Position Papers
Position Paper Policy – Canada Model United Nations 2026
A position paper serves as a written documentation of a country’s stance on a specific issue. These papers offer a succinct overview of a country’s foreign policy, articulating its perspectives and opinions on the given topic. Typically one page in length, position papers are crafted from the viewpoint of the represented country.
As part of our commitment to fostering diplomatic discourse and excellence in debate, we have outlined the following position paper policy to guide your participation in our conference.
Position Paper Submission:
Position papers are mandatory for consideration for awards in all committees but Crisis committees. Submission of position papers should be done through the provided submission form.
Structure of a Position Paper:
Position papers for CANMUN 2025 should comprise two pages with four primary paragraphs each, following the format below:
1. Introduction and Topic Description: Provide an unbiased description of the committee topic(s).
2. Historical Context and Country’s Stance: Elaborate on the historical involvement of the represented country, outlining the country’s stance on the issue(s).
3. Proposed Solutions: Provide and elaborate on a few proposed solutions to the topic.
4. Conclusion: Summarize the position paper’s key points and arguments.
Identifying Your Country’s Interests and Goals:
When composing a position paper, it’s crucial to consider the country’s interests and objectives within the committee. Evaluating how the issue affects the country and envisaging desired outcomes is essential. For instance, a country benefiting from illegal arms smuggling should avoid endorsing stringent measures to curb smuggling.
AI Policy:
While delegates are encouraged to utilize AI for research and grammar assistance, the utilization of AI for generating position papers is frowned upon. AI-generated papers tend to lack specificity and value, diminishing their likelihood of qualifying for awards.
Formatting Requirements
Position papers must be one page per topic (2 pages total). Position papers should be in Times New Roman and in size 12 pt font, single-spaced. These page requirements refer to the entire paper excluding the citations/bibliography.
Delegates should properly cite their research using MLA style citations. We strongly recommend that delegates use at least 3 academic sources to complete their paper (e.g., scholarly articles, books, and scientific publications). As a rule of thumb, anything that is not common knowledge or your own original idea should be cited.
Awards
Position paper submissions are required to qualify for awards in GA and SA committees. Each committee will also give out one Best Position Paper award. Delegates who fail to submit a position paper by the deadline will be ineligible for any conference awards. Delegates who plagiarize will also be ineligible for awards.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding writing, formatting, or submitting position papers, please feel free to reach out to our Delegate Affairs department via delegateaffairscanmun@gmail.com.
We encourage all delegates to adhere to these guidelines to ensure a fruitful and productive Model United Nations experience. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Secretariat.
Sample Position Paper
Canada Model United Nations 