Preparation Guide

The first step in preparing for a rewarding Model UN experience is to gather information. Give yourself plenty of time before a conference to research, read and then formulate your arguments. Since most delegates use the Internet for about majority of their research, we have compiled a list of web resources to help you get started. However, you should not overlook the resources available in books and periodicals at your local library.

While conducting research, try to keep in mind that your primary goal is to represent your country as realistically as possible. To do so, you will need to research three different areas:
• The UN system
• Your country and its positions;
• The issues to be debated at the conference; and

Researching the UN System

Understanding the UN system will help you play your role realistically at a Model UN conference. It is important to understand which bodies and actors make up the UN system, what the UN can and cannot do, and how international issues are addressed by the UN. Here are some questions that will help get you started:

• What are the important elements of the UN Charter?
• What are the main bodies of the UN?
• How are the UN’s bodies and agencies organized?
• Which countries serve on the body or agency you are simulating?
• How does the body or agency you are simulating operate?
• What are the most recent UN actions on your issue?
• Why did past UN actions succeed or fail?
• What conferences and meetings have been held with regard to your issue?
• What have UN officials said about your issue?

Tips for Researching the UN

Visit the UN website at www.un.org. Read about current affairs on the UN News page.
Read one of the many books published by the UN. The UN publishes books with general UN information as well as specific reports, which can be purchased on their website.
Collecting Country Information
First, you will need to learn about your country so you can address the issues raised at the conference as a real UN delegate from that country. To represent your country accurately, start by answering the following questions:
• What sort of government does your country have?
• What types of ideologies (political, religious or other) influence your country’s government?
• Which domestic issues might influence your country’s foreign policy?
• What are some major events in your country’s history? Why are they important?
• Which ethnicities, religions and languages can be found in your country?
• Where is your country located and how does its geography affect its political relationships?
• Which countries share a border with your country?
• Which countries are considered allies of your country?
• Which countries are considered enemies of your country?
• What are the characteristics of your country’s economy?
• What is your country’s gross domestic product (GDP)? How does this compare to other countries in the world?
• When did your country become a member of the UN?
• Does your country belong to any intergovernmental organizations outside the UN system such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) or the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)?
• Does your country belong to any regional organizations such as the European Union (EU), the African Union (AU) or the Organization of American States (OAS)?
• Does your country belong to any trade organizations or agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) or the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)?

Tips for Researching Your Country

Look at the CIA World Factbook for a general overview on your country, and for figures and statistics as well. The World Factbook is produced by the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Check out news and media sources for recent developments in your country.

Researching Conference Topics

Next, you should develop an understanding of the issues that will be debated at your Model UN conference. You can find background materials and issue briefs on our website (under the menu "Committees"), which can help jumpstart your research. You may want to look at the sources cited in these materials for more in-depth information. If the conference background materials pose questions, you should answer them with your country information in mind. Here are some additional questions to help guide your research:
• What is the problem? How does it affect your country?
• What has your country done to combat the problem?
• What are the various “sides” in the debate?
• Which aspects of the issue are most important to your country?
• If your country is not involved with the issue, how can it become involved?
• How will your country shape the debate at the conference?
• What arguments will other countries make?
• How do the positions of other countries affect your country’s position?
• Is there evidence or statistics that might help to back up your country’s position?

Tips for Researching Issues

Check out news and media sources for up-to-date developments on an issue.
Look at the UN Economic and Social Development page, which has an index to some prominent issues as well as a list of UN agencies that work in various issue-areas. Also, through the United Nations Documentation Center, you can find resolutions and voting records from the current and previous years.
Visit non-governmental organization (NGO) websites. NGOs are an important part of the UN system, in part due to the valuable research and information they generate. Look for NGOs that address your topic.
Read academic publications. Although they can be complex, they provide in-depth information on many issues. Professors, students and researchers are constantly conducting studies and publishing papers.

A draft resolution or a position paper? Which one to prepare?

If you are a delegate in the Security Council, you will have to prepare position papers. If you are a delegate in the Human Rights Council or the ECOSOC, you need to prepare draft resolutions.

Position Papers

If you are a delegate in the Security Council, you are required to arrive with a POSITION PAPER (or in other words, a POLICY STATEMENT). You do not need to prepare a draft resolution!
Writing a position paper will help you organize your ideas so that you can share your country’s position with the rest of the committee. If you conduct extensive research, a position paper should be easy to write.

How to Write a Position Paper?

Writing a position paper might appear to be a daunting task, especially for new delegates. But with enough research, you will find that writing a position paper will be easy and useful.
Position papers are usually one to one-and-a-half pages in length. Your position paper should include a brief introduction followed by a comprehensive breakdown of your country's position on the topics that are being discussed by the committee. A good position paper will not only provide facts but also make proposals for resolutions.

A good position paper will include:

• A brief introduction to your country and its history concerning the topic and committee;
• How the issue affects your country;
• Your country’s policies with respect to the issue and your country’s justification for these policies;
• Quotes from your country’s leaders about the issue;
• Statistics to back up your country’s position on the issue;
• Actions taken by your government with regard to the issue;
• Conventions and resolutions that your country has signed or ratified;
• UN actions that your country supported or opposed;
• What your country believes should be done to address the issue;
• What your country would like to accomplish in the committee’s resolution; and
• How the positions of other countries affect your country’s position.

Sample Position Paper

Committee: International Labor Organization
Topic: Globalization and Development
Country: Romania

*This sample position paper was submitted by the delegation of Romania at the 2007 UNA-USA Model UN Conference in New York City.

In the past two decades the rapidly growing world trend has been toward globalization. With the emergence of the internet as a means of communication and the increasing accessibility of international trade physical barriers are not the only barriers withering away. Protective tariffs are plummeting and free trade agreements are becoming more prevalent. Romania appreciates that globalization creates favorable situations for expansion of commercial as well as economic assets. In the past year Romania has seen a foreign direct investment (FDI) increase of 199%. Inward FDI increased from EURO 234 million in 2005 to EURO 699 million in 2006. However, Romania realizes that increased globalization does not automatically produce more equality.

Globalization and Development can contribute to the advancement of the overall international human condition; however, the delegation of Romania recognizes that without proper regulation the potential for advancement will remain limited to an elite few individuals, businesses, and nations. Unless checked and aimed toward the common good, globalization cannot effectively serve the global community. Crucial in dealing with the complexities of globalization, good governance must act with solidarity and responsibility. Romania believes that in involving people in globalization we must promote moral values, democratic principals, inclusive global political culture, institutions that safeguard both individual civil rights and inherent freedoms, and the common good. In addition, coping with the influx of information from globalization governments must act with solidarity and insight. Access to digital education will undoubtedly result in the confidence of citizens in their respective administrations and allow for a greater degree of transparency, and therefore a lesser degree of corruption.

Romania believes the multinational business community has the ability and the obligation to support pertinent values in human rights, labor standards, and environmental preservation. As stated by the president, Mr. Traion Basescu, Romania feels a "heartfelt attachment to multilateralism, as an effective instrument designed to identify the adequate answers to the challenges brought by globalization."

Romania is party to the majority of multilateral treaties and conventions identified as such by the Secretary General in the context of the Millennium Summit in 2001. Romania has always supported innovative and effective ways of establishing cooperation within and between regional organizations. As one of the newest members of the European Union, Romania is an active member of the World Trade Organization, and looks forward to offering its support to the redirection of globalization to best benefit the global community.

Resolutions

The final results of discussion, writing and negotiation are resolutions—written suggestions for addressing a specific problem or issue. Resolutions, which are drafted by delegates and voted on by the committee, normally require a simple majority to pass (except in the Security Council). Only Security Council resolutions can compel nations to take action. All other UN bodies use resolutions to make recommendations or suggestions for future action.

Draft Resolutions

Draft resolutions are all resolutions that have not yet been voted on. Delegates write draft resolutions alone or with other countries. There are three main parts to a draft resolution: the heading, the preamble and the operative section. The heading shows the committee and topic along with the resolution number. It also lists the draft resolution’s sponsors and signatories (see below). Each draft resolution is one long sentence with sections separated by commas and semicolons. The subject of the sentence is the body making the statement (e.g., the General Assembly, Economic and Social Council, or Security Council). The preamble and operative sections then describe the current situation and actions that the committee will take.
Bringing a Resolution to the Floor for Debate
A draft resolution must always gain the support of a certain number of member states in the committee before the sponsors (the delegates who created the resolution) may submit it to the committee staff. Many conferences require signatures from 20 percent of the countries present in order to submit a draft resolution. A staff member will read the draft resolution to ensure that it is relevant and in proper format. Only when a staff member formally accepts the document and assigns it a number can it be referred to in formal debate.

Tips for Resolution Writing

• Be sure to follow the format for resolutions provided by the conference organizers. Each conference may have a slightly different format.
• Create a detailed resolution. For example, if your resolution calls for a new program, think about how it will be funded and what body will manage it.
• Try to cite facts whenever possible.
• Be realistic. Do not create objectives for your resolution that cannot be met. Make sure your body can take the action suggested. For example, the General Assembly can’t sanction another country – only the Security Council can do so.
• Try to find multiple sponsors. Your committee will be more likely to approve the resolutions if many delegates contribute ideas.
• Preambulatory clauses are historic justifications for action. Use them to cite past resolutions, precedents and statements about the purpose of action.
• Operative clauses are policies that the resolution is designed to create. Use them to explain what the committee will do to address the issue.

Preambulatory Clauses and Operative Clauses

Preambulatory Clauses

The preamble of a draft resolution states the reasons for which the committee is addressing the topic and highlights past international action on the issue. Each clause begins with a present participle (called a preambulatory phrase) and ends with a comma. Preambulatory clauses can include:
• References to the UN Charter;
• Citations of past UN resolutions or treaties on the topic under discussion;
• Mentions of statements made by the Secretary-General or a relevant UN body or agency;
• Recognition of the efforts of regional or nongovernmental organizations in dealing with the issue; and
• General statements on the topic, its significance and its impact.

Sample Preambulatory Phrases

Affirming
Alarmed by
Approving
Aware of
Bearing in mind
Believing
Confident
Contemplating
Convinced
Declaring
Deeply concerned
Deeply conscious
Deeply convinced
Deeply disturbed
Deeply regretting
Desiring
Emphasizing
Expecting
Expressing its appreciation
Expressing its satisfaction
Fulfilling
Fully alarmed
Fully aware
Fully believing
Further deploring
Further recalling
Guided by
Having adopted
Having considered
Having considered further
Having devoted attention
Having examined
Having heard
Having received Having studied
Keeping in mind
Noting with regret
Noting with deep concern
Noting with satisfaction
Noting further
Noting with approval
Observing
Reaffirming
Realizing
Recalling
Recognizing
Referring
Seeking
Taking into account
Taking into consideration
Taking note
Viewing with appreciation
Welcoming

Operative Clauses

Operative clauses identify the actions or recommendations made in a resolution. Each operative clause begins with a verb (called an operative phrase) and ends with a semicolon. Operative clauses should be organized in a logical progression, with each containing a single idea or proposal, and are always numbered. If a clause requires further explanation, bulleted lists set off by letters or roman numerals can also be used. After the last operative clause, the resolution ends in a period.

Sample Operative Phrases

Accepts
Affirms
Approves
Authorizes
Calls
Calls upon
Condemns
Confirms
Congratulates
Considers
Declares accordingly
Deplores
Designates
Draws the attention
Emphasizes
Encourages
Endorses
Expresses its appreciation
Expresses its hope
Further invites
Deplores
Designates
Draws the attention
Emphasizes
Encourages
Endorses
Expresses its appreciation
Expresses its hope
Further invites
Further proclaims
Further reminds Further recommends
Further requests
Further resolves
Has resolved
Notes
Proclaims
Reaffirms
Recommends
Regrets
Reminds
Requests
Solemnly affirms
Strongly condemns
Supports
Takes note of
Transmits
Trusts

The main submitter of a draft resolution is the principal author of the document. The main submitter needs a number of co-submitters who support the draft resolution. A certain percentage of the committee must be the co-sumbitters to a draft resolution in order for it to be accepted.

Friendly and Unfriendly Amendments

Approved draft resolutions are modified through amendments. An amendment is a written statement that adds, deletes or revises an operative clause in a draft resolution. The amendment process is used to strengthen consensus on a resolution by allowing delegates to change certain sections. You can read more about the amendments in the "Debate" section.

Sample Resolution

Resolution GA/3/1.1
General Assembly Third Committee

Sponsors: United States, Austria and Italy
Signatories: Greece, Tajikistan, Japan, Canada, Mali, the Netherlands and Gabon
Topic: “Strengthening UN coordination of humanitarian assistance in complex emergencies”

The General Assembly,

Reminding all nations of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which recognizes the inherent dignity, equality and inalienable rights of all global citizens, [use commas to separate preambulatory clauses]

Reaffirming its Resolution 33/1996 of 25 July 1996, which encourages Governments to work with UN bodies aimed at improving the coordination and effectiveness of humanitarian assistance,

Noting with satisfaction the past efforts of various relevant UN bodies and nongovernmental organizations,

Stressing the fact that the United Nations faces significant financial obstacles and is in need of reform, particularly in the humanitarian realm,

1. Encourages all relevant agencies of the United Nations to collaborate more closely with countries at the grassroots level to enhance the carrying out of relief efforts; [use semicolons to separate operative clauses]

2. Urges member states to comply with the goals of the UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs to streamline efforts of humanitarian aid;

3. Requests that all nations develop rapid deployment forces to better enhance the coordination of relief efforts of humanitarian assistance in complex emergencies;

4. Calls for the development of a United Nations Trust Fund that encourages voluntary donations from the private transnational sector to aid in funding the implementation of rapid deployment forces;

5. Stresses the continuing need for impartial and objective information on the political, economic and social situations and events of all countries;

6. Calls upon states to respond quickly and generously to consolidated appeals for humanitarian assistance; and

7. Requests the expansion of preventive actions and assurance of post-conflict assistance through reconstruction and development. [end resolutions with a period]