Join on WhatsApp
Join on Telegram
Ifrane, Morocco – From the 10th to the 12th of January 2014, Al Akhawayn University held the second edition of its AUI-High School Model United Nations Conference. The AUI Model United Nations (MUN) Club invited more than 100 high school students from different cities in Morocco, comprising 23 high schools.
The opening ceremony saw the privileged presence of Mr. Mohammed Belmahi, former ambassador of Morocco to London and India, who opened the event by sharing his experience regarding diplomacy and international relations. He addressed the participants, saying, “this event will allow you to be open to the world of politics and be potential ambassadors in the future.” Attendance at the event was highly encouraged by the president of Al Akhawayn University, Dr. Driss Ouaouicha, as well as the Dean of School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Dr. Messari Nizar.
This event was a simulation of the United Nations, which comprised four major committees: the World Health Organization (WHO), the Arab League, the Human Rights Council, and the Security Council. The main topic of the WHO committee was HIV/AIDS awareness, while for the Arab League, it was the Syrian civil war. The Security Council committee debated the Malian crisis, and the Human Rights Council discussed youth education in the third world.
Participants made tentative resolutions regarding the aforementioned international issues. This, however, would not have been achieved without the instructive training sessions delivered by the organizing committee members of AUI MUN Club. During these trainings, participants had the chance to gain knowledge about the rules of procedures in the UN, such as motions, point of order, formal debate, moderate caucus, and draft resolutions.
In the official sessions, the participants had great performances through instructive debates and eventually drafted creative resolutions regarding the issues. Chairmen (students who had mastered the UN rules of procedures) conducted these sessions and gave delegates professional guidance. An extract of the United Nations Human Rights Council resolution states, “Believing that countries could mutually help each other and cooperate in order to prosper, the establishment of development programs such as the ones in place in Qatar, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, and Czech Republic is necessary. These countries agreed to help other countries in need of developmental education programs such as Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Estonia, Maldives, Peru and Moldova.”
During the closing ceremony, both the university and parents expressed their admiration of this event. As for the participants and organizing committee members, they were handed certificates of appreciation. Dean Messari Nizar expressed his joy, declaring, “I am proud and surprised to see how the club sought to bring more than 100 potential delegates. If any of this is happening today, it is thanks to the hard work of the organizing committee members of the Club.”
This political event is considered to be the first of its kind at Al Akhawayn University. Because of the conference’s considerable success, the university and the MUN club have decided to organize this event on an annual basis.
Edited By Katrina Bushko
