The 16th Vienna International Model United Nations (VIMUN), co-organized by the Academic Forum for Foreign Affairs (AFA) and the United Nations Information Service in Vienna (UNIS) concluded today at the Vienna International Centre (VIC).
During the four-day-conference over 200 students and young graduates from over 30 countries simulated negotiating different UN related topics such as the growing food insecurity or the rights of internally displaced persons in four UN bodies and two external discussion forums.
"The Model UN is an excellent initiative, I wish I would have had the chance to participate before joining the UN. You will soon recognize that the UN system can only be as effective as every member state. Please keep this in mind! ", honorary guest Wilfried Lütkenhorst, Managing Director of the Division of Regional Strategies and Field Operations of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) said in his address to delegates.
Representatives of the different committees introduced the resolutions produced on the final day at the General Assembly. Christopher Lehner, representative of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the simulation, thanked the organizers for arranging this week that offered him an overwhelming experience. "It was an honor to have been part of this session and I am already looking forward to the VIMUN 2011", he said.
UNIS Director Maher Nasser reminded delegates that they are not only the decision makers of tomorrow but also a powerful voice of today: "Your generation more than any other before you, has a global voice. New media are shaping the way individuals and organizations interact and act. You are able to generate ideas at a global level in real-time." The United Nations can only function with the support of the member states and particularly young people. Looking ahead at the summit of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to be held in New York in September, Nasser urged participants to support initiatives on the MDGs in their respective countries and be proactive themselves. There are excellent opportunities to get involved: the UN Citizen Ambassadors competition for example asks people to record a two-minute video telling world leaders what more they need to do to achieve the MDGs by 2015. Winners will be invited to UN headquarters in New York ( www.uncitizenambassadors.org). The UN recognizes young people as effective agents of change and urges youth to become advocates of UN topics. Maher Nasser invited those who have a chance to come to the UN in Vienna on 12 August to celebrate the start of the International Year of Youth - UNIS will provide free guided tours.
Participants to VIMUN did not only get an insight in the workings and activities of the UN, but also had the chance to explore the city of Vienna the including a meeting with major Michael Häupl and a reception at the Diplomatic Academy of Austria.
For Swiss student Benjamin Wyler, it was not the first Model UN conference, but his first participation in Vienna. "The most impressive moment here was, when I entered the Memorial Plaza here at the VIC for the first time", he said and added "This real-UN atmosphere makes the VIMUN unique!" As delegate who was representing the United States at the Human Rights Council, he was even awarded as best speaker at the Closing Ceremony.
