From February 13 to 16, a delegation of 20 UWI students will take part in the prestigious Harvard National Model United Nations (HNMUN) in Boston, Massachusetts. The team follows last year’s delegation, which won several awards. Institute of International Relations (IIR) students from the St Augustine Campus were awarded “Outstanding Delegates” and “Diplomatic Commendation” in the 2019 HNMUN, competing against delegations from some of the world’s top universities.
This year’s team comprises of students from the St Augustine, Cave Hill and Mona Campuses. The four St Augustine delegates, all of whom are enrolled in postgraduate programmes, are Terri Ann Baker, Danielle Lewis, Joneille Johnson and Ryan Abraham.
HNMUN is a competition and the goal is for students to craft the “winning” resolution (a type of treaty) based on a main topic. Terri Ann Baker and Dr Ryan Abraham are assigned to India in the World Health Organisation as a double delegate on the topic “Global Disparities in Health Professional Training”. Danielle Lewis is a single delegate representing Cyprus and participating in the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on the topic “Asylum and the Right to Healthcare”.
Joneille Johnson is representing Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic in The Economic and Social Council and Regional Bodies – African Union on the topic “GMO Food Aid and Cultivation in Africa”. Participants are eligible to win certificates for their performance, as was done by the UWI delegation at HNMUN 2019 held from February 14 to 17 2019 in Boston.
Founded in 1955, the HNMUN is the “oldest, largest and most prestigious model UN. HNMUN 2020 is its 66th session. Held at the historic Park Plaza Hotel in downtown Boston, over 2000 delegates from 60 countries will come together to debate and propose solutions to the world’s most pressing issues.
