Delegate

Preparation
Guide

Register today at muninstitute.com

 Table of Contents
Table of Contents ...................................................................... 3
How to Use this Guide .............................................................. 4
Getting Started.......................................................................... 7
How the UN Works.................................................................................. 8
The 4 Pillars of the United Nations...................................................... 11
Research Binder...................................................................... 16
Online Resources ................................................................................... 20
Position Paper ......................................................................... 25
Sample Position Paper........................................................................... 26
Public Speaking ...................................................................... 28
Preparing an Opening Speech .............................................................. 29
Opening Speech Worksheet .................................................................. 32
Example Speech ..................................................................................... 33
Resolution Writing ................................................................. 35
Basics of a Resolution ............................................................................ 37
Amendments ........................................................................................... 41
Resolution Writing Worksheet............................................................. 42

Delegate Preparation Guide 3

 How to Use this Guide
The purpose of this Delegate Guide is to help you, the delegate, and your MUN team prepare for
your upcoming Model United Nations conference.

It’s important to prepare for MUN conferences because that’s how you’ll get the most out of
your MUN experience. By preparing, you will learn how to research foreign policy, prepare
speeches, and write UN resolutions. At the conference itself, you will learn about the
perspectives of different countries, how to make speeches on the spot, and negotiate with other
delegates to find global solutions.

By the end of your MUN conference, you will have improved your skills in research, public
speaking, debate, negotiation, and diplomacy. These are skills that will help you throughout
school, college, your career, and the rest of your life.

Before you can start preparing for the conference, your advisor should have assigned you the
following 3 things:

 Your Country. At MUN conferences, you are pretending to be a diplomat from your
assigned country. You need to know basic information about your country’s history,
government, and recent news. More importantly, you will need to know your country’s
foreign policies on your topics.

 Your Committee. Model UN is a simulation of the United Nations. The UN is a big

organization that works with many other organizations and governments. Each MUN
committee simulates a different part of the UN. You need to know where your committee
fits into the UN and what your committee has the power to do.

 Your Topics. At MUN conferences in the United States, each committee has one or two
topics to debate. Each topic is a different problem that the real UN is trying to solve.
These are big problems that no single country can solve on their own.

The objective of MUN conferences is to find global solutions to global problems. As a

delegate of your assigned country, you will meet the other delegates in your committee, discuss
your topics, and propose solutions.

However, every other delegate has a different perspective on what those solutions should be.
You will need to understand their perspectives and try to find agreement. You will work with
other delegates to write down your agreed upon solutions into a document called a resolution.

Delegate Preparation Guide 4

At the MUN conference, you will have the following goals:
 Give well-researched speeches about your topics, country policy, and possible solutions;
 Find other delegates you can work with to write resolutions; and,
 Persuade the entire committee to vote in favor of your resolution.

In order to achieve these goals, you need to prepare for the conference. There are 6 steps to
preparing for MUN conferences, and that’s how this guide is organized:
1. Start by reading about Model UN, the real UN, and your 2 topics (Getting Started)
2. Create a research binder with at least 10 sources (Research Binder)
3. Based on your research, write a 2-page position paper on each topic (Position Paper)
4. Based on your position paper, write a 1-minute opening speech (Public Speaking)
5. Practice writing a resolution with your MUN team (Resolution Writing)
6. Practice simulating Rules of Procedure with your MUN team (Rules of Procedure)

By going through these steps, you will feel prepared to attend MUN conferences. It may seem
like a lot of work, but you shouldn’t have to do it alone. Your entire MUN team can go through
these 6 steps together over the course of 6 weekly team meetings. Here is a suggested
preparation timeline:

Meeting Before the Meeting At the Meeting

 Know your assigned country,  Each delegate can share 1 surprising
committee, and 2 topics thing they learned about each of their
1  Read “Getting Started” topics
 Read the background guide on each
topic
 Read “Research Binder”  Each delegate can share 1 thing they
2  Create a research binder on each topic learned about what the UN has done
about each of their topics
 Read “Position Paper”  Each delegate can share their
3  Write a 2-page position paper on each country’s position on each of their
topic topics
 Read “Public Speaking”  Each delegate can practice sharing
 Write a 1-minute opening speech on their 1-minute opening speech
4 each topic  Other delegates should give feedback
to the speaker: what’s 1 thing they did
well and 1 thing they can improve on
 Read “Resolution Writing”  Each delegate can give a 30-second
 Write a resolution on the practice speech about their resolution
5 topic “Bullying”  The entire team can work together to
merge their individual resolutions into
a single team resolution
 Read “Rules of Procedure”  The entire team can practice Rules of
6
 Read “Final Preparation” Procedure on the topic of “Bullying”

Delegate Preparation Guide 5

By following this guide, you can be well prepared for MUN conferences. At the conference
itself, you will learn more over a weekend than you ever thought you could. You will meet new
people and maybe make new friends. By the end of the weekend, you may even feel like you just
saved the world – in 48 hours or less! You may be amazed at how it all went by so quickly. But
just remember that this is not the end – this is simply the beginning of your MUN journey.

Additional Note: Hundreds of MUN conferences take place annually worldwide and they’re all
different from each other. This guide assumes you are attending MUN conferences in the United
States, or conferences that follow “American Procedure.” Conferences outside of the United
States may follow different procedures, particularly THIMUN conferences. However, this
guide’s tips on research, speaking, and resolution writing still apply.

Delegate Preparation Guide 6

 Getting Started
Model United Nations is an authentic simulation of the UN General Assembly, UN Security
Council, or other multilateral body, which introduces students to the world of diplomacy,
negotiation, and decision-making.

At Model UN, students step into the shoes of ambassadors of countries that are members of the
UN, from Argentina to Zimbabwe. The students, better known as “delegates”, debate current
issues on the organization’s vast agenda. They prepare draft resolutions, plot strategy, negotiate
with supporters and adversaries, resolve conflicts, and navigate the UN’s rules of procedure – all
in the interest of resolving problems that affect the world.

Before playing out their ambassadorial roles in Model UN, students research the particular global
problem to be addressed. The problems are drawn from today’s headlines. Model UN delegates
learn how the international community acts on its concerns about peace and security, human
rights, the environment, food and hunger, economic development, and globalization.

Model UN delegates also look closely at the needs, aspirations, and foreign policy of the country
they will “represent” at the event. The insights they gain from their exploration of history,
geography, mathematics, culture, economics, and science contribute to the authenticity of the
simulations once the actual role-playing gets underway, and ensures a lively and memorable
experience.

Model UN not only involves young people in the study and discussion of global issues, but also
encourages the development of skills useful throughout their lives – skills including research
techniques, writing, public speaking, problem-solving, conflict resolution, compromise, and
cooperation.

The popularity of participating in Model UN has contributed to the rapid growth of this activity
over the past several decades. Many Model UN participants are repeaters, since the spirit of these
simulations creates an appétit for this activity more commonly known as “M-U-N Fever”.

In fact, quite a few of today’s leaders in law, government, business, and the arts participated in
Model UN during their academic careers – from U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, to
Chelsea Clinton and actor Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction).

As many states move to implement standards for global citizenship, Model UN is proving to be
an innovative resource to prepare students for career and college success.

Delegate Preparation Guide 7

How the UN Works
The United Nations was established on 24 October 1945 by 51 countries committed to
preserving peace through international cooperation and collective security. Today, nearly every
nation in the world belongs to the UN: membership now totals 193 countries.

When States become members of the United Nations, they agree to accept the obligations of the
UN Charter, an international treaty that sets out basic principles of international relations.
According to the Charter, the UN has four purposes: to maintain international peace and security;
to develop friendly relations among nations; to cooperate in solving international problems and
in promoting respect for human rights; and to be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations.

UN Members are sovereign countries. The United Nations is not a world government, and it does
not make laws. It does, however, provide the means to help resolve international conflict and
formulate policies on matters affecting all of us. At the UN, all the Member States – large and
small, rich and poor, with differing political views and social systems – have a voice and vote in
this process.

The General Assembly

All UN Member States are represented in the General Assembly – a kind of parliament of
nations, which meets to consider the world's most pressing problems. Each Member State has
one vote. Decisions on "important matters," such as international peace and security, admitting
new members, the UN budget and the budget for peacekeeping, are decided by a two-thirds
majority. Other matters are decided by simple majority. In recent years, a special effort has been
made to reach decisions through consensus, rather than by taking a formal vote.

Each year the Assembly considers more than 170 different topics including: globalization,
nuclear disarmament, development, protection of the environment and consolidation of new
democracies. The Assembly cannot force action by any State, but its recommendations are an
important indication of world opinion and represent the moral authority of the community of
nations.

The Assembly holds its annual regular session from September to December. When necessary, it
may resume its session, or hold a special or emergency session on subjects of particular concern.
When the Assembly is not meeting, its work is carried out by its six main committees, other
subsidiary bodies and the UN Secretariat.

The Security Council

The UN Charter gives the Security Council primary responsibility for maintaining international
peace and security. The Council may convene at any time, day or night, whenever peace is
threatened. Under the Charter, all Member States are obligated to carry out the Council's
decisions.

Delegate Preparation Guide 8

There are 15 Council members. Five of these - China, France, the Russian Federation, the United
Kingdom and the United States - are permanent members. The other 10 are elected by the
General Assembly for two-year terms. Member States have discussed making changes in
Council membership to reflect today's political and economic realities.

Decisions of the Council require nine “yes” votes. Except in votes on procedural questions, a
decision cannot be taken if there is a no vote, or veto, by a permanent member.

When the Council considers a threat to international peace, it first explores ways to settle the
dispute peacefully. It may suggest principles for a settlement or undertake mediation. In the
event of fighting, the Council tries to secure a ceasefire. It may send a peacekeeping mission to
help the parties maintain the truce and to keep opposing forces apart.

The Council can take measures to enforce its decisions. It can impose economic sanctions or
order an arms embargo. On rare occasions, the Council has authorized Member States to use "all
necessary means," including collective military action, to see that its decisions are carried out.

The Economic and Social Council

The Economic and Social Council, under the overall authority of the General Assembly,
coordinates the economic and social work of the United Nations and the UN family. As the
central forum for discussing international economic and social issues and for formulating policy
recommendations, the Council plays a key role in fostering international cooperation for
development. It also consults with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), thereby maintaining
a vital link between the United Nations and civil society.

The Council's subsidiary bodies meet regularly and report back to it. The Commission on Human
Rights, for example, monitors the observance of human rights throughout the world. Other
bodies focus on such issues as social development, the status of women, crime prevention,
narcotic drugs and environmental protection. Five regional commissions promote economic
development and strengthened economic relations in their respective regions.

The International Court of Justice

The International Court of Justice, also known as the World Court, is the main judicial organ of
the UN. Consisting of 15 judges elected by the General Assembly and the Security Council, the
Court decides disputes between countries. Participation by States in a proceeding is voluntary,
but if a State agrees to participate, it is obligated to comply with the Court's decision. The Court
also provides advisory opinions to the General Assembly and the Security Council upon request.

The UN System

The International Monetary Fund, the World Bank group and twelve other independent
organizations known as "specialized agencies" are linked to the UN through cooperative
agreements. These agencies, among them the World Health Organization and the International

Delegate Preparation Guide 9

Civil Aviation Organization, are autonomous bodies created by intergovernmental agreement.
They have wide-ranging international responsibilities in the economic, social, cultural,
educational, health and related fields. Some of them, like the International Labor Organization
and the Universal Postal Union, are older than the UN itself.

In addition, a number of UN offices, programs and funds – such as the Office of the UN High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Development Program (UNDP) and the UN
Children's Fund (UNICEF) – work to improve the economic and social condition of people
around the world. These bodies report to the General Assembly or the Economic and Social
Council.

All these organizations have their own governing bodies, budgets and secretariats. Together with
the United Nations, they are known as the UN family, or the UN system. They provide an
increasingly coordinated yet diverse program of action.

© United Nations, 2009 - http://www.un.org/Overview/uninbrief/unsystem.shtml

Prepared by the UN Department of Public Information.

Delegate Preparation Guide 10

The 4 Pillars of the United Nations
The foundation upon which the UN was created is described in the Preamble of the UN Charter:

WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED

to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has
brought untold sorrow to mankind, and

to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person,
in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and

to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from
treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and

to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom.

The Preamble describes four areas that are the pillars of the UN,
 Peace and Security
 Human Rights
 The Rule of Law
 Development

These four pillars are all interconnected. You can’t fully achieve one without achieving all of
them.

1. Peace and Security

As outlined in the Preamble of the UN Charter, the United Nations was created “to save
succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold
sorrow to mankind.” The Security Council is the main organ responsible for maintaining
international peace and security although other organs such as the General Assembly and the
Secretariat play an important role in making recommendations and assisting in the resolution of
armed conflicts.

Since its founding in 1945, the UN has been a witness and catalyst to an extraordinary transition
in global relations. It grew out of the ruins of the Second World War and endured through the
years clouded by nuclear threat during the Cold War and numerous regional conflicts. Today
peace and security are no longer viewed only in terms of the absence of military conflict. The
common interests of all people are also seen to be affected by poverty, hunger, environmental
degradation, weak democratic institutions and human rights violations which are often at the
heart of national and international tensions.

Delegate Preparation Guide 11

In 2004, former Secretary-General Kofi Annan formed a high level panel on threats to peace and
security. In the panel’s report to the Secretary-General six clusters of threats were identified.

The six clusters that threaten peace and security today are:
 Economic and social threats, including poverty, infectious diseases and environmental
degradation
 Inter-State conflict
 Internal conflict, including civil war, genocide and other large -scale atrocities
 Nuclear, radiological, chemical and biological weapons
 Terrorism
 Transnational organized crime

The cluster on poverty underscores that threats to peace and security occur when there is
widespread poverty. Extreme poverty threatens people’s well-being directly but also provides
the breeding ground for other threats. The link between poverty and war is clearly indicated in
the following graph:

Countries that have a higher Gross Domestic Product per capita are less likely to have a civil
war. At a certain point in the graph, the probability of war starts to increase more rapidly. There
is a curvilinear relationship between poverty and war rather than a linear one. Is there a tipping
point at which the likelihood of war increases dramatically?

Peace and security is also threatened when democratic institutions are weak or non-existent. The
fact that peace and security is dependent upon having strong democratic institutions underscores
the important link between peace and security and the rule of law.

Meeting the challenges of today’s threats requires strengthening democratic institutions and the
capacity of States to protect the dignity and safety of its citizens. The UN has worked hard to
strengthen democratic institutions in more than 50 countries. Today more governments have
been chosen through free elections than at any other time in history.

The threat of weapons of mass destruction is higher when democratic institutions are weak.
Anything that weakens a State’s institutions or its ability to protect its citizens leaves it
vulnerable to international terrorists and/or international organized crime groups. Weak States
increase the potential for these non-State actors to traffic nuclear material particularly when
border controls are ineffective. This makes it possible for smaller numbers of people to inflict
greater amounts of damage and terror without the support of any State.

2. Human Rights

The UN Charter also begins by affirming “faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and
worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and
small.”

Delegate Preparation Guide 12

This principle led to the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the
General Assembly on December 10, 1948, in the Palais de Chaillot in Paris.

The Universal Declaration was a landmark achievement in world history. It marked the first time
that the rights and freedoms of individuals were set forth in such detail. It also represented the
first international recognition that human rights and fundamental freedoms are applicable to
every person, everywhere. Today, it continues to affect people’s lives, serves as a model for
numerous international treaties and declarations and has been incorporated in the constitutions
and laws of many countries. The Declaration has inspired more than 60 international human
rights instruments, which together constitute a comprehensive system of legally binding treaties
for the promotion and protection of human rights. It is the best-known and most cited human
rights document in the world.

Following the historic adoption of the UDHR, the Assembly called upon all Member countries to
publicize the text of the Declaration and “to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and
expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on
the political status of countries or territories.”

The connection between human rights and the other pillars is clearly visible throughout the
UDHR. First, it acknowledges, in the Preamble, that the recognition of the inalienable rights of
all individuals is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world. Second, it elaborates
the UN Charter’s declared purpose of promoting development by giving economic, social and
cultural rights the same degree of protection that one finds for civil and political rights.

The central importance of human rights to the work of the UN can be seen in the extent to which
human rights work at the country level has grown over the last decade. In 1996, the Office of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) was present in 14 countries.
Today, OHCHR-supported human rights personnel are deployed in over 40 countries. When
people’s human rights are violated, peace and security is threatened until these rights are restored
and protected.

3. Rule of Law

The United Nations was established in the aftermath of a terrible war to ensure that relations
among nations would be grounded in international law. “Rule of law” is one of the core concepts
at the heart of the Organization’s work and mission.

South Sudanese police officers celebrate after receiving their certificates for completing a
training course run by the UN Police. The course will help the young police officers navigate the
many challenges ahead as the region of southern Sudan becomes an independent nation in July
2011 based on a referendum supported by the UN Mission in Sudan.
South Sudanese police officers celebrate after receiving their certificates for completing a
training course run by UN Police.

Delegate Preparation Guide 13

As stated in the UN Charter, the UN aims “to establish conditions under which justice and
respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be
maintained.” In order to develop and prosper, human beings must be able to look to the State for
security and protection and be able to exercise their individual rights. This cannot happen
without the rule of law. The rule of law refers to a principle of governance in which all persons,
public and private institutions, including the State itself, are accountable to laws that are
consistent with international human rights norms and standards.

Justice is a vital component of the rule of law. At the international level, the most striking
development over the past decade has occurred in the area of international criminal justice. The
International Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda established by the Security
Council in 1993 and 1994 respectively marked the first generation of tribunals since the
International Military Tribunal established in Nuremberg. They demonstrated the collective will
not to allow grave violations of international law to go unpunished.

Many of the poorest countries need investments to train and employ qualified personnel to
manage democratic institutions that are vital to upholding the rule of law. In addition, good
governance requires public participation in the political process. This helps guarantee that
governments will be held accountable for their actions.

The last decade has witnessed substantial progress for democratic governance. Today more
Governments have been chosen by competitive elections than at any time in history. In addition,
in 2005 alone, over 50 million registered voters had the chance to participate in elections and
referendums overseen by United Nations peacekeeping missions. This symbolizes important
gains in human rights, freedom and choice. Competitive multi-party elections are essential for
empowering the poor and for building lasting peace settlements.

4. Development

The fourth declared aim of the United Nations is “to promote social progress and better standards
of life in larger freedom.” The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is the organ most
associated with achieving this goal. It is responsible for coordinating the development mandates
of 14 UN specialized agencies and five regional commissions. In addition, ECOSOC consults
with academics, business representatives and more than 2,100 registered non-governmental
organizations.

Most people don’t realize that roughly 70% of the UN system focuses its work on promoting
social progress and improving the well-being of people around the world. The main components
of development are:
 Living a long and healthy life
 Being educated
 Having a decent standard of living
 Having the freedom to participate in the life of one’s community

Delegate Preparation Guide 14

All development is ultimately about expanding human potential and human freedoms. It is more
than just raising one’s income. Lack of freedom to buy enough food, have enough medicine,
opportunity to go to school, also can be not to have freedom.

What people often fail to realize is that development is about having the opportunity and
freedom to develop our abilities to their fullest extent. Development cannot occur without the
freedom from misery, hunger, illiteracy and disease. People who live in extreme poverty lack
choices. Having a decent standard of living gives us the means to pursue our desires and dreams.
Human rights come into play when we acknowledge that everyone should have the same
opportunities to develop their abilities to the fullest extent.

Development ceases to move forward when violent conflict erupts, human rights are violated, or
the rule of law is disregarded. Just as development can be negatively impacted by conflict, the
lack of development can also lead to war.

The strong link between human rights and development has figured prominently in United
Nations deliberations for more than half a century. In 1986, the right to development was made
explicit in the Declaration on the Right to Development. The Declaration on the Right to
Development states that “the right to development is an inalienable human right by virtue of
which every human person and all peoples are entitled to participate in, contribute to, and enjoy
economic, social, cultural and political development, in which all human rights and fundamental
freedoms can be fully realized.”

The importance of focusing on development is most visible today in efforts to eradicate extreme
poverty as outlined in the Millennium Development Goals. Over one billion people today live
on less than $1 a day and 2.6 billion are estimated to live on less than $2 a day. In 2000 the
largest gathering of world leaders came to the UN to pledge their support to significantly reduce
extreme poverty by 2015. Spectacular advances in human development have been made as a
result of the Millennium Development Goals. Both the number of people living on less than
$1.25 a day and child mortality rates have fallen. At the same time, life expectancy has increased
and the number of children completing primary school has increased. Nonetheless, many
challenges remain. There are still 850 million people living in hunger in the world, 61 million
children are not enrolled in school of which more than half live in sub-Saharan Africa, and two-
thirds of the illiterate population in the world are women.

© United Nations, 2014

Prepared by the UN Department of Public Information.
http://outreach.un.org/mun/guidebook/introduction/un-at-a-glance/4pillars/

Delegate Preparation Guide 15

 Research Binder

After reading your topic background guides, your objective is to gain a better understanding of
the topic, your country’s policy on the topic, and what your country wants to do about the topic.
You’re going to dive into many different websites and research sources. You need a way to
organize all your sources or else you will lose track of your research. One of the best ways to
organize your research is to create a research binder.

You should have one research binder that includes sources for each of your topics. For each
topic, you can organize your binder into 4 sections:

 Topic Background: This section should include your background guide and other
sources that describe your topic in general, including Wikipedia pages, news articles, and
reports produced by the United Nations and other organizations.

 Past International Action: This section should include information on your committee
and what it has already done about the topic. This section should also include primary
sources, such as resolutions, treaties/conventions (a convention is a type of treaty), and

Delegate Preparation Guide 16

 international policies and campaigns (like the Millennium Development Goals), as well
as other important sources that describe how the UN is trying to address the topic.
 Country Policy: This section should include sources about your country (such as the
CIA World Factbook) and your country’s position on the topic. This can include speeches
made by your political leaders and papers produced by your government.

 Possible Solutions: This section should include sources on what the UN should be doing
to address the topic. This can include recommendations by UN bodies, experts (like
professors), and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Having a well-organized binder will make it easier for you to understand your research and write
a position paper.

To help you get started with your research binder, here is a list of different sources and websites
that you should visit:

Topic Background

 Background Guide. Either you, another delegate, or your chair will inevitably refer to
something written in the committee’s background guide during a conference. Also, what
your chair has written about is what he’ll focus on in committee. Use that knowledge to
craft speeches and operative clauses that grab the chair’s attention.

 Wikipedia. Information on your country’s history and its recent controversies. There
should be articles on your topic, too. Wikipedia might not be edited as rigorously as a
print publication, but you are not writing an academic research paper – you’re attending a
Model UN conference. Just take note of any potential issues that are listed at the topic of
Wikipedia pages, e.g. “This article needs additional citations for verification.”

 News Articles. You want to know the latest news on your topics, as well as your own
country. The simplest way to do this is to run searches on Yahoo! News and Google
News, and print out the headlines. BBC Online also features easy-to-use timelines and
profiles on your issues and country. Large publications like the New York Times and
Wall Street Journal also have in-depth coverage on their websites.

Past International Action

 Your committee’s actual UN website. The goal of a committee is to pass a resolution,

which depends on what a committee can and cannot do. You want to understand your
committee’s mandate (why it was created), powers (what it can do), organization (how it
fits into the UN and the larger international community), and membership (who’s in it).

 The UN Charter. If you are in a GA, ECOSOC, or Security Council committee, then the
source of your committee’s power is the UN Charter. If you are in a regional organization

Delegate Preparation Guide 17

 like NATO or OAS, then you are still affected by the Charter, particularly Chapter VII on
international security and Chapter VIII on regional arrangements.

 Resolutions, Treaties, and Conventions: Before you can do anything on the topic, you
need to know what’s already been done. You can find past resolutions through the UN
documentation center, although it can be difficult to navigate. Once you’ve found the
latest resolution, the preambulatory clauses should direct you to other resolutions. The
most relevant piece of international law on your topic might not be a past resolution, but
instead a treaty or convention.

Country Policy

 CIA World Factbook. Every MUNers go-to source for essential information on their
country. You want to know your country’s location, neighbors, population size, type of
government, type of economy, trade partners, and the international organizations it’s a
part of. Not knowing this information as your country’s representative can be potentially
embarrassing.

 Speeches and Press Releases. These are the ways that policy-makers set policy. Be sure
to use speeches and press releases from people in the executive branch of your country’s
current government (President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister / Secretary of State,
Ambassadors). Legislators and judges may say something different, but as a
representative of your country, you work for the Head of State / Head of Government.
Start with the website for your country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs / Department of
State.

 Voting Record. Actions speak louder than words. If your country’s leaders have not
clearly articulated a policy on your topic, then you can infer it from how your country has
voted on past resolutions, treaties, and conventions (or whether they were even present).
Note that recent speeches may indicate a change in policy away from however your
country has voted in the past, especially if your government has changed administrations.
Nonetheless, you still want to know how your country’s past actions on the topic, for
your own knowledge, and in case anyone asks.

Possible Solutions

 UN Reports: Many times, the United Nations has produced reports on what they believe
needs to be done next on the topic. They may be referred to as a report of the Secretary-
General, recommendations by a high-level panel, or an outcome document of a
conference.

 Think Tanks. Organizations like RAND are paid to come up with solutions to the topics
you discuss in Model UN. Think tank publications have more depth and evidence than an
opinion article, but they’re typically not as dense as an academic paper. They might also

Delegate Preparation Guide 18

 be pushing a certain agenda, so be aware of that. Otherwise, they are a great starting point
for proposing potential solutions.

 Your Ideas. Include in your binder your position papers, working papers, notes,
thoughts, as well as blank lined paper – Don’t rely on a conference to bring enough paper
for draft resolutions and note passing. You can do all the research you want, and you can
be really fast and efficient at it, but none of that matters until you boil down what you’ve
read into ideas that you can explain in your own words.

Delegate Preparation Guide 19

Online Resources
To help you get started with your research binder, google these below

Model United Nations World Trade Organization

Best Delegate International Monetary Fund External Country
UNA-USA Information
UN4MUN World Bank External Country Information
International Fund for Agricultural
Topic Background Development
UN Conference on Trade and Development
Peace and Security UN Global Issues
UN Peace & Security Page Division for Sustainable Development
UN Disarmament Page International Labor Organization
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical UN Industrial Development Organization
Weapons High Representative for the Least Developed
UN Institute for Disarmament Research Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries,
Preparatory Commission for the and Small Island Developing States
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Council for a Community of Democracies
Organization Debt AIDS Trade Africa (DATA)
International Atomic Energy Agency UN Environmental Programme
Nuclear Threat Initiative UN Framework Convention on Climate
UN Peacekeeping Change
UNODC and Terrorism Prevention UN Convention to Combat Desertification
UN Terrorism Page UN-Habitat
Global Security Ecolex- Environmental Law Information
Carnegie Endowment EcoNet
Crisis Group European Environmental Law Page
United Nations Department for Disarmament Geneva Environment Network
Affairs United Nations System- Wide Earth Watch
United Nations Institute for Disarmament World Resources Institute
Research United Nations Framework Convention on
US National Counterintelligence Executive Climate Change
US National Security Agency WWW Virtual Library: International
International Relations and Security Network Development
UN Mine Action Service
Adopt-a-Minefield Development: Humanitarian and Health
International Campaign to Ban Landmines UN humanitarian affairs page
WWW Virtual Library: Peace and Security UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural
Organization
Development: Economic and Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and
Environmental Malaria
UN Development Page UN Division for the Advancement of Women
UN Development Programme

Delegate Preparation Guide 20

UN International Training Institute for the Human Rights Internet
Advancement of Women International Human Rights Law Institute
Americans for UNFPA – One Woman Can International League for Human Rights
Child Rights Information Network Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Database on Research and Information on 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration
Children’s Rights of Human Rights
Childwatch International Research Network University of Minnesota Human Rights
Save the Children Library
UN Children’s Fund
Children in Conflict News Sources
UN Youth UN News
Women Watch Google Scholar
UNAIDS Google News
United Nations Population Fund Google News Alerts
Population Action Al-Jazeera
World Health Organization BBC
Global Health CNN
Oxfam Financial Times
World Food Programme International Herald Tribune
Food and Agricultural Organization Le Monde Diplomatique
International Committee of the Red Cross New York Times
Doctors Without Borders The Economist
UN High Commissioner on Refugees The Times of London
UN Office for the Coordination of The Wall Street Journal
Humanitarian Affairs Washington Post
UNICEF in Emergencies WWW Virtual Library: News Sources
Relief Web WWW Virtual Library: International Radio
Federation of American Scientists and Television
WWW Virtual Library: Human Rights and WWW Virtual Library: International
Humanitarian Affairs Relations Journals and Magazines

Human Rights Past International Action

UN Human Rights Page
UN High Commissioner on Human Rights The United Nations
Human Rights Watch United Nations Main Page
Amnesty International UN Charter
Freedom House UN Systems
Human Trafficking UN Overview
US Department of State Human Rights UN Treaties
Reports UN Library
Bayefsky List of UN Human Rights Treaties UN Members
Project DIANA at Yale – Human Rights UN Journal
Documents UN Wire
Center for the Study of Human Rights UN Research Guide
Human Rights First UN Cyber Schoolbus

Delegate Preparation Guide 21

Permanent Missions to the UN International Civil Aviation Organization
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (ICAO)
Issues on the UN Agenda International Criminal Court (ICC)
WWW Virtual Library: the United Nations International Fund for Agricultural
Development
Main Organs of the United Nations International Labor Organization (ILO)
General Assembly International Maritime Organization (IMO)
First Committee: Disarmament and International Monetary Fund (IMF)
International Security International Telecommunication Unit
Second Committee: Economic and Financial UN Industrial Development Organization
Third Committee: Social, Humanitarian, and (UNIDO)
Cultural International Research and Training Institute
Fourth Committee: Special Political and for the Advancement of Women
Decolonization UN Center for Human Settlements
Sixth Committee: Legal UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
Economic and Social Council UN Information Center
Security Council World Bank
Security Council Resolutions World Health Organization (WHO)
International Court of Justice World Intellectual Property Organization
(WIPO)
Specialized Agencies World Meteorological Organization
UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) World Trade Organization (WTO)
UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural UN Statistics Division
Organization (UNESCO) Joint United Nations Programme on
UN Development Programme (UNDP) HIV/AIDS
UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Resolutions, Treaties, and International
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Law
(UNHCR) General Assembly Resolutions
UN Center for Regional Development Security Council Resolutions
UN Commission on International Trade Law United Nations Treaty Collection
UN Conference on Trade and Development Millennium Development Goals
(UNCTAD) UN International Law Page
UN Commission for Social Development International Court of Justice
UN Commission on Crime Prevention and International Criminal Court
Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) International Law Commission
UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs World Intellectual Property Organization
UN Commission on Sustainable Development World Trade Organization’s Trade-Related
UN Commission on the Status of Women Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights
(CSW) WWW Virtual Library: International Law
UN Commission on Population and
Development Country Policy
Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Research on Countries
CIA World Factbook

Delegate Preparation Guide 22

US State Department Background Notes Organization for Security and Cooperation in
List of Governmental Websites Europe (OSCE)
List of International Governmental Council of Europe
Organizations Western European Union
Foreign Governments Comprehensive Web Policies of the European Union
Site Listings WWW Virtual Library: European Union
Library of Congress Country Studies
The Lincoln Library North & South American Countries
The Electronic Embassy Organization of American States (OAS)
Country Watch North American Free Trade Agreement
The Economist Country Briefings (NAFTA)
Government and Legal Structure by Country South American Common Market
UN Maps Economic Commission for Latin America and
Atlapedia the Caribbean (ECLAC)
InfoNation Latin American Economic System
BBC Country Profiles Pan American Health Organization
Group of 20 Small Islands Developing State Network
World Bank Data and Statistics Caribbean Community and Common Market
NGO Global Network Andean Community
Wikipedia Council of Canadians
WWW Virtual Library: Latin America and the
African Countries Caribbean
African Union (AU)
African Development Bank United States of America
The Economic Community of West African UNA-USA
States The White House
The Economic Community of Central African US Senate
States US House of Representatives
South African Development Community Library of Congress
WWW Virtual Library: Africa Americans for UNFPA
Friends of WFP
Asian & Middle Eastern Countries USA for UNHCR
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) US Committee for UNIFEM
Association of Southeast Asian Nations US Fund for UNICEF
(ASEAN) WWW Virtual Library: American Foreign
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Policy
League of Arab States
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Possible Solutions
South Asian Association for Regional
Cooperation (SAARC) Think Tanks & Policy Groups
WWW Virtual Library: Asia WWW Virtual Library: Research Institutes
9/11 Commission
European Countries American Progress
European Union (EU) Asia Society
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Aspen Institute

Delegate Preparation Guide 23

Brookings Foreign Policy in Focus
Carnegie Endowment Gallup WorldView
CATO Institute Global News Bank
Center for Strategic and International Studies Heritage Foundation
Chatham House Institute for Global Communications
Council of the Americas Institute for Policy Studies
Council on Foreign Relations International Institute for Strategic Studies
Crisis Group One World
Council on Foreign Affairs Stockholm International Peace Research
European Council on Foreign Relations Institute
Federation of American Scientists Transparency International
For the Record UN Democracy
Foreign Affairs UN Foundation
Foreign Policy Association

Delegate Preparation Guide 24

 Position Paper
A position paper is a two-page document that describes your country’s position on the topic and
what you country wants to do about it. Writing a position paper is important because it helps you
understand what you need to say and do at an MUN conference. In the process of writing the
position paper, you will need to read through your research, understand it, analyze it, and think
critically about your country. You can take the position paper with you to the MUN conference,
and it help guide what to say in your speeches and what you want to achieve in negotiations and
resolutions.

You should write a position paper on each of your topics. A position paper contains the
following sections, each which should be 1-3 paragraphs long:
 Topic Background
 Past International Action
 Country Policy
 Possible Solutions
 Sources

You can see that the position paper sections match the sections in your research binder. You can
use your research binder to write each section. So if you created a well-organized research
binder, you’ve already done half the work. Each section should answer the following questions:

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?
 When did this topic become an issue?

Past International Action

 What has the UN (e.g. your committee) tried to do on this topic?
 What are the most important resolutions and treaties on this topic?
 What are the two (or more) sides to this topic?

Country Policy
 How has this topic impacted your country?
 What has your country tried to do about this topic?
 What have your political leaders (your President, Prime Minister, or Foreign Minister)
said about this topic? (Use quotes)

Possible Solutions
 What is a possible solution that your country would support? Consider an existing
solution that could be expanded with more support or funding.

Delegate Preparation Guide 25

  How would this solution be funded?
Sample Position Paper
Committee: General Assembly
Topic: Child Soldiers
Country: Rwanda

Topic Background

For years millions of children have been exploited as soldiers for the betterment of their
countries or rebel groups located in their countries. Taken away from their families to military
camps, in which they experience a life that bears no similarity to the comforts of a normal
childhood, these children are trained as little more than weapons that can act as fighters on the
front line of battle, or even as spies or guards. These children, separated from their families and
all they have known in their previous lives, face significant setbacks in development and general
well-being, as they experience the traumas of battle that adults can barely handle. Furthermore,
the question exists of how to bring these children through the long process of transitioning out of
a militant lifestyle back into the lives they should have had, free of violence and full of support
and comfort.

Past International Action

In 1989 the United Nations created the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which defined a
child as anyone under the age of 18 and laid out the right of a child to survive and be protected
from harmful influences and abuse. In 2002, the Optional Protocol was added to the Convention,
which said that all soldiers must be 18 or older. 100 countries have signed it. UNICEF and other
NGOs send aid to countries in which child soldiers are prevalent and work to rehabilitate and
reintegrate these children into society. A notable NGO is the Invisible Children, which brought
awareness to the issue through its “Kony 2012” campaign.

Country Policy

Rwanda condemns the use of child soldiers and has made marked efforts to end the exploitation
of children in the army. In accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, voluntary
military service is only permitted after reaching the age of 18. However many child soldiers still
exist through non-governmental military organizations, which human rights laws cannot affect,
making improvement slow and challenging. Rwanda is committed to promoting peace, security,
and stability within borders; however, the country’s right to sovereignty must be protected.

Possible Solutions

Rwanda proposes plan AEIR to counter the use of child soldiers in Rwandan territory:
 The first step is apprehension of individuals suspected of facilitating the use of child
soldiers in non-governmental militant groups.

Delegate Preparation Guide 26

  Second, enforcement of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, along with the
Optional Protocol, must be refined so strict regulation covers all militant groups within
Rwanda.
 Third, thorough investigation must be made into allegations of Rwandan authorities’
facilitation of child soldiers into militant groups, particularly M23.
 Fourth, Rwanda desires to further expand DDR Programs with the focus of returning
former child soldiers to a normal life in society.

Funding for plan AEIR can come from World Bank loans or funding from the UN, and federal
funding will be used to expand DDR Programs established by UNICEF and NGOs. Any form of
aid from the UN or outside countries is welcome; however, in order to protect the sovereignty of
Rwanda any other form of intervention into Rwandan territory is prohibited.

Sources
 https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rw.html
 http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/briefing/soldiers/soldiers.pdf
 http://www.child-soldiers.org/news_reader.php?id=692
 http://www.minaffet.gov.rw/index.php?id=918

Delegate Preparation Guide 27

 Public Speaking
Public speaking is a highly valuable skill you have the opportunity to develop through Model
United Nations. Knowing how to prepare and deliver well-organized and thoughtful speeches
will help you in school, your future career, and the rest of your life.

At the MUN conference, you will have many opportunities to give speeches. As the
representative of your assigned country, you will be expected to speak about your country’s
policy on the committee topics and your proposed solutions.

There are three ways you can give speeches at MUN conferences:

 Speakers List: When the committee begins, the chair (the person leading the committee)
will create a list of delegates who wish to give speeches. These speeches are typically
about the topic, country policy, and possible solutions, and range from 1-2 minutes long.
The first time you speak on the speakers list is referred to as your opening speech. You
should prepare this speech before the conference. After your first speech, you can sent a
note to the chair to request being re-added to the speakers list.

 Comments: After a delegate makes a speech, the chair will ask if other delegates would
like to make a short comment. Comments are typically about whether a delegate agrees
or disagrees with the speaker, and range from 30 seconds to 1 minute long. To make good
comments, you need to listen to other delegates’ speeches, decide whether or not you
agree or disagree with they said, and explain why. The key is not being afraid to raise
your placard after every speech.

 Moderated Caucus: The moderated caucus will be explained in more detail in the next
chapter on Rules of Procedure, but the moderated caucus is different than the speakers
list. Whereas the speakers list is about the topic in general, a moderated caucus is about a
specific question on the topic. For example, a delegate may motion for a moderated
caucus to discuss a specific draft resolution. The speakers list tells you who is going to
speak next, but a moderated caucus has no list; delegates must raise their placards and
wait for the chair to call on them to speak. Each delegate typically gets 30 seconds to 1
minute to speak. A moderated caucus is like having a conversation with your entire
committee.

This chapter will focus on helping you prepare your opening speech, since that is the one speech
you can fully prepare for. Your goal is to prepare a 1-minute opening speech. Read the next
section on opening speeches to learn how to organize your speech. Then use the opening speech
worksheet to write out your speech. You should use information from your position paper.
Finally, practice your opening speech with your teammates.

Delegate Preparation Guide 28

Preparing an Opening Speech
The purpose of the opening speech is to share your country’s policy on the committee topic.
Your speech should begin in an engaging way that gets the committee to listen you. And your
speech should end by telling the committee what they should be doing about the topic.

The easiest way to organize your opening speech is in three parts:

 Hook: An engaging way to grab your audience’s attention;
 Point: Your country policy on the topic; and,
 Action: Your possible solutions to the topic.

Each part is explained in more detail below.

Hook

The beginning of a speech should grab your audience’s attention. It should give your audience a
reason to listen to you – otherwise they will fall asleep. An attention-grabbing introduction is
often called a “hook.” There are many different types of hooks, but here are a few common ones
that work well in MUN.

Question: Asking the audience a question is often an easy way to get their attention because it
prompts them to think of how they might respond.

Example: “Do you think it is possible for us to live in a world without poverty? The people of
my country think so. We believe we can achieve the end of poverty.”

Quote: Beginning with a quote is another easy way to gain attention because it prompts the
audience to think how they know it.

Example: “Fifty years ago, United States President John F. Kennedy said, ‘Ask not what
your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.’ Today, ask not what the
world can do for you, but what you can do for the world.”

Statistic: A statistic can grab an audience’s attention if it is surprising or genuinely interesting.

Example: “Over 1 billion people around the world live on less than US$1.25 a day. Over 1
billion people live in extreme poverty.”

Story: A story is the oldest form of communication and if told well, can certainly grab an
audience’s attention. But speeches in MUN are typically very short, so keep the story brief!

Example: “One year ago, in rural Pakistan, a girl was walking to school, minding her own
business, when a gunshot rang out – and she was shot in the head. The Taliban did not want
her to go to school – they did not want any girls to go to school. But that girl survived, and

Delegate Preparation Guide 29

 today she fights for girls’ right to education around the world. That girl’s name was Malala,
and today is her birthday – today is Malala Day.”

It is not simply enough to use a question, a quote, a statistic, or a story to begin the speech – it
must grab the audience’s attention.

Point

The point is the purpose of your speech. It is your main message. It is your answer to the prompt.
It is the reason why you’re speaking.

Once you have you audience’s attention, you should deliver your point. State it succinctly in one
sentence. MUN speeches are often short, so stick to one point. Make it significant but simple to
understand. It is better to say one thing well than many things poorly.

In opening speeches in MUN, the “point” is to state your country policy on the topic. Then offer
2-3 reasons explaining why your country had adopted this policy.

Example: “The Republic of Korea believes that education is a human right, and that all
people should have access to education.

Korea has a very strong education system, but some of the most well-educated students in the
world; we know the value of education.

So we believe that all countries and all people should have proper access to education. And
historically we have support many UN and NGO programs that provide education, especially
to those living in developing countries.”

Action

Good speeches end with a “call to action,” which is when you tell your audience to go and do
something. If you point was convincing, then your audience should be ready to do something
they would not have otherwise done before.

In opening speeches, a good call to action would be proposing one of your possible solutions.
You want to call the committee, the United Nations, and the international community to action
by adopting one of your possible solutions to the topic.

Example: “To provide universal access to education, Korea proposes the creation of an
international fund called ‘Education For All’ that will support 3 programs in developing
countries: building more schools, training new teachers, and preventing girls from dropping
out of school.

Delegate Preparation Guide 30

Korea calls upon the international community to create and donate to this fund. If you like
this idea, feel free to send us a note or meet us in the next unmoderated caucus to discuss this
further.”

Delegate Preparation Guide 31

Opening Speech Worksheet
Directions: Use the structure below to help you write an opening speech.

Hook

What can you say

to grab the
committee’s
attention? Try a
question, quote, or
statistic. Be
creative!

Point

What is your
country policy on
the topic? Give 2-3
reasons why your
country has adopted
this policy.

Action

Share 1 possible
solution to the
topic.

Delegate Preparation Guide 32

Example Speech
On July 12, 2013, Malala Yousafzai spoke at the United Nations on the right to education. The
following are excerpts from her speech that follow the Opening Speech format. Watch and read
the full speech here: http://bit.ly/malala2013

Annotation Speech Excerpt

Hook: Malala’s story of Dear Friends, on the 9th of October 2012, the Taliban shot me
being attacked by the on the left side of my forehead. They shot my friends too. They
Taliban – and surviving – thought that the bullets would silence us. But they failed. And
is a powerful hook. then, out of that silence came, thousands of voices.

The terrorists thought that they would change our aims and stop
our ambitions but nothing changed in my life except this:
weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and
courage was born. I am the same Malala. My ambitions are the
same. My hopes are the same. My dreams are the same.

Point: The purpose of Dear sisters and brothers, I am not against anyone. Neither am I
Malala’s speech is to here to speak in terms of personal revenge against the Taliban or
promote the right to any other terrorists group. I am here to speak up for the right of
education. She believes so education of every child.
strongly in the right to
education, she would want I want education for the sons and the daughters of all the
the children of her extremists especially the Taliban. I do not even hate the Talib
attackers to have an who shot me. Even if there is a gun in my hand and he stands in
education. front of me, I would not shoot him.

Action: Malala calls upon Dear sisters and brothers, now it's time to speak up. We call
world leaders and global upon the world leaders that all the peace deals must protect
citizens to “pick up their women and children's rights. We call upon all governments to
books and pens” – a ensure free compulsory education for every child all over the
metaphor for the right to world. We call upon the developed nations to support the
education. expansion of educational opportunities for girls in the
developing world.

So let us wage a global struggle against illiteracy, poverty and

terrorism and let us pick up our books and pens. They are our
most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one pen and one
book can change the world.

Delegate Preparation Guide 33

Delegate Preparation Guide 34
 Resolution Writing
The purpose of the United Nations is to solve global problems. Diplomats work together to
develop solutions to these problems. When they’ve agreed on these solutions, they write them
down into a written document called a resolution.

At the MUN conference, your goal is to help write a resolution. This means you need to share
your possible solutions with other delegates, listen to their possible solutions, decide what you
agree on, and write it all into a resolution. These resolutions will be voted on, and the goal of
every committee is to pass one or more resolutions.

Resolution writing is important not just because that’s what real UN diplomats do. Resolution
writing teaches you about negotiation, teamwork, and diplomacy. You need to listen to other
delegates; if they feel like you’re not really listening, they won’t work with you. You will have
to understand another perspective that is different than your own or the country you represent.
And you will have to decide what you agree on and disagree on, and turn that into a written
document that others can understand. Resolution writing lies at the heart of MUN.

But first, you need to learn how to write a resolution. Check out the sample resolution on the
next page and read “Basics of a Resolution” to understand what each part of the resolution
means. Then, you should practice writing a resolution with your teammates on a practice topic
like “Bullying.” (i.e. What should your school do to prevent bullying? As a team, write a
resolution about that topic.)

After you’ve understood the parts of a resolution and how to write one, the next chapter on
“Rules of Procedure” will explain when and how the actual resolution writing process takes
place during the conference. (Note: Keep in mind that procedure differs from conference to
conference.)

Important: Pre-written resolutions are not allowed at MUN conferences in the United
States. Meaning you cannot write a resolution on your assigned topic and bring that to the
conference. If you do so and are caught, you may be dismissed from the conference.

Delegate Preparation Guide 35

Sample Resolution

Committee: General Assembly 1 st Committee

Topic: Child Soldiers
Sponsors: China, Rwanda, Russia
Signatories: DR Congo, India, North Korea

RESOLUTION 1.1

The General Assembly,

Concerned that children are being recruited for military purposes,

Recognizing that the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration programmes (DDR) are too
rigid, unable to adapt to different situations of different soldiers,

Understanding that DDR programmes are costly and unaffordable for countries who are having
the issue of child soldiers,

Concerned for the safety of the people involved in carrying out DDR,

1. Endorses funding for the International Rescue Committee and NGOs to set up schools as
to give former child soldiers an education and equip them with different skills to direct
them away from a life of violence after conflict, including:
a. Elementary schools,
b. Middle schools,
c. High schools, and,
d. Colleges;

2. Calls upon countries to create military units specifically to directly rescue or counter the
use of child soldiers in their country by rebel militias;

3. Recommends the setting up of “rehabilitation villages” to collect all former child soldiers
and rehabilitate them, focusing on sustainability, holistic skill building, and education;

4. Reminds countries subscribing to these recommendations that rehabilitating every child

will depend on individual cases.

Delegate Preparation Guide 36

Basics of a Resolution
A resolution has three main parts: the heading, the preambulatory clauses, and the operative
clauses. We’ll break down the example above into these three parts below.

1. Heading

This is the heading section from the sample resolution:

Committee: General Assembly 1 st Committee

Topic: Child Soldiers
Sponsors: China, Rwanda, Russia
Signatories: DR Congo, India, North Korea

The heading contains four pieces of information:

 Committee: This is the name of your committee.
 Topic: This is the name of your topic.
 Sponsors: This is a list of the delegates (shown by the name of the countries they
represent) who participated in writing the resolution. These delegates are the strongest
supporters of the resolution. Your goal is to be a sponsor on a resolution.
 Signatories: This is a list of the delegates who want to see the resolution debated. They
do not necessarily support the resolution; they may be undecided. Signatories are
important because the rules of procedure require every resolution to have a specific
number of sponsors and signatories before being debated.

2. Pre-ambulatory Clauses

These are the perambulatory clauses from the sample resolution:

Concerned that children are being recruited for military purposes,

Recognizing that the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration programmes (DDR) are too
rigid, unable to adapt to different situations of different soldiers,

Understanding that DDR programmes are costly and unaffordable for countries who are having
the issue of child soldiers,

Concerned for the safety of the people involved in carrying out DDR,

Delegate Preparation Guide 37

The preambulatory clauses state all the issues that the committee wants to resolve on this issue. It
may state reasons why the committee is working on this issue and highlight previous
international actions on the issue. Pre-ambulatory clauses can include:
 Past UN resolutions, treaties, or conventions related to the topic,
 Past regional, non-governmental, or national efforts in resolving this topic,
 References to the UN Charter or other international frameworks and laws,
 Statements made by the Secretary-General or a relevant UN body or agency, and,
 General background info formation or facts about the topic, its significance, and its
impact.

To write a perambulatory clause, take a statement that you want to write about (perhaps an issue
you want to solve or a specific fact from one of the five bullet points above). You then take that
statement, combine it with an underlined preambulatory phrase, and end it with a comma.

Here are some example preambulatory phrases:

Affirming Expecting Keeping in mind

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

Delegate Preparation Guide 38

3. Operative Clauses

These are the operative clauses from the sample resolution:

1. Endorses funding for the International Rescue Committee and NGOs to set up schools as
to give former child soldiers an education and equip them with different skills to direct
them away from a life of violence after conflict, including:
a. Elementary schools,
b. Middle schools,
c. High schools, and,
d. Colleges;

2. Calls upon countries to create military units specifically to directly rescue or counter the
use of child soldiers in their country by rebel militias;

3. Recommends the setting up of “rehabilitation villages” to collect all former child soldiers
and rehabilitate them, focusing on sustainability, holistic skill building, and education;

4. Reminds countries subscribing to these recommendations that rehabilitating every child

will depend on individual cases.

Operative clauses state the solutions that the sponsors of the resolution propose to resolve the
issues. The operative clauses should address the issues specifically mentioned in the
preambulatory clauses above it.

To write an operative clause, take a solution that you want to include in the draft resolution. You
then take that solution, combine it with an underlined operative phrase, and end it with a
semicolon (the last operative clause ends with a period).

Operative clauses are also numbered. This differentiates them from preambulatory clauses, helps
show logical progression in the resolution, and makes the operative clauses easy to refer to in
speeches and comments.

Delegate Preparation Guide 39

Here are some example operative phrases:

Accepts Endorses Further requests

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

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Amendments
After all resolutions are submitted to the chair and presented in committee, amendments may be
then created so delegates can add, delete, or substitute ideas on other countries’ resolutions.

A friendly amendment is a change to the draft resolution that all sponsors agree with. After the
amendment is signed by all of the draft resolution’s sponsors and approved by the committee
chair, it will be automatically incorporated into the resolution.

An unfriendly amendment is a change that some or all of the draft resolution’s sponsors do not
support and must be voted upon by the committee. This also refers to delegates who did not write
this resolution at all but see potential in it as long as several changes are made to it. The sponsors
of the amendment will need to obtain a required number of signatories in order to introduce it.
Prior to voting on the draft resolution, the committee votes on all unfriendly amendments.

Writing an amendment is very simple. All you have to do is make an operative clause that adds,
deletes, or changes an operative clause in a draft resolution.

Examples include:

Adds an operative clause that reads “14. Encourages all Latin American countries to…”

Deletes operative clause 9.

Changes operative clause 1 to read “1. Calls upon the Red Cross to provide low-cost
medicines…”

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Resolution Writing Worksheet
As a team, use these worksheets to learn how to practice writing a resolution on the topic of
“Bullying.”

Preambulatory Clauses

Directions: In the space below, describe a problem you want to address.

Example: Thousands of children around the world are at risk of being bullied.

Directions: Use the Preambulatory Phrases below to transform your statement above into a
preambulatory clause.

Example: Alarmed that thousands of children around the world are at risk of
being bullied.

Affirming Desiring Having examined

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

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Seeking Taking into consideration Viewing with appreciation
Taking into account Taking note Welcoming

Operative Clauses

Directions: In the space below, suggest a solution to the problem you described on the previous
page.

Example: Schools should offer programs that educate its students about bullying

Directions: Use the phrases below to transform your statement above into an operative clause.

Example: Calls upon schools to offer anti-bullying programs;

Accepts Emphasizes Further invites

Affirms Encourages Further proclaims
Approves Endorses Further reminds
Authorizes Expresses its appreciation Further recommends
Calls Expresses its hope Further requests
Calls upon Further invites Further resolves
Condemns Deplores Has resolved
Confirms Designates Notes
Congratulates Draws the attention Proclaims
Considers Emphasizes Reaffirms
Declares accordingly Encourages Recommends
Deplores Endorses Regrets
Designates Expresses its appreciation Reminds
Draws the attention Expresses its hope Requests

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Solemnly affirms Supports Transmits
Strongly condemns Takes note of Trusts

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Group Resolution

Directions: Find other delegates and combine your preambulatory and operative clauses into a
resolution.

Committee:
Topic:
Sponsors:
Signatories:

The General Assembly,

(Preambulatory Clauses)

(Operative Clauses)

Delegate Preparation Guide 45

Example Resolution

How does the resolution you wrote compare to the resolution below?

Committee: General Assembly

Topic: Bullying
Sponsors: Qatar, Republic of Korea
Signatories: Honduras, India, Japan, United States of America

The General Assembly,

Recognizing that bullying is a prevalent issue in the world today,

Aware that education is one of the most effective ways of preventing bullying,

Noting that the influence of mass media is very useful in the implication of a anti bullying
program,

Recognizing that bullying issues have resulted from a lack of education in both school teachers,
bullies, and victims,

Alarmed that millions of children around the world face bullying every day at school and online,

1. Calls upon schools to offer bullying prevention programs that educate its students about
how to prevent all forms of bullying, including cyberbullying;

2. Emphasizes that the goal of bullying prevention programs is to educate students about
what bullying is and how to stop it;

3. Invites every school around the world to implement bullying prevention programs that
involve students of every grade level;

4. Encourages teachers, principals, and parents to be responsible for implementing bullying

prevention programs;

5. Recommends that bullying prevention programs take place on school campuses during
student assemblies at least once a month during the school year;

6. Calls upon national governments and foundations to contribute, on a voluntary basis, to a

global fund that supports bullying prevention programs around the world.

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