How to write a Working Paper?

Working Papers are resolutions written by individual delegates. During the lobby session, you collaborate with delegates to merge your Working Papers into Draft Resolutions. 

Step 1: Brainstorming

• Choose one of the three issues for your Draft Resolution.

  • What problem do we want to solve? 

  • Why is this a problem?

  • What facts and statistics prove this is a problem? 

  • Where did this problem come from? (Historic events)

  • What United Nations treaty addresses this problem? (e.g. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, or the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide)

  • How has the United Nations already tried to tackle this problem? (Resolutions and other agreements)

  • What could we do about this problem? Use the proposals from your position papers to come up with solutions.

Step 2: Writing

Use the Resolution Template and Sample resolution with guidance as a guide

Preamble (at least 5 preambulatory clauses)

• • Express your concern, state why this problem is important, provide facts and statistics, give background information about the history of the problem. 

  • Highlight previous UN resolutions, treaties, agreements and efforts to solve the problem.

  • Use the correct Preambulatory Phrases (Expresses Concern, Recalling the UN treaty of) - italicized, no repetition.

Example: Recognizing the ongoing territorial disputes in Kashmir and the increasing nuclear tensions in South Asia as threats to regional stability and international security,

Operative clauses (at least 5 clauses)

• • Propose clear, practical solutions with assigned responsibilities.

  • Ensure realistic, specific actions (e.g., advising states, funding programs, creating committees).

  • Respect national sovereignty - Don’t impose solutions on countries that don’t consent to them. 

  • Use sub(-sub) clauses to add clarity and detail to the operative clauses—a minimum of three subclauses. 

  • Use the correct Operative Phrases (Recommends, Urges, Encourages) underlined; don’t repeat phrases.