UNFPA joined hands with UN Information Centre (UNIC) to conduct the Model UN Conference addressing the agenda "World of 7 Billion: Challenges and Opportunities in the New Millennium". The conference was the first held at the Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT), and it was preceded by the launch of the university’s first MUN club.

Throughout the last few years the Model United Nations (MUN) programme has played an important role in ensuring that Uzbekistan’s school and university students can develop an awareness regarding both issues of global importance, and the United Nations’important functions on an international scale. This conference has become the continuation is this great tradition, with the Westminster International University in Tashkent conducting its first MUN conference to great success.

This event, which saw the participation of Tashkent delegates both new and familiar, addressed the vital question of how our fragile global community should adapt to the world’s rapidly-growing population of seven billion. This ground-breaking occasion which also featured the launch of WIUT’s first MUN club, incidentally the second such organisation in Tashkent, was hosted by the United Nations Information Office, the United Nations Populations Fund, and the University.

UNFPA delivered a short briefing to participating students on its vision of "The World of 7 Billion" and "7 Billion Actions" campaign. Then, in accordance with established UN conference protocols, the MUN at WIUT began with the reading of position papers.

During these proceedings, it was evident that despite small but significant differences between each national perspective, all delegations recognised universal challenges that must be overcome in a world of seven billion. First and foremost, it was decided that there has been a widening gap between developed and developing nations in regards to the availability of resources and financial support, and that it may be the responsibility of developed countries to provide aid, financial and otherwise, to where it is most needed. It was also commented that both developed and developing nations have experienced significant internal social and economic disparities in recent years, and that this matter should likewise be addressed.

Another significant topic mentioned during the reading of position papers was the need to develop a global system which ensures that the standards established by the Millennium Development Goals, including those related to improving education, eliminating extreme poverty and promoting gender equality, are met by all nations. Universal education was highlighted as a particularly vital requirement, as it was agreed that the world’s growing population of children and youth should be able to enjoy every opportunity available to them so that they may achieve their full potential.

UNFPA sees the 7 billion milestone as a “challenge, an opportunity, and a call to action”. The planet’s record population size can be viewed in many ways as a success for humanity because it means that people are living longer and more of our children are surviving worldwide, UNFPA says. But not everyone has benefited from this achievement or the higher quality of life that this implies. Great disparities exist among and within countries. Disparities in rights and opportunities also exist between men and women, girls and boys. Charting a path now to development that promotes equality, rather than exacerbates or reinforces inequalities, is more important than ever.

Following the acceptance of the final resolution proposed by student delegates, the organizers distributed certificates to all participants. They also recognised and awarded three outstanding delegations; the Pakistan delegation receiving the award for best speaker, the China delegation receiving the award for best position paper, and the Mexico delegation receiving awards for being the best delegation and making the greatest contribution to the conference. It was universally agreed that the conference had successfully achieved the purpose of MUN conference, to find a universally-beneficial solution to a global programme, and it was decided that this would be the first of many MUN conferences to be held at WIUT.

For Ms. Dilfuza Kurolova, a masters student at the Tashkent State Institute of Law and a member of the award-winning Mexico delegation, this MUN was one of the best she had ever attended. Ms.Kurolova is an experienced MUN delegate, she has participated in six over MUN conferences before.