Last week’s main event

UPEACE students stage Model United Nations Conference 2006

The fourth annual University for Peace Model United Nations Conference (UPMUNC 2006) took place at the headquarters of the University for Peace in San José, Costa Rica. One hundred and eighty participants attended UPMUNC 2006, including UPEACE students and staff, and students from other prestigious national and international Universities. The Conference was from 16-18 March.

Students from the Universidad de Costa Rica, (UCR), Universidad Latina (ULATINA), Universidad Internacional de las Americas (UIA), Universidad Nacional (UNA), Universidad Interamericana, EARTH, Universidad la Salle, and the Panamerican School arrived on UPEACE campus early on 16 March to attend the first day's simulation.

In the first day session, Ms. Ingread Fournier, Legal Adviser for UPEACE and Institutional Representative to the UN System, addressed the participants on the latest proposal and actions that the General Assembly has adopted in continuing the process of reform of the United Nations.

Other relevant participants included Dr. John Mary Kauzya, Chief of Governance and Public Administration Branch, United Nations. Dr. Kauzya spoke on “Good Governance and Conflict Management: The case of the UN in Africa”. Dr. Fred Wheling, Associate Professor in the Graduate School of International Policiy Studies spoke on “Nuclear Technologies in Iran”.

Dr. Christine Oatis-Skinner, Consultant/Career Counsellor and Coach, University for Peace Career Services, also addressed the participants on “Career opportunities with the United Nations and International Organizations.

It is because of the generosity of donors that the University for Peace is in a position to offer the unique experience of UPMUNC. UPEACE extends its appreciation to the Ambassador of France, H.E Jean Paul Monchau, who provided the support to offer to guests, diplomats and delegates a Diplomatic Reception. Also thanks to the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, H.E Susan Blankhart, for her early support and encouragement. UPEACE would also like to acknowledge the ambassadors from both the United Kingdom, H.E Georgina Butler, and Canada, H.E. Mario Lague, for their generous contribution to our administrative and training support.

UPEACE would also like to thank Mr. José Pies, from the International Organization for Migration and Mrs. Chelston Brathwaite, from the Inter-American Institute for Agricultural Cooperation, and Mr. José Manuel Hermida, Resident Representative, United Nations Development Programme, for their generous donations to this event.

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Conference on “Disintegrated Forces and a Culture” for Peace takes place at UPEACE

On 14 March 2006, UPEACE hosted a Conference on “Disintegrated Forces and a Culture for Peace”. The activity took place at the Council Room at 1:30pm, and it was organized to coincide with the World Season for Non Violence.

The organizers of the activity were the National Commission on the Rescue of Values, the Ministry of Justice and the University for Peace.

Professor and researcher Dr. Ernesto Zierer and Professor Emeritus of the National University in Trujillo, Peru, addressed the audience on the topic of “Disintegrated Forces and a Culture for Peace”. They also presented the book “Culture of Peace and Community Educational Development: An experience of the Peruvian Amazonian”.

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Visiting Profesor

Christine Oatis-Skinner

Professor Christine Oatis-Skinner arrived at UPEACE on 12 March to work with Career Development Services. During her stay, Professor Oatis-Skinner, provided advice and career counseling to many UPEACE students. She stayed until 17 March 2006.

Her previous experience includes director/career counselor, at Carleton College Career Center, were she provided career, volunteer, internship, graduate school and fellowship advising and career counseling for students and alumni. She also acted as regional coordinator/trainer for the Alliance Learning Center at AT&T, were she implemented comprehensive career and educational planning services for AT&T employees; conducted career development seminars, and provided career counselling. She was also consultant/director of career development services, ACCESS: Networking in the Public Interest, and assistant director for Career Services, Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government.

Fred Wehling

Professor Fred Wehling arrived on 13 March 2006 to teach the module on “Small arms and Weapons of Mass Destruction”, for the MA in International Peace Studies. He will teach until 20 March 2006. This course module introduces students to concepts and methods of limiting and reducing armaments, focusing primarily on weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

Fred L. Wehling is an associate professor at the Graduate School of International Policy Studies and a senior research associate and education coordinator for the Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) at the Monterey Institute of International Studies, Monterey, California. In addition to teaching courses on nuclear non-proliferation, WMD and terrorism, and other topics at the Monterey Institute, Wehling organizes the center’s educational outreach projects in the United States, Russia, and other countries; conducts research in fissile material security, exports of nuclear materials and technology from the former Soviet states, and nuclear terrorism; and develops online learning programs on WMD terrorism.

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First IMPS training course in Geneva: Media Challenges for UN Peacekeeping

The Institute for Media, Peace and Security conducted a two-day training seminar in Geneva 7-8 March. Participants came from four countries and were UN Peacekeepers or journalists. Leading the seminar was Dr. Ingrid Lehmann, former Director of the UN Department of Public Information in Vienna. She previously served on the political staff of two UN peacekeeping missions, and her book, Peacekeeping and Public Information- Caught in the Crossfire, is a standard work in this field. This was the first training seminar for professionals conducted in the UPEACE Geneva office.

Students Life

Nicolas Andreas Eliades
Current Student
International Peace Studies

So organising UPMUNC was no easy task. It might seem like it, at a glance, standing from the outside, hearing vaguely about weekly meetings.

It’s been a while. I almost struggle casting my mind back to the first few days of UPMUNC. I think there was even a time before the board, a small secretive little age, in which two or three chosen talked with Dean Edith, planning a full frontal campaign towards a successful UPMUNC. These small few created a vision. An idea. What they needed next was a team to bring into reality their design. A message went out, all that was left for the creators was to wait. And they were not disappointed.

Out of the international body came together a truly global team with different interests, different aspirations, different talents. Each had UPMUNC, however, firmly in mind. So thus, we all did what we had been assigned: organized invitations, sponsorships, awareness, catering and of course considered the actual course of the conference itself.

Wednesdays came to symbolize, to those on “The Board”, UPMUNC days. Meetings were the order of the day. This is where it all came together, where we touched base. Honestly, I never was quite aware of what each individual was doing. And yet the meetings were long, report upon report highly questioned, analysed, due recommendations made. UPMUNC’s web was slowly spun by a collection of students, setting out from the centre, spreading out in different connections, all connecting in the end.

On d-day, I think we safely began to realize that UPMUNC might just be a success. It all came together so comprehensively, so unhindered, even perhaps elegantly. Each person held up their end of the deal, and tightened a tapestry of colour, politics and culture.

Was it fulfilling? Yes, oh yes. In retrospect, a hundred times over, yes. For me. I would like to think the rest of the board also believes so. I can almost with full confidence say they do. A good friend of mine said to me on Saturday that the Vagina Monologues helped to incite, revive even, a certain school pride. I agree. She also said UPMUNC served to grow and cement it. I think I agree. I also think we were in need of it.

If UPMUNC was successful, however, it was entirely because of our friends, colleagues and professors - because of UPEACE. It was a conference inspired by the university and its students. It was never that much of an act. We just added UN bureaucracy and some more students and called UPEACE a model for three days. Imagine what we might do after this year with the knowledge gained here?

Ajit Singh
Current Student
International Law and the Settlement of Disputes

UPMUNC 2006 has come to a close. Thank you and congratulations to all our sponsors, supporters, and volunteers, and participants. The development our Board has gone through during these last seven months is more than apparent. Within the span of three days, our delegates, in my eyes, have also gone through tremendous transformation. Recalling but days ago, delegates were frantically trying to internalize rules and procedures, while also trying to research their respective countries. A few days ago Committee Chairs and Directors were working extremely hard to memorize their roles and duties. A few days ago our Board of Directors were chaotically running around up to (and after!) the last second to ensure the success of the conference. All of our hard work paid off, as this was a successful conference. During the conference delegates spoke with eloquence and conviction, fighting for a cause that may not have been theirs, but nevertheless fighting for greater than them. On our opening night we spoke about passion, dreams, and peace. At the end of our conference, during the General Assembly Plenary and Security Council, the most beautiful achievements occurred. Our delegates, while holding true to their country positions and ideals, passed seven resolutions. These resolutions that passed would have probably never passed given the current political realities of the UN. These resolutions dramatically reformed the UN, dramatically aided the struggles of oppressed groups such as women, refugees, while also bringing visionary, formidable, and pragmatic solutions to crisis situations in Somalia and Iran, as well as for the environment. This is hope. Our delegates are ‘our hope for peace’ today and tomorrow. We rehearsed our future these past three days of UPMUNC 2006, the results of which are an inspiration to those losing hope in a time of pessimism. Let us draw upon this inspiration to fuel our passion of making this world a better place, a more peaceful place. Let us realize our visionary resolutions, let us realize our peace. Once again thank you and congratulations to all!

System-Wide Activities

UPEACE Professor attended a workshop in Turkey

From 6-8 March 2006, professor Jennifer Hazen attended a workshop on “Building National Capacities for Conflict Prevention and Transformation”. The workshop was held in Istanbul, Turkey, and was hosted jointly by the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Department of Political Affairs. The workshop, attended by nearly 100 participants, focused on understanding new and emerging approaches to conflict prevention and conflict transformation, sharing national experiences of UN country teams, and developing concrete practical strategies for furthering the efforts of the UN in areas of building social cohesion and promoting good governance, development, and peacebuilding.

In a parallel effort, Prof. Hazen also attended a one-day experts meeting in New York on March 15. This meeting, “Toward the UN Secretary-General’s Report on the Prevention of Armed Conflict,” brought together two-dozen scholars and the leadership of the UN Department of Political Affairs for a discussion of conflict prevention strategies. This meeting was convened by the UN Department of Political Affairs and hosted by the Columbia University Center for International Conflict Resolution.

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Dean for Latin America and the Caribbean Programme and UPEACE team participate in a workshop in Sao Paulo, Brazil

A UPEACE mission was in Sao Paulo, Brazil, from 6 through 10 of March 2006. The team – composed of Tatiana Benavides, Carlos García, Betty Mc Dermot and Victor Valle- facilitated a strategic planning workshop for the recently created Open University for Environment and Culture of Peace, UMAPAZ in the Portuguese acronym.

This institution is part of the official instance in charge of environmental affairs in the Municipal Government of the City of Sao Paulo, an urban space with 10,000,000 people and the focal point of a metropolitan area of almost 25 million people.

UMAPAZ will carry out education and training activities on environmental and socio-environment conditions for harmonious co-existence in the City of Sao Paulo and vicinity. UPEACE will accompany these activities as part of the growing relationship with Brazilian institutions.