GFDD and UNA-DR Inaugurate 2017 International Conference of the Americas

With coordination from the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and the Mexican civic organization GlobalMuners, the Dominican United Nations Association (UNA-DR) inaugurated the 13th edition of the International Conference of the Americas (CILA 2017) on Sunday, October 29.

CILA is the student event on the most important global issues in Latin America and the Caribbean. The opening ceremony took place in the Hard Rock Hotel &
Casino Punta Cana Convention Center, which will also be the venue for more than 500 high school and university students from the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, and other countries in the region to gather and engage in discussions and action on pressing international issues.

The opening ceremony was headed by Edwin Jackson, Executive Director of the UNA-DR; Yamile Eusebio Paulino, Acting Co-Executive Director of GFDD; Pilar Sandoval, Managing Director of GlobalMuners; Aida Montero, Director of the Funglode Juan Bosch Library; Elizabeth Arzeno, Vice President of the UN Council of Educators; Claudia Taboada, Secretary
General of the UNA-DR; and Luis Jiménez, Secretary General of the CILA 2017.

In her opening address, Eusebio Paulino remarked on past iterations of the conference, noting how the thousands of participants throughout the years have strengthened their skills and acquired new knowledge and tools that have helped them on their paths to professional and personal development; transforming society along the way. In the name of GFDD and its director, Dr. Leonel Fernández, she
gave a warm thanks to the audience and reiterated the organization’s goal of “creating innovative platforms that facilitate educational processes and aim to bring about better opportunities for the Dominican Republic and the world.”

During the conference, the activities of 10 bodies and commissions of the United Nations and other regional and international multilateral institutions will be simulated. In addition, a series of parallel
activities to the Model UN will be carried out, such as a Workshop-Seminar for Faculty Advisors, Global Dialogues, Cultural Encounters, and Closing and Awards Ceremonies.

The primary languages used during the conference will be Spanish and English. Throughout three days of intense work, the students will have opportunities to present formal discourses, engage in negotiations, develop strategies, and formulate solutions to global problems through dialogue and
consensus.

About Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD):
The Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), sister organization of Funglode in the United States is a non-partisan and non-profit organization dedicated to promote the collaboration among organizations in the United States and the Dominican Republic in order to conduct research, enhance public debate, design public policy, propose strategies and provide
training to facilitate change in crucial areas of the social, economic and democratic development of the Dominican Republic, the Caribbean and Latin America.

About the UNA-DR:
The Dominican United Nations Association (UNA-DR) is a nonprofit NGO dedicated to supporting the work of the United Nations and helping to strengthen its mission by coordinating educational and cultural activities to raise awareness and foster civic involvement. Since
2001, the UNA-DR has designed and implemented mock debates and forums on national, regional, and international issues, impacting more than 60,000 young people in the Dominican Republic and 25 other countries.

More Information:
http://unadr.org.do/