Weeny WiMUN
Last half-term, the WiMUN team once again held the ever-popular "Weeny WiMUN"- an hour long lunchtime simulation of a real conference, aimed at getting young Year 10s and 11s involved in Model UN. Here, Katie Wharton writes about their experience.
After everyone enjoyed a school packed lunch, activity at the Weeny Wimun conference got of to a flying start. Lobbying began early in Human Rights and in the Security Council clauses were coming in thick and fast, and Secretaries from years 7, 8 and 9 began darting between the four committees with notes. In Security Council debate began with a clause submitted by the USA urging a training programme for UN peacekeepers regarding conflict related sexual violence be introduced. The delegates quickly got to grips with the roles of the P5 countries, including their right to veto, the necessity for abstention from P5 countries and the need for a two third majority for a clause to pass in Security Council. Points of information came from many different nations, including P5s Russia and the UK. France spoke eloquently against the clause submitted by the USA and this was followed by many insightful points of information, from both experienced Year 11 delegates and new comers from Year 9. After swift debate voting procedure commenced and the clause was passed.
Meanwhile in the Political committee, debate was in full swing over France’s clause proposing that member states should enforce a government censorship law, a surprise from France who are typically champions of free speech. Debate ran around the issues of journalist opinions and safety, bringing in the impact of the Charlie Hebdo attacks and whether censorship would have prevented such attacks by ‘hiding’ controversial opinions. This clause from France passed with an overwhelming majority.
In Human Rights the issue of access to education was being debated. In their clause DPRK condemned the development of mixed schools stressing the importance of gender segregation in eduction, however, debate got a little confused and instead the floor was given to Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Arabian delegate proposed that girls from rural areas should be enrolled in education between 4 and 6. Countries raised the issues of the practicalities of enforcing this and some nations even suggested they didn’t want girls to go to school at all. After some fruitful debate the clause sadly failed.
Next door, the Health committee had a small number of delegates but debate was not hampered by this as all the delegates were keen to speak. They were tackling the complex issue of how to combat malaria and Australia proposed member states make mosquito nets available to suffering countries. The Australian delegate was challenged with how the UN would deliver and transport the nets to rural villages and Mrs Clark provided some useful advice on ways to reply to a question like this.
Meanwhile, the delegates of the Security Council and specifically the P5 members experienced a caucus, which is when France, Russia, the UK, the US and China exit the room if one has a veto concern and to discuss amendments to the clause. After this all delegates continued in debate and a clause was submitted by Ethiopia, a new face to MUN from Year 9, in regards to the need for the UN to maintain peace and stability in member states even once a peacekeeping mission is over. Sadly, this clause failed which led to the one sad clamp, a signature of the Security Council, ringing out in Room 11.
Overall, delegates, chairs and secretaries seemed to wholeheartedly enjoy the ‘Weeny WiMUN’ conference and it was clearly an important opportunity for everyone to get a flavour of the procedure at MUN ahead of our conference in July.