States Parties 161 States Not Party 36
On Friday, 22 September 2006, Ms. Nancy Ingram and Ms. Christa McMillin of Mines Action Canada (MAC) presented a thorough briefing on a proposed 2007 Youth Model Review Conference to be held at the Eight Meeting of States Parties in Jordan. An adaptation of the Model United Nations and Model Parliament, the Youth Model Review Conference would be a simulation of the actual Review Conference, planned to take place in 2009.
The idea for the model Youth Model Review Conference came from feedback from Youth Leader graduates from around the world trained in MAC’s Youth Leadership, Education and Action Program (Youth LEAP) who want opportunities for further involvement in the mine ban movement. It is also an opportunity to create a unique event that will promote the goals of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) and generate discussion on pertinent mine ban issues expected to be raised at the next Review Conference of the Ottawa Convention in 2009.
Ms. Ingram and Ms. McMillin explained that there would be approximately eighty participants, two-thirds of which would be from mine-affected countries. Landmine survivors would be strongly encouraged to participate. Each participant would be expected to fulfill the role of a country or international organization. The project would involve five months of independent study on the part of the youth participants so that they would have thorough knowledge of the process and the organization they are representing. During the week itself, youths would participate in the simulation of a Review Conference and would participate in meetings as the state or organization they would be representing.
MAC believes that this event would be beneficial to all participants. The Youth Model Review Conference would be a great professional development opportunity for the youth participants and would help them be more successful in their careers. Also, it would help train motivated and skilled campaigners to carry the ICBL into the next generation. The Youth Model Review Conference also supports 11 of the Nairobi Action Plan steps, specifically step #5, which calls to “seize every opportunity to promote adherence to the Convention.”
In order for this proposed project to become reality, MAC will need funding to sponsor the youth participants and for operational expenditure. Ms. Ingram and Ms. McMillin also mentioned that they would need regional mentors and recruiters to assist youth delegates from across the world. Finally, they called upon those present to provide feedback and input throughout the preparation stage to make sure that this project was a success.
