Global Classrooms || ​Position Paper: Writing the Paper ​|| Date Due:_______________

Your ​Position Paper ​gives facts about your country and your topic. It also includes ideas for
resolutions to global issues. You will ​use your Position Paper Organizer, the GC Topic Guide,
and additional research​ to write this paper. Afterwards, you will use this Position Paper to form
your Opening Speech and give your arguments in the debates. Yours will be structured this way:

Heading:
● TOPIC: Juvenile Crime and Violence as an Effect of Socio-economic Conditions
● COUNTRY: Your Country’s Name (Short Name or Official Name)
● COMMITTEE: UNICEF
● SCHOOL: Your School
● DELEGATES: Your Names (Your Class: 3BC or 3D)

Paragraph I: Introduction - Why do you (and why should others) care about this topic?
● Introduce the topic. Give background information, statistics, and quotes.
● You may introduce how this issue affects your country OR countries similar to yours.
● Be sure to defend country’s position (even if you personally disagree!)

Paragraph II: Domestic (National) Actions - How does/has this topic affect your country?
● Past policies and actions related to youth crime and violence in your country! Be sure to
mention both the type of crime/violence, and the socio-economic conditions that caused
it.
● Current situation and actions in your country: Be sure to use Articles to describe the
situation. This is a good paragraph to use quotes from speakers, statistics, and facts.
● How does/has your country dealt with bullying?

Paragraph III: International Actions - What has your country dealt with topic globally?
● Past resolutions and agreements that your country took part in
● Current global issues, agreements (treaties), and organizations related to youth crime and
violence that your country is involved in. Has your country dealt with young refugees?

Paragraph IV: Future Resolution - What are 2 ways to deal this topic as a committee?
This is what your country believes should be done about the issue.
● Focus on working with other countries/organi-ations
● Resolutions must focus on all countries not simply on your country’s specific needs
● Give at least TWO (2) proposals for future actions to solve the problem.
● Each Resolution should answer the questions of (Who, What, When, Where, Why, and
How it will be paid for?)

Additional Position Paper Guidelines:

● Must​​ be 1 - 1.5 Pages long, single spaced, with size 12 font and very formal language.
● Must​​ have at least 3 statistics or quotes to support your country’s position.
● Must ​have 2 possible ideas for resolutions in the final paragraph.
● Must ​Cite your Sources. We will use MLA Format. Use easybib.com to make a list of
websites you are using.
Global Classrooms || ​Position Paper: Writing the Paper ​|| Date Due:_______________

Example Position Paper

TOPIC: Juvenile Crime and Violence as an Effect of Socio-economic Conditions

COUNTRY: Mali
COMMITTEE: UNICEF
SCHOOL: IES Mirasierra
DELEGATES: Your Names (Your Class: 3BC/3D)

Throughout history Mali has faced severe problems and conflicts. It was and it still is one
of the most unstable countries in the world. Some issues in Mali include: corrupt political forces,
terrorist groups, and the high rate of unemployment. According to the CIA World Fact book,
juveniles make up more than half of the population and the education expectancy is only eight
years old. The Malian government spends only 4.3 percent of their GDP on education. Due to the
terrorist activity in Mali, teachers flee schools in fear of attack, which leads to school closure.
For example, UNICEF reports that 79 percent of schools remain closed in Kidal. As a result, half
of the population lacks proper education. Because they are not educated, youth are prone to
committing crimes or joining radical terrorist groups. Many young people in Mali resort to
violence as a means of survival. Mali is dedicated to rebuilding and strengthening the
educational system, as lack of education is one of the main factors that leads juveniles to commit
crime.
We believe that Mali’s children should not suffer from the increasing insecurity and
instability. Therefore, many actions have been taken, including actions focusing on improving
educational conditions. UNICEF is helping with the campaign ‘Every Child Counts,’ which
focuses on giving children back their right to education. This campaign has spread through the
areas of Gao, Mopti, Segou, Kidal and Timbuktu. ‘Every Child Counts’ provides teachers with
training materials, students with learning kits, and accelerated learning plans for students to learn
from home. While the program has been a success, the funds are very limited. Mali needs further
funding in order to guarantee educational opportunities for young people. In addition to these
effects, Mali receives support from another ONG called ‘Save the Children,’ which focuses
attention on revising curricula and enhancing educational quality in the classroom. With a high
range of children beginning to graduate from the sixth grade, there is an urgent need for staff in
grades seven to nine. These programs will benefit all children in need of education.

On an international level, Mali has worked extensively with the United Nations in order
to restore peace in the country. The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization
Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), with a current authorization of 15,209 peacekeepers, was
established by Security Council resolution 2100 on April 25th, 2013, with the aim of achieving
security and peace. Several countries in the United Nations have contributed to the approved
MINUSMA fund, which protects the rights of our youth. Although Mali has been able to
accomplish some actions in relation to juvenile crime, we feel that the need of further
international effort is crucial and as a worldwide issue, cooperation with other countries is
essential.
Global Classrooms || ​Position Paper: Writing the Paper ​|| Date Due:_______________

Mali foresees that with improvements in education, levels of juvenile crime will decrease,
as young people can focus on preparing for their future careers, rather than committing crimes
and joining radical terrorist groups. After deeply exploring the roots of juvenile crime, we
recommend the creation of a program to increase awareness of the issues faced by Malian
children via telecommunications. The objective of this program is to collect enough funds
donated from viewers to reach the budget required for the ‘Every Child Counts’ campaign.
Additionally, Mali would like to create a program in which other countries are involved in the
recruitment of volunteer, experienced teachers, as most of them have fled the country because of
insecurity and closing of schools. In conclusion, Mali believes that the rehabilitation of the
educational system and raising global awareness are key steps towards reducing juvenile crime
and violence.

Bibliography

"Media Centre." ​UNICEF Mali - Media Centre - Press Release: More than 380,000
Children out of School in Northern Mali​. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2017.
https://www.unicef.org/mali/media_centre_9854.html

"Mali." ​Save the Children​. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2017.

http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6150453/k.B24A/Mali.htm

"The World Factbook: MALI." ​Central Intelligence Agency​. Central Intelligence Agency,
12 Jan. 2017. Web. 15 Jan. 2017.
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ml.html

"United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali

(MINUSMA)." ​United Nations​. United Nations, n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2017.
http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/minusma/