St Joseph’s hosts Model UN

STUDENTS at St Joseph’s College Geelong have had a taste of international politics, with the college hosting its first Model United Nations General Assembly.

The college presented the Model UN event on Wednesday last week in association with the United Nations Association of Australia’s Victorian Division, with the students addressing the topic of “Zero Hunger: Addressing Global Poverty and Universal Food Security”.

 

The Model General Assembly is a simulation of the UN General Assembly, in which students represent member states of the UN.

St Joseph’s College Geelong director of community and development Kristen Gleeson said students from Catholic and independent schools across Geelong, Ballarat and Melbourne took part in last week’s event, stepping into the shoes of country ambassadors, and drawing on negotiation and diplomacy skills to ensure the views of their country were heard.

 

“Students presented their country’s position to the General Assembly, interacted with other delegates during the caucus sessions, and moved amendments to the clauses of a Draft UN Resolution.

“The Model General Assembly is an opportunity for students to learn about international relations, the UN system and important global issues, in an engaging, dynamic environment, while developing negotiation, conflict resolution and public speaking skills.”

Hundreds of thousands of students around the world take part in Model UN simulations each year, helping them to learn more about the principles of the UN and how it functions.

 

Many of today’s leaders in law, government, business and the arts – including at the UN itself – participated in Model UN as students, including former UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon; Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, King of the Netherlands; Stephen M. Schwebel, former judge and president of the International Court of Justice, and Hollywood actor Rainn Wilson.

So far this year, the United Nations Association of Australia Victora Division has supported 21 Model UN General Assemblies, involving 2,200 students and covering 10 topics.

For more information about Model UN, head to un.org/en/mun