A simulation of the United Nations and its institutions ... 1,900 international students in Doha enhance their diplomacy skills

Mohammed Al-Shayazami-Doha

More than 1,900 students from 14 different countries of the world met in the Qatari capital, Doha, at the "Themine Qatar" conference, which mimics the roles of the United Nations General Assembly and its specialized committees.

Students from Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East are discussing the third UN Sustainable Development 2030 goal on good health and well-being, simulating discussions at the UN Security Council, the work of diplomats and NGOs.

The decisions of the youth conference that started on Wednesday and that ends tomorrow, Friday, are non-binding and do not require reservation, but the young conference insists on hearing their voices with boldness and expressing their positions on issues that concern humanity, through a model that emulates the United Nations, and aspire to understand the mechanisms of international diplomacy And dealing with world issues and training to face them.

This conference is held annually, and it is a joint project between the Theeman Qatar regional office, which is under the umbrella of pre-university education at Qatar Foundation, and Theman Foundation (The Hague Model of the United Nations), and it represents an opportunity to build diplomatic and leadership skills for young people, enhance their critical thinking, and test their skills Communication, bringing them closer to the mechanisms of international decision-making on global issues, motivating them to make a positive change in their societies, and learning how to solve various conflicts, in addition to providing them with the skills of public speaking and the art of listening and negotiating.

The roles of participants between the ages of 14 and 18 were focused on playing diplomatic roles to investigate, discuss and consult on international issues, and to propose sustainable solutions to the challenges facing the world, through guiding reports and research for policy analysis.

Students looking to develop their media skills have also been able to work within an integrated press authority to cover the conference, including enriching the content of social media channels and producing a daily newspaper documenting the conference and its sessions.

new world
The symbolism of the conference lies in giving young people the opportunity to express their aspirations and opinions on issues that may come to their future if they are not addressed in the right ways, as these young people see that the simple problems today are tomorrow's crises, and therefore must be dismantled and solutions to them before they become worse.

At the opening ceremony, Head of the General Assembly at "Themine Qatar" Hana Coleen - a 12th-grader at the American School in Doha - read her delegates' message to the United Nations, in which she explained the changes that she wants to see in the world, and the role of youth in achieving this.

Cullen called on the United Nations to consider the untapped potential of thousands of enthusiastic youth around the world who are ready to give and make great sacrifices, and to lead their societies towards sustainability and equality.

The youth expressed their positions and opinions on the dynamics with which the international action plans are going to achieve a basic human rights goal stipulated by international covenants and covenants, through various initiatives, provided that the debate remains open to innovative ideas, and that modern technology and social media are invested to the maximum extent.

A number of them wished in statements to Al-Jazeera Net that the conference messages would reach the officials of the United Nations and the leaders of the countries, and that the youth would be placed at the center of efforts to achieve the goals of sustainable development, especially the third goal related to good health and well-being, by expanding their participation in conferences that support the efforts of the organization International.

The choice of the third goal of the United Nations "sustainable development 2030" stems from the title of the conference, given the challenges that some countries of the world face in achieving this goal. Although some countries are still groping, others have made great strides in ensuring the highest quality of health coverage, and have moved to discuss other issues such as promoting happiness and well-being for their people.

It is expected that the conference will produce recommendations that will be submitted to the various committees of the United Nations and international officials concerned with following up the implementation of the sustainable development plan, and include the outcome of discussions, youth ideas and visions that enhance the action plans.

The Theeman Qatar conference is the largest non-class activity led by students in the Middle East, and brings together young people from various schools around the world, and reflects Qatar Foundation's commitment to empowering and caring for young people, and providing platforms for global dialogue and knowledge exchange, with the aim of inspiring them to become a catalyst for change at the local and regional scale And international.