility to share this knowledge with those who are less fortunate”.

Students will come from all regions to represent 120 of the 192 Member States of the United Nations.  For the first time, students from different countries will form the delegation of one “GMUN” Member State.  To prepare for the conference within their delegations and committees, students have been using various Internet platforms and social networking sites such as TakingITGlobal and Facebook to communicate across regions to discuss their countries’ positions.

In addition, the Public Information Department produced a unique series of live video chats in which senior United Nations officials and diplomats briefed and interacted directly with the delegates on themes related to the committees, which they will represent in the conference.  The presenters discussed the structure and work of the General Assembly and its Main Committees, disarmament and development, the current financial crisis, human rights and the environment and women’s empowerment, and responded to questions -- in real time -- from students at their computers in dozens of countries around the world.

With the help of donations from the United Nations Foundation and the United Nations Federal Credit Fund, the Department of Public Information was able to support financially more than 30 students from developing and least developed countries, as well as Eastern European States, enabling them to participate in the conference by supporting their travel and/or accommodation.  A number of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) country offices also contributed to students’ participation.

The Department of Public Information has also worked closely with its United Nations Information Centres, which are represented in more than 60 countries worldwide, to increase the visibility of the conference and to promote it locally and profile the delegates.

Youth represent a top priority for the United Nations and a new generation of support.  By organizing this event annually, the United Nations hopes to create an alumni network of motivated and engaged young individuals to become involved in global issues and to participate in United Nations campaigns in the future.

For more information on the Global Model United Nations, please contact Yvonne Acosta, Chief, Education Outreach, Outreach Division, tel.:  +1 212 963 7214; e‑mail:  acostay@un.org; or Bill Yotive, Manager, Global Teaching and Learning Project, tel.:  +1 212 963 1400; e-mail:  yotive@un.org.

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For information media • not an official record