Model United Nations

News - Jul 21

On 11th July, over 100 students and teachers participated in Colyton Grammar School’s Model United Nations Conference with external schools attending, namely Torquay Girl’s Grammar School who, with nineteen students, represented four countries.  

All students came from Year 12, with one additional country comprised of lower school participants from one of the two weekly Model UN clubs. Topics ranged from combatting climate change and discrimination in healthcare to the role that the UN itself must play in international conflict (for more experienced debaters), with students passing resolutions in five committees. The debates were not without controversy, with sensitive issues being raised in all five committees; in response, all students acted and spoke with exceptional maturity and truly embodied the core principles of Model UN (respect, diplomacy and collaboration). Delegates were not afraid to fully represent their country’s views, even if this meant the committee voting to evict them, as was the case for the United States’ delegate to the WHO.  

In the afternoon, the whole conference met as the UN General Assembly to coordinate a response to a surprise ‘crisis’; a US invasion of Greenland through Canadian waters. Despite the best attempts of a US-Russian (and almost Chinese) alliance, the General Assembly strongly condemned the invasion and imposed heavy sanctions. At the end of the day, awards were given to those individuals and delegations whom the Chairs thought had excelled throughout the day, and many went home with prizes.  

The conference was the most successful yet due to an exceptional student organising team, led by Secretary General Dominic AP and Deputies Shine G and Joe A, and the support of the student Chairs of each committee who helped to foster meaningful and constructive debate all day long. Our thanks to all those who helped make the day so brilliant.