Genoa – The twentieth edition of GeMun (Genoa Model United Nations) starts today in Genoa: it is the simulation of a conference of the United Nations and the International Court of Justice (Icj) which will last until Saturday, organized by the Deledda high school with the Municipality of Genoa, the Region, Palazzo Ducale, the University and the Chamber of Commerce.
Beyond 600 students involved: the GeMun will bring together students from Genoa, Turin and Udine but also from abroad (Saudi Arabia, Denmark, France, Germany, Israel, Turkey) between the Ducale and the Chamber of Commerce and the Prefecture. The meaning of the meeting, which is largely self-managed by the youth committees, is to represent a nation or an organization (different from one’s own), debating resolutions devised by them, aimed at solving the issues raised on the various themes. The conclusions will then be sent to the UN headquarters.
Vittoria Valeri Hauser, general secretary
Much responsibility rests on his shoulders: Vittoria Valeri Hauser, 18 years old, in her last year at Deledda, is the Secretary General of GeMun, practically the double of Antonio Guterres, who sits in the Palazzo di Vetro. «A tiring but stimulating assignment – says Vittoria – I started in first grade, with Viola and Matteo. An experience that has always fascinated me because everything is based on preparation and discussion». But how do you manage a debate between, say, the representative of Russia and that of Ukraine? «All students know that they must focus on mediation skills, they must not seek confrontation or provocation. Sometimes it happens, but that’s why we’re here. GeMun’s goal is to teach young people the importance of preparation in order to then be able to argue in a dialectical and diplomatic way».
Vittoria, with fellow students and the help of teachers Eduardo Losada and Daniele Orlando, he also handles the organization and even the hospitality. «In general, the kids who come to Genoa are welcomed into families. There is a lot of logistical work behind it which starts months before, we take care of everything personally, with the supervision of the teachers. We decide thanks to a long experience, every week at school we dedicate at least two to the project, and this since October. After twenty years, and back to normal management after Covid, today we have a great commitment with many students from outside. We have learned to use management programs, to share agendas and commitments: a heavy job but one that rewards us».
Viola Costa, Deputy Secretary General
«I started years ago as a delegate, and I’m happy that Vittoria and Matteo today share this top management role with me: it’s a great result for a long and interesting journey. Personally, I followed the organizational and moderation part of the debate a lot. Today I share with them the summit of management. It’s tiring but I do it willingly, because it gives me great satisfaction, it’s an appointment that allows for great growth».
Viola Costa, 18, also in her last year at Deledda, as deputy general secretary of GeMun has a heavy weight on her shoulders. «Yes, she is tiring and sometimes even stressful because there are so many things to do and organize. But we are equipped and we collaborate. The most beautiful thing is the fact that even if everything is centered on confrontation and debate, no one tries to harm others; collaboration and the desire to do well together prevail over everything. In the end we create a sharing and a very positive atmosphere».
Study, the desire to discover what lies beyond one’s borders and to collaborate with others leads Viola to think about an international future: «We have learned a lot about the world, about geopolitics, about the many needs and the many projects that already exist and that they could be opened. At GeMun we become very aware of situations that for most people are often completely unfamiliar. For this in the near future I’d like to go to work for an NGOa non-governmental organization”.
Matteo Marinucci, Deputy Secretary General
«Like Vittoria and Viola, I started acting as delegate when I was in first grade, today I’m in the fourth year. I have dealt a lot with administrative and management roles rather than organization. Today, however, I find myself at the top of the GeMun. I have always liked the idea of entering the dynamics of diplomacy; although it is always a simulation, I learned a lot». Matteo Marinucci, 17, is the other deputy general secretary of GeMun 2023.
«A project that sees our school (the Deledda high school, ed) as the protagonist, even if many institutes, including those from Genoa, are strongly involved such as, this year, the Pertini and Gobetti high schools. It is challenging also because to achieve it it becomes necessary to remodulate the lessons of entire classes, with the collaboration of the teachers». Not forgetting that everything is done in English, as is done at the UN: «It is no coincidence that we have classes from Saudi Arabia, Denmark, France, Germany, Israel, Turkey. The international dimension is important and is constantly followed, year after year, by the various schools».
Matteo is also fascinated by the dynamics of diplomacy, «although it is basically a simulation, the dynamics are very engaging. We talk about real and always new things, often little known in general and also by our peers. I find it very interesting and useful, certainly geopolitical issues are in my comfort zone and I intend to follow this path in the future». —
Giorgia Zilioli, president of the Court of Justice
«In the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan there are allegations of violations of international rights. A still hot topic on which the UN is very committed”. Giorgia Zilioli, 18, is ready to put on a metaphorical toga to preside over the emulation of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) of the United Nations. A venue where issues of great weight are discussed, especially centered on human rights violations, one of the activities of the Gemun starting today in Genoa.
«The Nagorno-Karabakh dispute has been going on for thirty years and has not yet been resolved – says Giorgia – In our simulation, which in any case starts from real facts, Azerbaijan accuses Armenia. There will be fifteen judges and two pairs of lawyers to argue and discuss the issue. Just a simulation, but there is a lot of study behind it: «The boys who play the roles have been preparing for months to be up to the situation. We have read and studied hundreds of pages of UN documents to make the discussion as concrete as possible. The part that interests us the most are the arguments and the debate, which are at the center of the personal and collective growth of the young people who participate». But without straying too far from reality, on the contrary. «The fact that we prepare carefully then gives us some feedback – concludes Giorgia – Last year we simulated a debate on an issue relating to problems between Colombia and Chile. Our results then were very similar to those that were defined by the real assembly of the United Nations”.
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