Harvard Model United Nations 2024

Two weeks ago Fort Street High School participated with 45 other schools in the inaugural Harvard Model United Program. This program has been running for over 15 Years in Boston, but has recently been introduced to the Australian context. Our students developed diplomatic negotiating skills, public speaking skills and the ability to quickly writing formal resoloutions in UN language. We were asigned to be the deligation of Ireland and representing our nation in a number of UN Organs. It is fitting that a group of founding members of FSHS’s Model United Nations Society represented the school. Mr Latimer

As delegate to the World Health Organisation (WHO), we discussed, debated, and ultimately passed two resolutions to address the pressing global issue of female genital mutilation (FGM). Despite some awkward speeches on the first day, by the second committee session we were working together in a great show of diplomacy, unless you dared to strike out and oppose a powerful bloc of countries. Although backstabbing was mostly avoided in favour of peaceful dinner meetings, the intensity that each new idea was ripped to shreds with was certainly a new experience. By the end of the four days we had a detailed 12 year program to assist in ending fgm, but what I will take away from the experience is a renewed confidence in public speaking, interest in foreign policy, and new friends from around Australia. Lachlan McIntyre

Representing Ireland on the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee (SOCHUM) was an engaging and eye-opening experience as we spent four days debating solutions to disadvantages faced by indigenous communities. What stood out over our committee sessions were the intense debates, particularly between the bloc led by Russia and Hungary and the bloc led by myself and Iraq; going through three failed rounds of voting before ultimately passing a resolution; and an intense unmoderated caucus being extended three times to two and a half hours. I loved that despite our personal and country’s clashing policies, everyone collaborated and contributed to a friendly and inclusive environment throughout. This conference undoubtedly advanced our skills in diplomacy, compromise and public speaking, while also allowing us to meet amazing people from Australia and abroad. Luka Penney

Working in the Human Rights Council (UNHRC) we focussed on human rights in the digital age. Our committee chose to focus on closing the digital divide, the global gap in access to internet connection and digital literacy. As the delegate for Ireland, I departed from the highly developed and powerful European bloc to work with Morocco, Indonesia, and Mexico on improving their countries’ telecommunications infrastructure. In our resolution, which we passed unanimously, we proposed a mandatory international fund based on a bracket system of countries’ GDPs, tax breaks on trade deals that improve digital access, funding for start-ups, and a Digital Literacy Program. I learnt so much about negotiating, writing a UN resolution, how to dress for a Western business dress code, and how much coffee costs in Central on a Sunday. Eleanor Elonso Love

“The United States Capitol has been attacked. At 8:23 pm Eastern Standard Time, while the President was delivering his State of the Union Address to the joint session of Congress, a bomb exploded beneath the House Chamber. All members of the Cabinet and Congress are confirmed dead, and you’re in charge.”. This was the opening address for the Designated Survivor Committee at HMUN. The new US cabinet, consisting of celebrities from Bill Gates, Michelle Obama, and Caroline Kennedy to Neil de Grasse Tyson and Tom Hanks must navigate through global crises and diplomatic emergencies while slyly crafting scandalous personal crisis arcs. The atmosphere was notably different from what you would expect from a Model UN committee, with a mix of high-stakes diplomacy and outright pandemonium (assisted by the use of props, including a bald cap). We passed resolutions tackling serious (but mostly fictional) issues including China’s 10% increase on export tariffs on American goods and a rapidly deteriorating state of the US economy, with approaches that were creative and (sometimes) effective. But the real fun began when our personal crisis arcs were exposed, which revealed that Bill Gates had started World War 3, Washington DC was nuked not once, but twice, and Sarah Palin poisoned the President. The camaraderie, debates, and the outrageous scenarios made it feel like we were in our own sci-fi political thriller. It was a unique blend of learning, laughter, and lunacy, making the experience educational and incredibly fun. The Designated Survivor Committee is a perfect blend of serious and imaginative problem-solving which is what makes Model UN such a fantastic exercise in both diplomacy and creativity. Gina Hong

The Fort Street High School model United Nation Society meets 3 times per term to debate a different issue each term. They are currently working on Food Security in Conflict Zones. All students are welcome to join.