For information only - not an official document

UNIS/VIC/187
2 August 2012

Students and Young Graduates Practice Diplomatic Skills
at Vienna International Model United Nations (VIMUN) 2012

VIENNA, 2 August (UN Information Service) - Students and young graduates between 18-35 years will put their diplomatic skills to the test when discussing issues ranging from human trafficking to nuclear waste management when they meet here 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 5 to 9 August 2012 at the Vienna International Centre (VIC).

Organized by the United Nations Youth and Student Association of Austria and hosted by the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV), VIMUN 2012 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 real UN conferences.

Apart from a focus on urgent political crisis situations through simulating UN Security Council actions the main areas of work will include: establishing mechanisms to ensure freedom of the media; human trafficking and migrant smuggling; improving terms of trade for developing countries; sustainable nuclear waste management; and drinking water for Sub-Saharan Africa as part of reaching Millenium Development Goal No. 7.

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, 6 August 2012, the VIMUN Secretary General will welcome the guests from around the world. Stefan Weinhofer, a student of International Relations from Vienna, will this year fill this important position. The Director of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) Vienna, Janos Tisovszky will serve as the honorary speaker for this year's event and will welcome the young delegates on behalf of the United Nations to the Vienna International Centre..

The VIMUN 2012 is part of the world wide series of Model United Nations meetings. In addition to those conferences, a Model UN Workshop is being organized by the United Nations Department of Public Information (UNDPI) from 27-29 August 2012 at UN Headquarters in New York. This workshop aims to provide student leaders who are actively involved in organizing Model UN programmes at the university level around the world with a deeper understanding of how the General Assembly operates.

* *** *

For further information, please contact:

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

or

Stefan Weinhofer
Secretary General, Vienna International Model United Nations (VIMUN)
Mobile: (+43-699) 1196-3282
Email: vimun[at]afa.at
Website: http://www.vimun.org or http://www.modelun.at or http://afa.at