School students hold Model United Nations

Some 35 elementary and secondary high school students from Rah-e-Roshd Educational Complex, in cooperation with the UN Information Centre (UNIC) and the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Tehran held a Model United Nations (MUN) conference simulating the 2016 UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants. The MUN exercise was held at the UN building on 16 May 2018, AVA Diplomatic reports.

UNIC Director Dr. Maria Dotsenko spoke about the usefulness of Model UN exercises.She quoted UN Secretary-General António Guterres:”At Model UN, you broaden your horizons. By learning and networking, you can be part of the UN’s efforts to establish peace, secure human rights and enable all people to live in dignity.”

A video message of the former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who was saluting and appreciating young students participating in a MUN session concerning global crisis was screened. MUN is a platform where Ban Ki-moon himself practiced leadership and diplomacy in his early age. Not only Ban Ki-moon but also other world leaders were Model UNers when they were youngsters.

The simulation committee, where 17 students, who played roles of UN Member States was chaired by a University of Tehran PhD Student of Economics Mr. Moslem Gholipour.

After making statements about the position of their respective countries, the participants had a round of hot debates, negotiations and lobbying and finally succeeded to adopt an agreement by issuing a resolution like the New York Declaration as a plan for addressing large movements of refugees and migrants.

A training was organized on My 13, 2018 to introduce the subject to the participants, train them to play their rolls as representatives of different countries as well as teach how to prepare their position papers.

UNIC Reference Assistant Ms. Nazanin Ghaemmaghami thanked Rah-e-Roshd authorities for their cooperation with UNIC in holding three different MUNs for school students in three years. She also thanked to the Amirsardari family, including Ms. Ronak Amirsardari who initiated this annual MUN. She also appreciated the hard work of Ms. Romina Amirsardari and Ms. Helia Mojahed Yazdi trained the Rah-e-Roshd students.

Sam Ahadi said: “Participation in an MUN provides us, students, with the opportunity to research on issue of global importance, while at the same time to learn about another country’s political and economic positions. We were encouraged to discuss, debate, and find consensus as well as strengthen our leadership skills.”

During the pre-session two UNHCR colleagues Associate Protection Officer Mr. Farshid Farzin and Assistant Protection (Community Based) Officer Mr. Hooman Marandi briefed the students on the issues related to refugees including the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees as well as 1967 Protocol.

At the end of the session, certificates and some gifts prepared by UNIC were given to the participants. The best delegates were also chosen.

The students were very happy and satisfied from the MUN and expressed that they learnt a lot during the preparatory sessions and the main exercise. They added that it was a great experience for them to come to the UN office twice.