Position Paper Guidelines at YMUN Korea 2023
Position Paper Submission Form Linked At Bottom of Page
Deadline to receive feedback: October 18th, 2023 11:59pm EST
Delegates attending YMUN Korea 2023 must write a position paper for each of their committee’s topics. Position papers give delegates a space to prepare their stance and refine their perspective. At the same time, it allows the Dais to see how delegates approach the problem (and provide feedback by October 27th, 11:59pm EST).
While most committees have two topics — which require one position paper each — both of the Crisis Committees this year have only one topic; so only one position paper will be required.
Each position paper for each topic should be a maximum of one page, except for the Crisis Committees, which are allowed up to two pages since they only have one topic. Regardless, the total amount content written should be no more than two pages (note that this limit does not include the heading or citation). All delegates must submit a position paper on time to be eligible for a committee award at Yale MUN Korea 2023.
| Committee Name | Director | Number of Position Papers Required |
|---|---|---|
| IOM | Hanil Chang | 2 Position Papers (1 Per Topic) |
| CHS | Iris Zhao | 2 Position Papers (1 Per Topic) |
| DISEC | David Min | 2 Position Papers (1 Per Topic) |
| UNODC | Elaine Cheng | 2 Position Papers (1 Per Topic) |
| UNHCR | Sophia McManus | 2 Position Papers (1 Per Topic) |
| Meiji Restoration | Clarissa Tan | 2 Position Papers (1 Per Topic) |
| The Cabinet of Guatemala | Seung Min Baik | 1 Position Paper |
| UNCSTD | Ishan Narra | 2 Position Papers (1 Per Topic) |
| Designated Survivor | Mark Chung | 2 Position Papers (1 Per Topic) |
| The Reunification of Korea | Way Lee | 1 Position Paper |
| Required Information | Required Formatting |
|---|---|
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Format guidelines
All position papers should follow the format guidelines described by the table.
Content Guidelines:
As you write the position paper, please make sure to cover three separate parts: (1) Overview of the Problem, (2) Country’s History with the Topic and Current Position, and (3) Proposed Solutions.
Note: You do not need to write each section title over the paragraph.
Overview of the Problem (1/4 Page)
What is the major issue at hand?
Who is affected by the issue?
Why does the issue persist?
Who are the major actors/countries/people/organizations involved in this issue?
What has the international community and/or the United Nations done to address the issue in the past?
Country’s History with the Topic and Current Position (1/4 Page)
What is the history of this issue in your country?
How are people in your country affected by this issue?
What has the country’s government done to address the issue in the past and present?
How does your country’s government currently feel about this issue?
Proposed Solutions (1/2 Page)
What barriers need to be overcome to solve this problem?
What solutions does your country believe are important to address this issue?
What should the international community do to solve this problem? What actions should this committee take to address the problem?
What specific ideas and implementations (technology, organizations, funding sources, etc.) can be used to solve this problem?
These are general guidelines for the content under each section. Some of you won’t be able to answer all of these points, but you should try to cover most of them. Additionally, the length of each section may vary from delegate to delegate, but it should roughly be the amount provided above. If there is any extra (relevant) information you would like to add (which you think would enhance your position paper), feel free to add it.
Note:
At the end you should include a bibliography with sources used for the position paper. This bibliography does not count toward your one page limit.
You are recommended to use MLA citation, but you will not be penalized for using a different standardized citation method so long as you consistently and correctly apply it.
Delegates in UN committees should refer to their Country title instead of saying “I” or “we.”
Remember to be specific, providing evidence demonstrating the claims you make and supporting statements with credible data.
EXAMPle POSITION PAPER
Delegate Name: (First Name) (Last Name)
Country: The Republic of Iraq
Committee: United Nations Development Programme
Topic 1: Increasing Access to Early Childhood Education
The quality of a child's education, particularly during early childhood when their synapses rapidly develop, has a profound impact on their future. Therefore, it is the responsibility of individual governments to ensure that all children within their nation have access to high-quality learning facilities and resources. Unfortunately, reality falls short of this ideal. According to UNICEF, the majority of countries or areas have less than 50 percent of children attending early childhood education programs. Moreover, this problem disproportionately affects the most underprivileged children across nations — poverty stands as the primary cause of these challenges with children living in poverty being forced to work from a young age to survive, leaving them unable to attend school or participate in educational programs. Furthermore, areas plagued by conflict or civil unrest present insurmountable obstacles for children seeking education.
Iraq faces significant challenges in ensuring the participation of children in early education programs. According to the World Bank, only 3% of children between the ages of 3 and 4 have access to any form of Early Childhood Care and Education, and even fewer have opportunities for childhood development activities. On the contrary, a distressing one in ten children is engaged in child labor as early as the age of 5, highlighting the harsh realities faced by Iraqi children. The lack of early childhood education in Iraq can largely be attributed to the impact of war and terrorism on the country. Prolonged conflicts have forced many Iraqis to flee their homes, leaving behind gaps in vital infrastructure and facilities, including educational institutions. The absence of a well-established and effective education policy or system in many areas has only made education access harder for future generations.
To remedy such issues domestically and abroad, the Iraqi government proposes two main solutions: Firstly, stronger regulations need to be put in place to address workplace practices, particularly with regard to child labor. While completely eradicating illegal child labor may be challenging, it is possible to exert pressure on workplaces and their owners to enforce regulations that protect children's rights. Particularly, a joint commitment to stronger enforcement of labor regulations would push children that would otherwise be working back into the classroom. Secondly, We must implement a collaboration between the governments and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) focused on developing and implementing appropriate curricula for early age education. The Republic of Iraq believes that said curricula must be tailored to the specific regional characteristics and needs of the children in different areas. For instance, in many developing nations, practical knowledge regarding sanitation or survival skills can be more beneficial than solely focusing on academic advancement. In order to achieve this, we will need strict systems through which local governments can work in tandem with NGOs. But if achieved, we will have taken a vital step toward creating a more promising future for all children, including those in Iraq and beyond.
Crisis/ Specialized Committees:
Since delegates will be given the role of a character – rather than a county – for our Crisis and Specialized Committees, the position paper will look slightly different. To begin, your character’s name should be placed next to the Committee title (with a comma separating the two):
Delegate Name: (First Name) (Last Name)
Committee: German Reunification, West German Minister of Finance Theo Waigel
Note that this sample committee only has one Topic, so the “Topic” section is omitted
The paper should be written from your character's perspective and include these three sections:
Overview of the Problem
Character’s Background/Expertise in Topic and their Perspective/Position
Proposed Solution
While the first and final section are quite similar to when you are representing a country, the second section is a bit different. You must draw on your character’s personal background with the topic and expertise they may have based on their role. In our example, it makes sense that a delegate representing the Minister of Finance would have a lot to say about economic policy and coordination in his position paper:
“We must implement targeted policies and initiatives that foster economic growth in the eastern regions. By providing financial incentives, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, and facilitating collaboration between public and private sectors, we can stimulate economic activity and promote balanced development across the country.”
Here you are able to show off the research you have done on the person you are representing/the position your character has (for people given fictitious characters). Feel free to explicitly state your area of authority at the beginning of this paragraph if you would like to. You may also talk about goals, objectives, or hopes of your character with regard to the topic at hand. Since you are giving your own perspective rather than providing an entire’s country’s stance you may find yourself using the word “I” more than you would otherwise:
As the Minister of Finance of Germany…
I believe that…
I do not think that…
I find this to be…
However, remember to clearly distinguish the beliefs of your character from facts being used to bolster your position. Ultimately, your goal is to be realistic but creative as you draft your position papers. So if your character does not already have a clearly defined position on a topic, you must extrapolate what their perspective would be given the information you have. A great position paper provides relevant information on the topic before then presenting a position that follows from the information stated and a creative solution that is consistent with that perspective (and well-tailored to the goals/objectives of your character).
SUBMISSION guidelines
Deadline: The deadline for position papers is October 18, 11:59PM EST. To be eligible for the Best Position Paper award, delegates must submit their papers by this deadline.
To be eligible for any in-committee awards, delegates must submit this form prior to the start of the conference.
Submit position papers at the form linked. The form will contain more instructions, but please submit both position papers (if you have two) under ONE file! If you have any issues with the form, don't hesitate to get in touch with ymunkorea.dg.comms@yira.org
Those who submit will receive feedback on their position papers by October 27th, 11:59pm EST
Note: Plagiarism or any form of outside assistance (including, but not limited to, someone else writing any part of your position paper or receiving assistance from artificial intelligence software) is strictly prohibited. Position Papers found in violation of this rule will be ineligible for feedback and the offending delegate will similarly be ineligible for an award.
Happy researching—we look forward to receiving your papers!
Please contact our Director-General of Committees Jessica Nyiam at ymunkorea.dg.comms@yira.org or the USG of Committees Way Lee at ymunkorea.committees@yira.org with any further questions regarding position papers.