Early this week, our pupils joined peers from 20 other schools across the country in attending the 2024 Benenden Model United Nations Conference. Senior School pupils from Removes through to Upper Sixth demonstrated research, negotiation and drafting skills in their work across several committees mirroring real world diplomacy as delegates representing Rwanda and Azerbaijan.

In the Disarmament and International Security Committee (DISEC), discussions centred on preventing an arms race in outer space and the ethics of supplying weapons to conflict zones. The Economic and Financial Committee (ECOFIN) tackled net-zero goals in low-income countries. The Human Rights Council (HRC) debated freedom of expression in fundamentalist states, while the Special Political and Decolonisation Committee (SPECPOL) addressed aid worker safety in war zones. UN Women (UNWOMEN) discussed ending forced marriages and the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) focused on eradicating the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and phasing out diesel car production.

This experience enhanced pupils’ understanding of global politics in a very creative and collaborative manner. We are proud of their dedication and look forward to future successes on the Model (or real) UN stage!

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