ThessISMUN takes place in the beautiful city of Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece at the premises of the University of Macedonia.
It was created in 2002 by Dr., Dr.h.c. Paroula Naskou-Perraki, Professor of International Law and International Organizations at the Department of International and European Studies of the University of Macedonia (retired since 2014) with the valuable assistance of Mrs. Mirka Gondika, then National Information Officer at the United Nations Information Centre in Athens.
Dr. Theodosis Karvounarakis, Professor at the Department of International and European Studies of the University of Macedonia, serves as the Academic Chief Officer for ThessISMUN since 2014, having replaced the retired Professor, Dr., Dr.h.c. Paroula Naskou-Perraki.
Since 2005, ThessISMUN has been wholeheartedly supported by Mr. Dimitris Fatouros, who serves as the Greece and Cyprus Desk Officer of the United Nations Regional Information Centre in Europe (Brussels).
ThessISMUN offers one of the most cherished and educational experiences, an effective tool to learn about the complexities of the world, how international community deals with economic and environmental concerns, human rights violations, disarmament and political conflicts and other global issues. A forum where you can enhance communication skills, learn about other countries, promote democracy, explore conflict resolutions and develop negotiations. A forum that prepares the new diplomats and future leaders of the world.
Each year a Greek personality is being honored by the Organizing Committee of the conference for his/her contribution to the work of an International Organization. For a complete presentation of these personalities visit the honoree section of the website.
Over the years ThessISMUN has managed to be considered as one of the best conferences around Europe. More than 450 delegates, undergraduate, graduate students and PhD candidates from around the world, assume the role of ambassadors, diplomats or independent experts and attend a unique experience each year, a 5 days youth summit in which discussions of different bodies of UN and regional organizations are simulated.
In 2007, the United Nations Regional Information Centre for Europe honored the Institution of the University of Macedonia as well as the founder of ThessISMUN, Professor P. Naskou-Perraki, with the title “Friend of the United Nations – FUN”. It is notable that the University of Macedonia has been the first public institution in the world that has been entitled as a Friend of the United Nations.
A year later, in 2008, Mr. David Roosevelt, grandson of Eleanor and former US President Franklin Roosevelt, attended the Opening Ceremony of ThessISMUN as a guest speaker. During his speech, Mr. David Roosevelt focused on the history of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the role of Eleanor Roosevelt, as the President of the United Nations Human Rights Commission, which drafted the text of the Declaration.
In 2009 ThessISMUN received a Message from His Excellency the former Secretary General of the United Nations Dr Boutros Boutros-Ghali, on the ocassion of honoring Emeritus Professor Emmanouil Roukounas who had also served at the United Nations. Boutros Boutros-Ghali – Message [click to view]
In 2011 ThessISMUN celebrated its 10th Anniversary. His Excellency The Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban ki Moon, kindly sent a written message our 10th Anniversary. Ban ki Moon – Message [click to view]
Throughout the years, ThessISMUN has received the support of the municipal authorities of the city of Thessaloniki. In 2014, ThessISMUN was embraced by the organization of the “Thessaloniki – European Youth Capital 2014”.
Ιt is also worth mentioning that ThessISMUN 2015 had been officially proclaimed as a part of the celebrations for the 70 years Anniversary of the United Nations.
In 2016, ThessISMUN celebrated its 15th anniversary, being a part of the official campaign of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
However, ThessISMUN wouldn’t have come to reality without the continuous and more than kindhearted donor of the family of Mr. Athanassios Martinos, in memory of his daughter Athena, student of the Department of International and European Studies.
