NederlandsDebate about cooperating with NGO’s on UN-peacekeeping missions (17-01-2011)
UNISCA stands for the United Nations International Student Conference of Amsterdam: a unique interdisciplinary course offered by the University of Amsterdam. Fourteen years ago, some ambitious students decided they wanted to create an opportunity for students to simulate the workings of the UN. Their goal was to establish an organization in which students would have the opportunity to discuss contemporary world issues and obtain diplomatic skills on an academic level. Thirteen UNISCA successful conferences have been held since then. Newly acquired skills like resolution writing, public speaking and debating, as well as several lectures by guest speakers, enable them to participate as professional diplomats during the UN simulation conference. UNISCA strives to deepen the knowledge of academic students about the United Nations, about international diplomacy; and focuses on a specific theme every year. The highlight of the course is a weeklong conference in which students simulate an actual UN conference
During the IDFA (International Documentary Festival of Amsterdam), the documentary ‘Armadillo’ will be screened. This documentary is about a Danish army platoon stationed in Helmand, Afghanistan. In the beginning it seems an adventurous and interesting mission for the soldiers, but the Taliban advance and forces the local people to support them. The goal of the military is to help the Afghan people, but when the war gets worse, and operations more dangerous, it becomes difficult for the soldiers to trust the local population, which causes some frustrations.
After the screening there will be a debate about the complexity of UN missions. In UNISCA most students learn solely about policy development. Through this debate, UNISCA wants to emphasize the complexity of the difference between developing policy and practicing policy. The collaboration with NGOs in UN peacekeeping missions is therefore often limited. UNISCA has invited our general director Willem van de Put to share his vision on this topic.
The screening will start at 3 p.m. and will be followed by a debate from 4.45 to 6 p.m. on January 9th. Tickets (solely for both activities) cost € 6, 50 and can be reserved at cinema Kriterion: +31 (0)20 623170.
