Students from schools all over the world gathered yesterday in Dublin for the start of the St Andrew's International Model United Nations. Over the four-day event at Jurys Hotel, teenagers between the ages of 15 and 18 will debate global issues using full UN parliamentary procedure.
A total of 800 students from schools in Austria, Brazil, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Morocco, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the US, and from 12 British and 20 Irish schools will take part in the model UN.
The event is completely student run from the position of secretary general to the security guards. Over the four days, the students will take part in lobbying for support, opening speeches, committee work, and finally the general assembly.
Subjects under discussion include the fight against organised crime; global prostitution; elimination of racism and social discrimination; refugees; regulations and censorship of the Internet; AIDS; the protection of children from exploitation and abuse; nuclear weapons; genetically modified food; economic sanctions; the questions of Pakistan, Northern Ireland, Chechnya, East Timor, Central Africa, and China.