As the demonstration against forced integration raged on in Valletta, the Malta Model United Nations Society (MaltMUN Society) was living its dream of hosting its first Model United Nations Conference in Malta entitled ‘Lives adrift: fighting the exploitation of irregular immigrants’.
The conference was opened at the President’s Palace at San Anton Gardens. MaltMUN Society president Cristina Cefai and Saman Bugeja, president of the partnering Junior Chamber of Advocates organisation, explained the choice of the theme.
They recognised immigration to be a topical issue that requires more attention and sensitivity in light of excessive popular sensationalism, as was indeed witnessed during the demonstrations outside the new Parliament building.
A number of distinguished dignitaries, including President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, US Ambassador Gina Abercombie-Wistanley and JRS Malta director Katrine Camilleri were present and delivered key-note speeches.
The relevance of immigration in today’s world, especially in light of current events, was particularly highlighted by all speakers. They emphasised the need for direct contact with refugees and migrants and stressed that many migrants are not only willing to take what they are owed from society, but also to acknowledge and live up to their own responsibility towards society at large.
Mrs Coleiro Preca congratulated the society for taking the initiative in bringing Model United Nations to Malta for the first time. Delegates then proceeded to the Parliament where they conducted debates simulating the legal and UNHCR committees on issues such as disrupting the smuggling of people at sea and the Syrian refugee crisis in the Mediterranean.
The theme was well received by the delegates, who found it “challenging and a good catalyst for a thought-provoking discussion”, as described by Roberto Cassar, a sixth-year law student who represented Germany in the legal committee.
MaltMUN 2015 came to a close at the Malta Chamber of Commerce. Speaker Anġlu Farrugia and Christine Cassar, director of the People for Change Foundation and Malta youth delegate to the UN (2006), lauded the conference and the society for sparking discussion among young people on the refugee crisis.
The society’s vice president Warren Ciantar said: “The urgency for young people to discuss this issue is heightened due to events such as this. Ironically, an occurrence like this, where two diametrically opposed events are happening side by side, serves as an example of a healthy democracy. People with opposing views must not be silenced, but listened to calmly.”
Awards were presented to Thea Busuttil (UNHCR) and George Camilleri (legal) for best position paper; Gašper Repinšek (UNHCR) and Lisa Camilleri (legal), who were awarded honourable mention; and Emma Grech (UNHCR) and Kirk Brincau (legal), who were awarded distinguished delegate. The most best delegate award went to Neil Bugeja (UNHCR) and Roberto Cassar (legal).
MaltMUN 2015 is officially supported by the US Embassy, the Valletta 2018 Foundation and the Office of the President. For more information, follow the organisation on Facebook (fb.com/MaltMUN) or send an e-mail to maltmunsociety@gmail.com.