Citizenship education
Learning at school and in society

UNITED NATIONS MODEL (UNM)

ARGENTINA

The United Nations Model is a simulation of the different organs of the international organization, where high school and university students play the role of diplomats. This is an educational event in which young people participate like ambassadors and delegates, discussing relevant topics of the world agenda (conflictive situations in several countries, racial discrimination, migrations, religious intolerance, etc.) The program intends to educate young people to understand their role in society through the discussions around world topics that can facilitate thinking and examine the interaction and interdependence of social, political and economic problems with the environment. Within a framework of struggle against inequality, injustice and the use of force, the UNM promotes dialogue and peaceful confrontation of ideas as the main tools in solving conflicts. Thus, democratic societal values are developed (solidarity, responsibility, respect of diversity) based on a practical experience and high intellectual demand, propitiating the need for commitment toward these subjects involving everybody.

Most of the UNM 's activities are organized by the Conscience Association, which designed the First National Model. The project already has 30,000 participants and about 20 trainers throughout the country. Currently, there are also different associations developing the program, covering wide areas of the country. In order to become part of this experience, high school and university students carry out an intense research task, getting trained in different international politics areas such as the working of the UN, negotiation, speech techniques, the country they represent, etc. The group of young people who play the role of authorities and/or organizations, receive a theoretical-practical training from CONSCIENCE that allows them to preside and coordinate autonomously the debates and negotiations. At the same time, the teachers that accompany their students attend the conferences and workshops where they obtain training and receive didactic material. The association elaborates and distributes diskettes with information on rules and basic concepts, allowing the students and teachers to use bibliographic material. Due to the successful result obtained and the students and teachers' demands, the program has been progressively growing throughout the country.
In the year 2000, 42 diverse activities organized by UNM 's were held (school, district, regional, provincial and national). The students, motivated by their participation, many times ask for their incorporation to the organizational and research work done before by the Organizing Committee. That is why many high schools and the university collaborate in the project through the internship system, making possible for them to continue with their training in matters related to organization, UN regulations, International policy, etc.

In Argentina, the restoration of democracy has less than 20 years of age, after going through a long and painful period of military dictatorship (1976-1983). For several years the country was prey of upheavals of violence, political persecutions, and terrible violations of human rights. The difficulty of exerting freedom, the intolerance of differences and the prohibition of all kinds of alternative thought have always been present in the authoritarian governments that usually instill in people the so called "culture of fear". These representations lasted for a long time restricting the participatory capacities and the exercise of responsibility. In this context, it is important to realize different actions for the development of the values of a democratic society based on solidarity, justice and the respect for diversity. That is why this program has an important sense in Argentina, since it promotes consensus on the basis of confrontation of ideas, dialog, the defense of one's own opinions and the respect toward other cultures and other ways of thinking.

Ms. Silvia Rueda de Uranga
President of CONSCIENCE Non partisan Civic Association -
Central Headquarters
Tucuman 731 1st floor A.C.P. (1046)
Buenos Aires City - Argentina
Tel.: 4322-3878
Fax: 4322-3878
E-mail: conciencia@conciencia.org
Web site: www.concienciadigital.com.ar

Institutional Partners
United Nations Information Center for Argentina and Uruguay (CINU).
National and Provincial Ministries of Education, Secretariats of Education of diverse city halls. Financial Partners
Ministries of Education, Secretariats of Education and diverse private firms.

The UNM started being developed around 1950 at Harvard University. In Argentina it was implemented in 1994, when the Conscience Association organized the First National Model.

From its beginning in Argentina, all the models have been declared of Educational Interest by the Ministries and Municipal, Provincial and National Secretariats of Education, by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Argentina in the UN, and the UN Information Center for Argentina and Uruguay (CINU).