Four students from the Lutheran High School in Martin had the opportunity to practise their diplomatic skills in April (9-11) as they participated as delegates at Žilina Model United Nations (ZAMUN for short).
Daniel Dulla and Sabina Šimková represented Lithuania, Daniel as a member of the United Nations Security Council, and Sabina at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Our school’s two other participants, Ivana Krpelanová and Frederik Schwab acted as delegates of Croatia. Ivana was on the Committee for Disarmament and International Security, while Frederik was a member of the Human Rights Council. All four students also took part in a General Assembly debate about the illegal international organ trade.
The ZAMUN conference is organised annually by the Bilingual Gymnázium of Žilina, with the support of various other organisations, most notably the regional government of Žilina, at whose offices nearly all the important meetings took place. It is attended by around 80 student delegates, including some from Slovakia (the Lutheran high schools of Bratislava and Liptovský Mikuláš were both represented) and others from much further afield. Delegations had travelled from European countries such as Finland, Germany and Luxemburg, and there was even one from Delhi, the capital of India!
There are several essential elements to an MUN conference like ZAMUN. Firstly, students cannot represent their own country. This means they must research the international politics and relationships of a country they may not be familiar with. They must also gain a deep understanding of a world problem and learn to see it from their ‘new’ country’s point of view. For example, the Security Council (Daniel’s committee) was dealing with the South Seas Crisis, a conflict between China and Japan over some disputed islands. As Lithuania, Daniel’s neutrality on this issue helped bring some rationality to the discussions!
It is also important to use parliamentary language; a delegate is not permitted to speak unless he/she is formally ‘recognised’ by his/her committe chair, and must ‘yield the floor’ to the chair after every speech. Even being allowed to eat a chocolate bar, or open a window, is a ‘point of personal privilige’. Finally, co’operation is crucial. A conference like this is not about winning or losing, it is about negotiating and compromising with others to reach a solution to a problem that most delegates can accept.
As first years, our students were among the youngest participants at ZAMUN. Most delegates at MUN conferences, including this one, tend to be 17 or above and some have already attended many similar events. Still, our representatives prepared well, worked hard and made useful contributions to their committees.
Opportunities to attend MUN conferences are numerous ; there is one in Bratislava every October, and many more in other European countries. I hope that the experience gained at ZAMUN will be useful, not just to Daniel, Sabina, Ivana and Frederik, but also to our future participants in similar activities. Meanwhile, sincere thanks to these four for being such good delegates and for their excellent representation of EGMT.
James Baxter
English teacher (native speaker)
Lutheran High School in Martin
It must have been a great event! What a good experience for our students. Thanks to Mr. Baxter for making this opportunity possible. Thanks, too, to the four students who represented us so well!