Dar Al-Hekma Model UN conducts rights debate

Dar Al-Hekma Model United Nations (DAHMUN) concluded its fourth annual conference earlier this week, with the participation of over 190 students from ten different high schools and universities in the Kingdom.
The DAHMUN conference was held at the Dar Al-Hekma College auditorium, under the theme “Balancing the Scales.”
The conference presented six committees with each committee debating on different subjects.
The committees were named General Assembly, Security Council, Human Rights Council, United Nations Children’s Fund, Economic and Social Council, and Historical Cabinet, in a replication of the UN bodies.
Delegates were assigned to these committees representing a certain country and debate topics varied from children’s rights in times of conflict to military intervention and multinational corporations.
The four-day conference was an initiative of the Model United Nations club members at Dar Al-Hekma, led by Dr. Chaman Rahim, founder and adviser of DAHMUN.
“I am so proud of the girls for all their hard work; to see how much they have grown and how passionate they are is heartwarming,” said Dr. Rahim.
During the opening of the conference, Layan Al-Khouli, a senior legal studies student at Dar Al-Hekma College, presented an inspirational speech to the DAHMUN participants.
“When someone used to ask me why I participate in the Model UN, I used to say because I love it regardless of the all the work it requires. Now my answer has changed. Not only do I love it, but it has helped me understand the current pressing issues around me and it has given me the tools to discuss and express my opinion in a strong and compelling way,” said Al-Khouli.
She added that the Model UN is not a whole other world. “We are just pretending to be a part of it. The MUN is actually a replica of how this world actually runs and that is why it helps us understand it better.”
At the end of the DAHMUN conference, the winning delegates were awarded for their brilliant performances.
The International Indian School bagged the title of the best delegation. Meanwhile, five students from Jeddah Knowledge International School won awards, namely Solafa Ghoneim for best delegate in the General Assembly committee, Rana Al-Baghdadi for best delegate in the Human Rights Council committee, Amina Zawawi for best delegate in the UNICEF committee, Jana Bawazir and Noura Al-Issa for best delegates in the ECOSOC and Security Council committees respectively. The best delegate in the Historical Cabinet committee was awarded to Ahlam Abbaq of Dar Al-Hekma College.
Al-Issa said winning Best Delegate of the Security Council committee was a truly humbling experience. “I left the conference feeling far more confident in my abilities and felt as though I had done myself and my school proud. This major confidence boost will hopefully pave the way for many other experiences to come. So I’d like to thank DAHMUN for that.”