FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

UN Youth Canterbury Holds Model United Nations Conference For 200 High School Students

Christchurch, New Zealand, 11th-12th March – 200 students from high schools around Canterbury are converging in Christchurch for an intense two-day discussion of world issues.

The students, aged 16-18, will be assigned a country and will be expected to represent their adopted country as ambassadors in the lobbying for a resolution. Students with previous experience in a United Nations Model Conference are being selected for a special committee where they will be participating in a heated discussion around a crisis scenario. The conference will last two days and will be providing food and will include a social event to encourage social interaction between the delegates. The United Nations Model Conference has been held in Christchurch since 2008, allowing delegates to gain hands on and interactive experience in debating global issues while representing their adopted country to the best of their ability.

This year delegates will be expected to delve into the topic of democracy, a controversial subject which an earthquake ridden Christchurch may be much too familiar with. After the tragedy of the 2012 and 2011 earthquakes in Christchurch, citizens have been raising their voices in protest and demanding their rights to be taken seriously. The erosion of democracy was evident in top-down decisions regarding the destruction of heritage buildings, school closures and the continuation of allowing unelected regional commissioners to stay in office. The discussions and lobbying in regards to democracy within respective delegate’s countries is expected to be informative, intense, competitive, and most importantly educational.

There will be opportunities to interview the delegates as well as the organising committee who have been organising the conference over the past 6 months.

ENDS

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