Cairo International Model United Nations (CIMUN) is a collegiate level Model United Nations organisation that is based in Cairo, Egypt.[1] The CIMUN program is the oldest student activity on the American University in Cairo (AUC) campus and is currently recognised as one of the largest inter-collegiate Model United Nations programs outside of North America.[2] It is well-known for its annual March conference.
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It was founded in 1989 by a group of AUC students under the guidance of the Provost of AUC, Professor Earl Tim Sullivan, during his time as a professor in the department of political science.[3][4]
A fund was made in 2005 in honour of Nadia Younes, under which a conference and meeting room for the support of the Model United Nations was created.[5]
Beginning in 2007, CIMUN began including high school students in its delegations.[6] By this time, CIMUN's simulation of the UN had expanded, since its inception, from modelling one UN council to seven councils:[7] the Security Council, HRC, ICJ, ECOSOC, IAEA, GA Plenary, and European Union.
During the fall of 2008, CIMUN faced new recruitment difficulties due to AUC's move from downtown Cairo to a new campus in suburban New Cairo.[8][9]
In 2010, CIMUN won the Outstanding Delegation Award while at the National Model United Nations Conference in New York. While this is the second time the group has won the award, this time is considered more important because the group was representing their own country, Egypt.[10][11]
Its annual March conference is now the largest of its kind in the Middle East.[12][13] Its primary goal is to increase student interest in and awareness of the United Nations and international affairs.[14][15] The conference events are wholly organised by students.[16] Participants from international universities—including Yale, Columbia, Concordia, and Riverside City College—have attended the conference.[17][18]
The following is a list of some notable keynote speakers for past March conferences, along with the year of the speech: