I.I.M.U.N. (India's International Movement to Unite Nations, also known as: Indian International Model United Nations or IIMUN)[1] is a youth organisation comprising 26,000 young organisers who put together student conferences in 220 cities and 35 countries, and work with over 7,500 schools impacting 10 million students annually.[2][3][4][5] The organization simulates the workings of Indian Parliament and multi-lateral organisations for school students to engage them in debates about international relations, current affairs and world politics.[6][7] The aim of the organisation is to get Indian students between 13 and 19 to become global citizens with an Indian mind-set.[8][9][10]

India’s International Movement to United Nations (I.I.M.U.N.)
AbbreviationI.I.M.U.N.
Formation2011; 13 years ago (2011)
TypeYouth organization
HeadquartersMumbai
Location
  • India
Official language
English, Hindi
President
Rishabh S. Shah
Websitewww.iimun.in

History edit

I.I.M.U.N. was founded in 2011 by Rishabh.S.Shah, with its first conference being held from 2–5 August 2012 at the Mumbai World Trade Centre.[11]

Conferences edit

I.I.M.U.N. held a conference inside the United Nations headquarters in New York City in August 2016, and it has since become annual.[12][13][14][5][15] They have conducted the world's largest Mock UNO conference in Mumbai with 7,500 students participating in it.[16][17][18] Every year, annually in August, the organisation puts together its yearly finale event which has taken place in Aamby Valley City, Taj Mahal Palace Hotel & the World Trade Centre. Winning students from across the country and globe come to participate in the same, which is called I.I.M.U.N. Championship Conference.[19][20][21] The students learn about yoga and Indian best practices in the mornings, followed by debating on issues after which speakers come and engage with them.[22][23] The conferences are held in cities in India ranging from Srinagar[24] to Kanyakumari[25] & Port Blair[26] to Kohima,[27] countries ranging from Japan to Uruguay, Poland to South Africa.[28][29]

Issues discussed edit

One of the central topics being discussed in all conferences has been Security Council reform to get India a permanent seat in the council, which is a topic lobbied for by the Indian government in the actual United Nations.[1][30] Other issues that are discussed range from debating the 26/11 terror attacks, ISIS, environmental issues, human rights concerns, and economic topics such as demonetisation.[11][31][32] The organisation also simulates councils based on Indian history and polity.

Initiatives edit

Find a bed,[33][34] an initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic, tackled the problem of finding COVID beds for mildly symptomatic and asymptomatic patients in India.[35][36][37][38] Popular celebrities from Karan Johar,[39] Gauri Khan, Kriti Sanon, Kartik Aryan,[40] Sania Mirza, Shashi Tharoor amongst others supported the cause. However, the initiative also came under criticism for some of the pictures of ambassadors not being "proper".[41]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "SGI school wins top honours at international model UN event - Times of India". The Times of India. 26 September 2016. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
  2. ^ "IIMUN". IIMUN Website.
  3. ^ "Take country to its previous glory". The Hindu.
  4. ^ "Grooming Students as Global Citizens | Akshara". Akshara International Schools. 2018-09-25. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  5. ^ a b "IIMUN". the works. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  6. ^ "Students talk world affairs at mock UN". The Telegraph.
  7. ^ "Billabong School: Bringing Change with Students' Holistic Development". September 2018. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  8. ^ "Indian International Model United Nations hosts its first Dehradun Chapter Conference". Times of India.
  9. ^ "Taking India to the world". Rotary Club of Bombay. 16 October 2018. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  10. ^ "Indore: IIMUN meet aims at building community of life-long learners". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  11. ^ a b "Young Decision Makers". Youthinc Magazine. September 2012.
  12. ^ "A future PM is learning his first lessons of diplomacy at IIMUN: Rishab Shah". The Economic Times. 2016-08-24. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
  13. ^ "Your 8 Chances to Attend a Model UN at the United Nations Headquarters!". Best Delegate Model United Nations. 2016-10-25. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  14. ^ "Students from Navy Children School, Mumbai participated in the Indian International Model United Nations (IIMUN) at the United Nations Headquarters, New York | Indian Navy". www.indiannavy.nic.in. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  15. ^ "Student ambassadors represent the Academy at IIMUN USA | Aga Khan Academies". www.agakhanacademies.org. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  16. ^ Vibhute, Kranti (2016-04-08). "Mumbai to host world's largest mock UN conference". DNA India. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  17. ^ "Mumbai to host world's largest mock UN conference". dna. 2016-04-08. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
  18. ^ "March to demand permanent membership for India in UNSC". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  19. ^ "Dr Subhash Chandra addresses 3000 students at Indian International Model United Nations". India.com. 2015-08-21. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
  20. ^ "VVA students participate in the IIMUN Championship Conference". Vidya Vikas Academy. Archived from the original on 2020-02-29. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  21. ^ "Dr Subhash Chandra addresses 3000 students at Indian International Model United Nations". India News, Breaking News, Entertainment News | India.com. 2015-08-21. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  22. ^ "Sapphire International School|top residential schools in India|Best school in Ranchi|top international school in ranchi". www.sisranchi.com. Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  23. ^ "IIMUN 2018". NPS Mysore. Archived from the original on 30 January 2019.
  24. ^ "2-day IIMUN conference begins at Burn Hall School". Rising Kashmir. Archived from the original on 2020-02-29. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  25. ^ "IIMUN Kanyakumari". allevents.in. Archived from the original on 2020-02-29. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  26. ^ "IIMUN conference organized at UPS : India is largest democracy in the world & its bid for permanent membership in UNSC cannot be neglected: Lt. Governor". Andaman Sheekha. 2017-04-30. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  27. ^ "IIMUN | G.Rio School". grioschool.com. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  28. ^ "I.I.M.U.N." new.iimun.in. Archived from the original on 2020-03-26. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  29. ^ "National Conferences". new.iimun.in. Retrieved 2020-02-29.[permanent dead link]
  30. ^ "Heritageans host IIMUN Conference". Jammu Kashmir Latest News. 2016-04-29. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
  31. ^ "Students debate terror issues to mark 26/11". The Times of India. 14 September 2016. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
  32. ^ "Topics like ISIS, note ban discussed". Free Press Journal.
  33. ^ "I.I.M.U.N. || Find A Bed". www.findabed.in. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
  34. ^ "I.I.M.U.N || Campaigns". new.iimun.in. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
  35. ^ "Forbes India - How A Team Of Students Is Helping Non-critical Patients Find Beds". Forbes India. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
  36. ^ "Covid-19: Websites and Mobile Applications for Essential Resources". grazia.co.in. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
  37. ^ Samarth Srivastava (May 13, 2021). "'Find a bed' initiative helps Covid-19 patients search for hospital beds". India Today. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
  38. ^ "VOGUE India (@vogueindia) posted on Instagram: "In just 72 hours, IIMUN, short for India's International Movement to Unite Nations, the largest youth-run organisation in the world, run by…" • May 13, 2021 at 6:28am UTC". Instagram. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
  39. ^ "Karan Johar Becomes Cause Ambassador For India's First Information Repository To Find COVID-19 Centres". www.filmibeat.com. 2021-05-10. Retrieved 2022-01-03.
  40. ^ "Big News: After Dostana 2 controversy, Kartik Aaryan & Karan Johar come together for a cause, read details". IWMBuzz. 2021-05-11. Retrieved 2022-01-03.
  41. ^ "Richa Chadha Replies To 'Misogynistic' Comments By Journalist Ashok Shrivastav". Retrieved 2021-12-27.