United Nations

UNIS/INF/114
16 November 2005

Students to Discuss the Future of the United Nations after the 2005 World Summit

6th UNIS Students' Forum to Be Held on 17 November at the VIC

VIENNA, 16 November (UN Information Service) -- The United Nations Information Service (UNIS) Vienna, in collaboration with the City of Vienna and Vienna-based international organizations will hold its 6th International Students' Forum on Thursday, 17 November 2005, at the Vienna International Centre (VIC). This year, the event will bring together close to 60 senior university students studying law, economics, international relations, political sciences and journalism from the four countries serviced by UNIS: Austria, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia. The Forum will focus on the subject: "After the 2005 World Summit: Is the United Nations ready for renewal and action?"

Dr. Oskar Wawra, Director for International Relations, City of Vienna, will open the event at 10:00 hours on 17 November, after which participants will discuss the question "After the 2005 World Summit - is the glass at least half full?".  Melissa Fleming, Spokesperson of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), will speak on the topic: "What can Nobel Prize winner IAEA do to stop nuclear proliferation risks?" At a panel discussion from 12:15 to 13:30 hours, students will interact with representatives of Permanent Missions to the United Nations in Vienna from Austria, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia. The diplomats will give short statements from the perspective of United Nations Member States.

The entire programme of the UNIS Students' Forum is based on the information needs as expressed in an advance assessment by participating students. The students indicated particular interest in topics such as:

• Dealing with security threats;
• Priorities set at the 2005 World Summit;
• How to address terrorism more effectively;
• The Security Council and its reform;
• Decision-making process at the United Nations;
• How to improve the UN's "shattered image" in order to win back the vital support of the general public;
• United Nations interventions in global Human Rights and humanitarian help

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For further information, please contact:

Matjaz Strmcnik
Students' Forum Coordinator
Tel.: +43 1 26060 4233
Email: unis.practice@unvienna.org