04/11/2018
DPS_A_MUN 2018
‘The seeds of thought,if sown in childhood, serve to make alert citizens’
Delhi Public School -Bopal held the second edition of DPS-A-MUN in the school premises on 27 and 28 of October 2018. The conference was attended by 225 strong student delegation from 14 schools across Ahmedabad as well as two participating schools from across the globe. The delegates discussed a wide array of topics ranging fromr eviewing the situation in Yemen to the Appraisal of the United Nations Global plan of action to combat trafficking in humans.This was the second time the school opened its doors to the budding diplomats from across the city and the first time that the DPS-A-MUN went global.
The conference commenced with a grand opening ceremony. The Chief Guest, Mr Jatin Trivedi, the head of Y.J. Trivedi & Co and a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) graced the occasion. The MUN, this year, was conducted as part of the International School Award (ISA) accreditation program which is supported by the British Council. It is a program in which more than 200 Indian schools are enlisted and helps forge global bonds which transcend a single year or activity.
The chief guest, Mr. Jatin Trivedi, commended the students on being part of the MUN process that would serve them well in the future and enlightening them about the importance of foreign affairs. Principal Surender P. Sachdeva addressed the gathering, motivating the delegates while laying special emphasis on the need for being of global concerns as well as local ones. The delegates, all dressed in their formals, listened attentively to the message.
The stage was then taken by the student body which performs all functions for this event namely planning, ex*****on and reporting. The Under SecretaryGeneral Ms. Surabhi Menon addressed the gathering of young intellectuals. She emphasized the basic tenet of the Model United Nations everywhere, the importance of understanding rather than being understood. Finally, the Secretary General Ms. Kahinee Bhatt performed the much awaited act of striking the traditional gavel and declaring the conference open.
The first committee session entailed the explaining of the rules of procedure by the Executive board. Each committee then embarked on heated debates and deliberations as per the agendas decided by the chair. With heads held high, confidence gleaming in their eyes and diplomacy at its finest, the delegates were ready to for the verbal battle that ensued, defending their stands in their respective committees. Each point and counter point was debated threadbare before a consensus was reached. Agendas included sensitive issues like disarmament, human trafficking, sustainable development and global trade. Students had come armed with facts and figures to defend their stands as well as those to counter opposing views. Some committees saw heated exchanges on topics close to the heart of the delegates but never was the decorum of the committee forgotten. The restraint exercised by the young students would serve as an example to the lower house of the nation where such violations are common place. The role of the chair was significant in this aspect and performed with finesse by the young intellectuals occupying the position.
The foreign delegates joined the fray with their speeches on varied human rights issues. The ISA collaborations served to augment the experience.The videos sent by the students of Incheon Gonghang, South Korea and Burnside Public High, Australia, were viewed by the delegates on the first day in the Human Rights Council. The issues raised by them were discussed and deliberated the next day.
The first day turned novices to practiced debaters, raising the bar amongst the aspiring diplomats as each one defended the stand on the issues in question and attempted to persuade other delegates to agree to their points of view. They balanced their global agendas and foreign policies and handled questions with alacrity. After a long day of negotiations, resolutions were finally passed in each committee and was a testimony to the delegates will and perseverance.
The culmination of the two day symposium is definitely the award ceremony when delegates wait with bated breath for the announcements.The members of the executive board shared their experiences and announced the awards. The irrepressible delegates of Anand Niketan School - Satellite bagged the best Delegation Award. Ms Kahinee Bhatt, the secretary general of DPS-A-MUN declared the conference closed.
As rightly said, the United Nations system is not the G8 or the G20. It’s infact the G192. DPS-A-MUN through ISA, provided a platform full of opportunities to the students who participated. They realized the need to have a vigilant eye towards global affairs. The success of the conference can be judged by what the delegates carry home with them. As the delegates left the premises of DPS-Bopal, they stood more self – assured, better informed and deeply contemplative of the world around them which by and large is what Model United Nations is all about.
