MANAMA, 14 March 2005 — Slovenia spearheaded a drive to pass a UN children’s rights resolution enlisting support from a powerful voting block consisting of Armenia, El Salvador, Palestine and France. Of course, all the delegates were high school students from Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, but it all happened at the Bahrain Model United Nations Conference held March 10-11.
Eight Dhahran Ahliya Girls School students took part in Bahrain’s largest high school simulation of the United Nations. In this event, held at Abdul Rahman Kanoo School, students are educated about environmental, humanitarian and economic issues. They debate their resolutions and analyze other students’ resolutions.
The Saudi girls were assigned to the Human Rights Committee and made a great impression with passionate opening speeches full of relevant and important facts. After the opening speeches, the delegates proceeded to lobby and merge their resolutions in true diplomatic fashion.
The delegates representing El Salvador, Abeer Arjah and Yasmine Al-Dawsari, mustered seven co-signers for their resolution on Internet abuse, which reached the floor for debate.
Model UN Resolution “Issue of Protecting the Rights of Children in War-Torn Countries,” was presented by the Slovenian delegation of Neda Sunaid and Lulu Al-Qahtani. The two honed their diplomatic skills while building a consensus, merging their resolution with the strongest clauses from the resolutions of Armenia, El Salvador, Palestine and France. It was passed by an overwhelming vote of 25-5.
Alternative energy sources were discussed along with the Kyoto Protocol and problems with nuclear energy. France, Belgium and El Salvador teamed up to submit “Reducing the Costs of Lifesaving Medicines for People Living in Underdeveloped Countries.”
The Belgian delegation, represented by Dhia Al-Mutairi and Dina Zeitoun from Dhahran Ahliya Girls School, played a key role in advancing the resolution, which also was passed with a large majority.
An excellent resolution on this same issue was submitted by Rotana Tarabzouni and Maha Al-Namari. It gained many co-signers, and though the resolution was not debated or voted upon due to time constraints, it was submitted to the table, reviewed and passed by the committee chairpersons.
The Model United Nations gives students a chance to develop leadership skills and voice their concerns while providing a valuable learning experience for all involved. The youthful diplomats may not be going to the UN headquarters any time soon, but with a little negotiation, a few concessions and a lot of lobbying — who knows?
