United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
About the Committee
Agenda Statement : Deliberating Upon the Protection and Preservation of Cultural and Scientific Heritage in Conflict Prone Zones
The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was established on November 16, 1945, to promote peace and security worldwide. It is the only UN agency dedicated to strengthening our shared humanity through the promotion of education, science, culture, and communication, and is mandated to advance knowledge to address some of the greatest challenges of our time and create a more just, equal, and peaceful world. In recent times the heritage of a country has been one of the most targeted sites during wars. Scientific and Cultural Heritage is crucial for preserving identity, promoting peace and are one key reason by which we know about a country. Specific resources are essential for scientific progress, education, innovation, and cooperation and when such heritage is destroyed, it is not only a loss to the nation, but to the entire global community.
Letter from Chairperson
Namaste
I am Nivedita Mehta and I am delighted to serve as your Chairperson in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. As a tenth grader, many things excite me, but that one thing that enthralls me is making an impact on this world. Simply the idea of leaving ‘a mark’ has had me hooked since forever. Another important factor to me is ‘my people’; establishing that very precious connection with them is the foundation for a happy
life—one I live by. I love listening to others’ life stories, their experiences, and incidents because that experiential knowledge is something no school textbook can teach you. I strongly believe that if your ideas resonate with mine, MUNing is the epitome of all first steps. I like to think of myself as a girl who enjoys being constantly occupied—whether it’s burying myself in a book, dancing to a ‘feel-good’ song, or even chopping vegetables—which, I know, sounds weird, but brings me peace and helps me process my thoughts. Being active keeps me happy, especially with my weakness for badminton. A sucker for classical music, I play the piano because losing myself in music excites me. The delicate keys under my fingers make me feel like the next Beethoven performing Für Elise.
Coming back to my MUN background, personally for me, MUNs have been like the glaciers for my public speaking, diplomacy, critical thinking, and most importantly, discipline with punctuality—skills which are currently thriving into well-seasoned rivers. I hope that this foundational MUN will act as the same for you. I can assure you that these sessions for UNESCO will be the most enriching ones, which will always keep you on your toes—whether it be debating upon how the intentional targeting of heritage sites participates in cultural cleansing or simply talking about the protection of our culture with science and technology—there will always be something new to look forward to, always something in store. Lastly, one thing I can guarantee you is that this MUN will be your safe space where no doubts or questions—even though they may be the silliest—will go unanswered. You can always come talk to me anytime you like, whether it may be for agenda explanation, ROP questions, or simply a heart-to-heart conversation. I hope you all will prepare well and pull up your socks for a memorable MUN with feisty debates and speeches. I am looking forward to meet each and every one of you.
Warm Regards
Nivedita Mehta
Chairperson, UNESCO
