Policy Papers
What’s a Policy Paper?
Policy papers are written work you submit to your chairs before coming to SunMUN. They’re your way to demonstrate how well you understand the issues you’re going to discuss in your committees, and they’re also a crucial part of how we determine how well-prepared you are going into conference.
Delegates who do not submit policy papers by 1 November 2025 are not eligible for awards!
What do they look like for traditional committees?
For SunMUN XVI’s traditional committees (ie. the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, the Human Rights Council, the World Health Assembly, and the Assembly of the African Union), policy papers are one-page, three-paragraph essays. As a delegate, you are required to submit one for each of your committee’s topics.
Your first paragraph should detail a real-world modern history of your paper’s topic. Name specific treaties or resolutions about it that have already been developed, and talk about existing institutional frameworks—understanding what work the international community has already done is always the first step to making new progress!
Your second paragraph should be about what work your country has done. What international agreements has your country signed on to? Has your country done work at the national level on the topic? Numbers and statistics are a perfect resource to lean on when developing this paragraph: this is your opportunity to show why your country has a leading part to play on the international stage.
If the second paragraph is about why your country’s voice is so important, the third paragraph is about how. From the perspective of your country, what are your proposed solutions? What can others expect to see from you in committee, and why are your solutions best for the international community? This paragraph is both the crux of your paper’s argument and its conclusion: make it strong!
All three paragraphs should fit on one single-sided page. It’s a lot to fit in such a small space! How you prioritize what to show and what to explain is crucial to building a successful policy paper—be sure to think about the essential components of your message as you craft your writing.
What do they look like for non-traditional committees?
For our non-traditional committees (ie. the International Court of Justice, the Seven Years’ War, the Boshin War, and Do You Want to Build a Nation?), policy papers look slightly different.
For our two history-based non-traditional committees (the Seven Years’ War and the Boshin War), policy papers only have two paragraphs: one about your assigned character’s biography, and one about what you intend for your character over the course of committee. Be specific! What aspects of your character’s biography make them unique in your committee, and how does your plan for them in committee relate?
In “Do You Want to Build a Nation?” your policy paper should also only have two paragraphs: one detailing your assigned government’s structure in terms of its social and moral justifications and another describing its goals with respect to those justifications. What would a government like yours act like on the international stage, and why?
For the International Court of Justice, you will find a list of questions attached to its associated committee guide, three for each case on the Court’s docket. In up to three hundred words per question, you are tasked with providing your legal opinion on the major questions before the Court by drawing on both the Court’s long case history and treaties old and modern.
Formatting?
All policy papers for all committees must be submitted as a single document subject to the following formatting rules:
Single-page PDF
File name should look like “Committee_Country_Topic”
Single-spacing
1-inch margins (left, right, top, and bottom)
12pt Times New Roman font
Justified text
Fully capitalized header containing the official name of your country or character and your committee name
For traditional committees, the paper header should also contain your paper’s topic
Resources
UN Digital Library
The UN Digital Library is the source of all digital content produced by the United Nations, from press releases to committee work to facts and figures.
UN Index to Proceedings
The UN Digital Library is an excellent tool for finding out exactly what’s been accomplished by UN committees straight from the mouths of diplomats.
US Institute of Peace
The US Institute of Peace publishes articles, data, and figures in view of its mission to end violence worldwide. It is an excellent resource for information on human rights and equitable development in states all over the world.
CIA World Factbook
The CIA World Factbook gives broad overviews of both states and sub-state actors across historical, demographic, and economic axes.
Human Rights Watch
The Human Rights Watch is one of the foremost international non-governmental organizations focused on ensuring human rights for all. Here, you can find articles and data on both states and non-state groups.
