10th Anniversary Canadian International Model

United Nations Association in Canada
Association canadienne pour les Nations Unies
10th Anniversary
Canadian International Model United Nations
February 28 – March 3, 2013
Final Report
10th Anniversary | 10ème anniversaire
Canadian International Model United Nations
Simulation internationale canadienne des Nations Unies
28 février – 3 mars | 2013 | February 28 – March 3
Canadian Museum of Nature
Musée canadien de la nature
Ottawa, Canada
Over 250 participants, including student delegates, volunteers, staff,
faculty advisors and special guests
Photos by Craig Barlow and the CANIMUN ”International Press Forum” team
United Nations Association in Canada
Association canadienne pour les Nations Unies
Growing Global Citizens § Citoyens du monde à venir
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Thank You to our Partners
UNA-Canada proudly acknowledges our partners with deep appreciation for their continued
support of our efforts to engage young scholars from across Canada and the world in the
issues that affect us all. Each contribution made by our partners is integral to
the success of CANIMUN.
Platinum Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Media Sponsor
Paul Gagner
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Highlights
•
The 10th Anniversary CANIMUN was a measurable success, receiving overwhelming
positive feedback from delegates, faculty advisors, staff, volunteers, guest speakers and
partners.
•
As always, CANIMUN received outstanding praise for its professionalism, focus on
education outcomes, and realistic and disciplined simulation of United Nations activities.
“CANIMUN is known as having the most serious educational focus. The
Committee Chairs and all staff are incredible with their disciplined and kind
focus on ensuring a realistic simulation with all delegates contributing.”
Faculty Advisor from Centennial College
•
CANIMUN’s return to Ottawa for the first time since 2008 allowed for the facilitation of
special events including Embassy Briefings and presentations from high-level Subject
Matter Experts.
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Highlights
“Out of the 7 conferences I have been to, this one was
phenomenal and the Security Council was the best committee I
have ever participated in.”
Head Delegate from Dawson College
•
CANIMUN welcomed an impressive array of prestigious guest speakers, led by keynote
Helen Clark, Under Secretary-General of the United Nations and Administrator of the UN
Development Programme; Guillermo Rishchysnki, Ambassador and Permanent
Representative of Canada to the United Nations; Janet Annesley, Vice-President,
Communications, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers; Rafal Rohizinski, CEO of
The SecDev Group; and Chief Superintendent Barbara Fleury of the RCMP, among
many others.
•
The event reached over 250 of Canada’s best and brightest youth, including participants,
staff and volunteers.
•
In addition, CANIMUN touched members from the diplomatic community, civil service,
private sector, non-profit organizations and community leaders through special events,
outreach and engagement.
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About CANIMUN
Since 2003, CANIMUN has welcomed the best, brightest and most accomplished youth from
every region of Canada and from countries around the world to debate key international issues
in both of Canada’s official languages.
The Model UN simulates the activities of specific
committees of the UN. Students represent members of a
delegation for an assigned country and debate and
negotiate international issues. In attempting to resolve
some of the world’s complex international problems, Model
UN activities assist students in understanding the intricacies
of global challenges and cooperation while increasing their
awareness about the pressing issues that affect us all. Model
UN activities also underscore the potential for solutions Sha Zukang, UN Under Secretary-General for the Department of Economic and Social
Affairs and Secretary-General of the Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20)
through discussion, compromise and multilateral
addresses CANIMUN 2012 participants
cooperation.
CANIMUN is one of many UNA-Canada initiatives to
grow global citizens and young leaders through
empathy-based educational resources. Participation in
CANIMUN is no less than transformative as delegates
dive head-first into intense debate, negotiations and
diplomacy, developing invaluable skills, new
perspectives and lasting friendships.
Participants of CANIMUN 2005
" I had never done anything like CANIMUN before and
decided to either go and give it 100 percent, or not go. I
did go. I gave it my best and it was an amazing
experience for me. I'd do it again in a minute.“
Delegate from Carleton University
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Conference Activities and Achievements
The Committees
CANIMUN 2013 featured five UN Committees (full list
on the page following). Each committee was assigned two
discussion topics addressing current international issues.
Participants are provided with research guides in advance
for each topic to assist in their conference preparations.
Each committee decides by vote which topic they will
address, followed by deliberations and negotiation
towards passing resolutions on the issue. Some
committees spent the entire weekend debating one issue,
while others delved into both topics.
Members of the General Assembly, Third Committee on Social, Cultural and
Humanitarian Affairs negotiate a resolution to the topic “water as a human right”.
All committees passed at least one resolution,
demonstrating their ability and willingness to negotiate
multilateral solutions to pressing global issues in their
roles. In addition, some committees (such as the First
Committee) were able to pass resolutions addressing both
topics.
A high quality of debate and diplomacy was
demonstrated and remarked upon by senior staff.
Members of the General Assembly, First Committee on Disarmament and
International Security debate the uncontrolled use of Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles
(commonly known as drones).
“Our Chairs were very fair and knowledgeable and our guest
speaker was an extraordinary addition to committee. Overall I
found the conference to be very well organized and am looking
forward to next year's CANIMUN!”
Delegate from the University of Ottawa
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Conference Activities and Achievements
List of Committees and Topics
United Nations General Assembly First Committee: Disarmament and International Security
1. Controlling the use of Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles.
2. Development in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security.
United Nations General Assembly Third Committee: Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Affairs
1. Rights of indigenous peoples with regards to self-determination and the governance of natural resources.
2. Water as a human right.
United Nations Security Council
1. The situation in Syria.
2. Women and peace and security.
The committee was also presented with a crisis in the East China Sea requiring immediate resolution.
United Nations Environment Programme
1. Arctic waters and responsible water governance.
2. Rio+20: implications for development.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
1. Food security and resilience: supporting livelihoods of food insecure populations.
2. Food safety and quality. This topic was presented as a food aid contamination crisis in West African refugee
camps.
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Conference Activities and Achievements
International Press Forum
One of the most exciting features of CANIMUN is the
International Press Forum (IPF), where participants
represent international media outlets and cover the stories
and events happening within the Conference itself. The IPF
is the voice of the Conference. Its participants visit the
various UN committees to monitor progress and interview
delegates in order to produce the CANIMUN Gazette
newspaper and update various forms of social media.
IPF Participants and staff with Kristen Shane, Associate Editor at Embassy News
Three editions of the Gazette
were published over the
course of the weekend. In
addition, the IPF managed a
blog, Twitter account,
Facebook page and other
forms of media.
IPF Editor-in-Chief, Mitchel Pennell,
putting the finishing touches on the CANIMUN Gazette
CANIMUN Gazette, Third Edition, March 3 2013
canimunipf.wordpress.com
“Negotiations that have been underway since yesterday to determine the fate
of water as a natural resource have led to toe-to-toe exchanges between
delegates, but more importantly, a heartfelt concern over the future of water
and its place in the international colonizing process.”
Kevin Roche, “Water Dependencies Debated as Technological Concerns BoilOver,” CANIMUN Gazette 2nd Ed.
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Conference Activities and Achievements
Opening Ceremonies
Guillermo Rishchynski , Ambassador and Permanent
Representative of Canada to the United Nations, gave an inspiring
and educational presentation on “Canada and the UN”, including
Canada’s missions abroad, influence, and international priorities
and interests.
Ambassador Guillermo Rishchynski
Delegates, faculty advisors, staff, volunteers and special guests
were also addressed by Kate White, President and CEO of
UNA-Canada; Mieka Buckley-Pearson, UNA-Canada CANIMUN Project Coordinator; and
CANIMUN Secretaries-General Alice Wan and Heidi Ritz.
Closing Ceremonies
Helen Clark with CANIMUN Staff
Under Secretary-General of the United Nations and
Administrator of the UN Development Programme, Helen
Clark, presented a thought-provoking and galvanizing analysis
of the relationship between development and security, as well as
the role of the UNDP and Member States in leading the charge
for a better world, receiving a standing ovation from an inspired
audience.
Ms. Clark also engaged with delegates in a brief Question & Answer period, responding to
questions concerning aboriginal rights and development as well as the greatest issues in
international development today.
In addition, delegates and special guests were also addressed by Janet Annesley, Vice-President,
Communications of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers. Ms. Annesley emphasized
the importance of multilateral discussion and negotiation to tackle important issues that
threaten to divide communities, nations, and the world.
Other speakers included KateWhite, President and CEO of UNA-Canada; Mieka BuckleyPearson, CANIMUN Project Coordinator; CANIMUN Secretaries-General, Alice Wan and Heidi
Ritz, and other CANIMUN staff.
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Participants and Awards
The 10th Anniversary CANIMUN hosted over 200 student delegates from across Canada, as well as 40
youth staff and volunteers. In addition, CANIMUN was attended by several faculty advisors from different
institutions, guest speakers from government, private sector, non-governmental organizations and members
of the diplomatic community.
The best delegates in each committee receive awards to acknowledge their success in the conference. Best
Delegates exemplify their country’s position; participate in committee sessions and resolution writing; are
diplomatic and committed to finding multilateral solutions; and adhere to rules of procedure.
One participant in the International Press Forum is awarded Best Press Forum, recognizing the quality of
their written work, articles, photographs, and overall participation in the forum.
Delegates are required to submit position papers detailing their country’s stance on both committee topics
prior to the conference. The best submission in each committee is given the Position Paper Award.
This year we introduced a new award, the Prix Paul Gagner, a monetary prize donated by Mr. Paul
Gagner and awarded to delegates that demonstrate leadership, a passion for diplomacy, enthusiastic
participation in all conference events and a commitment to finding multilateral solutions for international
issues.
CANIMUN 2013 Participants
Maria Rodriguez (Dawson College), recipient of a Position Paper
Award, is congratulated by Helen Clark
Carleton University
Centennial College
Colonel By Secondary School
Concordia University
Dawson College
HEC
Laurentian University
McGill University
McMaster University
University of British Columbia
University of Montreal
University of Ottawa
University of St Andrews
York University
Paul Gagner with recipients of the Prix Paul Gagner
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Special Events
Embassy Briefings
Embassy Briefings provide student delegates with the opportunity to
visit the embassy of the country they are representing and receive a policy
briefing on Conference topics from senior embassy staff. It is an
extraordinary experience made possible by the convening power of
UNA-Canada.
Foreign Affairs Briefing
Delegates with the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates
For those students that represent Canada or a country that is unable to
visit an embassy, a fantastic briefing on multilateral negotiations in the UN system was delivered by
Mandy Sheldrake and Alison Clement from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
“I think doing a Model UN and trying to solve issues in the same ways as our
professional counter-parts is an absolute honour. To meet someone as
important as Helen Clark, who has seen and been a part of the actual issues
we address as delegates is an extension of this honour.”
Delegate from Laurentian University
Subject Matter Experts
Throughout the conference, committees received short (10-15
minute) briefings from Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) on one
or both of the topics they were debating. We secured incredibly
high-calibre experts to share their wisdom with our student
delegates. The SMEs inspired delegates to engage in the topics
and offered a real-world policy perspective on the issues.
Members of the UN Security Council discussing sexual violence in conflict
with Zuzia Danielski from the Nobel Women’s Initiative
Our impressive list of SMEs includes Rafal Rohozinski, CEO
of The SecDev Group and leading cyber security expert;
Dennis Horak, Director of the Middle East Division of the
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade; Chief
Superintendent Barbara Fleury, Director of International
Policing of the RCMP; and, Kristen Shane, Associate Editor
of Embassy News.
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Special Events
Networking Luncheon
In a special 10th Anniversary celebration, CANIMUN participants
(including faculty advisors, staff and volunteers) were invited to a
Networking Luncheon with representatives of UNA-Canada, our
partners, Subject Matter Experts and other guests.
The luncheon was in recognition of the success of CANIMUN
over the past ten years in engaging global youth and growing young
leaders and global citizens. It was also a celebration of UNACanada’s bright future as the Canadian Centre of Excellence in
Model Assemblies.
The highly successful event has also been cited by
participants as unique to CANIMUN, and a truly invaluable
opportunity to network with fellow delegates, as well as
organizations and individuals committed to growing young
leaders and global citizens.
Delegates and faculty advisors engage in discussion with Kate White,
President and CEO of UNA-Canada
Delegates and staff share experiences outside of the committee room
“The luncheon was an extraordinary addition to
this year’s conference. It facilitated networking
between a wide variety of partners and was
truly a value-added experience for delegates
and staff. I hope it will continue in the future!”
CANIMUN Staff Member
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CANIMUN 2014: Goals
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Continue to deliver high-calibre, content-rich keynote speaker.
•
Ensure Embassy and Foreign Affairs Briefings, as well as Subject Matter Expert
briefings remain extraordinary aspects of CANIMUN.
•
Increase appropriate bilingual component of CANIMUN.
•
Maintain high level of educational outcomes through support to highest level of debate
and realism of simulation through increased training opportunities and preparation of
volunteer staff leaders and delegates.
•
Bring the most pressing UN global issues to this prestigious Canadian setting.
•
Expand networking events in partnership with our sponsors, partners and other
community leaders.
•
Increase participation of delegations from Canadian universities.
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Increase participation of students from marginalized groups.
•
Restore levels of participation from international and American delegations as seen in
previous CANIMUN sessions.
Visit http://canimun.org to learn more
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