A Model Performance at SSUNS

A group of our Senior School girls got together over the weekend to solve world problems. They participated in the Secondary Schools’ United Nations Symposium (SSUNS), a Model United Nations conference in Montreal, Quebec. BSS French Teacher and Language Department Co-ordinator Nicole Patterson accompanied the girls and shared this report on their accomplishments:

All of the girls did a great job. This was the first time at the conference for Saibrielle and Lina, our two Grade 9 students, and the feedback that we received from the committee chairs was that they were both outstanding! In fact, we heard that all of our girls spoke well, had researched properly and were very knowledgable about their position and their country. We got a chance to see some Old Girls who were chairing and vice-chairing committees and that was so fun! Emily Dawe and Emma McInerney said to say hello!

1. Meg Fanjoy won honourable mention for representing Armenia on the World Water Forum. Some of the topics that were discussed in her committee included:

• ocean privatization, including sustainability issues, long term policies and changing current international law;
• technological innovation of water security, including methods for conservation and possible solutions and country policies;
• the impact of water scarcity on conflict and political instability, including trans-boundary water disputes and water terrorism.

2. Kristina Matovich won the Lester B Pearson for Peacemaking award for her role as the Commander-in-chief of the Myanmar Armed forces. These are some of the topics that the committee debated and discussed:

• Institutional Design and Separation of Powers, including Myanmar’s colonial history and the constitutions of 1947 and 2008 the latter of which they were proposing amendments to;
• Division of Powers and regional diversity, including a history of ethnic division, the military coup in 1962 and the division of powers under the constitution of 2008;
• Minority rights, individual freedoms and the peace process including the treatment of Rohingya muslims by the military.

3. Chantal Elias won honourable mention for representing Ceylon on the United Nations Security Council 1961 where her committee debated topics such as the adoption of the universal declaration of human rights, the Korean armistice agreement and the Suez canal crisis. The committee also considered a few key actions that happened after 1961 such as the Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) economic sanctions, the South Africa Arms Embargo and resolution 242 which was designed to ensure peace following the Six Day War of June 1967.

We are super proud of all of them!