Mirror Magazine

Mirror Magazine

A diplomatic experience
“We the peoples of the United Nations are determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind...”

Once again the familiar lines of the Untied Nations Charter will pass through the lips of many a delegate at the 12th annual session of the Colombo Model Untied Nations conference.

This year the conference will be held from March 3 – 5 at The Overseas School of Colombo and at The Cinnamon Grand hotel. This conference will be one with the most number of participants ever! From Angola to Turkmenistan, delegates will role play and debate over topics ranging from the rights of Internally Displaced People to the situation in Morocco.

These programmes have existed for over 80 years, with the creation of the Model League of Nations in 1923. Its successor, the Model United Nations, was created immediately following the signing of the UN Charter in 1945. They were meant to provide students with experience in the world of diplomacy via a simulation of the functioning of the UN. In 1994, Sri Lanka joined the rapidly growing number of countries with an MUN programme, with the creation of the Colombo Model United Nations programme, initiated by The Overseas School of Colombo.

The programme tests several aspects of a student’s personality and skills. In caucusing, students will need to be patient with views contrary to their own, and be prepared to make small concessions, while identifying and striving for the greater goal. After caucusing, they will produce a resolution. This process tests their knowledge of current affairs, how they fit that knowledge into a particular viewpoint, and the way they think in coming up with a solution. When debating these resolutions, delegates will be tested on their skills of public speaking, intelligent use of questions to gain advantages in their positions, and their pace of thinking in responding to these questions. This prepares students for all walks of life by giving them greater confidence in themselves, and a broader outlook on the world they live in.

The conference is student-run, with Mr. Eric Beckett of The Overseas School of Colombo as its staff advisor. Each year’s committee or chairpersons (as they are better known) run the conference, and oversee debates and negotiations between delegates. This year’s committee comprises a group of enthusiastic, intelligent and vibrant teenagers from not only The Overseas School, but also from Holy Family Convent, Asian International School, Wesley College, Lyceum International, Colombo International School and The British School in Colombo.

This group of youngsters has spent the last six months organising this conference. With Stefanie Zammit as the Secretary General, the organising committee comprises Shannon Misso, Yong Jung Chang, Muheed Jamaldeen, Rukshan Fernando, Jessica Evans, Annalie Wambeek, Kahil Nooramith, Manisha Hannan, Nikhil Suchitra, Sabrina Herft, Danbee Shin, Hong Youel Kim, Dinendri Indatissa, Peter Moses, Mudara Perera and Kaleesha Rajamantri.

The organising committee has decided to open the debate sessions to the public, so that family and friends may watch and recognise what a truly amazing experience COMUN truly is.

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