Delegate Material

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Training Session 2
GC LAU MUN
High School

2023 | 2024
 19th GC LAU Model United Nations
Training Session II High School Delegate Material: Working
Paper, Draft Resolution, Amendments, Emotional Intelligence,
Critical Thinking, Position Papers, Public Speaking, Speech
Writing, and Negotiation
Learning Objectives
After this Training Session, delegates will be able to:
➔ Understand the structure and content of the working paper and the draft
resolution.
➔ Define an amendment and explain how it should be presented.
➔ Use the tips needed to foster critical thinking and emotional intelligence.
➔ Optimize their research process to formulate pragmatic resolutions.
➔ Understand the structure and content of a position paper.
➔ Practice public speaking and speech writing.
➔ Identify diverse negotiation tactics and recognize the appropriate ones to
use in a Model United Nations conference.
➔ Grasp the shortcomings of modern peacekeeping and how they can be

Working Papers and Draft Resolutions

The goal of the final conference is for each committee to come up with a
resolution addressing the issue at hand that most of the committee agrees
with. Before the voting process, the document passes through two stages which
are the working paper (first stage) and the draft resolution (second stage).
Once passed, the proposed resolution becomes the official document adopted
by the committee as the most suitable solution to the discussed issue.
The Working Paper
Once all the aspects and details of the topic have been covered in the speakers’
list, moderated caucuses, and consultations of the whole, delegates convene in
the unmoderated caucus to start writing the working paper.
The working paper resembles a “scratch paper” or a “draft of the draft
resolution” in which delegates list their ideas in bullet points without following
any specific format. This allows the delegates to include any charts, graphics,
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or other visual aids to further explain and clarify their proposed resolution
ideas. For example, if the committee is tackling a territorial dispute, delegates
could include maps showing borders and demarcation lines to explain their
proposals.
For any working paper to be considered by the committee, it requires a
minimum of 20% of the quorum to be signatories. A signatory either agrees
with the suggested solutions, participated in writing the ideas, or simply would
like to see the working paper discussed even if they do not entirely approve of
the ideas. This is why a delegate may be a signatory to multiple working
papers, and they can criticize a working paper or draft resolution they were
signatories to - because being a signatory just means one would like to see the
draft resolution being debated.
The working papers are usually finalized on day 1 of the conference and have
to be submitted by a certain deadline set by the dais. After the submission, the
dais members go over the working papers providing comments, critique, and
advice to the delegates to enhance their work. The dais members might suggest
the merger of 2 or more blocs if the ideas and stances are similar. It could also
serve as a good initiative to have representatives from the blocs approach other
blocs to check for any similarities and negotiate the possibility of merging
blocs depending on the resolutions in the working paper.
Sample Working Paper
Signatories: Algeria, China, Egypt, South Africa, Tunisia, United Arab
Emirates.
Suggested solutions
1. Urge all UNFCCC member states to completely phase out coal usage by
drafting a new agreement in collaboration with the United Nations
Environment Programme
2. Appeal for cooperation between developed and developing countries to
ensure a smooth transition to renewable energy
3. Explore a possible increase in nuclear energy usage by drafting an
updated IAEA Framework that would:
a. produce reports allowing for a better understanding of the
nuclear energy industry in nuclear nations

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 b. develop guidelines for appropriate nuclear energy usage.

The Draft Resolution

After the working papers are submitted and the dais members have added their
comments/suggestions, each bloc will have to develop their working paper into
a draft resolution.
A committee can have either one draft resolution or multiple depending mainly
on the size but it can also be affected by the nature of the topic. For example, if
the committee is discussing the war in Ukraine, there will be 2 or more blocs
regardless of the number of delegates as the issue is highly polarizing. Even if
multiple draft resolutions are debated, the committee will only adopt one draft
resolution at the end, turning it into a resolution.
To gain the dais members’ approval and begin referring to the document as a
draft resolution, a certain format must ensue. It consists of a heading,
preambulatory clauses, and operative clauses.
The Heading
The Heading identifies the draft resolution; it includes the committee, the topic,
the number, the signatories, and the sponsors.
● Number: Every draft resolution is designated by a certain number. The
draft resolution that is submitted first is numbered 1.1, the second 1.2,
and so on. Delegates do not have to worry about numbering drafts as it
is the duty of the dais members. Example: UNIDO/DR/1.1
● Name of Committee: The full official name of the committee is written
and not the acronym. Example: The United Nations Industrial
Development Organization and not UNIDO.
● Name of Topic: The full name of the topic as it is written in the
background guide.
● Sponsors: The sponsors are the delegates who contributed the most to
writing the draft resolutions by providing the most resolutions and ideas.
The word sponsor in this context does not correlate to economic
strength or the ability to fund or implement the resolutions. The number
of sponsors is determined by the dais members according to the size of
the committee/blocs.

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 ● Signatories:
○ At least 20% of the quorum.

○ Want to see the draft resolution introduced and debated - they do

not necessarily support it.
○ Sponsors do not count as part of the 20%.

○ A country can be a signatory to multiple draft resolutions.

Sample Heading
DR/UNEP/1.3
Committee: United Nations Environment Programme
Topic: The Failures and Implications of COP26 and the Paris Agreement
Sponsors: Indonesia, Nigeria
Signatories: Algeria, Cameroon, China, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mali, Morocco,
Qatar, Republic of Korea, South Africa, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates

Preambulatory Clauses
The preambulatory clauses essentially highlight the reason behind writing the
draft resolution by recognizing the problem, providing references to past
international treaties/actions, and any relevant supporting events.
The preambulatory clauses follow a specific format:
1. Sentences start with a present participle verb (with some exceptions
listed in the sample list below),
2. Each clause is written on an individual line, and
3. Clauses are separated by commas.
The preambulatory clauses are preceded by “The [Name of the Committee],”.
For instance, “The United Nations Environment Programme,”
Types of Preambulatory Clauses
● Previous UN resolutions: Noting the provisions of resolution 1325 of the
United Nations Security Council on Women, Peace, and Security,

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 ● Previous UN actions: Acknowledging the commitment to the Convention
on the Law of the Sea which established the basis of marine territorial
demarcation,
● Statements made by State/UN officials: Recalling IMF director Christine
Lagarde’s statements on cryptocurrencies in which she encourages the
relevant parties to embrace digital currencies in addition to highlighting
the impact of digital assets on the system,
● Statistics, facts, and figures: Bearing in mind that more than 300,000
people are experiencing catastrophic famine conditions with mortality
rates reaching 100 people per day,

Sample Preambulatory Clauses

The United Nations Environment Programme,
Acknowledging the importance of the Paris Agreement in order to reduce
Greenhouse Gas emissions and carbon emissions and achieving net zero
emissions by 2025,
Recognizing the publications of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) that assesses human contribution to climate change and
future projections,
Taking into consideration the failed attempt at COP26 to phase out the use of
coal and the urgency of addressing the matter at hand,
Recalling the words of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres: “I reaffirm my
conviction that we must end fossil fuels subsidies, phase out coal, put a price
on carbon, build the resilience of vulnerable communities against the here

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and now impacts of climate change, and make good on the $100 billion
climate finance commitment to support developing countries”,
Noting the significance of the Adaptation Gap Report, the UNEP Six-Sector
Solution, the Emissions Gap Report, and all relevant initiatives,
Keeping in mind the disparities between developing countries and developed
countries in terms of economic power, mitigation capacity, and unequal roles
within the existing system,

Operative Clauses
In the operative clauses, delegates develop their ideas from the working paper
into formal resolutions. The operative clauses follow a very intricate and strict
format:
1. Clauses are numbered using decimal numerals (1, 2, 3 ...).
2. Clauses are separated with a semicolon “;”, except for the second-to-last
clause which ends with a semicolon and the word “and”. The last clause
ends with a period “.”.
3. Clauses start with a present verb that is underlined.
4. Clauses can have sub-clauses to further clarify and organize ideas.
Columns “:” are inserted before the sub-clauses are listed. If sub-clauses
are to be written, a minimum of two is required.
5. Sub-clauses are listed using lower-case alphabets (a, b, c …).
6. Sub-clauses are separated by commas “,”, except for the last sub-clause
which ends with a semicolon.
7. Sub-clauses can have sub-sub-clauses to which the rules of sub-clauses
apply and are numbered using lower-case roman numerals (i, ii, iii …).

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Sample Operative Clauses

1. Emphasizes the importance of implementing the “Enhanced Transparency

Framework” of the Paris Agreement through:
a. urging all member states to submit the Biennial Reports (BR) by the set
deadline of December 31, 2022, and the Biennial Update Reports (BUR)
by December 31, 2024,
b. assigning UNEP representatives to all member states who would act as
the main spokespersons, communicate progress reports, and broker
meetings,
c. expanding the requirement of annual GHG emission inventories
submission to all member states. This process would be:
i. monitored by working groups of international and governmental
specialists,
ii. conducted by professional agencies in case of lacking capacity,
d. holding non-compliant member states accountable through a
three-phase process:
i. firstly, a comprehensive advisory statement would be
communicated to governments consisting of recommendations to
implement the provisions,
ii. secondly, increased trade regulations such as tariffs on energy
exports would be implemented,
iii. thirdly, the member state would be subjected to a one-year
suspension of membership from the UNFCCC if an absolute
majority of countries vote in favor of the measure,

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 iv. the process terminates at any phase if the country cooperates
and alters the course of action in line with commitments;
2. Recommends the establishment of a stronger framework of transparency
and accountability through:
a. establishing an international judicial system in collaboration with the
UNEP which aims at:
i. collaborating with judges from different nations,
ii. ensuring that countries that have ratified the Paris Agreement
are respecting their binding commitments,
iii. ensuring that all binding countries are submitting their NDCs on
time,
v. ensuring that countries are abiding by the goals established by
the NDCs;
3. Initiates the total phase-out of coal usage in all member nations of the
UNFCCC through:
a. drafting a new deal solely focused on completely phasing out coal usage
by 2035, under the name of “The Coal Energy Termination Pact”, which
would:
i. include binding provisions for signatories,
ii. provide a country-specific roadmap to achieve the phase-out,
iii. have the signatures of China, India, and Australia as
requirements to pass,
iv. fall under the auspices of the UNEP and the UNFCCC,
b. halting all coal mine, factory, and processing plant construction
projects currently in progress by April of 2023 at the latest,
c. establishing regional working groups which would cooperate with
governments to evaluate the impact of such a phase-out on the labor
market and the required measures to redirect workers,
d. significantly reducing subsidies and tax breaks for the coal industry in
addition to implementing measures that increase the cost of production
and distribution;
4. Explores the feasibility of implementing regional emissions trading
markets similar to the EU Emissions Trading System in which incentive to
reduce emissions would be created in addition to directing carbon tax
revenues towards emission-reduction initiatives;
5. Considers the carbon situation as a major factor in the unfair distribution

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of emission limits between developing and developed countries, and thus:
a. adds to Article 6 of the Paris Agreement a statement to prohibit
exchanged emissions, hence each nation must abide by the limit set,
b. improves the criteria used to set limits, taking into consideration the
available natural resources within each country,
c. increases the economic incentive for use of renewable resources to
encourage the use of fewer carbon-emitting sources, by:
i. encouraging cooperation between renewable industries, and
increasing value and willingness to invest,
ii. encouraging a race to the top of certain industries in replacing
coal;
6. Urges the creation of a new “International Nuclear Energy Framework”
under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that
would:
a. draft comprehensive reports on the nuclear energy industry in nuclear
nations which would highlight:
i. the efficiency of nuclear power plants,
ii. the standards and safeguards implemented,
iii. the waste management mechanisms utilized,
iv. the costs of operation, maintenance, installation, and
distribution,
b. convene experts in the field of nuclear fission technology, power plant
operation and maintenance, nuclear engineering, and safety systems to
develop guidelines needed for adequate exploitation of this resource,
c. sponsor an agreement amongst major nuclear power operating nations
in which a unified uranium market would be created to ensure equal
access to uranium for nations possessing nuclear ambitions, especially
developing nations,
d. consolidate the efforts of international organizations such as the World
Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO), Nuclear Energy Agency
(NEA), and the International Nuclear Regulators’ Association (INRA) to
enhance safety procedures, develop nuclear waste management
technologies, and provide recommendations for national legislative
actions,
e. promote increased funding and support for the International
Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) fusion project which aims
to create a fully functional, efficient, and clean fusion reactor;
7. Facilitates the renewable energy transition towards wind energy, solar

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energy, and hydroelectricity through:
a. creating the “Joint Renewable Energy Transition Panel” under the
auspices of the UNEP in collaboration with the International Renewable
Energy Agency (IRENA) which would:
i. operate 6 regional offices in the Americas, Europe, MENA, and
the Caucus, Central and South Asia, Eastern Asia, and Oceania,
ii. formulate detailed 10-year action plans for member states in
cooperation with energy ministers and major renewable energy
providers,
iii. facilitate technical cooperation agreements between developed
and developing nations in which assistance would be provided to
produce, implement, and sustain sustainable infrastructure,
b. subsidizing the aforementioned industries to ensure that the price per
unit of energy of renewables is lower than fossil fuels,
c. the issuance of long-term loans to developing and least-developed
nations to establish the required infrastructure for sustainable and
clean public transportation, commercial operations, and industrial
processes,
d. establishing the “Sustainable Energy Transition Fund” (SETF) which
would:
i. consolidate upwards of $200 billion annually from Annex II
nations,
ii. allocate the funds towards UNEP-approved projects in
non-Annex nations,
iii. be monitored by the UNEP under the transparency framework to
track and assess the operations of the fund on both the funding
and receiving end;
8. Calls for holding the first Global Stocktake in 2025, instead of 2023, in
which the surveys and reports conducted by the “Enhanced Transparency
Framework” would be compiled with national reports, independent analysis,
and corporate assessments; and
9. Urges member states to conduct proactive measures to assess and
enhance climate adaptive capacity through:
a. implementing modernized disaster forecasting, alarm, reporting, and
response mechanisms, especially in areas prone to severe storms,
b. introducing legislative measures aimed at establishing national funds
and action plans to relocate communities threatened by climate change
repercussions,

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 c. revising vital infrastructures such as building codes, transportation
networks, emergency shelters, and medical facilities,
d. enhancing the sustainability of energy production and distribution in
addition to pursuing energy decentralization,
e. coordinating a cross-sectoral response to environmental disasters in
compliance with the guidelines and recommendations provided by the
Six-Sector Solution.
Resolution
After the delegates have finalized their draft resolutions, they present them to
the chairperson. The chair, assisted by the dais members, then goes through
the format and scrutinizes the content of the paper thoroughly to ensure the
draft resolutions are realistic and feasible. They also make sure that the
delegates complied with the required format.
After all the draft resolutions are admitted and numbered, the committee is
allowed to introduce the amendments, which are modifications to the draft
resolution. When the final format for the draft resolution is attained, the
committee closes the debate and moves into voting on draft resolutions. Only
one resolution can pass per committee. The draft resolution that obtains an
absolute majority passes. If no draft resolution obtains an absolute majority,
the draft resolution that obtains a simple majority, i.e, the highest number of
votes, passes and is adopted as the official resolution of the committee.
Amendments
After draft resolutions are submitted and corrected by the dais, they are typed
and projected in front of the committee. This is where the importance of taking
notes when other blocs were presenting their draft resolution comes to play, as
delegates have the chance to amend any draft resolution by sending a note to
the chair that includes the amendment and the clause/sub-clause it applies to.
The amendments would then be discussed in the order they were presented.
Purpose of Amendments
Amendments are very important during the final conference and serve multiple
purposes. During the unmoderated caucus, it is frequent that a delegate
proposes a controversial idea that does not pass with the bloc, and due to lack
of time, it is difficult to agree or disagree on this idea. This idea can then be
proposed during amendments, where the sponsor of said amendment can

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present it to the entire committee and have the entire quorum vote on it. It is
also common for certain delegates to not have the time or opportunity to
present their ideas. Hence, amendments in this case serve the purpose of
creating an enriched draft resolution that is representative of all views in the
committee. Amendments aid in diversifying all draft resolutions as delegates
can propose amendments to any draft resolution, not only the one they
contributed to writing, i.e., the one from their bloc.
Types of Amendments
Three changes are possible when amending: adding a clause/sub-clause,
editing a clause/sub-clause, and deleting a clause/sub-clause.
We have two types of amendments:
● Friendly Amendments: When there are no objections from the sponsors
of the draft resolution being amended, the amendment is considered
friendly. In this case, no voting takes place and it is directly applied to
the draft.
● Unfriendly Amendments: In case one or more sponsors object to the
amendment, it is considered unfriendly. Debate on the amendment is
entertained with each side having 3 minutes to explain their argument
with or against the amendment. In the voting procedure, an absolute
majority is required for any unfriendly amendment to pass. As the
debate has not yet been closed, delegates have the option of motioning
for an unmoderated caucus. This can happen only before voting on the
amendment.
Amendments are an opportunity for delegates to show their level of research
and preparation. Delegates must always keep the stance of their country in
mind when proposing amendments. However, it is important to note that
amendments should not be proposed just for the sake of it, instead they must
aim to enhance the quality of a draft resolution.
Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence (EI) is a concept that involves the ability to recognize,
understand, manage, and effectively use emotions in oneself and in
interactions with others. As such, emotional intelligence is not only needed in
this program but is also imperative in your daily life.

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EI is defined by four main components:
1. Self-Awareness: Self-awareness constitutes the ability to know what
your strengths and weaknesses are, and to actually realize what you are
feeling at a certain moment or phase.
2. Self-Management: Self-management, which comes after being aware
of your own emotions, is the ability to manage impulsive emotions or
feelings such as stress, anxiety, and anger which usually push you to
take actions without thinking them through.
3. Social Awareness: Social awareness is the ability to recognize the
changes in other people’s emotions and spot the nonverbal emotional
cues that people usually send out in certain situations.
4. Relationship Management: Relationship management is your ability
to communicate your message clearly, operate fluidly in a team, and
manage conflicts. To do so, you will need to be socially aware of your
surroundings and understand the context of the moment before you act.
It is vital to learn EI skills and master these four components in order to apply
them to problem-solving and critical thinking.
Critical Thinking
What is Critical Thinking?
Critical thinking is a cognitive process and a skill that involves analyzing,
evaluating, and synthesizing information and arguments to make reasoned and
well-informed decisions. It's a way of thinking that goes beyond simply
accepting information at face value and encourages individuals to question and
consider different perspectives and evidence before arriving to a conclusion.
Tips to Foster Critical Thinking:
1. Question Assumptions: Questioning assumptions is the willingness to
challenge any predetermined information that may seem skeptical. It
constitutes the ability to notice any habitual events that may have
caused certain conflicts. Delegates should use this technique in
preparation for the conference, as they should question assumptions
they might have regarding a certain topic while doing research in order to
fully comprehend its aspects and their country’s stance. Moreover, they
should question their assumptions in conflicts during the conference in
order to identify their sources and be able to resolve them properly.

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 2. Reason through Logic: Reasoning through logic is the ability to think in
a logical manner and not commit logical fallacies. This is relevant since
delegates will have to come up with arguments to support their positions
and follow logical reasoning to write their resolutions. Some prominent
logical fallacies to avoid are the following:
2.1. Overgeneralization: using one piece of evidence to make an overly
generalized conclusion.
■ Example: I once had an encounter with a refugee and he was
very rude to me, hence I should not be advocating for the
rights of all refugees as all refugees are rude.
2.2. Ad Hominem: attacking the person or their personality rather than
focusing on their claim and reasoning. This includes labeling,
offensive behavior and not giving them a chance to speak.
■ Example: During an unmoderated caucus, the delegate of Italy
suggested that countries should deport some of the refugees to
other countries to alleviate the pressure. The delegate of
Algeria interrupts him and replies: “you are only saying that
because your country has a history of racism”.
2.3. Appeal to Ignorance: using human ignorance to prove something
and make an argument. In other words, you use the lack of
evidence to prove something that cannot be proven otherwise.
■ Example: Since there is no evidence that refugees will be
productive and improve our economy, then it is obvious that
this will lead to a recession.
2.4. Bandwagon: it is commonly associated with appealing to the
opinion of the masses. Essentially, it is about getting someone to
do something because “everyone else is doing it”.
■ Example: delegate A addresses delegate B saying: “all
delegates have agreed to contribute financially, so you should
do the same.”
How Can Critical Thinking Aid in Formulating Better Resolutions?
1. Use the background guide efficiently
● Read actively while annotating.
● Utilize the questions to consider and recommendations to
determine the train of thought for mapping out resolutions.

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 ● Question your own assumptions and do further research.
● Determine the main ideas in the background guide, and ask
yourself if said ideas are important to be discussed as subtopic in
the FC.
2. Ask the right questions
2.1. Decipher the title of the topic “the European Refugee Crisis”:
2.1.1. What are refugees? What are asylum seekers?
2.1.2. What is considered a crisis?
2.1.3. Where in Europe? Where do they come from?
2.2. What are the root causes of this crisis?
2.3. Why is this issue urgent to tackle?
2.4. What were the past resolutions and actions?
2.4.1. What can we learn from them?
2.5. What are the most important areas of concern?
2.5.1. What are sub-issues to tackle in clauses of the draft
resolutions?
3. Research accordingly and come prepared
4. Collaborate: Keep in mind the importance of diversity of ideas and
solutions.
Position Papers
What is a position paper and why do we use it?
Prior to the final conference, delegates are required to write and submit a
research document called a position paper. Within this document, delegates
must detail their country’s position regarding the respective topic, their
country’s national actions (what their country has done regarding the topic at
hand), international actions (what their country has done for the international
community), and recommendations (what the delegate recommends as
appropriate measures to deal with the subject at hand).
The goal behind the position paper is to facilitate the delegates’ research
process and familiarize them with the ins and outs of the state they are to
represent in the two-day conference. The organization of the position paper is
as follows:
● First page:
1. Header

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 2. Introductory Paragraph
3. tional Actions
4. International Actions
5. Recommendations
● Second page: References only

The Header follows the format below:

Name of Country:
Name of Committee:
Topic:
ID Number:
Notes:
● When filling in the ‘Name of Country’ section, delegates should use the
official name of the state.
For example, the delegate of Nepal is supposed to fill it out with “The
Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal” and not just “Nepal”.
● When filling out all the entries on the left of the header, delegates should
make sure to keep the titles (Name of Country: Federal Democratic
Republic of Nepal). For the Coat of Arms, it is enough to insert a picture
and remove the title. If the country does not have an official coat of arms,
the flag would suffice.
The Introductory Paragraph is composed of 3 to 4 sentences that include the
following information:
1. Why is this topic important to your country/the international
community as a whole?
2. Give some facts and statistics to prove its importance.
3. How does this topic affect the country you are representing?
The National Actions Paragraph is composed of 5 to 8 sentences that discuss
what the delegate’s country has done/is doing in regards to the topic at hand.
This paragraph would answer the following questions:
1. What is my country’s stance on this issue? (Does it support it, is it
against it, undecided, etc.)

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 2. What action has my country taken concerning the topic?
(Legislative: passing a bill/law to support/oppose? Legal:
criminalized? Completely legal? Decriminalized? Etc.)
The International Actions Paragraph is also composed of 5 to 8 sentences
that mention what the delegate’s country has done regarding the matter at
hand on an international level. This also includes actions that require or affect
international entities and other states. This paragraph should answer the
following questions:
1. What steps has your country taken internationally? (GA vote, SC
vote, funding, campaigns treaties, ratifications, etc.)
2. Did your country collaborate with NGOs/IGOs in regards to this
topic?
3. What major events relating to your topic has your country taken
part in?
The Recommendations Paragraph is composed of 8 to 10 sentences. It is
where delegates should invest most of their efforts. Here, delegates should be
the most creative and use logical reasoning to come up with new original
solutions for the topic at hand. All the solutions should be logical, feasible, and
precise. The solutions could include original suggestions, future
recommendations, ways in which the countries can improve the situation
within their borders or innovative ways they could collaborate with other
countries internationally to tackle the issue. Each recommendation should be
able to represent a full plan and should not have any gaps.
For example, if one of the solutions needs funding, the recommendation should
be very detailed and indicate who will fund the project (it should be someone
who is capable of doing so), how it will work, how long the funding will be
needed for, and so on. It is also advised to look beyond the scope of “raising
awareness.”
Format
● One page long excluding references
● Font: Times New Roman
● Font Size: 12
● Margins: Normal, one inch all around. Delegates must not try to
manipulate the margins to fit in more words. If this is done, the delegate
will risk disqualification.

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 ● Single spacing between the lines, double-spacing between the
paragraphs (press enter twice).
References
● References should be credible. Wikipedia is not a credible source;
however, delegates can use the citations and references within Wikipedia.
● There should be a minimum of 5 sources.
● All sources should be cited in MLA format (recommend Citation
Machine).
Tips
● Delegates can use Google Scholar to find credible articles that might
benefit their research. They can also use other Google tools to get results
that are limited to a specific time frame.
● Credible sources include academic journals, national documents, CIA,
CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera, Politico, UN Agency/Organ websites, World
Economic Forum, etc…
● Delegates should always proofread their position paper before
submission. They should make sure that they do not leave any typos or
grammatical mistakes unchecked.
● Delegates should avoid using “I” or any other first-person pronoun.
Delegates must refer to themselves as “The Republic of X suggests…”.
With that said, it is important that the delegates remember that they will
be presenting the country’s stance or view on the topic and not their
own.
● Delegates should keep the paper organized and neat. They should use
connectors to move from one idea to the next, keep it simple, and be
straight to the point. Furthermore, they should avoid jumping back and
forth between ideas and over-elaborating on one point at the expense of
the rest.
● Delegates must be careful to include all sources used to avoid
plagiarism.
● Delegates should pay attention to their choice of words so that their
message is not miscommunicated.
● Delegates should refrain from using paraphrasing tools to avoid any
risks of plagiarism.

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Public Speaking
The mark of a successful speech is not only its clear and engaging content.
Indeed, the mode of delivery has a sizeable impact on how receptive and
convinced the audience is of the information being pitched. The elements of
public speaking are divided as follows: body language (Non-Verbal
Component), voice and tone (Paraverbal Component), and content (Verbal
Component). Mastering all three of these components is key to capturing your
listeners and conveying the message. Not everyone is born a natural public
speaker, but you should remember that public speaking is a skill that can be
improved with practice. Some people naturally have voices that seem very
captivating, while others might even struggle with stuttering. You should know
your strengths and how to emphasize them.
Verbal Component: Speech Writing
The verbal component of public speaking comes down to the content and
structure of a speech. The elements that are essential to preparing a speech
are the following:
1. Adapting to the audience
2. Setting a specific purpose
3. Adapting to the occasion
There are two types of speeches: prepared speeches and impromptu speeches.
Prepared speeches: speeches that delegates would have prepared prior to the
conference as they would have expected certain subtopics to be discussed.
Impromptu Speeches: at some point during the conference, delegates will
have to provide immediate statements or speeches to the quorum, with no prior
preparation or prediction. Impromptu speeches can be a bit distressing, but
mastering such a skill could give delegates a significant boost in their
performance.
The Structure of a Speech
In general, all speeches have a similar structure and fundamental
requirements, but some speeches may be tailored to a specific purpose. This
structure can be used to write prepared speeches and plan impromptu
speeches accordingly.

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a) Hook: a hook is the first thing your audience will hear and it may well
determine whether they will keep on listening. For this reason, a good
attention grabber is vital to captivate your audience from the start and
set the tone for the rest of your speech. A hook, or an attention grabber,
generally comes in different forms:
I. Rhetorical Question: Example: Is it possible to entirely close the
Gender Gap? It is important to take a short pause for the audience
to reflect upon the question. Delegates should make sure the
rhetorical question they have chosen is relevant and intriguing
enough to be used as their hook.
II. Quote/Country official statement: Example: Ruth Bader Ginsburg
once said “Women will only have true equality when men share with
them the responsibility of bringing up the next generation”. Quotes
may be relevant in certain cases but need to be concretely linked to
the content of the speech. Any general quote that is only slightly
related to the topic is irrelevant. Quotes might emerge from a
country’s prime minister or UN ambassador which might serve to
showcase the country’s stance regarding a certain conundrum.
III. Surprising fact/statistic: Example: In 2018, women received 82
cents for every dollar a man-made. Delegates should make sure
that the fact that is used is credible or else this would defy its
purpose altogether. Surprising facts are usually big figures and
numbers that highlight the urgency of the situation.
IV. Anecdote/story: Example: On August 22nd, 2019, a 21-year-old
Palestinian girl, Israa Ghrayeb, was beaten to death by her fiancé
in the name of honor after posting a selfie prior to their engagement.
This kind of hook is extremely impactful in humanitarian topics
and issues. Appealing to emotions at the beginning of your speech
could make the audience sympathize with the situation. Therefore,
the delegate won’t have to make the whole speech emotional but
rather keep this function for the hook.
b) Body: Here, the main focus is on the content of the speech and
everything the delegate is expressing. It is crucial for the speaker to be
deeply aware of the topic they are discussing and to know what to
include to grab the attention of their audience.

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 The delegates should also back up the content of the speech with
information and evidence to reel the audience in with facts and figures
that further clarify the message. Some of which are:
● Evidence: Giving statistics that come from credible and certified
sources. According to UN Women, 72% of trafficked individuals
worldwide are women and girls.
● Examples: In order to illustrate a concept or a theory mentioned. A
number of possible solutions could be implemented to ensure equal
political representation, such as placing gender quotas.
● Personal Experience: Here, personal experience in the speech
would rather be the country’s or institution’s. In 2016, Sweden
launched its third action plan for the abolition of Gender-Based
Violence, as per the UNSC Resolution 1325.
● Imagery: According to Malala, “With guns, you can kill terrorists,
with education, you can kill terrorism”.
● Using the 5 Senses: “As Malala walked through the schools in
Congo, she could see how the majority of students were males,
hence encouraging her to advocate further for female education.”
● What It Is Not: “The issue of poverty is not a short-term disaster,
but instead, it is prolonged and impacts everyone.”
c) Conclusion: In this part of the speech, delegates must make sure to end
the speech in a smooth manner. Delegates can refer to one of the
following methods:
i) Call for action: Delegates should invite other delegates to partake
in addressing the problem at hand. “The Call for Action” hence
encourages members of the conference to actively work and take
initiative, and is favored in opening speeches. Example: The
Kingdom of Sweden invites all member states to partake in the fight
against gender inequality by jointly developing sustainable action
plans that ensure equal treatment of all human beings.
ii) Propose possible resolutions: Delegates could include
suggestions on how to tackle the specific issue being discussed.
These are needed in subtopic speeches. Example: The Kingdom of
Sweden urges expanding the scope of the UNHCR by establishing a
UN sub committee that deals with health related issues of refugees.

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Rhetorical Devices
Now that we have covered the general structure of a speech, it is beneficial to
explain certain devices that can be utilized to make your message stand out.
Rhetorical devices are techniques that are used to persuade your audience by
making the content more compelling and captivating.
There are three prominent devices that are used in speeches: Parallelism,
Repetition and Analogies.
1. Parallelism, also known as parallel structure, is when phrases in a
sentence have similar or the same grammatical structure. In its most
basic usage, parallelism provides a phrase with balance and clarity.
Parallelism also serves to give phrases a pattern and rhythm.
“Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. Both men and
women should feel free to be strong. It is time that we all perceive gender
on a spectrum, instead of two sets of opposing ideals. If we stop defining
each other by what we are not, and start defining ourselves by who we
are, we can all be freer.” - Emma Watson, Gender Equality Speech
2. Repetition helps strengthen the listener's memory. Soon you will be able
to associate the repeated lines to other information. Use this powerful
technique to enhance your pitch. When done correctly, repeating certain
words and phrases in your speech makes a lasting impact.
“All of us need to demand that Congress be brave enough to stand up to
the gun lobby's lies. All of us need to stand up and protect its citizens. All
of us need to demand governors, and legislators and businesses do their
part to make our communities safer.And yes, it will be hard, and it won't
happen overnight. It won't happen during this Congress. It won't happen
during my presidency. But a lot of things don't happen overnight. A
woman's right to vote didn't happen overnight. The liberation of
African-Americans didn't happen overnight. LGBT rights, that was decades
worth of work. So just because it's hard, that's no excuse not to try.” -
Barack Obama, Gun Control Speech.
3. An analogy is a comparison between one thing and another, typically for
the purpose of explanation or clarification. It can also serve as a major
attention grabber.
“From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has
descended across the Continent.” - Winston Churchill, Iron Curtain Speech

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 Explanation of this example: Churchill’s Iron Curtain speech shows how
an analogy can be so simple describing a situation or concept that it can
become part of our natural language going forward, generating a
common starting point for how people discuss the issue in the future.
The Soviet Union had separated the eastern European countries from the
west so that no one knew what was going on behind the “curtain.” He
used the word “iron” to signify that it was impenetrable. In simpler
terms, the Iron curtain typically described the division between a
communist life and a non-communist life.
Paraverbal Component
Other than the body language that can essentially make or break your speech,
your voice and tone are vital for the audience to comprehend your words
properly. In order to achieve this, delegates should focus on the following
characteristics of their voice:
● Articulation and pronunciation: They are vital in making sure the
message is clearly understood by the audience. If the words are not
clearly, loudly, and accurately articulated, the information may not be
grasped by the conference attendees; leaving room for
misunderstandings. For delegates to practice articulation, use tongue
twisters as a fun activity.
○ How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could
chuck wood? He would chuck, he would, as much as he could, and
chuck as much wood. As a woodchuck would if a woodchuck could
chuck wood.
○ Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers
A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers
Where’s the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?
● Emphasis: Emphasis can make all the difference in maintaining
attention while stressing the key notions and terms to be focused on.
Make sure delegates distinguish between emphasis and volume. Some
may believe that emphasis may signify raising your voice when saying a
certain word but it could essentially just be taking a short pause and
using the proper hand gestures to convey this message.

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 ● Pauses: Well-timed pauses allow the listeners to take in the given
information and reflect over them. Pauses are used often when starting
with a rhetorical question to make your audience really think about what
you just asked. They can also be used for emphasis. It should be noted
that long and wrongly-timed pauses can bore the audience and diminish
the speaker’s credibility in terms of knowledge in the material. Delegates
should utilize pauses to their advantage in order to carefully think about
what to say next and still keep up with a normal speech with a moderate
amount of pauses.
● Pitch: One’s pitch should always alternate and cater to what is being
said and explained. Variations between a high and a low pitch should be
made in order to reflect the intensity of the information. This will depend
on the type and intensity of the information being given.
● Speed: Speed affects the audience’s ability to absorb knowledge and the
clarity of the speech itself. Describing complicated concepts and
frameworks requires a slower pace as the audience may need more time
to take them in. However, delegates need to make sure they consider the
time allocated for the speech and might decide to delete some
information on the spot for concision.
● Tonality: It is essential to avoid monotony while speaking as the
audience will ultimately stop paying attention to the speech. Tonality
fluctuation is recommended.
● Volume: It is crucial for one to overcome background noise with volume
in order to reach all members of the audience. Volume must be varied,
but not in excess, to keep the listeners engaged.
Non-Verbal Component
Body language has been proven to give the very first impression of any speaker
in the room. Even the way a speaker walks towards the podium can set the
tone for their speech. Body language may reveal if a delegate is nervous and
distract the audience from the content, but it can also inspire confidence. It is
easily neglected when delegates focus solemnly on the content, therefore;
delegates should stay mindful all throughout their speech.
The most important elements to focus on are:

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● Apparel: Appearance and clothing constitute the general image reflected
towards the audience. Delegates are expected to dress in accordance
with the conference’s dress code (formal-wear).
● Eye Contact: Eye contact essentially maintains the audience’s attention,
engages them in the conversation and can be used to appeal to emotions.
While it may be tempting to focus on reading a well-written speech, lack
of eye contact will make the audience feel excluded. One should make
sure they scan the whole room while delivering their speech. This can be
done by dividing the audience into several sections and alternating
accordingly. As a final tip, delegates who are not able to focus their eye
contact directly towards the eyes of their audience may use several
techniques such as looking at the wall behind them or focusing on their
foreheads to overcome nervousness.
● Facial Expressions: Facial expressions can help convey the message
properly while attributing adequate emotion. So, the delegate must cater
their facial expressions to the topic at hand. If the topic is tragic, they
can’t discuss it while smiling or grinning and vice versa. It is also
important to note that the audience should mind their facial expressions,
as it is encouraged to always stay diplomatic and maintain an objective
attitude towards your peers.
● Gestures: Limbs and hand gestures are essential in illustrating and
simplifying the content. They can be used to emphasize and stress key
proponents of the speech. For instance, one’s limbs should not remain at
one’s sides, but rather be used only when necessary. Gestures could help
show a logical flow of ideas by enumerating while using hands and
stressing the importance of certain ideas. It is important to note that
having improper hand placement can be a major distraction for the
audience. Therefore, delegates should find a comfortable manner of
placing them either on the podium or folding their hands when
appropriate.
● Posture: It is important to steady one’s feet firmly on the ground while
avoiding any form of distraction such as fidgeting. Head must be held
upright as shoulders are maintained straight. A firm posture signifies
confidence and even psychologically boosts your adrenaline and
decreases nervousness.

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Tips for Mastering Public Speaking
● Practice famous speeches
● Record yourself and watch it again to reflect over your performance
● Watch some well-known public speakers
● Practice in front of any audience (friends and family)
● Confidence will be attained through research (the more you know about
the topic, the easier it gets)
● Try to speak for more than 30 seconds about your topic
● Avoid using any filler words within the speech, in case you get stuck,
take a pause in a strategic way.
Special Committees
In the final conference, some delegates will represent countries or individuals
in special committees. Special committees are made up of historical
committees and regional or country-specific committees. Certain special
committees may have special rules of procedure or position paper
requirements.
Historical committees are set in the past. For example, the topic could be the
1945 Division of Korea, and delegates are expected to act as if they were stuck
in 1945. They must disregard everything that has happened after that specific
date and only use information concerning events that happened before 1945 or
are happening in 1945. A particular date will be specified in the background
guide, and anything that has happened after that day cannot be used in the
final conference because it has not happened yet. For example, if the specified
date is September 2nd, 1945, delegates cannot mention events that happened on
or after September 3rd, 1945 as the information will be considered invalid.
Historical committees are a way of altering the past. Researching what
happened after the set date is useful for delegates to understand how
politicians dealt with the issue at the time. However, it is not necessary for the
delegates to mimic those actions, as long as they remain in character.
Other committees may tackle topics that have a specific region or country in
the title. In such cases, delegates should research in parallel to the topic and
look for any relevant information discussing how their country dealt with a
similar case. For example, if the topic is related to the issue of decolonization in
French Polynesia, the delegate of Pakistan can research their own country’s
history with decolonization and how it has dealt with the issue.
There may also be cases in which delegates would not be solo representatives –

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instead, they would be part of a double delegation. A double delegation
contains two delegates from the same school, both simultaneously representing
the same country as a team. For example, if the United Nations Development
were a double delegation committee, then all the representatives in the
committee would come in pairs. Each pair is considered one entity.
Negotiation
In the final conference, delegates representing countries with a range of
stances will attempt to reach a consensus regarding the topic at hand while
upholding their interests. This is why negotiation skills are of the utmost
importance in a conference debate.
Negotiation is when parties strategically engage in a discussion with the aim of
resolving a certain issue. All parties involved aim to gain something from the
negotiation process or else it is futile. Negotiation relies on understanding the
key issue at stake, its importance to the different parties involved, and what is
to be gained. To get what we want, we are compelled to negotiate.
From children to adults, everyone has negotiated at least once in their life.
“Like it or not, you are a negotiator.”
The following is a simple illustration on the art of negotiation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CdixDzE7I0
Types of Negotiations
Distributive Negotiation: parties discuss a single issue, e.g., the price of a
good or service. Here, there is an aim to slice up the pie as parties bargain over
a fixed amount of value. It usually involves a back-and-forth exchange of offers,
also known as the “negotiation dance”.
Example: a car sale where the buyer and the seller negotiate the price of the car.
Integrative Negotiation: parties discuss more than one issue. Multiple issues
are at stake here and negotiators have the potential to make tradeoffs across
issues and reach a “win-win” agreement. Here, if one cares little about a
certain issue while the other negotiator values this issue immensely, one might
propose making a concession on that particular issue in exchange for a
concession from the other negotiator on an issue they value.
Example: the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between the United
States, Canada, and Mexico. It involved several issues such as tariffs, quotas,

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and subsidies, and required open communication between the parties and a
willingness to compromise. The final agreement was beneficial to all parties and
led to increased trade between them.
Team Negotiation: At least one of the parties is made up of more than one
person. Indeed, research shows that more overall value is created when
negotiators are actually teams. When one sets up their negotiation team, it is
wise to discuss beforehand what role each person will play. Planning the
negotiation strategy in advance is key.
Example: the production and quality control departments negotiating a
manufacturing strategy. The production team cares about producing a large
number of products as fast as possible whereas the quality department
advocates for slower production and more frequent quality checks. Each member
of each team has something to bring to the table, and a way to defend their point
of view based on their role, knowledge, and experience.
Multiparty Negotiation: three or more parties are negotiating with each other,
whether as individuals or as part of negotiating teams. The more issues,
parties, and concerns there are on the table, the more opportunities there are
to create value by making tradeoffs across the table.
Example: three friends deciding where to travel to next or 193 nations agreeing
on a draft resolution to combat climate change.
One-shot vs. Repeated Negotiations: Some negotiations are one-shot
whereby parties convene for a single process of negotiation with no intention of
negotiating together in the future. Negotiation may occur in more than one
meeting.
Example: negotiators who discuss the price of a used car online, meet in person
for a test drive and then conclude the negotiations a week later, but the
expectation is that they will go their separate ways when the negotiation is over.
One-shot negotiations carry a risk of unethical behavior if parties believe they
do not need to build a trusting relationship and can gain a lot by duping the
counterpart. By comparison, negotiators who hope to engage in repeated
negotiations tend to work harder to create a sense of mutual trust, and their
negotiations may be more cooperative and collaborative as a result.
Example: workplace brainstorming sessions.

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Tips and Tricks to Negotiating
1. Analyze and Cultivate the BATNA (Best Alternative to a Negotiated
Agreement): the best source of power is one’s willingness and ability to
walk away from the deal and take another deal. It is wise for negotiators
to spend significant time identifying their best alternative to a negotiated
agreement.
Example: Tom is negotiating with Jenny to purchase her car. She offers to
sell it for $10,000. Tom knows that another person online is selling their
car for $7,500. This is his BATNA because he knows that if she does not
offer a price lower than $7,500, he can buy the online seller’s car.
2. Listen Actively: One must resist the urge to think about what to say
next while his or her fellow negotiator is speaking. Instead, one should
listen carefully to the arguments being made and paraphrase what was
said to ensure that both parties are on the same page.
3. Ask Good Questions: It is important that negotiators avoid yes or no
questions or leading questions such as “Don’t you think this a marvelous
idea?”. Questions must be shaped in a neutral manner that invites
detailed responses such as: “Can you provide more information
regarding the issues you are facing this quarter?”
4. Search for Smart Tradeoffs: One should identify issues that their
counterparts care deeply about, but that they value less. Concessions
are then made according to issues valued more vs those valued less. This
is done through preparation and research.
5. Be Aware of the Anchoring Bias: Research shows that the first number
mentioned in a negotiation, however arbitrary, exerts a powerful
influence on the negotiation that follows. Anchoring bias occurs when
parties rely too much on this first information when making decisions.
One can avoid falling victim to it by making the first offer and trying to
anchor talks in their preferred direction. If the opposing negotiator
makes an offer first, it is important for the negotiator to keep their
BATNA in mind for comparison.
Example: if you first see a pair of pants that cost $1,000, then see another
one that costs $100, you are more inclined to perceive the second one as
cheap.
6. Focus on Interests, Not Positions: The manner in which people deal

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 with the issue being negotiated may be influenced by many factors, such
as their values, beliefs, status, responsibilities, and cultural background.
One must consider these factors during the negotiations to ensure both
parties are respected (refer back to the Onion).
7. Build Bridges: One should act as the mediator and ask all parties
involved for their opinions and whether they wish to add something to
the process.
Now, some negotiators believe that hard-bargaining tactics are the key to
success in any negotiation. They resort to unethical behavior to try to gain the
upper hand in a negotiation. This creates a win-lose mentality which is
counterproductive to the negotiation process.
Unfortunately, when parties resort to hard-bargaining tactics, they risk missing
out on this win-win possibility as negotiators tend to respond in the way they
are treated. It is important to be able to identify these hard-bargaining tactics
to later defuse them.
1. False Demands: Making a demand that they do not care about, just to
take it back later on and show that they made a concession.
2. Extreme Demands followed up by small, slow concessions: It can
keep parties from making a deal and unnecessarily drags out
negotiations. Keep the BATNA in mind.
3. Take-It-or-Leave-It Strategy: Offers should rarely be non-negotiable.
Focus on the content and make a counteroffer.
4. Attempt at Forced Concession: The opponent keeps making greater
and greater demands to make the counter-negotiator reach a breaking
point and concede. Clarify that only reciprocal exchange of offers will be
tolerated.
5. Personal Insults and Feather-Ruffling: Personal attacks can feed on
insecurities and make someone feel vulnerable. One must take a break
when feeling flustered and let the other party know that no insults or
cheap ploys will be tolerated.
6. Bluffing and Lying: Exaggerating and misrepresenting facts can throw
anyone off guard. Investigate claims closely.
7. Threats and Warnings: The first step to defusing tension is to recognize

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 threats and warnings and name them for what they are.
8. Good cop, bad cop: Recognize the tactic.
9. Negotiating with authority: Equal authority is important in
negotiations. If one party negotiates with authority, the other party could
stand to lose a lot.
Pioneers of Peace
The United Nations & Peacekeeping
Though the United Nations was created in 1945 with the mission of upholding
international peace and security, international peacekeeping efforts did not
materialize until 1948, with the founding of the United Nations Truce
Supervision Organization (UNTSO). The UNTSO was established during the
Arab-Israeli war and tasked with upholding a ceasefire between involved
parties as well as putting a formal end to hostilities. Since then, the scope of
UN peacekeeping has expanded and there have been 56 missions, with 12
currently active. The majority of these missions have dealt with intrastate
(within one country) conflicts. Indeed, the 20th and 21st centuries witnessed the
rise of a narrative depicting major interstate (between two or more countries)
conflicts as a thing of the past. Experts and laypeople alike seemed to believe
that the potential for violent disputes between states had been greatly
attenuated. However, a considerable testament to the contrary is the outbreak
and protraction of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Nevertheless, it is worth noting that modern peacekeeping efforts have been
largely based on intervention, whether political, economic, humanitarian, or
military. The concept of intervention entails a foreign entity’s interference in a
state’s internal affairs, and raises questions about sovereignty. It was
legitimized by the Responsibility 2 Protect (R2P), an international norm that
was established in the aftermath of the 1994 Rwandan genocide in an effort to
protect a state’s population from mass atrocities when it fails to do so.
The interventionist approach that has become synonymous with UN
peacekeeping has several drawbacks. First, UN peacekeeping missions are
mostly dependent on the approval of the Security Council, which is prone to
unstable power dynamics and veto deadlocks, resulting in certain conflicts
being disregarded. This could be due to the Council’s permanent members
having little to no interest in resolving the situation at hand or having too
high of a stake in the dispute to come to an agreement (as has been the case

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in Syria). Second, the efficacy of peacekeeping missions is dampened by
bureaucracy and cover-ups of violations. Through the years, there have been
several allegations of misconduct by peacekeeping officers, many of which
have gone unpunished due to a jurisdictional vacuum and bureaucratic red
tape. These accusations erode the trust between officers and locals, and in
cases where they are true, cause immense harm to already devastated
communities. Finally, a good number of peacekeeping missions have been
conducted from a top-down perspective, involving officers and strategies with a
limited grasp of the local context and cultural sensitivities, further
provoking latent tensions and creating disconnect.
It cannot be denied that at its inception, the United Nations emerged as a
pioneer of strengthened international support to conflict-ridden areas. This
was cemented by the pledge of its peacekeeping department to promote
nonviolent conflict resolution while protecting human rights and fostering
sustainable societies. However, this pledge has proven to be rather ambitious
in that peacekeeping missions have frequently fallen short of their goal,
instead encouraging communities to turn towards individual initiatives and
grassroots movements in an effort to bridge the gap.
Grassroots Movements
Grassroots movements are collective initiatives established by regular
citizens who come together at the local level to address specific issues and
advocate for change. They are a measure of civic engagement and often direct
representations of the human right to organize or to protest. They can
advance peace by fostering local involvement, promoting dialogue, and
encouraging reconciliation. Grassroots initiatives compensate for the shortfalls
of national or international peace efforts since they tend to be more in tune
with the concerns of affected populations. With the appropriate resources, they
are capable of addressing local needs, providing a voice to marginalized
communities, and driving change from the bottom up. They also act as
watchdogs, exposing injustices and holding authorities accountable.
The Role of Youth
Youth have emerged among the most committed and passionate participants
in grassroots movement. Young activists tend to bring unique perspectives to
peacebuilding efforts, transcending traditional barriers and revitalizing
conflict resolution strategies. They can leverage technology and social media
platforms to mobilize support and raise awareness beyond national borders.
The United Nations has recognized the youth’s potential when it comes to
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advancing peace processes, and has created spaces for them to formally
contribute to the discussion. Notable examples include the appointment of a
UN Youth Envoy, the inclusion of youth delegates to the UN, and the
establishment of the “Youth, Peace, and Security” Agenda.
Case Study: Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace
Between 1989 and 1997, Liberia endured a civil war that emphasized
deeply-rooted ethnic and political tensions. It was triggered by the rebellion
of various factions against then-President Samuel Doe's government. The First
Liberian Civil War culminated in a peace agreement and the 1997 election of
Charles Taylor as president. Two years later, rebel groups sought to overthrow
Charles Taylor’s government, which was totalitarian and corrupt. This
uncovered existent instability, leading to the outbreak of a second civil war.
The protracted conflict had a particularly negative impact on women who were
victims of sexual abuse, displacement, and the loss of family members. Unable
to tolerate further fighting, a small group of Liberian women released a
campaign that called for an end to the violence. The movement grew and came
to be known as “Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace”. It was
characterized by its commitment to nonviolent forms of protest. The women
resorted to innovative tactics, such as prayer and singing, to inspire hope.
Their persistent lobbying pressured warring factions to attend peace talks,
where they prevented negotiators from leaving before coming to an agreement,
effectively ending the civil war. The movement’s work continued with
post-conflict reconstruction efforts, eventually contributing to the election of
Liberia's first female president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, in 2006.
It should be noted that the UN established the United Nations Mission in
Liberia (UNMIL) to further stabilize the country and support the peace process.
UNMIL provided a secure environment and facilitated political negotiations,
allowing “Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace” to safely operate at the
grassroots level, engaging with local communities from the ground up. This
collaboration between international intervention and grassroots activism was
key to achieving lasting peace.

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