Robredo reminds student delegates: We need to empathize
Former Vice President of the Philippines and Angat Pinas Inc. Chairperson Atty. Leni Robredo inspired over 150 youth delegates to strive for equal rights and dignity at the recent 24th Benilde Model United Nations (MUN).
Themed Transcending Boundaries Amidst Interconnecting Challenges, this year’s installment continues its decade-old mission to engage student delegates in the field of international relations. This allows them to develop their diplomatic skills while discussing timely and relevant issues faced by the global community.
Hosted by the School of Diplomacy and Governance (SDG) of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, Benilde MUN is the largest and pioneering collegiate Model United Nations conference in the Philippines.
Robredo was the Guest of Honor of the Opening Plenary Session.
In her speech, the transformational leader reminded the students of the core and fundamental purpose of the United Nations (UN) as well as the importance of building bridges and transcending boundaries amidst interconnecting challenges.
“We are called to reflect of the UN and to ask ourselves the tough questions regarding what else can be done to make the world a better place for all,” she stated.
“The inequality gap continues to widen, with many from the marginalized sectors getting left further behind. While those privileged enough to be born with economic head start get further ahead,” she added. “Oppressed minorities continue to press against barriers that seem impossible to break.”
Robredo likewise stressed the need to expand spaces where self-identity, whether of race, heritage, or sexual orientation, can be freely expressed.
“To put an end to human suffering, we must all begin to treat each other as human beings that have equal rights, equal worth, and equal dignity,” she stated. “Today, we are asked to anchor ourselves to the UN’s philosophy, to remind ourselves that it is a space not to exercise power over others but to empower them, not a space to make smaller nations yield to bigger ones but one where we can enlarge our circles of compassion so that different nations can be looped into one organic human community.”
Robredo also encouraged the students to look at diplomacy as more than just transaction but an avenue to build authentic human connections.
“I believe this exercise on solidarity holds the key not only to facing the challenges in the international community but to our own experiences as well,” she explained. “We are called not only to hand bread to those who are hungry but to sit with them, to break bread with them, to experience what they are going through as equals. We are called not only to help but to truly empathize.”
The 24th Benilde MUN gathered youth leaders from Benilde SDG, University of the Philippines Diliman, West Visayas State University, Colegio San Agustin, German European School Manila, La Salle Green Hills and Tarlac National High School.
For more information about Benilde MUN, visit https://www.facebook.com/benildemun.
