Some of ECP’s MUN team members (Eileen, Simon, Alex, Annas, and I) all of whom are organising the second year of our very own ECPMUN conference, which will take place from the 11th – 13th of October, were invited to the 19th edition of GLOBSEC Think Tank (30 Aug – 1 Sep). It is an international conference where world leaders discuss pressing world issues. For us, this was a unique opportunity to learn about what is going on in the world. We could hear about various perspectives of all kinds of presidents, prime ministers, and other inspirational guest speakers and hear their views and solutions to these respective issues.
US elections
We attended over 20 sessions and presentations and got to stand and sit next to all kinds of world politicians. It was a truly incredible experience. Some of my favorite sessions focused on the US elections and their impact on the world. One of the interesting side sessions was titled “Shifting Transatlantic Attitudes in an Election Year.” During this session, we quite literally sat around one table with, for example, the Former Minister of Defense of the Netherlands or the President of the Chicago Council & Former US Ambassador to NATO. I learned so much about the impact of the US elections and the vital importance of fostering strong transatlantic relationships between the US and Europe in order to build a safer and more peaceful world.
Human Rights
Additionally, the food at the conference was delicious, and during one of the snack breaks, we also got the chance to talk to the former Tibetan Prime Minister, Mr. Lobsang Sangay. This was one of many pinch-me moments for me during the three days at GLOBSEC. Amongst all of the fascinating sessions we attended, there was one more that stood out to me: GLOBSEC Chat. It focused on how to face and eliminate terrorism in Africa. It was led by Mr. Ahmed Abdi, Member of Parliament & Secretary of the Somali Defence Committee. As a result, I learned a lot about EU’s involvement in fighting terrorist groups and protecting vital infrastructure across Africa, but mainly in Somalia.
I’m very passionate about Human Rights. For this reason, I love to debate in committees focusing on Human Rights issues, which are almost always related to Sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, I was excited to learn something new and hear a real politician from the region talk about the situation there. I cannot wait to apply this knowledge in my future MUN debates.
I still cannot believe that we were able to attend such a prestigious event. As Ms. Kister said, got to “rub shoulders” with some of the most influential people in the world who are shaping and fighting for our future. I left GLOBSEC feeling more inspired to make a positive difference than ever before. I hope to become a change-maker myself one day, just like all the inspirational guest speakers we had the chance to listen to and meet.
Amélie Fišerová, student
