INFORMATION HANDBOOKOTAGO-SOUTHLANDMODEL UNITED NATIONSThe Rydges, Queenstown4TH-6TH April 2014www.unyouth.org.nz

UN+DEFENDED

CONTENTS3 About UN Youth

4 About Otago-Southland Model UN

6 Theme: United Nations and Human Rights

10 Dates and Timetable

The registration form can be found online at unyouth.org.nz/Registrations are open now!

Mike Peebles, CoordinatorMike is a third year Medical student at the University of Otago, and is the Coordinator of the 2014 Otago-Southland Model UN. He was the event’s founder in 2013, when it was known as Greater Otago Model UN. Of the event, he says “Greater Otago Model UN in 2013 was a fantastic event, and is a great platform to be building off. I expect 2014 to be the year where this event takes a massive step forwards, and realize it’s full potential for the education of Young New Zealanders.”

ORGANISING COMMITTEE

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Catherine O’Donnell Jackways, Registrations OfficerCatherine is a second year Law student, again at the University of Otago. She is a local Dunedinite, and went to high school at Columba College. She is the Registrations Officer for Otago-Southland Model UN this year, and says “Otago-Southland Model UN is the kind of event that I was had been around when I was at High School. It’s a great way to learn about international issues, meet new people, and looks great on your CV!”

Matthew Schep, Promotions OfficerMatthew is a serial University student, having done first year Engineering at the University of Canterbury, before returning to his hometown Dunedin to study Teaching, and a Bachelor of Arts. He has a huge passion and Model UN; having attended everything from 10 people regional events, to 2000 people international events. He is this year’s promotions Officer, a role that his outgoing nature, and natural enthusiasm has matched him well to.

ABOUT:UN YOUTHUN Youth New Zealand is a not-for-profit volunteer organisation run by youth, for youth. Through our conferences and events, we provide a platform for students to address and discuss global issues facing us both now and in the future.

UN Youth believes that the ability to shape the world around us is not one reserved for the rich and powerful. An awareness of the world around us, combined with the willingness and integrity to change it for the better are qualities that UN Youth NZ strive to ignite in all New Zealand youth, and to truly inspire global citizens.

UN Youth is affiliated to the United Nations Association of New Zealand, a member of the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA). WFUNA has consultative status to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. These larger organisations, like UN Youth, are guided by their vision that the United Nations is a powerful force in meeting common global challenges and opportunities.

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OTAGO SOUTHLAND MODEL UN

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Otago-Southland Model UN (known last year as Greater Otago Model UN), is UN Youth Otago’s flagship event for high schoolers. It is held annually in Queenstown for two days, and two nights. This event brings together students from all over Otago and Southland, to assume the role of international diplomats, and discuss some of the world’s most important international issues.

A Model UN is a simulation of the United Nations General Assembly; the primary decision making body of the United Nations. It is a unique forum for multilateral discussion of international issues covered in the UN charter.

Model UN is very valuable for developing a set of skills that will prove very useful for students in their future studies and careers. Some of the specific skills that Model UN develops are: - Public speaking - Critical thinking - Research - Negotiation - Open-mindedness

In addition to all this, Model UN is incredibly fun, and is a great way for students to meet other like-minded youth!

UN Youth supplements the learning at our events with social events to make the Model UN experience a more wholesome one, that teaches students not only about international issues, but also about how to be balanced, healthy individuals, who understand the connections between local, and global

OTAGO SOUTHLAND MODEL UN

THE DETAILSWhat are the Dates?Otago-Southland Model UN is being held on Saturday the 5th, and Sunday the 6th of April. We also are holding the opening ceremony, and our first social event; the Quiz and Pizza night, on the evening of Friday the 4th of April (starting at 7:00pm).

Where are you holding it?Our venue for the weekend is The Rydges, Queenstown. They’ve got some gorgeous facilities, which we are using for the weekend. On Saturday night we’ll take you out for committee dinners too, so you can see more of the lakeside wonderland that is Queenstown!

What about accommodation?This year we are offering an in-house accommodation option; also at The Rydges. For only $80, you get two nights accommodation, meaning you can live where you play for two days! This rate is heavily subsidised by our sponsors, and through a deal with The Rydges, so you won’t stay anywhere better for less! We will be assigning rooms based on gender, and rooming requests.

Parents need not worry; we’ll keep the boys seperated from the girls, and it will be fully supervised by our trained Conference Staff!

And travel?Unfortunately we haven’t booked a convoy of buses, or any private jets to get you all to Queenstown, so you’ll have to find your own way. However, there are plenty of buses going to Queenstown that you could book a place on. Nakedbus.com/, and Intercity.co.nz/ are great places to start. Alternatively you could drive; there will be parking available at The Rydges.

Do I have to have done Model UN before?No! All high school students, regardless of age or experience are welcome at Otago-Southland Model UN!

Can my teacher come?Yes, however if they are coming, and would like to on-site accommodation at the Rydges, they will have to get in contact with Coordinator Mike Peebles.

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UN+DEFENDED:THE UN ANDHUMAN RIGHTS

“The rights of every man are diminished when the rights ofone man are threatened.”

John F. Kennedy

The United Nations was founded in 1945, just after the end of World War Two, with many purposes. It was designed to enable cooperation of nations. To protect International Peace and Security. And, perhaps most importantly, to protect human rights. One if it’s founding purposes was “promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion”.

In 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, one of the most important documents in the world today. Its creation was stimulated by the experiences of the second world war; as the atrocities committed by the Nazis became clear, and were better understood. While the original UN charter made reference to human rights, there was no document that defined what these rights were. This is where the Universal Declaration came in; to give effect to the Charter.

However, despite this, Human Rights abuses are still disturbingly common in the world today. There are still ‘ethnic cleansings’ as seen in South Sudan today. There are still violent, and grotesque wars. Many governments still ignore the rights of their citizens, or of immigrants. It is with all this in mind, that we challenge you to consider the role of the United Nations in protecting Human Rights. How can the UN better protect the rights of the world’s people? What does the UN do well? How can we ensure that the people of the world are treated with the respect, and dignity they deserve.

UN+DEFENDED:THE UN ANDHUMAN RIGHTS DAY 1

SATURDAY 5TH APRILCOMMITTEE DAY

DAY 2SUNDAY 6TH APRILPLENARY DAY

8:45am

9:00am

9:30am

10:15am

10:30am

12:45pm

1:30pm

2:30pm

2:45pm

5:00pm

6:00pm

8:00pm

10:30pm

Morning registrations

Keynote speaker

Delegate training

Morning tea

Committee Session 1

Lunch

Human Rights workshop

Afternoon tea

Committee Session 2

Evening briefing

Regional Grouping Dinners

(Optional) Movie time

Bed time

8:45am

9:00am

9:30am

10:30am

10:45am

12:45pm

1:00pm

1:15pm

Morning registrations

Keynote speaker

Plenary Session 1

Morning tea

Plenary Session 2

NZ Model UN presentation

Closing ceremony

Conference over. Pack up and leave.

TIMETABLEDAY 0FRIDAY 4TH APRILOPENING CEREMONY

Opening Ceremony

Opening Ceremony finishes. Time for Mingling

Pizza served

The UN+Believable Quiz!

Quiz finishes. Bed time

7:00pm

7:30pm

7:45pm

8:00pm

10:00pm

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CONTACT US

M: +64 4 496 9638E: info@unyouth.org.nzPO Box 24494, Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealandwww.unyouth.org.nzwww.facebook.com/unyouthnzwww.twitter.com/unyouthnz

THE UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND (UNITED NATIONS YOUTH ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND BRANCH), INC IS THE YOUTH ARM OF THE UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND, A MEMBER OF THE WORLD FEDERATION OF UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATIONS (WFUNA))