World peace, fake news, electoral interference and Crimea were all tabled at the first UN Youth Australia meeting in Armidale.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Students from The Armidale School and Armidale High School represented countries from across the globe, and gave speeches on world issues.
Moree’s Hamish Whibley attended the meeting as a student at TAS, acting as a delegate for ‘the United States’.
"The Evatt Mock UN Security Council consists of real security council members being represented by a group of two students, who debate real United Nations disputes.
“In being a delegate for 'the United States', I learnt that building relations with other countries is important when trying to put forward your opinion,” he said.
Hamish said an eye-opening experience occurred when he saw a veto used.
“In an instant, an entire resolution can be thrown away, if the United States or Russia says no. Even if every one else says yes, it is an automatic no if the US or Russia says no.
“I learned how hard a process of passing a resolution, and you could come to the conclusion that the UN is not as democratic as you’d expect."