Welcome back to the UNHRC blog!
To get you started on your position papers, here are a few criteria and tips from your chairs. We’ll be breaking down the overall format, individual sections, in-text citations, and submission guidelines. Keep in mind that all position papers are due by February 12th to be eligible for any committee awards (unless you have emailed us for an extension). To be eligible for a research award, your position paper must be submitted to Huxley by February 5th.
Format
3 pages maximum
Single spaced
12 point font, Times New Roman
1 inch margins
Citations and bibliography should be in MLA format
Past and Current International Action
This section focuses on the background of the topic — especially what the UN has done so far to address the issue. A bit of summary on the overall issue is fine, but what we really want to see are the past resolutions, programs, and policies the UN has implemented so far. Focus on relevant solutions enacted, especially if they are still in place and continue to affect the situation. If possible, elaborate on how successful the programs have been so far — its achievements, scope, and shortcomings. We highly encourage delegates to look for information that hasn’t been discussed in our UNHRC topic synopsis. One of the biggest mistakes delegates make when writing this section is referencing their country or country’s policy (and yes, we do deduct points for that). Keep in mind that this section should only discuss action in the international community!
Country Policy
This is where your country comes in! Be sure your country’s stance is clear to the reader — whether that’s stated explicitly or implied through the research you incorporate. Relevant research for this section includes your country’s international involvement in committees or agreements, national legislation and public policy, and programs or training that have been implemented. If certain policies or programs have been particularly effective, be sure to emphasize that! In general, a well-written section on country policy includes a short (2-3 sentences) but thorough analysis for each national policy or program that is discussed.
Proposed Solutions
This is the longest and most important part of your paper, as well as where delegates tend to struggle the most. For this section, propose a course of action that your country wishes the UN or your committee and other international actors would take to resolve or alleviate the problem. Explain how these specific solutions will be implemented and why they will be effective. At BMUN, we often use the SMART acronym when coming up with solutions:
Specific: Who, what, where, when, why?
Measurable: How is the resolution going to be assessed? What are some qualitative or quantitative metrics and goals? What is the cost and how will funding be supplied?
Actionable: What specific steps are going to be taken to make sure your plan is properly implemented?
Relevant: What specific issue does this resolution address?
Time-bound: When will this solution be achieved?
One of the most noticeable issues that come up is the feasibility of the proposal. Occasionally, we see solutions that are simply unrealistic — giving free internet to everyone around the world, sending journalists to North Korea to “expose” their crimes, or overthrowing the whole government to solve the issue. Remember that plans are easier said than done! Take an idea that you want to propose and add onto it — be specific about what the plan entails, how it will be implemented and funded, why it is effective, and what the incentives are for other countries to join in. This helps with the aspect of feasibility and can save you a lot of time during committee while drafting resolutions. If you’re having trouble with this section, be sure to drop by our office hours on February 24-25, and we’ll see where we can help!
Responses to Questions to Consider
Pick TWO questions for each topic and answer them from the perspective of your country. Responses should be 3 to 6 sentences that demonstrate your critical thinking and ability to do further research. Some of the questions we have this year are very open-ended, so they do not always have a right or wrong answer. Have fun with this section!
Citations
Please don’t forget in-text citations throughout your position paper! Any ideas that are not your own must be cited, or it will be considered plagiarism. Due to findings of plagiarism from previous conferences, all position papers will be extensively cross-referenced. If you are found plagiarizing the ideas and work or others without citing them, you will receive a 0 and be ineligible for any awards. When in doubt, cite.
This is one of the biggest overall mistakes that delegates make. If well-written, this position paper can be used as a writing sample to demonstrate your ability to research and write on multifaceted global topics — so think of this like a creative yet academic piece of writing. Your bibliography and in-text citations should be in MLA format.
Submission
All position papers must be submitted through Huxley. Please refer to the rubric for a detailed version of the Huxley submission guide.
That’s it for now! If you have any questions about your position paper, feel free to leave a comment on this blog post or email us at unhrcbmunlxx@bmun.org.
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