Debate for Peace led its fourth delegation to the United Nations in Vienna, with top MUN and diplomacy students from 12 schools holding meetings with several UN agencies, missions to the UN, the foreign ministry of Austria, NGOs and thinktanks. This year’s delegation was proud to take part in a special conference titled “A Sustainable Future of Peace starts now- with Education: SDG 16”.

This year’s delegation held briefings and meetings with UNOOSA, UNHCR, UNODA, UNODC, and the International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, as well as with the Foreign Ministry of Austria, the International Institute for Peace, and the heads of mission of both the Delegation of the European Union to the International Organisations in Vienna and the US Mission to the UN in Vienna (USUNVIE). During the meetings, students discussed the challenges of multilateral diplomacy, different fields of work at the UN, and peacebuilding, particularly in the Middle East.

The highlight of the delegation was a three hour session at the UN on Youth and Peacebuilding, organized by the Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP), with support from the UNODC Youth Mainstreaming unit, and participation from the missions of Burkina Faso, Mexico, and the Philippines. Four of the participants sat on a panel, where they shared their thoughts and experiences on the challenges that youth face in building peace, and how adults can support young peacebuilders to create positive differences and build bridges. A recording of the panel can be viewed here.

Following four intense days of briefings and meetings, the delegation made time to take in some cultural highlights of Vienna, including Schonbrunn Palace, the Imperial Treasury, Military museum, Welt Museum, city boat cruise, House of Music, Mythos Mozart, and Madame Tussauds wax museum and the amusement park.

The participants included students from the following schools:

Hand In Hand, Atid Raziel, Ohel-Shem, Al-Hikma high school, Deshalit high school, Darca Begin Gedera, Ort Hilmi Shafie, Meitarim, Al Galil High school, Prishtina High School, Schmidt Schule, and El Ein Junior High School.

Debate for Peace extends its gratitude to the Women’s Federation for World Peace Vienna office (WFWP), International Institute for Peace (IIP), Federal Ministry of European and International Affairs of Austria, US Mission to the UN (USUNVIE), Delegation of the European Union to the International Organisations in Vienna, International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), UN Office of Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).