The Hague International Model United Nations 2020

Twenty DAIS students accompanied by Ms Soma Basu and Mr Anshul Verma, attended the THIMUN Hague Conference from 26th to 2nd February in the Hague, Netherlands.Our delegates from the General Assembly (GA), Sustainable Development Commission (SDC), Environment Commission (EC), Human Rights Commission (HRC), Special Conference on Securing and Advancing Democracy (SCSAD) International Court of Justice (ICJ) and, the Advisory Panel on the Question of the Kurdish Region (APQKR) and formulated their resolutions and clauses on this year's theme, "Securing and Advancing Democracy: Every Vote Matters." In preparation for THIMUN, Student Officer, Sahil Rane held mock debate sessions where delegates "contested resolutions and perfected their oratory skills". While the delegates were immersed in mock debate sessions members of the Press Corps– Suakshi Soni as reporter, and Paree Rohera as an illustrator–worked towards completing the Pre-Conference issue for the THIMUN newsletter: MUNity. DAIS delegates within the GA, HRC, SDC, EC and SCSAD debated as the delegation of Chad, a country in north-central Africa. In the words of Riya Gandhi, each committee was led by "well-experienced, approachable and highly competent Chairs". Furthermore, according to Ishaan Goel, the large delegations could be considered "overwhelming" however, the "unparalleled debate and research that they brought to the conference made the THIMUN experience, an extraordinary one". Insha Lakhani was a judge in the ICJ, which under the supervision of Mr Robert Stern– the founder of the ICJ curriculum– debated on the case of Guatemala vs Belize. The HRC sub-commissions deliberated on various issues, including ending peripheralization of the disabled. Isha Mati of HRC submission 2 asserts that the delegates at the conference "were definitely a force to be reckoned with." Vikram Sivashakar and Druva Sankhe, delegates in the APQKR, addressed the question of Kurdish Region in the Middle East. This event was a great learning experience.

- By Suakshi Soni, Grade 11