KUWAIT, March 20 (KUNA) -- A four-day Model United National (Model UN) conference, slated for Wednesday, will be held in Kuwait at an international level for the first time, bringing together 400 students from schools in Kuwait, Lebanon, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia.

Two students from Kuwait's Bayan Bilingual School (BCC), Nouriya Al-Saqer and Sara Al-Muzaini, have organized the conference as part of their high school graduation project.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, they explained that students from different schools in Kuwait held Model UN meetings three times a year, but that this was the first time students from other countries were invited, making this the country's largest such Model UN conference.

They said their main sponsor was Mohammad Jassem Al-Marzouq, hoping that through this effort, the world would come to know what Kuwait's youth were capable of doing.

Model UN is a simulation education activity focusing on civics, communications, globalization and multilateral diplomacy. In Model UN, students take on roles as foreign diplomats and participate in a simulated session of an inter-governmental organization.

Participants research a country, take on roles as diplomats, investigate international issues, debate, deliberate, consult, and then develop solutions to world problems. During a simulation they must employ a variety of communications and critical thinking skills to defend and advance the policies of their country.

The girls said UN General Assembly President Sheikha Haya Rashed Al-Khalifa had, during her visit to Kuwait, met with the students organizing the event and gave a taped statement that would be played at the inaugural ceremony.

Moreover, they said Kuwait's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Abdullah Murad would be attending the opening, while Director of Kuwait's Diplomatic Institute Ambassador Abdulaziz Al-Sharikh would be speaking at the closing ceremony on Saturday alongside political science professors Ghanim Al-Najjar and Lubna Al-Qadhi.

Taking part are students from 11 Kuwaiti schools, Kuwait University, and the American University in Kuwait, as well as 25 students from Lebanon, 15 from Nigeria, 20 from Pakistan, and 15 from Saudi Arabia.

The students explained the event included a disarmament conference, as well as session of the environmental, human rights, and social committees. The case of Japan versus North Korea will be the case argued at the simulated International Court of Justice.

Main topics that will be discussed include the new arms race in the Middle East, the use of torture as an instrument of warfare, peaceful development of alternative energy sources, the rights of stateless persons, and deteriorating conditions in the Arab world.

As part of the UN Security Council representation, conditions in Iraq and Somalia will be looked into, they said, as well as the situation in Lebanon, among others, they concluded.

By Eman Al-Awadhi