Code of Conduct

The Code of Conduct is based on the philosophy of creating an atmosphere suitable to teaching and learning international relations and diplomatic principles. As a condition of attending NAIMUN XLVI, the Conference Executives require all participants to sign and abide by this Code to guarantee a respectful environment suitable for the attainment of the Conference’s goals. Each delegate must sign this form to participate in NAIMUN. Please DOWNLOAD the Appropriate Code of Conduct form at the bottom of this page, complete it and return it during Conference Registration.

Delegate Medical Form

The delegate medical form authorizes the Georgetown International Relations Association, Inc. (GIRA) and the Conference of the North American Invitational Model United Nations (NAIMUN) staff, volunteers, and other designees to provide the information contained therein to any medical or emergency personnel in the event medical treatment appears necessary. The form expressly releases GIRA, its members, officers, agents, volunteers, staff and others acting on its behalf from any and all liability of whatever kind for their actions and/or inactions in connection with the preparation and conduct of the NAIMUN Conference. This general release from liability will be given the broadest possible interpretation applicable under law. By signing you agree to indemnify and hold harmless GIRA from any and all claims, demands or suits resulting in attendance of the conference. Please DOWNLOAD the delegate medical form at the bottom of this page, complete it and return it during Conference Registration.

Pre-Written Resolutions Policy

Pre-written documents, such as draft resolutions and action orders, are strictly prohibited at NAIMUN XLVI. Research and planning when crafting your position and writing your position paper is, of course, encouraged; however, writing collective action documents beforehand not only disadvantages delegates who receive positions close to the conference but undermines the spirit of collaborative diplomacy that we strive to maintain. Our Staff is cognizant of this policy and will regard any pre-written resolutions as violations of the Code of Conduct.

Position Paper Guidelines

Note: Certain committees may have their own more specific format for position papers. Please read your background guide carefully first before adhering to the guidelines below. You can also DOWNLOAD these guidelines at the bottom of the page.

Length: 2 pages, single-spaced—one page per topic. Address each topic equally (3 paragraphs should cover each). Make sure to include your full country name or cabinet position, committee, the committee topic, and your name(s) and school in the top left hand corner of the page.

Substance: The paper should accomplish three key goals.

• What is the issue at hand? Explain why the topic is important: security concerns, humanitarian implications, legality, etc. Including recent examples of the problem helps to demonstrate that you have researched the topic and are aware of its importance in relation to current events. If appropriate, this is where you can also discuss how this issue affects your country specifically.
• What is my country’s response? Include what actions your nation has taken already such as ratified treaties, bilateral agreements, and unilateral actions. This is a good place to refer to prior UN actions such as resolutions or protocols. Depending on your country’s position, you may want to praise work already done or argue that it is not enough.
• What should happen next? This section should provide some hints about what you will be advocating in committee. Using descriptive language will help you. Do not just say: “Our delegation wants to solve this problem.” Instead, explain HOW you want to solve it, because that is where the real debate will be fixed. Look at speeches or press releases from your nation’s mission to the UN for a better idea of what kind of actions you will want to defend.
Remember that these are simply suggestions. Your paper may go beyond this scope or take a different structure. This set up is simple and effective, but it is up to you.

Extras: Here are some suggestions for writing an effective position paper:

• Always check for spelling and grammatical errors. Not only do they take away from the quality of the position paper, but they also serve to distract the dais from taking in the substantive points of the paper.
• You do not need to use footnotes or citations. This does not mean that research is not required; it just means that you can credit the ideas to your country. However, it is a good idea to reference UN resolutions or press releases.
• When writing the paper, refer to your delegation by country name (i.e. “The delegation from the United Kingdom looks to…”). Do not use “I”. “We” sounds better, but in general using the country name is the best option.
• Make sure to print out extra copies of your paper so that you can submit one to your Chair at the first committee session and keep another copy for yourself for the duration of the conference.
• Position Papers must be turned in to the Dais at the start of the first committee session on February 12th. Position papers must be printed out and ready to hand in.

DOWNLOADABLE FORMS