How to Write a Model UN Position Paper?

What is a position paper? A position paper is a document written by a delegate which

outlines his or her country's main position and policies about a certain topic (the topic
that will be debated during the conference). It’s one of the most important parts of
preparing for an MUN conference because it’ll help you to gather your thoughts and put
all your research into one place. Usually, it is three paragraphs long and around one page
in length.

Now, I know writing a 3-paragraph paper might seem daunting at first, but don’t
worry—this guide is here to break it down step-by-step!

But first, it’s really important for you to have already done research on both the topic
and your country’s position on that topic before you start to write your position
paper—it’ll make it much easier for you! Here’s a rundown of information you should
know before you begin writing:

● What is the topic that is being discussed (the origin/background, any current
developments, etc.)?
● How does your country view the topic? Even though all countries in your
committee are debating the same topic, each one will have different opinions on
it. What’s your country’s opinion?
● Has your country said anything specifically about the issue (or about issues
related to it)?
● Has your country taken any specific actions to try to solve the issue?
● Are there any actions your country highly disapproves of when tackling the
issue?

Now that you’ve gathered lots of good information about the topic and your country’s
position, we can get started on writing your position paper!

Paragraph 1: Introduction to the Topic

- Give a BRIEF summary of the topic being discussed (background, current
developments, main causes etc.).
- DO NOT copy and paste from the background guide or any news source, this is
your take on what is happening!
- If your country has a specific position that differs from how the topic is
usually explained make sure it stands out
- i.e. if you were discussing the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, the US
would say it was an invasion but Afghanistan and the USSR would say it
was a legal occupation
 - Think of it in the context of your committee and of the UN as a whole
- For example, keep in mind how past actions taken in regards to the
topic (by other countries that you may be opposed to) have violated
the statute of the UN
- Begin to situate your country in the topic, but don't state your country’s
position yet (next paragraph)

Paragraph 2: Your Country’s Point of View

- Explain what your country thinks of the topic and its origin
- Make sure to point out any countries or actions that you may disagree
with! (including actions that have been taken by the UN, such as past
resolutions or sanctions against your country)
- Keep in mind your country’s allies in regards to the topic (refer
to geological position, religion, past history, economic
motivations etc.)
- How your country is being affected, why it’s important that the issue is
discussed (or why it shouldn’t be), who are your ‘enemies’ in this?
- What YOUR COUNTRY thinks, not what YOU think!
- No use of personal pronouns! “The delegation of (insert country) believes
that…”
- If your county has had a major role in the topic, explain your involvement from
the point of view of your country
- Iie. if you are being accused of certain crimes, explain why your country
believes it is not guilty (look at your country’s previous interactions
with allegations having to do with the topic or topics related to it).

Paragraph 3: Your Delegation’s Proposed Solution

- Here is where you outline what YOUR DELEGATION representing the opinion and
actions of YOUR COUNTRY plans on proposing as a course of action for
resolving/addressing the topic
- Here you will BRIEFLY outline what your resolution clauses will say
- Make sure your solution pertains to the scope of action of your committee
- Only the Security Council can carry out actions in behalf of the UN (such
as establishing a Peacekeeping mission)
- Why do you want to carry out this solution and how it would be beneficial to
the committee and everyone involved?
Key Things to Keep in Mind as You’re Writing Your Paper:
- You are never representing yourself or your opinions in regards to the topic;
you are a representative of YOUR COUNTRY and your government’s point of
view and course of action
- Make sure your proposed solution doesn’t contradict any past action that you
(or your allies) have taken or that it doesn't violate any part of the UN Charter
or international law (such as the Geneva Conventions, the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights etc.)
- The position paper will help your chairs see where you stand in regards to the
topic and what your actions might be during committee, but it will also help
YOU conceptualize your understanding of the topic and come up with ideas for
what your resolution might look like and who you might want to work with.
Take advantage of it!

That’s a lot of information, I know! I’ve included an example of a position paper below so
you can see how it would look. I’ve also underlined each sentence starter that I’ve used
so you can see how they can be used in your paper.
 FICTIONAL SAMPLE

Security Council
Resolving the Illegal Arms Trade in Africa
Delegation of the Kingdom of Wakanda
Graded - The American School of Sao Paulo
Sofia Amato and Samuel Bowles

The illicit trade of arms in Africa poses an existential threat to the internal
stability and long term productivity of the region. Ever since the decolonization
efforts of the British, French, and other European countries that ruled over Africa since
the 19th century, the region has been racked with internal strife and proxy power
struggles, leading to protracted economic difficulties and unprecedented violence. A
major source of this instability is the massive amount of illegal arms that are traded
across the region and beyond it. The United Nations estimates that the sum of arms is
valued at over 1 billion dollars, and millions of weapons have been smuggled, with a
large portion of them going to fuel conflicts beyond the region like those in Yemen,
which have deteriorated into one of the largest humanitarian crises in recent history.
Wakanda is no stranger to the danger of illicit arms either, with recent attempts by
foreign smugglers like Ulysses Klaue looking to profiteer off of the recent civil war
between King T'Challa and his brother N'Jadaka, stealing valuable Wakandan Military
assets and selling them to guerrilla factions in Africa and other nearby regions.
Recently, the United Nations has adopted a much stronger approach to dealing
with the smuggling of illegal arms, utilizing a conciliatory strategy of reintegration to
former members of militia movements, offering them amnesty in exchange for the
dismantling of their weapons. This strategy has had partial success, with tens of
thousands of arms being removed from the hands of violent groups, but conflicts like
the Sudanese Civil War and the ensuing collapse of South Sudan have reopened old
wounds stemming from the illicit arms trade. The United Nations responded to this
by placing an arms embargo on South Sudan, but international smugglers from places
like Ukraine have openly defied it, moving thousands of arms into the country via
plane. This, however, is not the first time Ukrainians have refused to comply with
international arms legislation in the region, with smugglers sending shipments of
arms into places like Ivory Coast as far back as the year 2000. Wakanda thus views the
action of the international community as a step in the right direction, but too limited
in scope to solve the entire problem. In addition, recent events like the COVID-19
pandemic threaten to further destabilize the region, and so it is necessary that the
UN take a much more hands-on approach to the issue. As was learned from the recent
civil war, where N'Jadaka tried to send Wakandan arms overseas in an effort to
destabilize the world, the only way to solve the problem is to deal with the
smuggling of arms in a strict fashion, while also trying to plant the seeds of growth.
In conclusion, the delegation of Wakanda will be strongly advocating for the
United Nations to take an active and decisive role in the issue of illicit arms in Africa,
and will suggest methods for dealing with internal, regional and international
weapons trading. Sub-Saharan Africa cannot be allowed to slip further into chaos, and
it is the duty of prosperous nations like Wakanda and other countries across the
world to join together and provide a solution in the form of a peacekeeping mission
and humanitarian aid to remedy this issue that threatens to engulf the region further
into war. The Wakandan government strongly hopes that nations will take this
opportunity to show the world a greater commitment to solving difficult problems
that have been a thorn in the side of international prosperity, fulfilling the mission of
the United Nations to achieve cooperation among nations for peaceful and
humanitarian means.