Young ones called upon to embrace diversity during the Annual Middle School MUN Conference

UNON Director General Amb.Sahle-Work Zewde addressing students during the EA Model UN Conference

(February 2, 2012; UNIC Nairobi ) - 800 middle school children from 36 schools in East Africa congregated at the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) for the 30th Annual East African Model United Nations Conference which started on 24 to 27 January 2012.

Ms Sahle-Work Zewde, the Director General of UNON, officially opened the conference and welcomed the attendants to the United Nations Headquarters Nairobi, the only one in Africa.  She noted that the conferences theme “Promoting Cultural Diversity” is timely given that a number of conflicts in the world are as a result of intolerance and failure to embrace and appreciate diversity.

Ms Zewde was delighted by the diversity in terms of gender saying that the UN promotes cultural diversity. “Cultural diversity creates a rich world and it’s the main spirit of the community…it is important for social cohesion such as the enhancement of the woman’s position in the society”
Ms Sahle appreciated the activities of the EAMUN following its commitment to promote environmental awareness by embarking on a number of programmes including tree-planting and paper recycling

Model United Nations began around the world as early as 1923, with simulated sessions of what was then called the League of Nations. These sessions are now held in numerous countries at all levels, ranging from high schools to universities and adult MUN sessions.

They provide space for discussions on different topics of international concern mainly on the General Assembly, Security Council, Ecology and Environment, Economic, Health, Human Rights, Political and Technology committees by student’s delegates from member countries.