Students practice the art of diplomacy at MACMUN 2019 conference

How can the global community come together to improve health care in the world’s refugee camps? What measures can be taken to eliminate racial discrimination? What can be done to strengthen Interpol and combat international cyber-crime?

These are just some of the many questions discussed by delegates from McMaster and beyond at the McMaster Model United Nations (MACMUN) 2019 conference, held recently in downtown Hamilton.

More than 300 students from McMaster, York University, and Maastricht University in the Netherlands, gathered for the annual event which is aimed at providing students from all Faculties with an opportunity to learn about some of the world’s most pressing issues and experience the process of diplomacy by simulating a number of the debates and conversations taking place at the United Nations.

“It’s never been more critical to think about multilateral debate and discussion, and to find innovative ways of addressing the global challenges that face us,” said McMaster President Patrick Deane, who led the establishment of the McMaster Model United Nations and who spoke during the conference.

“I’m profoundly heartened by your engagement with this model UN,” Deane told students. “It gives me hope that the people in this room will seek ways of dealing with global issues that are constructive and can help move society towards equity and peace.”

Over the four-day conference, students were divided into a number of committees, each focussing on specialized global topics. Within the committees, students formed delegations, with each delegation representing a different country. Students explored and discussed the issues from that country’s perspective, then worked with other delegations to bridge the gap between nations and develop resolutions.

“Our theme this year was Innovative Discourse: Igniting Change Through Diplomacy, so we wanted to embrace the reality that you can come to resolutions despite the differences between countries,” says Mitchell Bonaccorso, Under Secretary General of Public Relations, MACMUN, who was involved in organizing the conference.

“What’s so valuable about these discussions is understanding other perspectives,” he continues. “It’s very difficult to understand topics of international importance without walking a few kilometers in those shoes. There are a lot of cultural and religious differences, or financial situations that you simply can’t understand over coffee or by watching TV, so to put students in the position where they really have the opportunity to do the research and learn the realities is so important.”

Committees debated a host of topics including the rise of political extremism; economic and financial issues such as tax havens modern slavery in a globalized economy; illegal human organ trafficking and health care in refugee camps; issues related to the UN Security Council, such as instability in Africa and the exiled Uyghur Muslims in China; and Indigenous land rights, among many other issues.

The conference also featured a number of speakers including McMaster alumna, artist, and activist Nicole Crimi, who spoke about the power of art to bring about change in the world; McMaster’s Queen Elizabeth Scholar, Ahmed Khalid, who gave an account of his recent experiences at a Syrian refugee camp in Lebanon;  Nadine Williams, a poet and author, who talked about the use of the spoken word as a means of achieving equality and justice; and Canadian documentary film maker, Ric Esther Bienstock who spoke about her film Tales from the Organ Trade.

Rina Fraticelli, director of Socrates Project– the primary sponsor of the conference – also spoke, along with MSU President, Ikram Farah and Angela Li, Secretary General of MACMUN2017.

McMaster’s Vice-Provost, International Affairs, Peter Mascher, whose Office of International Affairs was also among the conference partners, says this event was a valuable learning opportunity for students, adding that this kind of exchange is important to helping students better understand how they can engage in global issues.

“The conference allowed students to experience a successful model of global engagement and learn, first-hand, the value of positive, respectful discourse that considers many perspectives,” says Mascher. “Engaging is these kinds of conversations enriches McMaster’s campus and is critical to developing the next generation of global leaders.”

McMaster Model United Nations aims to give students the opportunity to exercise their skills in public speaking, debating, diplomacy, and collaboration by simulating the activities of the United Nations. Follow MACMUN on Facebook and Twitter.

To learn more about global engagement at McMaster, explore the new McMaster Global Engagement Hub – an online portal for accessing information about McMaster’s global engagement strategy, supports, services, opportunities, news and events.