About the author: Miray is a student, half Turkish and half Japanese, who will be our Press Corps for the HGS MUN in December.
Whether you are preparing for your very first MUN conference or you need a step-by-step refresher, this post is for you! It covers what MUN is, how to research your country, and how to structure a position paper.
Stepping into your first Model United Nations (MUN) conference can feel like taking the floor at an international diplomatic summit. It is normal to feel nervous or shy while learning the rules of procedure or figuring out how to research a foreign country.
What Is MUN?
Model United Nations (MUN) is an academic activity that involves students in a simulated session of the United Nations. Students play the roles of delegates representing countries or other actors, debate international issues, negotiate solutions, and write resolutions. It builds public speaking, research, negotiation, and teamwork skills.
Preparing for a Conference
Once your application for the MUN is confirmed, you will be assigned a country and receive the study guide (also called a background guide) and, in many conferences, a position paper template. Remember to submit your position paper by the deadline! At many conferences, late or missing papers make you ineligible for awards.
Before writing your position paper or opening speech, it is essential to have extensive knowledge of both your country and the study guide. With proper research, your solutions can be supported by your country's policy as it exists in the real world.
You can research your country's geopolitics, economy, alliances, foreign policy, UN statements, and past votes. For detailed and accurate information, you can use the UN Digital Library (its voting records show how your country voted on past resolutions), the UN Treaty Collection (to check which treaties your country has signed and ratified), UN websites, official foreign ministries, and credible reporting. Wikipedia can be a useful starting point, but never cite it as a source. Don't forget to verify dates and statistics.
When you are reading your study guide, try to understand these points: What is the problem? Who is affected? What has the UN already done? What solutions are realistic for your country?
Writing a Position Paper
A position paper is a one- to two-page document outlining your country's official position, past actions, and proposed solutions for the committee topics. Most conferences require the position paper to be turned in before the conference. It is read mainly by the chairs, who use it to see how well you have prepared.
A standard position paper follows a clear, four-part structure for each topic.
Section 1 Topic Background: In this section, you are supposed to frame the issue from a global perspective. Explain briefly why this topic remains on the agenda. Keep it short: the chairs wrote the study guide, so there is no need to paraphrase it. Give only the essential context from your own research, and define key terms where necessary.
Section 2 Past International and National Action: In this part, you are supposed to give information about what has already been done on the issue, both internationally and by your country. At the international level, mention relevant UN resolutions, conventions and treaties, cited by number and year (for example, General Assembly resolution 64/292 (2010)). At the national level, include your country's votes, sponsorships and ratifications, as well as other international agreements, political decisions, documents, or significant historical events. Look at how the actions your country has taken have affected the problem and what effects they have had. Make sure the examples you give relate to the topic and help explain your country's past actions.
Section 3 Country's Position: This section states your country's current position on the topic: what it supports, what it opposes, and why. When writing it, you have to consider your country's political line, its priorities and interests, and its alliances. Your personal views may differ from your country's official position; the paper must reflect the country's position, not yours. So try to use trustworthy information and make your country's stance clear.
Section 4 Proposed Solutions: This part is where you should propose solutions and future measures that could be adopted to address the issue. Your solutions should be specific enough to be developed in debate and, ideally, turned into operative clauses of a draft resolution. They must also fit your committee's mandate: the General Assembly can only make recommendations, while only the Security Council can adopt binding decisions. Where possible, say who would implement and fund each measure, and consider your country's capacity to carry it out. You can also check the "Questions To Be Addressed" (QTBAs) in your study guide so you can get the key questions, develop your arguments, and come up with effective solutions.
Formatting Your Position Paper
Always follow your conference's own guidelines, but most position papers share the same basic format:
Header: committee, country, and topic at the top of the page.
Formal language: write in the third person, for example "The delegation of Brazil believes…" rather than "I think…" or "We think…".
Citations: include footnotes or a reference list if your conference requires them.
Length: stick to the length your conference sets; one to two pages per topic is typical.
Here is a short sample excerpt to show what this looks like in practice (shortened, for illustration only):
Committee: General Assembly Country: Plurinational State of Bolivia Topic: Access to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation
The Plurinational State of Bolivia recalls General Assembly resolution 64/292 (2010), which it introduced and which recognized the human right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation. The delegation views water as a public good and a human right, not a commodity. It therefore recommends that Member States include water and sanitation targets in their national development plans, and encourages international financial institutions to support public water infrastructure in developing countries.
About "Questions To Be Addressed" (QTBAs)
At the end of almost every MUN study guide, the chairs will provide a section titled "Questions To Be Addressed" (QTBAs). Many beginners ignore this section, but it's one of the most useful parts of the guide.
Why Are Questions To Be Addressed (QTBAs) So Important?
QTBAs show you what points the chairs want the committee to discuss and address in moderated and unmoderated caucuses. A draft resolution that ignores the QTBAs is unlikely to address what the chairs expect the committee to resolve. Use QTBAs to stay on topic and to stay productive.
A helpful tip: use the QTBAs as a checklist. A good position paper answers each of them from your country's perspective.
In Conclusion
Your first MUN may feel overwhelming, but good preparation makes all the difference. Research your country carefully, structure your position paper clearly, and use the QTBAs to guide your work. That way, you will walk into committee knowing exactly what your country stands for and what it wants to achieve. Good luck, delegates!
This article was edited with the helpf of GEN-AI.