Position Papers
Due 1 July 2015
Purpose
1. State the policy and
views of your country
on the committee topic
• Where do you stand,
broadly, on the topics of
discussion
2. Propose priority areas
of discussion
• What parts of the topics
are of most interest to you?
3. Propose broad
solutions
• What do you want to
do?
4. Prepare you for the
conference
• Your position paper is an
excellent opening speech
Specs
Format
• Delegates should submit 1
paper, per country, per
committee
• A team representing the USA in
3 committees, will submit 3
position papers in total
• Each position paper should
address the 2 topics
presented in your committee
• Except the Security Council, who
only has to address 1 topic
• Papers should not exceed 1
page in length
Structure
• Country
• Committee
• Topic 1
• Paragraph on your
position
• Topic 2
• Paragraph on your
position
Structure
1. Broad policy statement (1 sentence)
2. Prove your policy (1-2 sentences)
3. Indicate what you want to
see done (3-5 sentences)
4. Conclusion (1 sentence)
1. Broad Policy Statement
• Summarise the policy of your country in relation
to the committee topic
• This is your official 1 line statement on where you
stand
Example: Children in Armed
Conflict
“Cuba is committed to improving access to and
development of improved programmes for children in
post-conflict societies.”
2. Prove Your Policy: part 1
Domestically
• Give an example(s) of a
document/initiative/project within your own
country (domestically) which demonstrates this
policy
• Is there anything in your country’s constitution
which supports your policy?
Example
• A sign of our commitment to the protection of the rights of
children is demonstrated in the Cuban Constitution, which
ensures that the children and youth of our country have the
right to receive special attention and protection from the state
and society.
2. Prove Your Policy: part 2
• Internationally
• Give an example of a treaty or convention at the
global level that you have ratified which relates
to the committee topic
• For treaty status, see the following link:
https://treaties.un.org/pages/ParticipationStatus.
aspx
Example
• Cuba highly supports the International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights.
3. Indicate what should be
done
• Hint broadly at what your country believes should be
done regarding the committee topic
• Ie prioritise what is of most interest/relevance to you
• Give clues as to the kind of resolutions you want to see
written
Example
1. Cuba recognises the need to give greater attention to the
rehabilitation of child soldiers.
2.
Cuba believes that mental health services should be more of
a priority for children in conflict.
3. We urge all States to better protect children from violence
and abuse.
4.
Above all there is the need to assure the proper support for
children who have been scarred by armed conflicts.
4. Conclusion
• Broad concluding statement, rounding off your
ideas.
• Example:
• Cuba is committed to upholding the right to life,
survival and development as top priorities, which
reinforces the humanist tradition of the Cuban
Revolution.
Example
Cuba
General Assembly
Topic 1: Child Soldiers
Cuba is committed to improving access to and development of
improved programmes for children in post-conflict societies. A sign of
our commitment to the protection of the rights of children is
demonstrated in the Cuban Constitution, which ensures that the
children and youth of our country have the right to receive special
attention and protection from the state and society. Cuba highly
supports the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Cuba recognises the need to give greater attention to the rehabilitation of
child soldiers. Cuba believes that mental health services should be more of
a priority for children in conflict. We urge all States to better protect
children from violence and abuse. Above all there is the need to assure the
proper support for children who have been scarred by armed conflicts.
Cuba is committed to upholding the right to life, survival and
development as top priorities, which reinforces the humanist tradition
of the Cuban Revolution.*
*Please note that this is an example of only ½ of a position paper,
as most of you will need to write an additional paragraph on your
2nd topic.