Closing of World’s First Simulation of UN Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security

UN Women Egypt, in collaboration with the Youth Leaders Foundation (YLF), in partnership with the National Council for Women and with the generous support of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), concluded the Simulation of the UN Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security (WPS). This initiative is the first of its kind globally and it featured the participation of more than 250 students from various universities across Egypt.

The initiative marks a significant step towards developing a new generation of young Egyptian leaders in the fields of diplomacy, negotiation, and peacebuilding, particularly on issues related to women, peace and security. The initiative included multiple phases of training covering the dynamics of the security council, public speaking, debate, negotiation, coalition-building skills, and the mechanisms for drafting resolutions and policies related to the women, peace and security agenda. It is worth noting that the initiative was launched on October 5th in Cairo, and this pioneering model is scheduled to be presented in the Kingdom of Jordan during the first week of December as a first step towards featuring this model at the regional and global levels.

The closing event was attended by Counselor Amal Ammar, President of the National Council for Women; Mr. Ahmed Fathy, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Youth Leaders Foundation; Ms. Marwa Alameldeen, Officer-in-Charge of UN Women Egypt; Ms. Rana Korayem, Programme Manager of “Tamkeen” and WPS Programmes at UN Women; Ms. Rana Abu Gazia, Executive Director of the Youth Leaders Foundation; Ms. Maria Tarncón, Representative of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation; and a number of UN representatives, along with experts, academics, and specialists in women, peace, and security.

Counselor Amal Ammar expressed her delight as she witnessed the conclusion of this outstanding model, seeing once again the students carrying deeper ideas, greater confidence, and a more mature outlook. "You entered this experience with enthusiasm and ambition, and now you emerge with conscious thinking and a rich experience worthy of appreciation," stated Counselor Ammar. "What you have presented today reflects the essence of the women, peace, and security agenda endorsed by the UN Security Council in its historic Resolution 1325, which affirms that women’s participation in conflict prevention, conflict resolution, and post-war reconstruction is neither a luxury nor a secondary option, but a fundamental pillar for achieving comprehensive and sustainable peace. This also embodies the vision of the New Republic under the leadership of His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, which outlines the belief in the capabilities of its

youth and women and works to enhance their participation in public and international spheres. The National Council for Women will remain your steadfast supporter, convinced that investing in youth awareness and women’s empowerment is an investment in the nation’s future."

In her remarks, Ms. Marwa Alameldeen, Officer-in-Charge of UN Women Egypt, affirmed her confidence in the capabilities of the young men and women participating in this model, hoping that it marks the starting point for more successes in all aspects of their professional life through which they can truly benefit from the skills and information that they gained during the various trainings, especially those related to the WPS agenda.

In her speech, Ms. Rana Abou-Gazia, Executive Director of the Youth Leaders Foundation, emphasized the importance of this simulation model as a genuine platform to empower youth to take on leadership roles in real global issues such as women, peace, and security. Ms. Abou-Gazia also expressed her pride in the participating students for their commitment, awareness, and creativity throughout the training and simulation stages, affirming that supporting such initiatives is a crucial step toward building a generation capable of leading the future with a spirit of peace and equality.

To reinforce the concepts of women’s leadership and participation in political spheres and in decision-making processes, the simulation provided an opportunity for a female university student to assume the role of the United Nations Secretary-General, setting a unique model that reflects the ability of young women to lead the nations’ future. 

This model represents the outcome of fruitful cooperation between national and international institutions and stands as a pioneering model that aimed at building a generation of youth who are aware of issues of peace, equality, and women’s empowerment, while supporting their active engagement in advancing the Women, Peace, and Security agenda at both national and international levels.