GEMS World Academy hosts eighth UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for Model United Nations

GEMS World Academy hosts eighth UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for Model United Nations

- Highly regarded statesman has been GWA’s official Ambassador since 2019

- His Excellency addresses 600 student delegates from 50 schools across UAE

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: GEMS World Academy – Dubai played host to its official Ambassador, Ban Ki-moon, the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations, on 27 January as he took to the stage to open what was the IB school’s largest Model United Nations (MUN) Conference to date.

Speaking to a packed auditorium with more than 600 delegates from 50 schools across the UAE, the highly regarded statesman shared his message of global citizenship and a call to action, in line with the theme of this year’s Conference, ‘Envisioning innovative approaches to conflict mitigation’.

His Excellency Ban Ki-moon said: “War, the climate crisis, massive human rights violations by repressive regimes, a food crisis, fading trust in multilateralism, the rise of autocratic powers and social unrest all around the globe. There is an atmosphere of stress and fear.

“What we need is innovation for the social good. Young changemakers like you all around the globe are stepping up to the challenges humanity faces today. We need your passion, innovation and leadership.

“I ask all of you to act with passion and compassion, be innovative,