About the Theme

 

For the twenty-fifth anniversary of our conference, we wanted a theme that would embody the goals and values of the United Nations. In this process, we realized that the common denominator throughout the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals is inequality. Shocking figures demonstrate the magnitude of this issue. According to Oxfam, “Just eight men own the same wealth as the 3.6 billion people who make up the poorest half of humanity.” The same source states that corporate tax dodging costs less economically-developed countries over $100 billion yearly, resources that would suffice to provide an education for 124 million children who do not have access to one. These gaps transcend income inequality, and their implications go on to jeopardize global peace and justice.

 

Not only is a concerning share of the world’s population deprived from an education, food or healthcare, but also there are gaps in access to water, protection of the law, infrastructure and technology. Closing gaps is all about addressing inequality in all of its forms, and this session’s agenda will have this idea at its core. This year, the Panama Model United Nations encourages delegates to think about the gaps that surround us and to come up with creative solutions to these global challenges. It is our duty as a privileged youth to engage in a diplomatic discussion to lay the groundwork for a sustainable future.