United Nations

 For information only - not an official document

UNIS/VIC/213
26 July 2017

Young aspiring diplomats to discuss world issues at 23rd Vienna International Model United Nations (VIMUN)

VIENNA, 26 July (UN Information Service) - Students and young graduates between the ages of 18 and 35 will put their diplomatic skills to the test when they meet in Vienna for an annual United Nations simulation exercise.

About 250 students from more than 40 nations will participate in this year's Vienna International Model United Nations (VIMUN) to be held from 30 July to 3 August 2017 at the Vienna International Centre (VIC).

The following topics will be discussed in five different committees during VIMUN 2017:

• Disarmament and International Security: "Cyber Security and Digitalization"
• Human Rights Council (HRC): "Preventing Violence and Discrimination based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity"
• Security Council: "The Situation in South Sudan"
• United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) - Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice: "Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling"
• World Trade Organization (WTO): "Sustainable Energy as a Boost for Growth"

While simulating the role of a diplomat of a country other than their own and negotiating on its behalf, the students and young graduates not only get an insight into a UN diplomat's work and make practical use of their political knowledge, but also develop leadership, research, writing, public-speaking and problem-solving skills and gain experience in consensus building, conflict resolution and cooperation.

VIMUN 2017 has been prepared by a team of student volunteer from different fields and countries under the guidance of the President of the United Nations Youth and Student Association of Austria - Academic Forum for Foreign Affairs (UNYSA-AUSTRIA-AFA), Michael F. Pfeifer. The Deputy to the Director of UNIS Vienna, Sonja Wintersberger, will speak at the opening of the conference.

The simulation conference, which is part of a worldwide series of Model United Nations (MUN) meetings, is organized by the United Nations Youth and Student Association of Austria - Academic Forum for Foreign Affairs (UNYSA-AUSTRIA-AFA) and hosted by the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV).

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Media representatives are invited to cover the event, including the opening session on 31 July. Those who are not already accredited to the VIC should email to press[at]unvienna.org by Friday, 28 July, noon for accreditation.

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For further information, please contact:
Maria Naderhirn
NGO/CSO Liaison, UNIS Vienna
Telephone: (+43-1) 26060-3324
Email: maria.naderhirn[at]unvienna.org

or

Michael F. Pfeifer
President, UNYSA-AUSTRIA-AFA
Mobile: (+43-664) 233 32 72
Email: vimun[at]afa.at
Website: http://www.vimun.org or http://afa.at