Position Paper 101
Your position paper states your countries stance on the issue's in your committee. Position papers are mandatory for ShawMUN, and if you do not submit one, you will not be eligible for awards. Your position paper should be a maximum of one page, unless otherwise specified by your committee director.
Step 1: Divide your research into 3 categories: The issue and its implications, what your country has done about the problem, and what your country wants to see on a resolution.
Step 2: Your first paragraph will be on the issue and how it has affected your country. Introduce the issue and then become more specific to how it has affected your region.
Step 3: Your second paragraph will be on what your country has done to solve the issue of your committee. These can be international efforts- (such as providing aid to developing nations) or what you nation has done within its boarders
Step 4: Your third paragraph is where you suggest solution to the problem. This is basically a summary of what your country wants to see on a resolution. You must justify this position.
Step 5: Make sure you cite any sources using the MLA format. You can use intext citations or
Here is an example position paper:
Position Paper for the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/Aids
Colombia recognizes the impact HIV/AIDS globally, which has resulted in the deaths of 25 million people, with the infection of 60 million people and orphaning 16 million children worldwide (UNAIDS, 2010).The pandemic has impacted more people in the world than any war, and poses challenges to the stability of developing nations. Though progress has been made, evident from the 25 percent drop in rate of infection worldwide between 2001 and 2009 (AIDS at 30: Nations at a Crossroad, 2011), more work needs to be done, especially in developing nations. Colombia is affected by HIV/AIDS in the most vulnerable groups; particularly alarming is the high rate of infection in females and young adults (2011 high level meeting on AIDS, 2011). Colombia’s rate of death as a result of HIV/AIDS is twentieth internationally, and is indicated as thirty fifth worldwide for the number of people living with HIV/AIDS (CIA World Fact Book: Republic of Colombia, 2011). The pandemic continues to be a pressing issue, and Colombia plans to combat it through prevention and treatment as well as providing care and support to victims. However, Colombia will only be able to realize the Millennium Goal for 2015 if it receives sufficient funds from the international community and Nongovernmental Organizations (Security Council press release, 2011).
To reach the Millennium Goal for HIV/AIDS, Colombia continues to combat the virus using prevention, treatment, care and support. Since more than 50 percent of the people living with HIV/AIDS in Colombia are women, Colombia has adopted gender equality and empowerment strategies, as it is shown that the empowerment of women allows them to make the appropriate choices to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS Strategy 2011-2015, 2011). To reduce the risk of young adults contacting the virus, Colombia has improved access to sexual and reproductive health education, as well as promoting contraceptive use (MDG 6: Six Things You Need To Know About The AIDS Response Today, 2010). As blood contamination is another factor in the spread of HIV/AIDS, Colombia has implemented blood safety programs ¾ currently 99.9 percent of blood transfusions in Colombia have been tested to the standards of the World Health Organization. While 95 percent of Colombia has access to HIV testing, currently only 12 000 adults are receiving Anti Retroviral Therapy (Epidemiological Fact Sheet on HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections, Colombia, 2004). More work needs to be done as 26 000 people are in need of treatment. Colombia is a signatory of the US Free Trade Agreement; therefore it complies with the Trade Related Aspects to Intellectual Property Rights, or TRIPS, and will not produce generic antiretroviral treatments (Intellectual Property Rights in the US-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, 2011). However Colombia still wishes to provide universal antiretroviral treatment and can only do so with the support of new, sustainable funding sources. The most important aspect of combating HIV/AIDS is providing care and support for those at risk groups who have a high probability of contracting the disease. Therefore Colombia has implemented inclusive policies so that at risk groups such as homosexual men and sex workers have increased access to prevention, treatment, as well as care and support for HIV/AIDS.
The Government of Colombia has set more demanding goals for reducing HIV prevalence but faces urgency to secure the necessary resources to maintain positive trends. Colombia is concerned with the shortfall predicted by UNAIDS over the next few years (Security Council Press Release, 2011). To meet the demands of the Millennium Goal and reverse the effects of HIV/AIDS, funding will have to continue as progress is being made. Colombia will continue to fight the pandemic by following through with methods of prevention, treatment and support for victims. Education for young adults is critical to prevent the spread of the virus, and along with members of high risk groups must be educated about HIV/AIDS so that they can make positive choices and prevent the spread of the virus. HIV prevalence is higher among women, and Colombia aims to promote gender equality as it is essential to fighting the disease. The empowerment of women will reduce their vulnerability and allow them to make positive choices. Treatment, especially antiretroviral treatment, is necessary to improving the quality of life for those suffering with AIDS, but as these drugs are protected by patents they are too expensive to provide universally. Only thirty percent of the population of Colombia suffering from HIV/AIDS has access to antiretroviral therapy, and to provide treatment to the remaining population, Colombia will need the assistance of first world countries. HIV/AIDS is unique in the longevity of the virus, so measures must be taken to care for and support people suffering from the virus, and others whom it affects. Protecting the rights of victims will enhance the fight against HIV/AIDS while stigma and discrimination against those suffering with HIV/AIDS will only hinder the treatment of the disease (International Guidelines on HIV and Human Rights, 2006). With these goals and further funding Colombia will continue to strive to reverse the effect of HIV/AIDS by 2015.
Step 2: Your first paragraph will be on the issue and how it has affected your country. Introduce the issue and then become more specific to how it has affected your region.
Step 3: Your second paragraph will be on what your country has done to solve the issue of your committee. These can be international efforts- (such as providing aid to developing nations) or what you nation has done within its boarders
Step 4: Your third paragraph is where you suggest solution to the problem. This is basically a summary of what your country wants to see on a resolution. You must justify this position.
Step 5: Make sure you cite any sources using the MLA format. You can use intext citations or
Here is an example position paper:
Position Paper for the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/Aids
Colombia recognizes the impact HIV/AIDS globally, which has resulted in the deaths of 25 million people, with the infection of 60 million people and orphaning 16 million children worldwide (UNAIDS, 2010).The pandemic has impacted more people in the world than any war, and poses challenges to the stability of developing nations. Though progress has been made, evident from the 25 percent drop in rate of infection worldwide between 2001 and 2009 (AIDS at 30: Nations at a Crossroad, 2011), more work needs to be done, especially in developing nations. Colombia is affected by HIV/AIDS in the most vulnerable groups; particularly alarming is the high rate of infection in females and young adults (2011 high level meeting on AIDS, 2011). Colombia’s rate of death as a result of HIV/AIDS is twentieth internationally, and is indicated as thirty fifth worldwide for the number of people living with HIV/AIDS (CIA World Fact Book: Republic of Colombia, 2011). The pandemic continues to be a pressing issue, and Colombia plans to combat it through prevention and treatment as well as providing care and support to victims. However, Colombia will only be able to realize the Millennium Goal for 2015 if it receives sufficient funds from the international community and Nongovernmental Organizations (Security Council press release, 2011).
To reach the Millennium Goal for HIV/AIDS, Colombia continues to combat the virus using prevention, treatment, care and support. Since more than 50 percent of the people living with HIV/AIDS in Colombia are women, Colombia has adopted gender equality and empowerment strategies, as it is shown that the empowerment of women allows them to make the appropriate choices to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS Strategy 2011-2015, 2011). To reduce the risk of young adults contacting the virus, Colombia has improved access to sexual and reproductive health education, as well as promoting contraceptive use (MDG 6: Six Things You Need To Know About The AIDS Response Today, 2010). As blood contamination is another factor in the spread of HIV/AIDS, Colombia has implemented blood safety programs ¾ currently 99.9 percent of blood transfusions in Colombia have been tested to the standards of the World Health Organization. While 95 percent of Colombia has access to HIV testing, currently only 12 000 adults are receiving Anti Retroviral Therapy (Epidemiological Fact Sheet on HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections, Colombia, 2004). More work needs to be done as 26 000 people are in need of treatment. Colombia is a signatory of the US Free Trade Agreement; therefore it complies with the Trade Related Aspects to Intellectual Property Rights, or TRIPS, and will not produce generic antiretroviral treatments (Intellectual Property Rights in the US-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, 2011). However Colombia still wishes to provide universal antiretroviral treatment and can only do so with the support of new, sustainable funding sources. The most important aspect of combating HIV/AIDS is providing care and support for those at risk groups who have a high probability of contracting the disease. Therefore Colombia has implemented inclusive policies so that at risk groups such as homosexual men and sex workers have increased access to prevention, treatment, as well as care and support for HIV/AIDS.
The Government of Colombia has set more demanding goals for reducing HIV prevalence but faces urgency to secure the necessary resources to maintain positive trends. Colombia is concerned with the shortfall predicted by UNAIDS over the next few years (Security Council Press Release, 2011). To meet the demands of the Millennium Goal and reverse the effects of HIV/AIDS, funding will have to continue as progress is being made. Colombia will continue to fight the pandemic by following through with methods of prevention, treatment and support for victims. Education for young adults is critical to prevent the spread of the virus, and along with members of high risk groups must be educated about HIV/AIDS so that they can make positive choices and prevent the spread of the virus. HIV prevalence is higher among women, and Colombia aims to promote gender equality as it is essential to fighting the disease. The empowerment of women will reduce their vulnerability and allow them to make positive choices. Treatment, especially antiretroviral treatment, is necessary to improving the quality of life for those suffering with AIDS, but as these drugs are protected by patents they are too expensive to provide universally. Only thirty percent of the population of Colombia suffering from HIV/AIDS has access to antiretroviral therapy, and to provide treatment to the remaining population, Colombia will need the assistance of first world countries. HIV/AIDS is unique in the longevity of the virus, so measures must be taken to care for and support people suffering from the virus, and others whom it affects. Protecting the rights of victims will enhance the fight against HIV/AIDS while stigma and discrimination against those suffering with HIV/AIDS will only hinder the treatment of the disease (International Guidelines on HIV and Human Rights, 2006). With these goals and further funding Colombia will continue to strive to reverse the effect of HIV/AIDS by 2015.