Bedi: Only UN can help peace prevail

Dubai: The United Nations is the only organisation which has the potential for solving global issues and establishing peace, said a wellknown Indian social activist and retired police officer, on Saturday.

"For me the UN is the sole body which has the capability of averting conflicts because it seeks to solve issues through negotiations. If the organisation truly functions democratically, peace shall prevail," said Dr Kiran Bedi, who became the first woman to join Indian Police Service in 1972.

She was speaking as chief guest at the inaugural session of the 7th Delhi Private School Model UN (MUN) Conference in Sharjah.

Over 200 students delegates from various schools are representing 34 members of the UN including, Sudan, Australia, North Korea, Afghanistan, India, Congo, Germany, Bangladesh, the UK and US. During the two-day meetings, each delegation would outline and debate the stance of its country on the issues related to global warming, sustainable development, inflation, proliferation of nuclear armaments, peaceful coexistence, violation of children's rights, human trafficking and the food crisis.

They will also set an agenda, develop resolutions, make amendments, and try to pass those resolutions; similar to what takes place in the actual UN.

Bedi, who has also worked as a police advisor to the UN Secretary-General, pointed out that participation in the MUN is an exercise in training the people to be tolerant towards others.

"This event teaches us to respect different cultures and persuade others on the basis of rationalism and humanism."

She argued that if people "learn the art of diplomacy and sincerely work for the benefit of others as well as themselves, conflicts could be avoided. When you train yourself in the principles of the UN, you are moving towards raising yourself to becoming responsible global citizens for the prevalence of peace," she said.

When asked about the most important issue the younger generation should strive to resolve, Bedi said: "They should work for eliminating violence."