How to write a position

paper

1. What is a ‘position paper’?

The position paper is a summary of the stance that one country adopts on the topic tackled by
the committee. It reflects both the main aspects of the topic and the point of view of the
represented country (the involvement in the matter). It helps the delegate to become a well-
prepared participant, with a deep insight into the affected issue.
It is necessary to make wide research on the topic in order to write a summary, so it requires
delegates to spend time getting to familiarize themselves with the topic, even if they have a
complete and complex solution to the problem from the very beginning.

2. What should it contain?

Generally, a position paper answers 4 questions:
- What are the different aspects of the problem?
- What has already been done to solve the problem?
- How much is your country involved? What is your country’s standpoint?
- What can be a possible solution?

3. How to find the necessary information in order to answer the question?

First and foremost, an important document that is provided by every MUN Conference is the
Research Report – this is an in-depth analysis that presents the topic from an objective point of
view (what caused the issue in the first place, who the main actors are, what the United Nations
has done on the matter, etc.). This is a great starting point for all delegates; however, as the
Research Report is given to all members of the committee, it is necessary for each participant to
also conduct their own research.

If you wish to become a “Best Delegate”-nominee, you have to know your country in
general. History is one of the key aspects, as you will need to know what relations your
country has with the other members of the committee in order to form alliances.
The World Factbook is one of the best sources you will track down on the internet. This is
where you may find any necessary information on a specific country (history, economy,
military capacities, etc.). It can also be helpful to search information on your country’s
Embassy website, if visiting the respective Embassy does not seem a viable option.

Be careful while using less-trustworthy sources. If you chose to use Wikipedia, use as
guidance only the sources cited in the footnotes (the bottom of the page). Avoid taking direct
information straight from Wikipedia articles, as that is not necessarily verified or up-to-date.
 Here are some useful pages to research your topic:
www.un.org
www.bestdelegate.com
www.globalissues.com
www.globalpolicy.org

Usually, you may find interesting articles about any kind of global issue in the world press. You
should definitely try to check BBC or CNN. Your specific committee probably has some other
world press (e.g., The Financial Times/The Economist for ECOFIN/ECOSOC).

Be smart when choosing your sources. You don’t necessarily have to use 30 different websites,
as long as you know that your information is accurate, and that you have a truly profound
understanding of your country’s policy.

4. International steps taken toward solving the given issue:

In order to learn whether solutions were implemented in the past regarding your topic, you can
search on the UN Digital Library for previous resolutions (you will most likely find an
overwhelming number, but feel free to only use what you find essential). International
frameworks, agreements, or treaties are also perfect in this context.

5. Country’s point of view

There are two different options: your country is either involved directly or indirectly. If your
country is directly involved, you can easily find its official point of view. In the case of indirect
involvement, careful research on the different aforementioned websites will most likely be
necessary, so make sure to check out the allies and enemies of your country and their
involvement - and *flourish of trumpet* you have a point of view thanks for the wonders of the
globalization.

6. What should it look like?

Officially it is a formal document with formal language. It can be helpful if you have to deliver
a speech and you are a bit unprepared at that very moment. In some conferences, position papers
are published before the conference's start so each delegate has an opportunity to find allies and
similar threads. So, make it formal, no longer than 2 pages, and try to focus on the main parts of
the problem!
 Position Paper sample

Body: Humanitarian Affairs

Issue concerning to: Promoting the creation of adequate laws safeguarding the international
adoption of children

Represented country: Libya

Delegate's name:

Motto: “Safeguard the best interests of the child.”

There were adoption laws in the antique states – kingdoms, empires – as well as in the Middle Ages. The
first widely recognized modern adoption law is The Massachusetts Adoption of Children Act and was enacted
in 1851. In this act the primary concern was the welfare of the child rather than the concern for the continuity
of the adopter’s family. Throughout most of history, adoption has mainly occurred for religious purposes or
to serve the needs of the adoptive parents, including their need to preserve and transmit family lines or
inheritance, to gain political power or to forge alliances between families. We can repute this act as the first
which focused on the children’s rights.
Adoption laws need to face many challenges and these issues are being debated currently in courts and
policy circles. These issues include permanency planning and the right of children to live in a family setting,
intercountry adoption, adoption by step-parents and other relatives, interracial adoption, the right to have
access to information of the birth family and the importance of protecting the anonymity of persons involved
in the adoption procedure.
Safeguarding the best interests of the child has become the main consideration in all decisions relating
to adoptions, as indicated in the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Unfortunately
not all national procedures affecting adoption have moved in the same direction. Despite attempts at
standardization, adoption laws in different countries continue to reflect specific historical processes as well as
differences in societal norms. One of the greatest differences is that the authority that is charged with
approving and granting adoptions differs among countries. Countries also have different requirements for
prospective adoptive parents and adopted children. The requirements differ in certain age, marital status,
residency and citizenship. The adopted child’s rights to respect and to inheritance have many differences
between countries. And we shouldn’t forget the acquisition of citizenship.
In our country, in Libya, domestic and intercountry adoptions are not permitted. Single male or female
permissions to adopt are not applicable. Age requirements for adopting parents and the child’s age of
consent for adoption are not applicable as well. The Convention on the Rights of the Child was ratified in
1993, although the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption is not ratified yet. National legislations are
not applicable in governing adoption and the government body is not responsible for adoption approval.
Adoption indicators of Libya are unknown. These information are based on the United Nations’ Child
Adoption: Trends and Policies 2009 release.
The adoption laws in Libya don’t safeguard the best interests of the child, which is a really serious
problem since Libyan children are human beings as well and they deserve the same rights and the same
treatment as any other child around the world. We should make two main goals in order to find solution to the
problem and to safeguard the best interest of the child. The first goal should be about making international
legislations to govern adoption, making the government body responsible for adopting approval, and last, but
not least, permit of domestic and intercountry adoptions. And the second goal should be about synchronizing
national procedures and national legislations on the best way as possible in order to reduce the greatest
differences affecting adoption.
These steps could make a huge improvement in children’s rights, which is essential in order to
safeguard the best interests of the child.