ILYMUN 2025’s Youngest Speaker, Teresa Byrne, Explores Democracy, Propaganda, and the Future of Youth in Politics

Journalist: Evgenii Lyzintsev

Teresa Byrne and Evgenii Lyzintsev - Credits: ILYMUN Press 

Teresa Byrne, – Humanitarian Action Master’s student and Intern for the Permanent Mission of Portugal to the United Nations in New York, the Political Science and International Relations student, and a former ISL student, was invited today as a guest speaker to the ILYMUN 2025. Her performance in two of the committees, Action Assembly, and Youth, aimed to outline her experience of attending the missions of the United Nations in order to inspire and encourage the future generations to speak up and enter the political arena. During the interview, thought provoking questions regarding her past and opinions were asked to fill in any gaps that could have arisen during her actual performance. 

Eugene: Nice to meet you again. You're an experienced ILYMUN participant. Could you tell me more about your role in ILYMUN today? What are you doing?

Teresa Byrne: Today, I was invited to speak at the Action Assembly and the Youth Committee. It was interesting because I had never attended the Action Assembly before, so I was curious to see what they did. I got to learn about the delegates' plans and activities. It was also great to meet the Youth Committee, which I used to be a part of some time ago. Seeing how the delegates reacted was amazing. I came to speak about my experience at the UN, and they were very insightful and eager to learn more about how the organisation we are simulating actually works. It was really fulfilling to be able to share that with them.

Eugene: You were an intern at the UN. What did your role there involve?

Teresa Byrne: UN meetings run from 10 AM to 1 PM, followed by a two-hour lunch break, and then resume from 3 PM to 6 PM. Some days, I was assigned to attend meetings, take notes, and write reports to be sent back home – almost like a telegram, since this information couldn’t be sent by email. That was surprising when I first arrived. My role involved attending meetings, reporting back, and sometimes accompanying diplomats to various events. Additionally, I attended meetings at the missions of different countries, as their embassies are separate from the UN headquarters. I also participated in events organized by the "Group of Friends," which are coalitions of member states focusing on specific themes, such as disaster risk reduction, climate change, or water-related issues. As an intern, I was primarily there to support others. People joke that interns only fetch coffee, but I never had to do that. However, I did things like retrieving forgotten speeches for ambassadors or arranging visitor passes. Despite those smaller tasks, the experience was incredible. The meetings were very engaging and productive, though there were always logistical responsibilities to handle.

Eugene: It sounds engaging. So you used to attend these meetings and gain insights?

Teresa Byrne: Yes, but most meetings I attended were streamed on UN Web TV so that the public could access them. This is done to bridge the gap between the UN and civil society, recognising that people cannot physically attend meetings. I participated in a variety of discussions – on fossil fuels, minerals, and even unexpected topics like preventing blindness. I learned that some vision impairments can be prevented with affordable treatments, but access to these solutions remains limited due to financial barriers. I also attended Sports Day and Children's Day at the UN, where we built Lego structures. The range of topics covered at the UN is grand, demonstrating the organisation’s commitment to diverse global issues. Would you like me to elaborate on anything specific?

Eugene: No, that's great. I’d like to move on to your opinions on some issues. Did you have any particularly eye-opening experiences during your time at the UN? Something unexpected, like what you mentioned about vision treatments?

Teresa Byrne: Yes, I found that especially surprising. We often take glasses for granted, but vision impairments can significantly limit a person’s life. What’s more shocking is that even though effective treatments exist, many people cannot afford them. Even something as simple as headaches might be due to untreated vision problems. Another surprising aspect was observing how deeply human diplomats and delegates are. Despite representing different nations and interests, they share common struggles – especially those from countries in conflict. Even Russian delegates, for instance, have families back home, and it’s difficult for them to be away. Diplomacy often requires long periods away from loved ones, and some diplomats even need permission from their home countries to return. That was one of the most striking realities I confronted.

Eugene: Returning to your participation in the conference today: in politics, there's a common belief that the arena is dominated by older generations. Do you think it's crucial for young people to be involved in political discussions and decision-making?

Teresa Byrne: Absolutely. Policy-making is constantly evolving. One day, you’re writing with pencils; the next, pencils are banned because of the material they contain. Change happens rapidly, and young people need to be part of it. The UN defines youth as individuals between 15 and 24 because that’s when people start engaging with society and understanding policy decisions. Personally, I only fully grasped the significance of what I was doing in my final year of university. That’s when ILYMUN, my coursework, and the broader global context all started making sense to me. I now wish I had been more engaged earlier—staying informed, following the news, and connecting with other young activists. Does that answer your question?

Eugene: Yes, thank you, it does. So, as an intern, you attended but didn’t actively participate in discussions, correct?

Teresa Byrne: That’s mostly true. I didn’t have a formal voice in the meetings, but I was present and observant. Sometimes, I attended them alone; other times, I accompanied Portuguese diplomats. Although I couldn’t speak in official sessions, I would sometimes share observations with my ambassador – pointing out shifts in the room’s dynamics or suggesting key points to emphasise in resolutions. So, while I wasn’t an active participant in debates, I did have small ways of influencing discussions.

Eugene: That makes sense. Did you ever feel like your voice wasn’t heard?

Teresa Byrne: Not at all! I’m naturally really open and outspoken, and I made a point of connecting with delegates. My official UN ID card said “advisor” so I told everyone that I was an advisor – it made it easier to make my way through the UN. I networked a lot and spoke with many diplomats, including my favorite ambassador from Brazil, who embodies diplomacy at a high level. He is a real gentleman. The Algerian ambassador – known to be quite stern – I had a great conversation with him. At one point, my own ambassador noticed me chatting with him and seemed surprised, but it was all part of learning diplomacy.

Eugene: That’s really interesting! Do you have any advice for young people interested in politics?

Teresa Byrne: Yes! There are many opportunities for young people in global organizations. The World Health Organization, the World Trade Organization, and others have youth delegates and ambassadors. I advise anyone interested to apply for these positions. It’s also crucial to be well-informed. Ask questions, even to experienced professionals. When people were surprised by my age, I would turn the question back on them: “Where were you at 22?” That often led to insightful conversations. Listening is just as important as speaking. Youth shouldn’t hesitate to voice their ideas, but they should also empower themselves by learning from others.

Eugene: That’s great advice. Thank you for sharing all of this. So, let's assume that young people are now rushing into politics. There's a well-known stereotype that young people tend to be too idealistic in political matters. We've seen this in various cases, such as in England and elsewhere. Do you see idealism as a strength or a weakness in today's political landscape?

Teresa Byrne:
I would say it's a strength. Being ambitious isn’t a flaw – through idealism, we set goals and work toward making them happen. When you’re motivated to achieve something, you inspire others to engage with the issue as well. That motivation spreads, bringing attention to the problem and driving efforts to address it. Of course, not everyone will agree with you. There will always be resistance – there's always someone or something trying to shut down idealistic ideas. But staying strong and not letting opposition silence you, ensures that your plans are not just idealistic but also meaningful. Mistakes should not just be accepted; they should be analysed. We need to rethink how we got there and how we can do better. 

Eugene:
If we view idealism as a natural human tendency – believing people are better than they actually are – do you think that's a good or bad thing? For example, democracy itself is based on idealism – the belief that people can govern themselves wisely.

Teresa Byrne:
Yes, democracy is idealistic, but it remains the best political system we have because it includes everyone and allows diverse voices to be heard. Imagine sitting at a table with someone who has completely different views from you. How do you react? Do you engage in discussion, do you start yelling, or do you leave the room? Not everything should be tolerated – rudeness, for example, doesn’t need to be accepted. But the ability to listen and to stay composed puts you in a stronger position, even if some people might not want to see you there. Facing challenges and opposition is part of personal and political growth.

Eugene:
This next question is a bit off-topic, but I find it relevant. We just talked about democracy, which, as we know, is quite fragile. It's facing challenges in different parts of the world. For example, in Germany, recent election results showed a significant rise in far-right support. Do you think it's ever acceptable to use propaganda to promote the “right”, humane ideologies in a democratic society? I’m actually researching this topic for myself.

Teresa Byrne:
Propaganda has always played a role in society. Have you studied Nazi propaganda from the 1930s? Or propaganda films from World War II? Propaganda has historically used guilt and national pride to influence public opinion. It’s not necessarily a question of whether propaganda is good or bad – it’s simply part of human communication. Propaganda exists for both fascist and anti-fascist movements, for governments and against them. It will always be present in society. Take Charlie Hebdo, for example. Some of his content is extremely provocative, yet it still exists within democratic norms. Censorship is problematic because, ultimately, people will always find ways to express their views, especially now with social media. However, we need to rethink how we consume media. How is news being presented? How is propaganda influencing public perception? In the past, EU regulations prevented showing images of war zones or destruction while events were still ongoing – you could only show the aftermath, not the immediate violence. Now, with constant access to graphic content, we need to question the "information bubble" we're living in.

Eugene:
Absolutely. We are definitely in a bubble. This is a broad question, but if you could change one thing about democracy or politics today, what would it be?

Teresa Byrne:
That’s a tough one. When I was in eighth grade, I remember learning that Socrates warned about the dangers of democracy – how giving absolute liberty to everyone can lead to chaos. And in theory, even hate speech can be justified as part of democratic expression. But I think we need to restore the decorum of democracy. If I could change one thing, it would be to implement public speaking and argumentation training for everyone. Imagine if politicians had to pass a test on public speaking and policymaking before entering office – what would that test look like? I believe we need to rethink the type of people who are entering politics and consider how we can improve the system by shaping better leaders.