For information only - not an official document

UNIS/VIC/190
6 August 2013

Students and Young Graduates Practice Diplomatic Skills
at Vienna International Model United Nations (VIMUN) 2013

VIENNA, 6 August (UN Information Service) - Students and young graduates will put their diplomatic skills to the test when discussing issues ranging from human rights to the current European debt crisis when they meet at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) for an annual United Nations simulation exercise. About 250 students from more than 40 countries will participate in this year's Vienna International Model United Nations (VIMUN) to be held from 11 to 15 August 2013.

Organized by the United Nations Youth and Student Association of Austria and hosted by the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV), the VIMUN 2013 will see the students and young graduates assume the role of a diplomat of a foreign country and negotiate on their behalf. The rules of procedure are similar to those used in UN conferences.

Apart from simulating UN Security Council action on political crisis, the main areas of work will include: the relevance of human rights in the 21 st century; illicit nuclear trafficking; the prevalence of the use of alcohol; the sovereign debt crisis as well as local topics.  

While simulating the roles of delegates the students develop leadership skills as well as research, writing, public speaking and problem solving skills. Assuming the role of a diplomat the participants gain experience in consensus building, conflict resolution and cooperation. The best delegates will be given an award at the closing ceremony of the conference.

In the opening ceremony on Monday, 12 August 2013 at 10am, VIMUN Secretary-General Mathias Hörlesberger will welcome the guests from around the world.

The VIMUN 2013 is part of a worldwide series of Model United Nations meetings. In addition to those conferences, a Model UN Workshop for organizers took place in July 2013 at the VIC. This workshop aimed at providing student leaders who are actively involved in organizing Model UN programmes with a deeper understanding of how the different UN entities operate.

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For further information, please contact:

Irene Höglinger-Neiva
Public Information Officer, UNIS Vienna
Telephone: (+43-1) 26060-4448
Email: irene.hoeglinger-neiva[at]unvienna.org

or

Mathias Hörlesberger
Secretary-General, Vienna International Model United Nations (VIMUN)
Mobile: (+43-664) 412 24 65
Email: vimun[at]afa.at
Website: http://www.vimun.org or http://www.modelun.at or http://afa.at