I.I.M.U.N. (India's International Movement to Unite Nations, also known as: Indian International Model United Nations or IIMUN)[1] is a youth organisation comprising 26,000 young organisers who put together student conferences in 220 cities and 35 countries, and work with over 7,500 schools impacting 10 million students annually.[2][3][4][5] The organization simulates the workings of Indian Parliament and multi-lateral organisations for school students to engage them in debates about international relations, current affairs and world politics.[6][7] The aim of the organisation is to get Indian students between 13 and 19 to become global citizens with an Indian mind-set.[8][9][10]
 | |
| Abbreviation | I.I.M.U.N. |
|---|---|
| Formation | 2011 |
| Type | Youth organization |
| Headquarters | Mumbai |
| Location |
|
Official language | English, Hindi |
President | Rishabh S. Shah |
| Website | www.iimun.in |
History
I.I.M.U.N. was founded in 2011 by Rishabh.S.Shah, with its first conference being held from 2–5 August 2012 at the Mumbai World Trade Centre.[11]
Conferences
I.I.M.U.N. held a conference inside the United Nations headquarters in New York City in August 2016, and it has since become annual.[12][13][14][5][15] They have conducted the world's largest Mock UNO conference in Mumbai with 7,500 students participating in it.[16][17][18] Every year, annually in August, the organisation puts together its yearly finale event which has taken place in Aamby Valley City, Taj Mahal Palace Hotel & the World Trade Centre. Winning students from across the country and globe come to participate in the same, which is called I.I.M.U.N. Championship Conference.[19][20][21] The students learn about yoga and Indian best practices in the mornings, followed by debating on issues after which speakers come and engage with them.[22][23] The conferences are held in cities in India ranging from Srinagar[24] to Kanyakumari[25] & Port Blair[26] to Kohima,[27] countries ranging from Japan to Uruguay, Poland to South Africa.[28][29]
Issues discussed
One of the central topics being discussed in all conferences has been Security Council reform to get India a permanent seat in the council, which is a topic lobbied for by the Indian government in the actual United Nations.[1][30] Other issues that are discussed range from debating the 26/11 terror attacks, ISIS, environmental issues, human rights concerns, and economic topics such as demonetisation.[11][31][32] The organisation also simulates councils based on Indian history and polity.
Initiatives
Find a bed,[33][34] an initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic, tackled the problem of finding COVID beds for mildly symptomatic and asymptomatic patients in India.[35][36][37][38] Popular celebrities from Karan Johar,[39] Gauri Khan, Kriti Sanon, Kartik Aryan,[40] Sania Mirza, Shashi Tharoor amongst others supported the cause. However, the initiative also came under criticism for some of the pictures of ambassadors not being "proper".[41]