Spoken Word Achievements

Model United Nations Assembly

Two Oxley teams recently competed in MUNA, which stands for Model United Nations Assembly. The competition is a simulation of the United Nations where participants take on the roles of delegates representing different countries or organizations. During the conference, delegates engage in debates about various global issues, formal discussions, and caucuses, seeking to find solutions through diplomacy and negotiation.

We had one term to prepare for the competition, which was held on the 25th of May at the Wingecarribee Shire Council Chamber. To prepare, both teams were assigned a country to represent. One Oxley team represented Türkiye, and the other team represented Saudi Arabia. We also found out the 10 resolutions that were debated on the day. Some of the resolutions were: Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflicts; Use of Mercenaries as a Means of Violating Human Rights; Eradicating Rural Poverty to Implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; and Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapons. We had to research these topics and find out our country’s stance. We prepared notes, speeches, and arguments to engage in diplomatic discussions with other delegates.

On the day of the competition, we dressed in traditional attire representative of our assigned countries and competed against other local schools. During the conference, delegates participated in committee sessions where they discussed and debated the issues, attempted to form alliances, and drafted resolutions to address the problems at hand. Delegates had to adhere to the rules and procedures of the UN, such as making formal speeches, negotiating with other delegates, and following the order of the agenda. Participants also used diplomacy, persuasion, and negotiation skills to form coalitions and build consensus among the different countries. At the end of the conference, delegates voted on the resolutions that had been proposed.

To conclude, awards were handed out for the best costume, the peace prize, and overall placing. Oxley’s Saudi Arabian team placed second! MUNA was a great experience, and we learned valuable skills such as public speaking, negotiation, critical thinking, teamwork, and gained a deeper understanding of international relations and diplomacy.

Chloe S, Year 10