Arab News, Saudi Arabia
March 14 2005

UN Delegates Meet in Bahrain – Sort Of
Rula Abdul Qadir, Arab News

MANAMA, 14 March 2005 – Slovenia spearheaded a drive to pass a UN
children’s rights resolution enlisting support from a powerful voting
block consisting of Armenia, El Salvador, Palestine and France. Of
course, all the delegates were high school students from Bahrain and
Saudi Arabia, but it all happened at the Bahrain Model United Nations
Conference held March 10-11.

Eight Dhahran Ahliya Girls School students took part in Bahrain’s
largest high school simulation of the United Nations. In this event,
held at Abdul Rahman Kanoo School, students are educated about
environmental, humanitarian and economic issues. They debate their
resolutions and analyze other students’ resolutions.

The Saudi girls were assigned to the Human Rights Committee and made a
great impression with passionate opening speeches full of relevant and
important facts. After the opening speeches, the delegates proceeded
to lobby and merge their resolutions in true diplomatic fashion.

The delegates representing El Salvador, Abeer Arjah and Yasmine
Al-Dawsari, mustered seven co-signers for their resolution on Internet
abuse, which reached the floor for debate.

Model UN Resolution “Issue of Protecting the Rights of Children in
War-Torn Countries,” was presented by the Slovenian delegation of
Neda Sunaid and Lulu Al-Qahtani. The two honed their diplomatic
skills while building a consensus, merging their resolution with
the strongest clauses from the resolutions of Armenia, El Salvador,
Palestine and France. It was passed by an overwhelming vote of 25-5.

Alternative energy sources were discussed along with the Kyoto Protocol
and problems with nuclear energy. France, Belgium and El Salvador
teamed up to submit “Reducing the Costs of Lifesaving Medicines for
People Living in Underdeveloped Countries.”

The Belgian delegation, represented by Dhia Al-Mutairi and Dina Zeitoun
from Dhahran Ahliya Girls School, played a key role in advancing the
resolution, which also was passed with a large majority.

An excellent resolution on this same issue was submitted by Rotana
Tarabzouni and Maha Al-Namari. It gained many co-signers, and though
the resolution was not debated or voted upon due to time constraints,
it was submitted to the table, reviewed and passed by the committee
chairpersons.

The Model United Nations gives students a chance to develop leadership
skills and voice their concerns while providing a valuable learning
experience for all involved. The youthful diplomats may not be going
to the UN headquarters any time soon, but with a little negotiation,
a few concessions and a lot of lobbying – who knows?