MANAMA, 15 February 2003 — About 190 young “diplomats” will attend the ninth annual Bahrain Model United Nations (Bahmun) next month, a newspaper reported yesterday.
The mock UN assembly, organized by the Rotary Club of Adliya with the support of Education Minister Dr. Majid Al-Nuaimi, will be held in Isa Town on March 2 and 3, according to the Gulf Daily News.
Dr. Khaled Alloush, UN resident coordinator and UNDP resident representative in Bahrain, will be the guest speaker at the opening ceremony.
“At Bahmun the youngsters will participate as delegates of different countries and they will discuss their countries’ views just as they do in the UN sessions,” said organizing committee chairperson Dr. Sajida Tabbara.
Students aged 15 to 18 years from government and private schools will take part.
The participants have been studying the countries they will represent at the assembly so that they will be well-informed to express their views.
“The main aim of Bahmun is to give students an opportunity to learn about world politics, social and economic challenges faced by the UN and countries and leaders around the world,” said Dr. Tabbara.
“They also acquire negotiating skills and learn how to be team players, in addition to acquiring linguistic skills.”
Schools have finished their training programs and have already submitted resolutions which will be put forward during Bahmun.
The delegates will form a general assembly, economic and social council and security council.
The proposed issues to be debated in the general assembly meetings are economic, social and political rights of women, treatment of refugees and asylum-seekers in Europe and the provision of and access to safe drinking water, especially in the developing world.
In the economic and social council, discussions will focus on HIV and AIDS, children and sustainable development.
The security council will discuss the situation in Kashmir, international war crimes tribunals and Afghanistan.
