Forest at LOSMUN’17

An enthusiastic group of Forest Sixth Formers bounced out of bed early on Saturday morning to travel across London, to spend a full day debating some of the most pressing issues facing the world today at the LOSMUN conference.

Forest sent two delegations- representing Pakistan and Bolivia- to the event, which was hosted by London Oratory School. Despite the inexperience of the Forest delegation- seven out of eight students were participating in Model United Nations for the first time- they showed huge confidence, commitment and skill throughout the event.

The conference opened with the keynote speaker, Mr Edward Fitzgerald CBE QC, who gave a fascinating and candid speech in which he shared many of his experiences as one of the world’s foremost Human Rights barristers. Mr Fitzgerald spoke compellingly about defending what many people would view as the ‘indefensible’, including Myra Hindley, Abu Hamza and the killers of James Bulger, and his words of wisdom on effective public speaking were well received by delegates.

Across six different committees, delegates debated issues such as extrajudicial killings, internet censorship, the modernisation of drug detection and child marriage, before coming together for a final General Assembly. Naphysa Awuah’s (Year 13) skills of diplomacy and debating were recognised during the closing ceremony when she was presented with the Highly Commended delegate award for representing Pakistan In the Special Political and Decolonisation Committee, but all delegates did themselves and Forest proud at the conference.