SAIMUN Model United Nations

This past weekend the 4^th annual SAIMUN Model United Nations conference took place in District 7. The three day conference brings together student delegates from across Ho Chi Minh City, and even from as far afield as Phnom Penh in Cambodia.
 

The students represent nations across the globe on issues that are a pressing concern for all of us: women’s rights in South Asia; global climate change; Combatting sea piracy; fighting drug cartels in Latin America and dealing with current global conflicts in Sudan and Syria. These wide ranging topics were debated across 5 different diplomatic councils: The General Assembly; Environmental council; the Economic and Social council; Human Rights council and The Security council.

 

All of the delegates knew it was going to be a challenging conference and as always the debate was impassioned, the speeches thoughtful and lucid and the resolutions thorough and robustly tested. Through collaboration in lobbying and submitting resolutions, debating on amendments, making persuasive and often pointed speeches and asking insightful points of information (POIs) the conference succeeded in its goal to discuss and propose viable solutions to the pressing problems we face in today’s world. The BIS delegation had delegates agreeing to act as the “main submitter” in every council; they were charged with proposing and taking responsibility for resolutions. Impressively, over half successfully passed their resolutions in the face of often fierce debate. No less than seven BIS delegates won accolades for their oratory skills and diplomacy, from “Most likely to be secretary general”, “Most passionate delegate” and “Most articulate delegate” through to the rather grand “Most likely to facilitate world peace”.

 

When the dust settled at the end of the conference on Sunday and the Secretary General brought proceedings to a close with the swift strike of her gavel all the students could be rightly proud of their efforts. They have demonstrated understanding of the issues, sensitivity, compassion, empathy and considerable speaking and debating skills. The collaboration, persistence and depth of thought demonstrated across all of the councils was inspiring, and both Mr. Gamwell and Miss Smith would like to congratulate all of the delegates for another fantastic MUN conference.