Model United Nations: NUML students conclude global deliberations

ISLAMABAD: The two-day National University of Modern Languages Model United Nations (NMUN) Conference concluded on Sunday with students getting a taste of observing diplomatic posturing amid highly charged political debates.

The NMUN Conference comprised five committees, a secretariat, one president, two chairs and 165 delegates.

The last day of NMUN included rigorous sessions of debates in five different mock committees of NMUN: the Security Council (SC), Human Rights Council (HRC), United Nations Development Fund for Women, United Nations Disarmament and International Security Committee, Social, Cultural and Humanitarian Committee.

The delegates from each committee raised arguments on issues ranging from world peace and conflict to human rights abuses, globalisation and humanitarian aid.

The student delegates representing HRC came up with the recommendations that “there should be strict implementation of laws regarding violence against women, especially sexual harassment, honour killings and other forms of domestic violence” in the member states.

The SC mock-committee, chaired by Rana Sarfraz and Rida Tanveer, divided in two blocks, the allied and axis. They came up with resolutions that the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and International Security Assistance Force should agree to have a gradual and strategic withdrawal from Afghanistan completely.

NUML Rector Major General (retired) Masood Hasan addressed the closing ceremony and said events such as NMUN are very important for the youth. Hasan said the youth carries the weight of expectations for the future of Pakistan.

Saima Umer, a lecturer at NUML’s Multan campus, said the event was enlightening and informative for both delegates and faculty members. Umer said it provided a way of building confidence and interaction among students to sharpen their presentation and public speaking skills.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 25^th, 2013.