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

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]

History

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

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

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

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

  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.
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