Moscow, Russia - Konstantin Zharinov, coordinator of the North-East Asia Peace Initiative for UPF-Russia, played the role of an expert in relations between North and South Korea during a Model United Nations hosted by the Russian Humanitarian University in Moscow. The Model UN is a simulation of the functioning of various UN bodies with students playing the roles of diplomats and discussing the current issues facing the UN. This fourth annual Model UN at the university took place from November 30 to December 3. The event was attended by 140 students from Moscow, Novosibirsk, and Kaliningrad.
The discussions of UN issues helps participants understand the working of the United Nations and the challenges of securing international cooperation. Universal Peace Federation also participated in the opening ceremony of the Model UN.
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For an interview [in Russian] with the Secretary-General of the Model UN, Elena Kolesnichenko, see www.rsuh-modelun.ru.
Note: A Model United Nations is an academic simulation of the United Nations that aims to educate participants about civics, current events, effective communication, globalization, and multilateral diplomacy. Participants research their assigned country and relevant international issues. In simulated sessions, they take on roles as diplomats and debate, deliberate, consult, and then develop solutions to problems. The Model UN may be a simulation of the General Assembly or another UN body. The United Nations Association lists more than 400 such simulations each year in 48 nations. This form of interactive civic education goes back to the 1920s, when collegiate simulations of the League of Nations were held.