CILA 2013 Draws to an Exuberant Close as Enthusiastic Participants Reflect and Revel in Uniting Nations

The Ninth Edition of the International Conference of the Americas (CILA 2013) drew to a successful and inspiring close on Wednesday, October 30th, with the participation of more than 1,200 animated students from different regions of the world, who had for three days united in an environment of diplomacy and cooperation to discuss and propose solutions to the challenges facing the international community.

This year’s conference saw its participants representing one of 15 separate UN bodies/commissions and a number of related multilateral, regional or international institutions, and offered seminars, conferences, workshops and
exhibitions, in addition to social and cultural activities, on themes directly related to the agenda of the United Nations. A series of parallel activities to the Model United Nations were held, among which are: the II Congress of Educators, a Global Concert, Cultural Meeting Delegates Party, and the Second Edition of the Dominican International Law of Procedure Competition before the International Court of Justice (CODOCIJ 2013).

Work at CILA culminated with the
presentation of awards to the most outstanding delegations of the conference by Vice President of the Dominican Republic, Margarita Cedeño de Fernández. The Vice President led the proceedings, together with the Executive Director of the Dominican Association of the United Nations (UNA-DR), Emil Chireno; the Director of the New York office of the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), Yamile Eusebio; the Resident Coordinator of the UN Agencies System in the country, Lorenzo
Jiménez de Luis; and the General Secretary of CILA2013, Alan Fernández.

Addressing the young audience, Vice President Cedeño de Fernández addressed invited them to prepare, educate and train themselves to walk the paths of progress and peace. "Educate yourselves to be more globally aware, so that together we can fight these scourges that affect humanity," she said. Jiménez de Luis stressed the importance of the United Nations, because of the manner in
which it has responded with respect, tolerance and consensus to problems ranging from the HIV-AIDS to the environment.

UNA-DR Director, Emil Chireno thanked the students for selecting CILA as an alternate means of acquiring academic education. "Young people are the inspiration for this activity to be magical," he said.

A parade of judges from the International Court of Justice, led by Evelyn Almonte, Presiding Judge; and Jorge López,
Vice President Judge, kicked off the ceremony, which then continued with special awards to the Vice President of the Republic, to Luis Jiménez, and to the Director of the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM), Arturo Aguilar.

Aguilar, proudly announced that, once again, his institution would grant a scholarship to one of the best delegates selected from among the participants in CILA2013. To date, the ITESM has provided six scholarships, as
part of the support it offers to this educational initiative.

During the event, the Vice President of the Republic and Ambassador Extraordinary of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) received a special recognition from Mr. Chireno and Mrs. Eusebio. Lorenzo Jiménez de Luis was also recognized.

Also during the awards ceremony, the following members of the United Nations Educational Center (CENU) 2011-2013 were recognized:
Juan Laucel, President; Luis Martínez, Vice President; Ynés de la Cruz, Secretary; Dinelsa Alberty, First Member of the Board; and Chame Vilorio, Second Member of the Board.

Then, the official appointment of the members of the board of the United Nations Educational Center (CENU) 2011-2013, in charge of Chireno and Laucel, took place. The new Directors are: Octavio Landolfi, President; María Hernández, Vice President; Elizabeth Arseno, Secretary; Ingrid Aybar, Member of
the Board; and Irene Mateo, Member of the Board.

The students’ most anticipated part of the ceremony was the presentation of awards to the outstanding delegations, by Commissions, to educational institutions (schools, colleges and universities), and to the most valued for their artistic presentations during the Cultural Meeting.

The results of the Dominican Competition on International Law before the International Court of Justice (CODOCIJ 2012) were
also announced by Nathanael Concepción during the ceremony.

Alan Fernández closed the event amid the rejoicing of hundreds of students and teachers who filled the Convention Center Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana.

The International Conference of the Americas is organized by the United Nations Association of the Dominican Republic, UNADR, in collaboration with Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE).