On April 29, during a Model UN (MUN) conference organized jointly by the United Nations Office (UNO) Yerevan and the Yerevan State Linguistic University, more than 30 students increased their knowledge of UN values and the importance of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons while honing their negotiation and communication skills.

The MUN was a simulation of the UN Security Council session dedicated to the issue of nuclear tests conducted by North Korea.

Students, as diplomats representing the positions of the 15 Security Council countries discussed and deliberated a resolution. Prior to the MUN Conference, training sessions were held to further educate the participants on the UN global agenda, the functions and structure of the UN Security Council as well as its Rules of Procedures.

UNO staff, former UNO volunteers with extensive MUN experience, as well as a trainer from the Armenian UN Association, guided the participants through the preparation period, while two distinguished diplomats delivered lectures on the issue being simulated.

The students learned more about the leading role of the UN and its Security Council on the UN agenda issue of non-proliferation and North Korea. They understood what a huge responsibility it is to prepare their respective country’s position, properly voice it, negotiate, and find a common ground with other states, while taking into account possible consequences not just for their country and the region, but for the whole planet. The ability to negotiate, compromise, build consensus and tolerate other points of view, was unarguably useful for their future careers and will help them in becoming more active members of their society.

Maria Dotsenko, UNO Representative in Yerevan, Ambassador Vahram Kazhoyan, Head of the Department of International Organizations within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Lusine Fldjyan, Deputy Rector of the Yerevan State Linguistic University highlighted that MUN is a useful tool which helps youth to better understand the challenges of global UN agenda and role of UN in promoting peace and security. They were impressed by the passion and enthusiasm showed by the students and the efforts they had invested into research and presentations.

Students actively discussed the agenda issue and as a result, drafted a resolution which was successfully adopted. At the end of the session, participants received Certificates of Appreciation and the best delegate selected by the participants themselves received a symbolic award.

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The 22nd session of the World Model UN Conference, hosted for the first time in Australia, took place from 18-22 March in Melbourne. Over 2000 university student delegates from 80 countries participated in the Conference which was hosted by students from Monash University and RMIT University.

The Director of the UN Information Centre (UNIC) in Canberra, Chris Woodthorpe, delivered the Secretary-General’s message at the opening ceremony, urging delegates to “use the negotiating skills you learn in Model UN to help navigate the real-world problems we face.”

Delegates were also presented with the Secretary-General’s video message encouraging participation in the MYWorld survey and many delegates completed the survey during the course of the conference.

The opening ceremony also featured a message from UN ESCAP Executive Secretary Dr Noeleen Heyzer, and a video message from Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

Mr Woodthorpe later addressed the High Level Youth Summit on the Millennium Development Goals (MDG Committee). Comprised of 20 delegates, an AusAID mentor and members of NGOs, the MDG Committee considered the progress of the MDGs and issued a Declaration outlining its vision for the post-2015 global development agenda.

The third annual Budapest International Model United Nations (BIMUN) opened its doors to 400 delegates from 25 countries for a five-day long conference in beautiful Budapest, the capital of Hungary. High school and university students from every corner of the world gathered at the Eötvös József Secondary School, one of the most prestigious secondary schools in Hungary, where the committee sessions took place.

As Iván Bába, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Hungary said in his opening speech, participating in the BIMUN would provide an opportunity to gain experience of how international forums operate, the complexity of the global agenda and the interrelated nature of national interests. At the opening ceremony, the Deputy Mayor of Budapest Miklós Csomós, warmly welcomed all participants to the city, and emphasized the importance of BIMUN and education in general talking proudly of great Hungarians who were once enrolled in Eötvös József Secondary School.

Then János Tisovszky, the Director of the UN Information Service (UNIS) Vienna inspired the audience with his opening address. The Director highlighted that every year 100,000 students take part in Model UNs who are not just leaders of tomorrow but leaders of today. He said that this generation is at home in a world of diversity and able to understand how to transcend cross-cultural differences. Mr. Tisovszky mentioned that working for and with youth is one of the five key priorities of the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon demonstrated by his recent appointment of the first-ever United Nations Envoy for Youth, Ahmad Alhendawi from Jordan and by the deepening of the focus on youth by existing UN programmes on employment, political inclusion, protection of rights and education. He added that besides recognising the general importance of education, the UN aims to ensure that children are enroled in schools and also get quality education.

This year the topics under negotiations during the BIMUN 2013 ranged from possible measures to resolve the long-term and complex dispute between Pakistan and India; achievement of complete transparency on military expenditures,; the economic and financial effects of trade embargos; finding an effective solution to reach the Millennium Development Goal no. 6. on combating HIV/AIDS, Malarai and other diseases without using anti-homosexuality legislation; assessment of the relevance of the 2005 General Assembly resolution on the Responsibility to Protect; the future and possible resolution of the World Trade Organization Doha round; moral aspects of genetic engineering and cloning; to the question of euthanasia, giving the participants the change to understand negotiations, conflict, compromises and work towards  peaceful solutions of our global challenges.

At the invitation of the United Nations Association (UNA) Austria, in cooperation with the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) Vienna, the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) held its 2013 meeting of European UNAs on 8-9 April at the Vienna International Center (VIC). This was the first time the regular European regional meeting of WFUNA took place at the Vienna Headquarters of the UN.

The meeting titled “The Contribution of the Vienna-Based UN Organizations to Human  Security” was attended by UNA representatives from Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Norway and Sweden, as well as from Slovakia in an observer status.

Participants were briefed by UN officials on the work and challenges of their respective organization in view of human security. The meeting furthermore provided a platform for discussion on joint projects and questions of common concern.

WFUNA Secretary-General Bonian Golmohammadi and UNIS Vienna Director, Janos Tisovszky welcomed the participants and opened the meeting. Janos Tisovszky highlighted the special relevance of the UN in Vienna to European audiences, and UNAs as key partners in promoting the work of the United Nations.

UNODC Deputy Executive Director Sandeep Chawla welcomed the participants on behalf of the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna, Mr. Yury Fedotov. He then gave a detailed outline of some of the strengths and challenges of the UN´s work on countering crime and drug trafficking, and pointed to the paradigm shifts and challenges related to the notions of national and human security.

Serge Gas, Director at the Division of Public Information of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), highlighted IAEA’s work on the development of safety standards. He furthermore referred to the importance of the IAEA research facilities. 

Benedikt Mandl from the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) explained the work and the structure of the Commission, and outlined the Commission’s work in relation to water as a key to human security which had special relevance as 2013 was the international year of water cooperation.

Lassina Zerbo, Director of International Data Center and Executive Secretary-elect at the Preparatory Commission of the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), and Spokesperson Annika Thunborg, gave an overview of CTBTO’s activities and insight into CTBTO’s unique data gathering system. The participants were also taken on a visit to CTBTO’s Operation Centre and roof-top radionuclide station.

Mazian Othmann, Deputy Director-General at UNOV and Director at the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and Romana Kofler, highlighted the work and efforts of their office to bring the benefits of space to humankind as well as  briefed on some of the key current space exploration challenges the Office was dealing with.

The participants of the meeting were invited to a lunch reception by H.E. Christine Stix-Hackl, Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations in Vienna.