The youth section of United Nations Association for Slovenia was established as a formal structure within the association in 2011. It unites members of the association between the ages of 15 and 29 with a common interest in topics related to UN activities.

Model United Nations Slovenia Club (MUNSC)

The first Slovenian MUN club – MUNSC – started operating within the youth section of the UN Association for Slovenia in October 2012. MUNSC offers young people the opportunity to upgrade their knowledge of the UN as well as improve their negotiation and argumentation skills in an interesting and interactive way.

As all our activities are conducted in English, MUNSC also helps to improve the members’ knowledge of the language and contributes to their readiness to act in a globalised world. MUNSC members meet approximately twice a month, and the topics of the meetings are chosen based on the interest of the members. In this way, we can consolidate our knowledge of the UN and international community, improve in public speaking, diplomatic and negotiation skills, and above all, have fun!

MUNSC organises short guided debates, interesting lectures, social activities and longer simulations of UN activities for MUNSC members, where another club can join us by arrangement. The basis of our mission is therefore projects through which we simulate the work of the UN and the work of countries on the international diplomatic stage. This prepares our members for the challenges of a multicultural world through participation in the activities of the club.

In model UN, students who take on the role of delegates represent a country on a committee and, in accordance with that country’s foreign policy, try to reach an agreement with other delegates on a given topic (in the form of a resolution). MUNSC tries to bring such simulations closer to students and encourage them to take part in them themselves.

Through our activities, we want to educate young people about the UN and related topics, encourage their active participation in global challenges, strengthen youth volunteering and encourage critical evaluation of current issues in today’s world.

UNESCO Youth Platform – YP (UNESCO mladinska platforma – UNESCO MP) is a unique Slovenian project that strives for direct, educational and fun connections between young people and the international organisation UNESCO. The multifaceted work of UNESCO YP provides young people with a range of opportunities where they can develop their talents and learn with peers in a way that values intergenerational and intercultural understanding and cooperation, the importance of education and respect for world heritage.

An overview of the work of UNESCO YP reveals a wide range of activities, which range from meeting with the Secretary General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, a reception by the President of the National Assembly, dr. Milan Brglez, performing at the Youth Forum in Paris, participating in the Cultural Bazaar in Cankarjev dom and the ART Camp in Maribor, participating in the UNESCO youth run, conducting various educational workshops in primary and secondary schools and much more.

Outstanding and proactive young individuals – UNESCO messengers – actively participate in our activities by communicating UNESCO’s work and values ​​in their schools and districts, thus also setting an example to their peers. They encourage young people to think about human rights, solidarity and cooperation, the challenges of intercultural dialogue, global problems, and the role of the UN, UNESCO and us in taking on these challenges.

We believe that UNESCO is a youth platform at a sufficiently mature point of development to be able to meet the higher expectations of all involved. Therefore, in 2015 we will strive for greater visibility of the platform and shape its annual operation in the direction of greater involvement in social events.

We strengthen our activities on the five main pillars of the UNESCO Youth Platform, namely:

• education and training,
• youth empowerment,
• cultural activities,
• international activity,
• national PRYDE project.

UNESCO messengers are individuals who spread the word about UNESCO across the country. These are young people up to 23 years of age. They are active in assignments and projects, research projects, various programs and camps of the ASP network and UNESCO, as well as spread goals through various media. The title is intended to encourage young people to actively participate in UNESCO programs and activities, as well as spread the word about UNESCO among their peers. The title of UNESCO messenger is awarded every year at a UNESCO event.

The Youth Delegate is the messenger of the work of the United Nations with and for the Slovenian youth, and simultaneously the messenger representing the Slovenian youth in the UN. The roots of the institution go back to 1971, when young people first attended a UN meeting with delegations from their countries, with the share of youth delegates increasing significantly in the 1990s, especially after 1995 – the first International Year of Youth. The aim of the institute is that young people, by actively participating on the international stage, give weight or legitimacy to decisions that affect young people.

The Institute was established in 2014 by the Youth Council of Slovenia in cooperation with partners from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, the Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Youth and the United Nations Association for Slovenia.

During the one year-long mandate, the UN youth delegate conducts active advocacy, prepares and leads workshops for young people, prepares content articles in areas covered by the United Nations and connects with actors closely associated with the organisation. At the international level, the delegate normally attends the regular session of the UN General Assembly in New York and the meeting of the 3rd Committee, which deals with social, humanitarian and cultural affairs, as well as other high-level meetings at the international level.

The current youth delegate is Lucija Tacer

Lucija Tacer is a student at the Faculty of Law in Ljubljana. Prior to that, she graduated in economics and political science from Vanderbilt University in the USA. She returned to Slovenia because she wants to contribute to the better functioning and transparency of our country in the legal and political field. In addition to her studies, she participates as an active member of the European Law Students ’Association (ELSA), writes columns for the Institute regarding the study of gender equality and is a volunteer at Slovenian Philanthropy, where she teaches refugees and migrants Slovene. In the future, she wants to contribute to greater equality in society (especially in the field of gender equality) and to actively participate and encourage the participation of young people in public life.

In my work as a delegate, I will emphasise gender equality, youth participation, active citizenship and climate action in the context of the 2030 Agenda.

Gender inequality is a constant in human society. This reflects the fact that it is mentioned in many of the Sustainable Development Goals and the priorities of the World Program of Action for Youth and the National Youth Program. As a delegate, I will work with youth organisations and lead workshops on this topic. I will also plan to organise a side event at the UN General Assembly with other delegates from countries that are as advanced in this field as Finland and Denmark. I would also like to connect with the existing project of the Young Ambassador at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where I would encourage greater participation of young women and talk to them about international topics.

Active citizenship and youth participation are key to the impact of young people on their future. As a law student, I know that understanding the basics of the state system is very important to figure out how to achieve change in society. Youth participation is also a reason to implement SDGs in the long run. As a delegate, I will lead presentations and discussions on the state organisation and the possibilities for inclusion in decision-making processes for young people at home and in international institutions.

There is a lot of discussion among young people regarding climate change, and I will encourage and build on this energy to further the achievements of the delegates thus far. I believe that key dialogue is necessary both in the context of workshops with youth organisations and young people directly.

Past youth delegates:

The United Nations Youth Associations Network (UNYANET) is an international association combining UN youth associations and youth sections of UN associations, established in August 2011 in Vienna.

The founding members of UNYANET are UN youth associations from Austria, Finland, Germany, Norway, Romania and Switzerland, and youth sections of UN associations from Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain and Turkey. Later, related youth organisations from Bangladesh, Italy and Uganda also joined the union.

Volunteers are the main pillar of the association. Their responsibilities mainly include the organisation of the activities of the association and the youth section.

In addition to all the activities and frequent meetings, we also have parties. Judge for yourself and join our group of volunteers. Be active and help us enforce the UN.

Students of various fields and studies are given the chance to perform compulsory study internships.

Internship programs are prepared individually for each student and last according to the anticipated study obligation. During the internship, students participate in work projects and regular activities of the association. Thus, students deepen their knowledge in the field of UN operations through work projects. Through practical work, they work and participate in the regular activities of the association and get to know the operation of non-governmental organisations.

Are you interested in an internship in the UN system?

Here you will find basic information on internships at the UN Office in Vienna (UNOV), the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the UN Office in Geneva and the UN Headquarters in New York. The purpose of the internship is three-dimensional, namely: