position paper and draft resolutions guide
position paper and draft resolutions guide
NATIONS
POSITION PAPER AND
DRAFT RESOLUTION GUIDE
POSITION PAPER
A position paper is a written essay that shows a country’s
stand on the topic being discussed in a committee. It helps
one organize ideas so that you share your country’s
position with the rest of the committee. One has to look at
the background guide first in order to get acquainted with
the topic that being discussed.
A position paper is not meant to be conclusive and it is
plausible to assume that a delegate will go on researching
after presenting it to the dais. It is crucial to describe your
nation's standing in the conference.
[1] ‘Stop being selfish’: Africans decry ‘vaccine apartheid’ | Coronavirus pandemic
News | Al Jazeera accessed 8th March 2022
[2] THE 17 GOALS | Sustainable Development (un.org) accessed 8th March 2022
On 23rd September 2021, His Excellency Cyril
Ramaphosa-President of the Republic of S. Africa, during
the Plenary 76th General Assembly Session of the United
Nations, articulated that the world had failed to exercise
vaccine equity in the disbursement of Covid-19 vaccines.
He noted poignantly that while 82% of the manufactured
vaccines had been purchased by rich countries, in low
income countries less than 1% had been delivered. Apart
from that, he urged other countries to support the bid to
non-permanently abdicate Intellectual Property rights over
the vaccines in order to promote increased production that
would boost vaccination efforts in other countries.[3] This
was highlighted in its joint proposal with India to the
World Trade Organization.
Under the stewardship of S. Africa, the African Union
established the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT)
with the aim of amalgamating the acquistion of vaccines
for the continent.
Through this platform, Ethiopia received 108,000 doses of
Johnson & Johnson vaccine on 6th September 2021.[4]
In an attempt to remedy the situation, the WHO and the
government of S. Africa, in collaboration with Afrigen- a
biotech company in Cape Town commenced the
[3] Decrying Covid-19 Vaccine Inequity, Speakers in General Assembly Call for Rich
Nations to Share Surplus Doses, Patent Waivers Allowing Production in Low-Income
Countries | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases accessed 5th March 2022
[4]Ethiopia: African Vaccine Acquisition Trust Delivers 108,000 Doses of Covid-19
Vaccine to Ethiopia https://allafrica.com/ accessed 8th March 2022
establishment of Africa’s maiden mRNA vaccine
development center in August 2021. [5]
In an effort to advocate for vaccine equity, international
support is crucial. For instance: S. Africa and India’s
proposal to have Intellectual Property rights waived has
faced strong opposition in the form of blocking from the
European Union and the United Kingdom.
Authentication and registration of new mRNA vaccine
development centres under the auspices of WHO would be
necessary in order to facilitate rigorous, fair and timely
approval processes for future vaccines. This would enhance
safety and build trust among people in the use of the
vaccines.
After completion of vaccine development and validation
processes, aggressive albeit ethical and effective marketing
and advertising would be required-particularly for
relatively new vaccine creation centres to create awareness
about the new health products available in the medical field
as well as publicity for the new manufacturing institutions.
With a view to endorse Universal Health Coverage,
countries that lag behind in this regard-individually or
through their blocs, could benchmark in other countries
that have successfully adopted and harmonised their
healthcare systems for the same purpose. For example: S.
Africa could benchmark in China to further strengthen our
Universal Healthcare System.
PREAMBULATORY CLAUSES
The preamble of a draft resolution states the reasons for
which the committee is addressing the topic and highlights
past international action on the issue. Each clause begins
with a present participle (called a preambulatory phrase)
and ends with a comma.
Preambulatory clauses can include:
1. References to the UN Charter.
2. Citations of past UN resolutions or treaties on the topic
under discussion.
3. Mentions of statements made by the Secretary4.
4. General or a relevant UN body or agency.
Recognition of the efforts of regional or
nongovernmental organizations in dealing with the
issue.
5. General statements on the topic, its significance and its
impact.
SAMPLE PREAMBULATORY CLAUSES
Affirming
Expecting
Alarmed by
Further deploring
Approving
Further recalling
Bearing in mind
Guided by
Believing
Having adopted
Confident
Having considered
Contemplating
Having examined
Convinced
Having received
Declaring
Keeping in mind
Deeply concerned
Noting with deep concern
Deeply conscious
Nothing with satisfaction
Deeply convinced
Noting further
Deeply Disturbed
Observing
Deeply Regretting
Reaffirming
Desiring
Realizing
Emphasizing
Recalling
Expecting
Recognizing
Emphasizing
Referring
Expecting
Seeking
Expressing its appreciation
Taking into consideration
Fulfilling
Taking note
Fully aware
Viewing with appreciation
Emphasizing
Welcoming
OPERATIVE CLAUSES
Operative clauses offer solutions to issues addressed earlier
in a resolution through the perambulatory section. These
clauses are action oriented and should include both an
underlined verb at the beginning of your sentence
followed by the proposed solution.
Each clause should follow the following principals:
1. The clause should be numbered.
2. Each clause should support one another and continue
to build your solution.
3. Add details to your clauses in order to have a complete
solution.
4. Operative clauses are punctuated by a semicolon, with
the exception of your last operative clause which
should end with a period.
SAMPLE OPERATIVE CLAUSES
Encourages
Accepts Endorses
Affirms Expresses its appreciation
Approves Expresses its hope
Authorizes
Further invites
Calls
Calls upon
Further proclaims
Condemns Further reminds
Confirms Further recommends
Congratulates Further requests
Considers Further resolves
Declares accordingly Has resolved
Deplores
Notes
Designates
Proclaims
Draws the attention
Emphasizes Reaffirms
Encourages Recommends
Endorses Regrets
Expresses its appreciation Reminds
Expresses its hope Requests
Further invites
Solemnly affirms
Deplores
Strongly condemns
Designates
Draws the attention Supports
Emphasizes Takes note of
Transmits
Trust
SAMPLE DRAFT RESOLUTION
General Assembly Third Committee
Sponsors: Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua
and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh,
Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia (Plurinational State of),
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi,
Cabo Verde, Canada, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros,
Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti,
Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji,
Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,
Grenada, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary and Iceland.
Co-sponsors: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria,
Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei
Darussalam, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic,
China, Congo, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic,
Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau,
Haiti, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Israel, Italy, Kiribati,
Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mongolia,
Mozambique.
Noting with great concern the threat to human health, safety and
well-being caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-
19) pandemic, which continues to spread globally,
Recognizing the unprecedented effects of the pandemic,
including the severe disruption to societies and economies,
as well as to global travel and commerce, and the
devastating impact on the livelihood of people,