United Nations Association in Canada
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The UN Unites 750 Young Leaders in Ottawa

9 March 2004 - The United Nations Association in Canada [UNA-Canada] is hosting the 2004 Canadian International Model United Nations [CANIMUN] Conference from 10-13 March at the Government Conference Centre in Ottawa. The city welcomes more than 750 university and college students from every province in Canada, the Arctic region and more than 13 countries around the world, including Bermuda, Germany, Kosovo, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Russia, Sierra Leone, Togo, the United Kingdom and the United States.

With the Nation's Capital draped with the Canadian and UN flags, in honor of the official visit of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, these young people will affirm their commitment to the world's foremost international organization by participating at Canada's only bilingual simulation event for university students.

CANIMUN 2004 includes the simulation of 20 committees that include the UN General Assembly Committees addressing such issues as gay rights as well as preventing and combating corruption to ensure accountability throughout member countries. Also in light of recent parliamentary debates on same-sex marriage, CANIMUN present a valuable opportunity to discuss matters that are currently important to Canadian society. Other committees will debate and build solutions on such issues as the outbreak containment of new viral strains and combating HIV/AIDS - both pertinent on the domestic and international scene in the aftermath of the worldwide SARS outbreak and the ongoing African fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Innovative and exciting committees include the Specialized Agencies of Charlottetown Conference 1864 and the Antarctica Negotiations of 2020. These pioneering simulations will bring participants back almost 150 years to debate issues around federation and nation-state building. Equipped with the lessons learned and realities of today's current political, economic and cultural situation, participants will be charged with deciding if the foundations laid out so many years ago were the most appropriate for the building of this nation. Looking to the future, delegates to Antarctica Negotiations 2020 will look at the largest body of freshwater in the world to discuss the access, exploration and distribution of its resources. Accompanying these committees are the Joint Crisis Committees of the United Nations Security Council, The United States National Security Council and the Cabinet of North Korea that will lead participants through numerous unforeseen crises while tasking them with the process of finding measures and solutions within a limited time frame.

Pre-arranged site visits during the event are welcomed.

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Contact:
Rida Abboud
Media Relations
613.794.5209

rida@unac.org