The Millennium Development Goals:
A Global Challenge and a Global Commitment

Dear BERMUN participants,

Welcome to the virtual home of the BERMUN 2005 conference. On this website you will find all necessary information pertaining to the conference. We encourage you to make use of this tool and check it regularly for updates.

In November 2005 you will have the unique chance to interact with students from many nations and numerous cultural backgrounds. By assuming the role of diplomats, you will address a variety of issues in world politics that affect all nations regardless of their standing in the international community. Your aim should be to reach a broad consensus, which will require compromise. As a BERMUN delegate you will be exercising the art of diplomacy and underlining the importance of the United Nations (UN). At the same time as students and members of civic society you will be engaged in contemporary affairs affecting our world today.

The most important issue for you as citizens of this world and diplomats is the growing gap between the developing and the developed world. At the Millennium summit in New York in 2000, the leaders of the world came together to take action. They drafted the Millennium Declaration, committing themselves to the following goals:

Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger Achieve universal primary education Promote gender equality and empower women Reduce child mortality Improve maternal health Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases Ensure environmental sustainability Develop a global partnership for development

A world not advancing towards the Millennium Development Goals will not be a world at peace. - Kofi Annan in a letter to BERMUN 2004

Now, in 2005, the nations of the world are coming together once again for the Millennium +5 Summit in order to take stock of the progress of implementation of the MDGs. Unfortunately, progress has been slow and the implementation is far from being successful. Famous musicians from around the world have already showed their commitment in the Live 8 concerts, so now it is thus up to you to take this matter into your own hands. World leaders have made the commitment – it is our challenge, as civic society, to make sure our leaders follow through on it. That is why the theme of BERMUN 2005 is:

The Millennium Development Goals:
A Global Challenge and a Global Commitment

We hope that this theme will not only inspire you to research and write excellent resolutions for your councils and committees, but also that you will recognize the responsibility that you have as a part of civic society in the successful implementation of the MDGs. To get involved right now, take a look at the links section.

We wish you all the best for your preparations and encourage you to contact your chairs or us in case you have any questions. We are counting on you to make BERMUN 2005 the best BERMUN ever.

See you in November,

Samuel Rogers	Linnea Kreibohm	Christina Wunderlich
Secretary-General	Deputy Secretary-General	President of the General Assembly

   

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