AKA Hyderabad Model United Nations addresses pressing global problems

Frantic adjustment of speeches. Last minute battery checks. Organisation of research. These were just some of the sights witnessed in preparation for the inception of the fifth edition of the Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad Model United Nations, which was held on the 20^th, 21^st, and 22^nd of September 2018. 

A record four hundred and fifty delegates from grades 9-12 participated in the seven committees, two of which were new, with a wide range of agendas tackled. The Security Council, aimed at resolving the Israeli-Palestine Conflict; the Disarmament and International Security discussing the destabilizing effects of foreign military bases in sovereign states; the Economic and Social Council discussing the  economic viability and international effects of protectionism; the Human Rights Council tackling the security of journalists in conflict areas; the Historic Security Council debating the Gulf War; and the new committees,  United Nations Environmental Programme and United Nations Committee on the Status of Women, discussing prevention of climate change and reproductive autonomy respectively. 

In addition to the official Academy Model United Nations, another MUN was held for students from grades 6-8 on a smaller scale in order to introduce younger students to the intricacies of diplomacy and debate that they will soon be a part of in the coming years. Both sessions saw a successful run with first-timers of all ages shyly participating and gradually gaining confidence as the debates gained heat, as with first-time chairs who put all waking hours into planning upcoming committees with the most sensational revelations and shocking secret alliances. 

Arya Mehta, the Director General, who has been a part of AKAHMUN since the very beginning, summed up its evolution: “Being there to witness AKAHMUN from its inception to the present made me proud of how far we have come in terms of the importance and urgency given to issues pertaining to the world.” The high point of the weekend began at midnight on the second day when a surprise crisis was sprung on unsuspecting delegates right after dinner with a dramatic reenactment of what doomsday would look like had it descended just then, and ended with a group of exhausted but happy delegates, chairs, and journalists. 

“The three days of the conference were an absolute delight to witness especially because every single student in the Senior School engaged in debates and discussions on some of the most pressing issues in the world today,” said Ms. Priyodarshini Das, the Academy’s MUN Coordinator and history teacher. “This is a time when Academy students come together as one community and embrace the roles of delegates to think critically about various global issues and utilize their research skills to support their arguments. The dedication of the Executive Board was commendable as they guided all the delegates to have a fruitful time at the conference.”

Written by Zakeeya Zahra (grade 12)