Student Mingles With Top Ambassadors
A celebration of the history and impact of the United Nations held at the Embassy of Morocco in London was attended by an Aston student on behalf of the University.
Hassnain Safdar was specially invited to the event, which marked the 69th anniversary of the United Nations, where he mixed with political dignitaries, including the French Ambassador to the UK and the Chairman of the United Nations Association UK, Sir Jeremy Greenstock.
Parliamentarians from across the UK and international statesman were also in attendance to reflect on the UN’s achievements and the challenges it faces in future. Baroness Anelay, Minister of State at the UK Foreign Office, was invited to deliver a keynote speech about the influence and continuing importance of the UN.
The event was also chosen as the occasion to launch the UNA-UK’s ‘Global Force for Good’ campaign – a set of ten ideas to improve UK foreign policy in areas as diverse as climate change, nuclear disarmament and gender equality.
Hassnain, the Captain of Aston University’s Model United Nations (MUN) Society and Committee Member for the Central Region UNA-UK, said, “It was an honour to be invited to the reception and to learn more about the workings of the UN. It was a real thrill to have met such distinguished political figures and engage with them in discussions on topics such as healthcare and sustainable development.”
Following the Embassy event, the MUN Society elected to promote the ‘Global Force for Good’ initiative supporting international gender equality. The plan, calling for the greater empowerment of women, encourages the UK Government to push for better international equality targets in developed and developing countries.
In November, Hassnain led Aston delegations to separate Model United Nations conferences at the University of Oxford and Cambridge University, where the issue of equality was raised and a prominent part of discussions.
