Amity Educational Resource Centre( AERC) in support with UNESCO and UNInformation Centre for India and Bhutan started 5th “AmityInternational Model United Nations (AIMUN) Conference” from November 13 - 15,2014 at Amity University Campus, Sector-125, Noida.
Over 600 high school students from 40schools across Delhi/NCR and India and from 7 International schools located inFrance, South Africa, Slovakia, Italy, Maldives and Japan are participating inAIMUN 2014.
The Delegates, as part of AIMUN, are simulating the proceedings of8 Committees -GeneralAssembly (ECOFIN), United Nations Security Council (Crisis Session), HistoricalGA (Nov 1956), International Atomic Energy Agency, Economic and Social Council(ECOSOC), All Indian Political Meet, United Nations Human Rights Council(UNHRC) and Indian War Cabinet 2018 (Continuous crisissession), discussing various issues of global concern such as International Strategy for DisasterReduction, Sustainable Energy for All, ISIS, Suez Crisis International AtomicEnergy Agency, Nuclear terrorism, Iran's Nuclear Program Economic and SocialCouncil (ECOSOC), Drug trafficking and rise of informal money transfer systems,Strengthening Global Progress toward Sustainable Development through Innovationin Science and Technology, Woman Reservation, Police Reforms, Uses of UnmannedAerial Vehicles (Drones), Extrajudicial, Summary and Arbitrary Executions andBorder War with China.
Her Excellency Mrs. Darja Bandaz Kuret-Ambassador of Slovenia to India; Mr. Armoogum Parsuramen- Former Director,UNESCO, Ms Kiran Mehra-Kerpelman- Director, UNIC; Smt. Shovana Narayan -Kathak Guru, Padamshri and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee; Mr. Ashok Sajjanhar-Former Ambassador of India to Kazakhstan, Sweden and Latvia , Dr. (Mrs.) AmitaChauhan- Chairperson, Amity International Schools, Ms. Divya Chauhan,Chairperson, Amity Institute of Fashion Technology and Ms. Renu Singh-Principal, Amity International School, Noida inaugurated the AIMUN 2014.
Sharing her views and welcoming the guests and delegates, Ms. Jyoti Arora- Head, AmityEducational Resource Centre( AERC) said that the processof coming together and working together for AIMUN 2014 requires lot of patienceand hard work. MUN provides a platform to students from all across the world toexpress themselves and also enhance their knowledge of International Affairs.The idea is to develop global citizens for a better world.
Addressing the gathering,Her Excellency Mrs. Darja Bandaz Kuret- Ambassador of Slovenia to India thankedDr. (Mrs.) Amita Chauhan for the generous cooperation extended by her inforging alliances between Amity International Schools and Slovenian Schools.She remarked that 20th century witnessed a lot of violence andbloodshed during World War I and II, after which political leaders decided toset up a League of Nations to preserve peace and values but unfortunately, itdid not work. Then in 1945, the United Nations was founded by 51 countries committedto maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relationsamong nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and humanrights. She stressed that today’s youth is empowered with the numerousinformation sources and called upon them to take up the cudgels to disseminateand promote universal rights and values, thereby , making the planet a betterplace to live.
Dr. (Mrs.) Amita Chauhan- Chairperson,Amity International Schools outlined the history of AIMUN which was started by Amity Group ofSchools in association with Amity Education Resource Centre in 2010. Shehighlighted the difference that has been witnessed in students taking regularpart in National and International MUNs in terms of communication skills,leadership skills and their confidence. She stressed that MUNS help unearth theleader inside the youth, while equipping them with the skills to handle crisisthat lie en route to achieving the common goal of global peace and harmony. Shewished luck to all the delegates of AIMUN and encouraged them to give theirbest during the three day Conference
Ms Kiran Mehra-Kerpelman- Director, UNIC, while sharing her views,opined that MUNsare an effective and powerful way of disseminating the values promoted by UNsuch as peace, equality and diversity amongst the youth that sometimes tune outof values. She stressed that everybody has values; it depends upon what aperson is taught to value and what he chooses to value. She remarked that byplaying the role of Diplomats in MUNs, the youth try to understand thecomplexities and challenges of reaching a common resolution in variouscommittees of UN, which is indeed a gargantuan task. It makes them aware thatwhen they will stand for the rights of others then only India and rest of theworld would become a better place to live. She averred that MUNS are one of theeffective ways to engage the youth and aims to bring home the importance ofcooperation rather than discord, negotiations rather than grand rhetoric.
Smt. Shovana Narayan - Kathak Guru emphasized theimportance of sense of responsibility about one’s own actions rather thanpointing fingers at others. She stressed that last century has witnessed a lotof bloodshed but human beings should learn from their mistakes and wake uptheir inner conscious to promote world peace and integrity.
The Presidents and Chairpersons of all the Committees werepresented Gavels by the esteemed guests , marking the beginning of AMIMUN 2014.
Also present during the inauguration were Dr. Milos Kuret, Mr. BorisJelovsek-Plenipotentiary from Slovenian Embassy; Ms. Alessandra BertiniMalgarini- Director, Istituto- Italiano di Cultura di New Delhi; Ms. AliciaPadros, Head of Educational Services, Goethe-Institute; Ms. Ina Hoischen- PaschProject Head, Goethe Institute’s Headquarters in Munich; Mr. Mitrasen Bhikajee-UNESCO Regional Office for India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and SriLanka; MrSvätopluk Zeman-Slovakia; Mr. Kitamura, Manager of Ritsumeikan India Office andMrs Madhu Sajjanhar, wife of former Ambassador of Sweden.
Rafaha, a delegate from Aminiya School,Maldives representing Sudan in IAEA expressed her joy and excitement for firsttime participating in International MUN where she will be discussing about“Nuclear Terrorism and Iran’s Nuclear Program”, along with understanding thecross- culture sensitivities and traditions of other countries through fellowparticipants. Talking about her preparation, Rafaha said, “I have done thoroughresearch about Sudan for a month through, trying to comprehend the problemsfaced by the country and its people. Though, it is difficult to understand acountry and its problems in just a month but it is definitely, a good beginningto understand global issues and moot potential solutions to them.”
The Indian schools participating in the Conference include DPS Noida, Modern Public School,Barakhamba Road, Modern Public School, Shalimar Bagh, Indirapuram PublicSchool, Birla Vidya Niketan, Pushp Vihar, DPS International Pushp Vihar, DPS,Mathura Road, G D Goenka Vasant Kunj, Genesis Global, Noida, Presidium Gurgaonalong with all Amity International schools located in Gurgaon, Sector- 43 and46, Noida, Saket, Pushp Vihar, Mayur Vihar and Vasundhra etc.
On Friday November 14 2014 as part of the Conference , there will be cultural performances byForeign delegates who will showcase their respective cultures includinga “Concert” by 14 year old visually challenged Singer, Ms JaneConstance from Mauritius from 7:30 pm onwards at E 2 BlockAuditorium