UNSC Magazine

©2015 United Nations Student Club

UNITED NATIONS STUDENT CLUB MAGAZINE

February 2015 edition

UNSC unstudentclub.org


Table Of Contents

What is United Nations Student Club? General Provisions

Organization Goals and Objectives

Membership to the Organization

United Nations Student Club Activities in 2014

Workshop: “Russia and NATO’s Relations with the Baltic States”

UNSC Participation in VMU Radio Program

Meeting With Guests from Embassy of Sweden

Interview with Belgian Journalist on sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo


What is United Nations Student Club?

Council Members of UNSC

General Provision

• United Nations Students Club at Vytautas Magnus University (UNSC VMU) is a student-‐

run organization seeking to educate young people about the purpose of the United

Nations and the importance of human rights.

• The organization’s headquarters are in the Faculty of Political Science and Diplomacy at

Vytautas Magnus University at 44 Gediminas street, room 103.


Organization Goals and Objectives

• Our aim is to enhance students' understanding of human rights, the importance of the

United Nations, and the inner workings of different political processes around the

world – we do so by creating a platform for young people to interact with experts in the

field of political science. Our organization works together with Vytautas Magnus

University and other institutions to promote change in the international community.

The inherent diversity of our members engenders a diversity of opinion and global

perspective.

• Our mission is threefold:

• To gather students form Vytautas Magnus University and other universities to debate a

wide range of relevant political issues through workshops, youth forums, and model UN

• To organize political symposiums and invite politicians and academics from various

countries to join in discussions with students

• To promote ideas of universal human rights and peaceable cooperation and

coexistence

UNSC VMU objectives:

• Provide a platform where students may increase their participation in political life,

thereby developing a broader world view

• Foster a deeper understanding and tolerance of other peoples and cultures

• Help the students improve their public speaking skills, deductive reasoning, and

diplomatic abilities

• Create an environment where students may learn about global politics and improve

their opportunities for studying/traveling abroad

• Promote communication and discourse within and outside the organization

• Promote a deeper understanding of global issues within a UN-‐like model by organizing


discussions, debates, seminars, lectures, international visits, and other events

• Expand and maintain our connections with Lithuanian and international organizations

Activities of UNSC VMU:

• Gather students from Vytautas Magnus University and other universities to debate

a wide range of topics

• After making arrangements with the organization’s partners abroad, we will send

students to gain experience in other countries

• Model a simulation of the United Nations together with the international community

and partners of the UNSC VMU

• Organize youth forums that will gather students, politicians, and academics from around

the world to talk about the UN, EU, NATO, and a variety of pertinent IR topics

• Organize political conferences where international guest speakers will be invited to

speak with students

Membership of the Organization

• Members of the organization must be individuals who are studying at Vytautas Magnus

University and have applied for membership at UNSC VMU.

• Students who wish to participate in the organization’s activities must contact either

UNSC VMU President or Vice-‐President and fill in the given application.

• Membership to the club is based on free will. Students may end their membership or

postpone it by giving a written statement to the President or Vice-‐President of the

organization.

• A member of the organization, due to the violation of provisions stated here, can be

voted out by the vast majority (2/3) of the members of the Council.


• Membership to UNSC VMU is immediately terminated when a student withdraws, is

voted out by the Council, finishes university, or for other reasons can no longer

participate in the activities of the organization.

• Former members of UNSC VMU are considered ALUMNI.

• ALUMNI will provide a positive example to the members of the organization, to

preserve and participate in the activities by invitation of the organization.

• The entire Executive Board nominates a candidate each year to receive the “Member of

Honor” status.

• “Member of honor“ and ALUMNI may contribute to the organization by spreading the

ideas and values of the organization, attracting new members, and sharing their

experience with current members of the organization.

Members of organization have the right to:

1. Participate in the organization’s activities and receive all information necessary.

2. To vote, elect, and be elected in executive bodies of the organization.

3. Propose, offer suggestions, and ask questions about the council’s actions.

Duties of membership:

1. Honestly, morally, and transparently carry out their work provided by the members for

the members.

2. Pursue organization objectives and mission.

3. Follow the rules of organization: Provisions of UNSC VMU, VMU Statute, Constitution of

Republic of Lithuania, and other laws.


United Nations Student Club Activities in 2014

Workshop “Russia and NATO’s Relations with the Baltic States”

Council members of the United Nations Student Club organized workshop titled, “Russia

and NATO’s Relations with the Baltic States.” It took a lot of work and dedication for all

students from the UNSC council to organize our first important event. During preparation,

members were meeting every week to discuss important details and allocate duties, so that

each of member would have a chance to participate. The event was organized for the

organization’s members, but was also an open event, which took place on the 27th of

November 2014. This workshop was held in Vero Café, situated in Vytautas Magnus University.

Since it was an open event, members of UNSC as well as other students from VMU participated.

Council members invited professor Mindaugas Jurkynas to give a speech about the

contemporary relations between the Baltic States and Russia. After his speech, students had an

opportunity to participate in an

informal debate about the pros

and cons of the Baltic States

improving their relations with

Russia. Participants were divided

into two groups: those who

supported the idea and those

who opposed it. It was amazing

how many arguments each group

put forth and how persistently

they

Prof. Mindaugas Jurkynas


Students debate: ''Should the Baltic States improve their relations with Russia?''

asserted their side. After the debates, students had a break and were regaled by UNSC council

members.

After the brake, the workshop continued. Our second guest was Dr. Giedrius Česnakas,

who talked about NATO’s relations

with the Baltic States. Dr. Giedrius

Česnakas explained how NATO

works as an organization, why it was

created, and how NATO handles

Russian agression and safeguarding

the Baltic States.

Doc. Giedrius Česnakas giving a speech “NATO’s relations with the Baltic States“


Despite the workshop being focused on the Baltic States, students from several different

countries attended and were very interested to hear from the lecturers and exchange ideas

with them and their fellow peers. We were told that students were satisfied with the workshop

and cannot wait until the next one!

All workshop participants with Doc. Giedrius Česnakas


UNSC Participation in VMU Radio Program

As a new club at VMU, the United Nations Student Club was invited to introduce

themselves on the Erasmus Student Network radio program. Two representatives from the

organization, President Muhammed Nas and Finance Expert Sandra Matoškaitė, spoke on the

show. The program aired on the 1st of December 2014. The representatives were asked about

UNSC’s purpose, goals, reasons for establishment, members, and future events. Muhammed

and Sandra described how the organization works and talked about the governing body, duties,

and rights of the members.

Muhammed Nas and Sandra Matoškaitė on VMU radio program


Meeting With Guests from Embassy of Sweden

On the 17th of December 2014, UNSC President Muhammed Nas attended an important

event co-‐organized by Vytautas Magnus University and the Embassy of Sweden in Lithuania.

The conference focused on Patterns of Security and Cooperation in Northern Europe. The

presentations emphasized Northern Europe's cooperative role as an essential prerequisite to

successful security in Eastern Europe.

Conference topics also included early warning signs, crisis management, and

taking precautions against violence and other threats. Cooperating and promoting human

rights, freedom of press, fair elections, and democracy, as well as border monitoring and

counter terrorism are necessary for combating insecurity in the region. To ensure peace,

security actors such as the police and military must be improved in order to better implement

collective security decisions

UNSC president Muhammed Nas (second from the left) in the meeting with the guests from Embassy of Sweden.


Interview with Belgian Journalist Julien Oeuillet on the DRC

On the 10th of December, International Human Rights Day, the European Parliament Information Office, Vytautas Magnus University, and the United Nations Student Club held a discussion about human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with Mr. Julien Oeuillet, a Belgian journalist and writer.

Together with Dr. Denis Mukwege, this year's winner of the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, Mr. Oeuillet published a book about the dire situation in war-‐torn DRC and the implementation of aid to victims of sexual assault in the country. In this interview, Mr. Oeuillet talks about life in the war zone and the work of Dr. Mukwege, who has provided treatment to victims of sexual violence for many years.

UNSC Magazine

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