OCTOBER 6, 2022 - A new collaboration between the World Health Organization and the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) was announced today to jointly organize the first-ever Global Model WHO that aims to offer the most accurate simulation of the World Health Assembly.
The simulations will be managed by staff from the award-winning WFUNA International Model UN (WIMUN) on behalf of WFUNA and will include multiple simulations focusing on topics currently on the WHO agenda. While some simulations will be designed for university students who are currently enrolled in an academic programme leading to a degree in medicine, nursing or global health, other simulations will be open to any interested high school or university student regardless of the disciplines they are studying.
The initiative was launched to foster support for and advance the work of WHO while also promoting a greater international understanding of important global health issues.
The recent pandemic has highlighted the long-term consequences that this global health crisis will have on youth. For example, mental anxiety brought on by COVID-19 has been identified in nearly 90 per cent of young people; more than 1 billion students have had their education interrupted threatening to reverse gains in education over the last two decades; and youth employment has declined by 8.7% during the pandemic.
In recognition that youth are already making important contributions to finding solutions to global health problems, the Global Model WHO aims to provide youth with the tools they need to participate in the decision making processes at the national and international level that determine policies on these important issues and a platform for presenting their recommendations on actions that need to be taken to address them.
The first Global Model WHO will be organized online from 10-19 February 2023. Future editions will take place each year prior to the World Health Assembly.
“More than half of the world’s population is under 35-years-old, and yet young people often have little say in public policy decisions that affect them," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “That's why WHO is proud to partner with WFUNA to fulfill its commitment to engage and partner with young people by supporting their leadership and advocating for their recognition and visibility.”
Secretary-General of WFUNA, Bonian Golmohammadi, also stated that “WFUNA is honoured to join together with the World Health Organization to organize this unique experience for youth around the world. The global pandemic over the last two years has highlighted the important role the WHO plays in addressing global health issues. The Global Model WHO should help increase the participation of youth in the work of the WHO which is critical to achieving its goals.”
The Global Model WHO will encourage educational institutions in higher income countries that have the means to sponsor students from lower and middle income countries so that the simulations will be both geographically and socio-economically diverse.
To register, please visit: www.wfuna.org/wimun/global-model-who
For further information contact:
Dorine van der Wal
WHO Briefing Centre, Health and Multilateral Partnerships
Email: vanderwald@who.int
William Yotive
WFUNA International Model UN (WIMUN)
Email: yotive@wfuna.org
Download press release here.
