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Position Paper Guidelines and Example

The document provides guidelines on how to write a Position Paper for Model UN conferences, outlining the required structure and content. It includes sections on topic background, past international action, country policy, and possible solutions, along with an example Position Paper on gender equality from the Russian Federation. The example illustrates how to address the topic, highlight international actions, and propose solutions from the perspective of the country's government.

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50 views3 pages

Position Paper Guidelines and Example

The document provides guidelines on how to write a Position Paper for Model UN conferences, outlining the required structure and content. It includes sections on topic background, past international action, country policy, and possible solutions, along with an example Position Paper on gender equality from the Russian Federation. The example illustrates how to address the topic, highlight international actions, and propose solutions from the perspective of the country's government.

Uploaded by

vanishka.yadav
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

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Position Paper:
Instructions & Sample

Co-powered by:
How to Write a Position Paper
Many Model UN conferences require delegates to submit “Position Papers” on their topics before a
conference starts to demonstrate their research and knowledge. Position Papers are normally 1 page
per topic, and should have 2-4 paragraphs. They should be written from the perspective of the
government of your country, include a header, and answering the following questions. Your final
Position Paper should look similar to the sample on the next page.

Heading
Committee: [Your Committee Title]
Topic: [Your Topic]
Country: [Your Country]
School: [Your School]

Topic Background
What is the definition of the topic?
Where does the topic take place? Who is involved?
How many people does it affect? Where, and in what ways?
Why is this topic important?

Past International Action


Have there been any interesting statements by UN officials on this topic? Try to find a quote.
What are the most important UN resolutions and treaties on this topic?
Do any major Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) work on this topic?

Country Policy
How has this topic impacted your country?
What has your country tried to do about this topic?
What types of policies would your country want the UN to adopt (or not adopt) on this topic?

Possible Solutions
What specific plans would your country like the UN to undertake to address this issue?
What specific plans would your country like Members States to undertake in their own countries?
Why would your ideas work? Give specific plans.
Position Paper Example
Committee: General Assembly Third Committee Topic: Gender Equality Country: Russian Federation
School: Best Delegate High School
According to UN Women, gender equality refers to “the equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities
of women and men and girls and boys.” Gender inequality is a global issue: many women lack
adequate access to healthcare, are underrepresented in political arenas (women hold only 22% of
parliamentary seats worldwide), are victims of gender-based violence (approximately one in three
women worldwide have experienced physical or sexual violence), face discrimination in the workplace
and in wages, and lack equal access to education (two-thirds of illiterate adults are women).
These issues have myriad causes, including cultural beliefs about gender and marital roles, and legal
regulation. These detrimental inequalities are cyclical and complex: a female’s educational career,
for example, is affected by pregnancy, household work, access to sanitation facilities at school,
and the danger of physical and sexual assault.

The creation of United Nations Women in 2010 through resolution A/64/588 was a “historic step”
in achieving gender equality, by “bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact”. In
addition to UN Women, the main mechanism to promote gender equality worldwide is the legally-
binding Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW),
adopted in 1979 with nearly universal participation. The UN General Assembly has also recently
adopted A/RES/69/149 on combatting trafficking of women and girls, A/RES/69/147 to eliminate
violence against women, and A/RES/69/236 to emphasize the role of women in development.
Through these resolutions, organisms, and NGO partners, the UN and Member States work to
invest in women, provide legal protections, and educate women to accomplish these goals and
achieve gender equality.
Given the integral role of women’s economic equality and independence in achieving gender equality,
the Russian Federation strives to ensure that women had equal access to education and employment
in order to achieve their potential, as Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated to the UN General
Assembly. Russia encourages cooperation between UN Women and Developing Countries,
not just Developed Countries. Because of the importance of economic development in empowering
women, Russia would like cooperation between UN Women and the International Labor Organization
as well as other UN bodies to craft plans for equality based in each nation’s traditional values and
norms. Russia also feels it is critical that the United States ratifies CEDAW, as it is the largest nation
not to do so.
The Russian Federation feels that important subtopics that must be addressed are gender-based
violence, women’s lack of access to education and jobs, and women’s lack of representation in politics
and political decision-making. To address women’s lack of representation in politics, countries can be
encouraged to ensure inclusion of women candidates and create recruitment and training programs to
introduce young women to politics. In order to combat and prevent gender based violence, countries
can develop crisis centers and hotlines for women and develop rehabilitation programs for victims of
violence. Also, Russia believes countries should ensure the safe transport of girls and women to and
from schools, invest in hiring female teachers, provide adequate sanitation facilities at schools, and
emphasize skill-based hiring programs in all industries, including those normally reserved for men.

Common questions

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Gender-based inequalities impact a woman's educational career through a variety of interconnected factors such as pregnancy, household responsibilities, lack of access to sanitation facilities at school, and the threat of physical and sexual violence. These issues create barriers that hinder educational attainment and perpetuate a cycle where limited education reduces employment opportunities and economic independence, which in turn reinforces gender-based inequalities .

The Russian Federation emphasizes cooperation with organizations like the International Labor Organization because of the critical role that economic development and employment equity play in empowering women and achieving gender equality. This collaboration is seen as vital in crafting plans that respect national values yet promote systemic changes needed to achieve equality. It underscores the need for collective international effort and resources to address gender inequalities effectively .

To ensure women's political representation, the Russian Federation advocates for measures that encourage the inclusion of women candidates and establish recruitment and training programs for young women interested in politics. These policies aim to break down barriers to entry in political arenas, provide necessary skills and support for aspiring female politicians, and ultimately increase female participation in political decision-making processes .

UN resolutions like A/RES/69/149 bolster efforts against gender-based violence by providing a formal international platform and framework to combat such issues. They help coordinate global and local efforts by promoting awareness, encouraging legal reforms, and implementing programs that address the root causes of violence. These resolutions also facilitate funding and resource allocation for initiatives aimed at preventing violence and supporting victims .

To tackle gender-based violence, the Russian Federation suggests the establishment of crisis centers and hotlines for women, alongside rehabilitation programs for victims. Additionally, ensuring safe transport for girls and women, investing in female teachers, and improving sanitation facilities are proposed. These initiatives aim to provide safe environments and necessary support for victims, whilst systematically addressing the sources of gender-based violence .

Aligning national gender equality strategies with cultural norms presents challenges such as reconciling traditional beliefs and legal equality standards, which may conflict. This can result in resistance to change and enforcement difficulties if societal norms and cultural attitudes do not support equality measures. Additionally, the risk of superficial compliance instead of substantive change arises if cultural considerations overly dilute policy initiatives designed to ensure equal rights .

The Russian Federation proposes to increase women's access to education and employment by ensuring safe transportation for women to schools, investing in female teachers, and enhancing school sanitation facilities. In employment, they stress the importance of skill-based hiring across industries, advancing economic independence, and creating conducive conditions for women to achieve their potential in educational and professional settings .

The Russian Federation emphasizes the importance of ensuring women have equal access to education and employment to achieve their potential. It encourages cooperation between UN Women and Developing Countries and seeks collaboration with the International Labor Organization to create equality plans respecting each nation's values. Additionally, Russia criticizes the United States for not ratifying CEDAW and believes subtopics like gender-based violence and women's political representation should be prioritized. Criticism includes potentially not addressing local gender norms adequately or ignoring deeper systemic issues related to gender-based violence .

The establishment of UN Women in 2010 through resolution A/64/588 was pivotal in promoting gender equality as it consolidated resources and mandates to enhance impact. UN Women works alongside mechanisms like CEDAW to legally bind countries in their commitments to gender equality. They lead initiatives and support measures aimed at combatting trafficking, violence against women, and bolstering women's roles in development, effectively driving policies and international cooperation to advance gender equality .

Ratification of international conventions like CEDAW binds countries legally to enforce measures aimed at eliminating discrimination against women, compelling them to adapt domestic policies accordingly. This can lead to systemic changes in legal frameworks, fostering gender equality through specific legislation, promoting women's rights in socio-economic and political spheres, and addressing cultural and societal norms that contribute to gender inequality .

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