Model United Nations Conference

Model United Nations Conference, Geneva – January 2026

During the first week of this term, 9 representatives of Invicta’s Model United Nations society were honoured to attend FerMUN 2026, a 4 day conference hosted at the United Nations offices in Geneva.  This year’s theme focused on the crisis of multilateralism.

Although ‘multilateralism’ as a term is probably unfamiliar to most young people, it represents something the UK youth find extremely important and is a value most Invicta students hold dear.  The opening ceremony, held in one of the most significant rooms in geopolitics, in Palais des Nations, emphasised this need for cooperation between countries.  Our delegation felt this reaffirmed the importance of the Model United Nations programme, forces us to ask whether we want to be complicit in planetary and political destruction or if we want to work together to act. 

“The opening ceremony was very insightful as it taught me the importance of multilateralism and highlighted that there can be problems with that today.  Hearing UN representatives acknowledge this was very significant.” Rajni, Nightingale 1

Perhaps due to the UK’s proposed reduction in voting age, or increased freedom for teenagers and young adults, IGS MUN students believe the burden of responsibility is falling onto young people more than in the past.  This became clear during three days of debating on:

• issues of basic labour rights in the tripartite International Labour Organisation (ILO).
• the importance of food security to alleviate global political pressure in the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
• the consequences of gender-based discrimination on global health in the World Health Organization (WHO).

The variety of topics our nine students discussed showed a clear testament to upholding multilateralism. 

“The debates helped me gain knowledge on working conditions in other countries, as well as their political stances.  Learning about the relationship between politics and labour will help in my A Level studies.” Ellie, Colvin 2

We also felt that this conference reaffirmed the value of our opinions.  We were encouraged to disagree with existing policies, to interrogate the sincerity of significant politicians, to ask whether international law prioritises people or profit.  The resolutions we wrote which included solutions and policy reform to solve these issues were sent to Mr Gilbert F Houngbo, Director General of the ILO.  We are very pleased to know our voices are now part of UN policy.

We also found this trip very important in helping us get closer with people.  While movie nights at the hotel and our sightseeing adventures helped us get closer with each other, we also made firm friendships with students all over the world (this was definitely helped by everybody’s shared love of Skepta!) 

“Travelling to Geneva was an eye-opening experience.  It was fascinating learning not only of the way in which the organisation aims to improve our world through diplomacy but also mimicking this by making friendships with students my own age around the world.

 

My favourite memory in particular was being nominated to freestyle rap in front of the whole committee by my new friend from Ghana!” Faith, Curie 2

Thank you to Mrs Dufton for accompanying us on this rewarding trip, and to the Lycée Français Ferney-Voltaire for hosting such a memorable conference. 

Any students in Years 9 and above are interested in joining the IGS MUN society is welcome to come along on a Thursday lunchtime in VG5.

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Model United Nations Conference, Geneva – January 2025

For the second year, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), an especially incredible section of the UN, hosted the Ferney-Voltaire Model United Nations. Having been founded in 1919 (older than the United Nations), we became intertwined with history during this conference. The ILO is the only UN organisation with a tripartite structure, representing workers, employers, and governments. Our understanding of labour, therefore, was holistically improved. Labour laws form an incredibly poignant discussion, and although Model UN preaches internationalism, we have learnt far more about the state of the UK than we could have domestically. The biases of the national curriculum are removed in this debate, equipping us with the harrowing knowledge that urgent change is needed. The tripartite structure only exacerbates this need for change (which we feel so privileged to understand) amidst the recent strikes and cost of living crisis, the multitude of voices fuelling our desire to enact reform. The struggles undergone by ordinary people have never been clearer, as the syndicates explained – although only a debate simulation, our peers earnestly describing the turmoil of navigating the modern labour market resonates very deeply with each of us. 

Our five delegates delivered impactful clauses and apt points, and spoke with impressive wit and scrutiny, while our translator dealt with entirely new jargon (and did so beautifully). Although only working across two committees this year, the working conditions committee (ILO3) and artificial intelligence committee (ILO4) dealt with various issues.

The discussions held in ILO3 were incredibly personal, as the problem of unusually high barriers to entry to labour due to disability, religion, and gender inequality was tackled. ILO3 heard an ILO expert discuss the increasing presence of the gender pay gap, the real increases in women’s income not having changed as much as the nominal figure suggests. As the Czech Republic’s Government, I indulged in conversation with her to discuss whether theoretical solutions to reduce this inequality can be actualised. They can: thought and passion for equity will yield positive reform, and it is vital to advocate for yourself and those bound by injustice. ILO4 tackled an issue with little scholarship in the UN, with artificial intelligence only recently becoming a global phenomenon. The rapid acceleration of our reliance on AI in the workplace has posed monumental challenges in ensuring protectionism. Yet, ILO4 seemed to adopt a humane strategy and embrace AI as a co-worker of sorts rather than a machine. The ethical implications here are highly ambiguous; we are fervent supporters of continuing this debate.

Knowing the resolutions we passed have been commended by the Director-General of the ILO, Gilbert Houngbo, we have never felt more motivated. Having attended MUN since 2021, I have witnessed the power of internationalism first-hand; it has defined my life. The 15th FerMUN conference was paramount in expanding my worldview and learning about cultures I previously had a wholly false perception of . Staying in the IBIS Hotel with dozens of other delegates was a joy to discover (despite the German schools continually criticising our punctuality at breakfast). The late nights together, a borderless friendship, were heartwarming and something we all miss dearly. Between the fun of breakdancing in the ILO, the endless marriage proposals, the antics of the gossip box and learning of the weight our voices carry, the MUN experience produces truly well-rounded individuals. Yet, there is still an inequality to conquer – the strive for internationalism is dominated by paid international schools. You could level the playing field and offer unique, necessary opinions. Thoughts and Passions are the tools we are equipped with to create a liveable future. IGS MUN provides the opportunity to use these instruments of change domestically and internationally in a judgement-free zone. It is our responsibility to advocate for those who can’t, and we thoroughly encourage you to join the group that will support you in doing this, as MUN is far greater than any individual.

 

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Model United Nations Conference, Geneva - January 2024

Welcomed by the US Mission, the Ferney-Voltaire School, and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the 9th to 13th of January saw nine IGS delegates travel to Geneva to attend the 14th FerMUN conference. This FerMUN was especially unique, having based all committees in the same council, the incredible ILO -- the only UN organisation to have a tripartheid structure, allowing workers and employers to be represented alongside governments.

The US Mission saw wonderful diplomats (working closely with Ambassador Sheba Crocker) motivating us in our studies, discussing diplomacy work, and speaking simply on what it’s like to be an international citizen. We were in awe as they made diplomacy seem human during an engaging discussion about ethics and our autonomy. 

All nine delegates delivered wonderful clauses, amendments, and points of information. Amelie from Frank 2 delivered one of the ambassador’s speeches for the equality committee, and Sarah in 11C received a special mention from her chairs during the closing ceremony. Our six committees debated issues identified in the UN Sustainable Development Goals and related them to the ILO's mission: to achieve a just transition towards decent work. All committees enjoyed partaking in Just Dance, and watching the Russian delegates dance the Rasputin was a true pleasure. There were also proposals and staged weddings in the environmental and innovation committees, all thanks to the infamous 'gossip boxes'. 

The environmental committee collaborated with the International Energy Agency and implemented tariffs to establish a holistic view of green jobs. The Equality Committee aimed to prevent the spread of misinformation, and the Committee for Young People and Fundamental Rights also focused on education provision. Both the innovation and solidarity committees utilised technology to inspire positive change, as opposed to collaborating with international organisations on existing policies.

Knowing that the resolutions we passed will be sent to the Director-General of the ILO, Gilbert Houngbo, encourages the hope that young voices can be impactful, creating better outcomes for all workers. Model United Nations, over the last two years, has made us all so much more aware of domestic and international politics and allowed us as participants to have conversations with people of all ages and seniority. FerMUN helped us make close friends across the world and connected us with everyone affected by poor working conditions as we posed reform for all. Our hobbies and interests, such as debate and close analysis, being actualised showed that this truly was an unforgettable experience.

We are eternally grateful to the FerMUN board, the 564 students who shaped the conference, the IGS MUN leaders (Sophie, Adeana, and Rachael) and Mrs Uzochukwu. If you are interested in Model United Nations, please come along on a Thursday lunchtime in AG1.

Sarah in 11C