RAFFLES MODEL UNITED NATIONS 2023

POSITION PAPER
GUIDELINES
FOR ICAO

TEMPORA MUTANTUR
 RMUN ICAO 2023
Position Paper Guidelines

Dear Delegates,

As a compulsory pre-conference deliverable, every Delegate is required to submit a Position Paper,

expressing their allocated portfolio’s position on the topic discussed in their council, while also
demonstrating a good grasp of the issue and preparing solutions that can be raised during the
conference. As such, this set of guidelines serves to aid Delegates in their preparation for RMUN by
outlining the structure of and expectations for the Position Paper.

Regards,
Secretariat of the Raffles Model United Nations 2023
secretariat.rmun@gmail.com

Note: This document outlines the modified set of Position Paper guidelines that only applies to the ICAO
council. For all queries pertaining to this set of guidelines, please email icao.rmun23@gmail.com.

1
For ICAO, the topic of discussion is Airline Regulation. This can be broken down into three
sub-topics: environmentalism, consumer protection and competition. Considering the
multi-dimensional and relatively independent nature of the sub-topics, the word limit for your
Position Paper is 800 words. We urge you to use the word limit wisely and hope to see a discussion on
all three sub-topics.

For each sub-topic, you should consider the following:

1. Background of the Sub-topic (~30 words)
a. What is the historical development of the sub-topic? How has your allocation been
involved?
b. Why is the sub-topic significant?
2. Stance (~70 words)
a. What are your allocation’s priorities and interests, and how do they relate to the
sub-topic?
b. Has your allocation taken an explicit stance towards the sub-topic?
i. If so, what is it?
ii. If not, deduce your allocation’s stance towards the sub-topic based on its other
interests and attitudes towards other issues.
3. Proposed Solutions (~150 words)
a. What solutions can you propose to address specific elements of the sub-topic?
b. Can your solutions be feasibly implemented, and will they effectively solve the
problems posed by the sub-topic?
c. Are your solutions aligned with your stance, and will other stakeholders be agreeable to
such solutions?
d. What outcome do you hope to achieve by the end of the conference?

2
In your Position Paper, please adhere to the following format:

● Font: Times New Roman

● Font size: 12
● Line spacing: 1.5
● Alignment: Justified
● Word limit: 800 words (indicate your word count at the end)
● Citation: APA (footnotes and bibliography)
● Submission format: PDF file (.pdf)

Furthermore, at the top of your document, please indicate:

● Your Council (The International Civil Aviation Organisation)

● Your Country / Portfolio Allocation
● The Topic (The Question of Airline Regulation)
● Your Full Name (as in NRIC)
● Your School / Institution / Delegation Code (for independent delegations)

A sample Position Paper has been provided below for your reference. Please note that the structure of
the provided sample does not apply to ICAO (due to the differing word limit), but serves as a good
reference on how to structure your arguments and solutions.

As ICAO is a double-delegation council, double delegates should work together and submit one
Position Paper. Do note that all Position Papers are due on 20 May, 2359 to provide sufficient time
for your Council Chairpersons to mark and return them with feedback. Should you require an
extension, kindly send an email to the council email address (icao.rmun23@gmail.com) by 13 May,
2359, stating clearly the reason for your extension. Failure to submit a Position Paper without a
request for an extension may result in disqualification from all awards.

Please note that all extension requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis, subject to your Chairs’
approval. Please do not hesitate to drop your chairs an email should you have any questions.

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Sample Position Paper

Council: United Nations Security Council

Country: Ireland
Issue: The Question of the Reform of the UNSC
Name: Terrence Lock
School: Waffles Institution

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) was founded to maintain international peace and
security, reduce international tensions, and take legally binding action to prevent aggression, among
other lofty goals.1 However, the UNSC has for the most part failed to live up to these ideals in practice:
instead of protecting the weak and vulnerable, it has been repeatedly hijacked by superpowers pursuing
their own self-interest.2 Veto power has been brazenly wielded by superpowers to block actions with
near-consensus support, such as the condemnation of the Russian annexation of Crimea or of Israel’s
excessive use of force against Palestinians.3

In recent years, there have been a multitude of criticisms directed at the UNSC by increasingly jaded
and cynical member states. In addition to the use of the veto preventing the UNSC from addressing
atrocities effectively,4 and the ineffectiveness of Resolution 377A in resolving this issue, the permanent
membership of the UNSC has also been criticised for failing to reflect changing geopolitical realities as
nations rise to and fall from power.5 The non-permanent membership structure has also been criticised

1
United Nations Security Council. (n.d.). Functions and Powers. Retrieved May 31, 2021, from
https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/functions-and-powers
2
Glennon, M. J. (2003). Why the Security Council Failed. Foreign Affairs, 82(3), 16–35.
https://doi.org/10.2307/20033576
3
Pifer, S. (2020, March 17). Crimea: Six years after illegal annexation. Brookings Institute. Retrieved May 31, 2021, from
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2020/03/17/crimea-six-years-after-illegal-annexation/
4
Kuele, G., & Weiss, T. G. (2014, April 7). The Veto: Problems and Prospects. E-International Relations. Retrieved May 31,
2021, from https://www.e-ir.info/2014/03/27/the-veto-problems-and-prospects/
5
United Nations. (2020a, November 16). Security Council Must Reflect Twenty-First Century Realities, Delegates Tell
General Assembly, with Many Calling for Urgent Expansion of Permanent Seats. Retrieved May 31, 2021, from
https://www.un.org/press/en/2020/ga12288.doc.htm

4
as too small, with only ten members, and insufficiently representative, as developing regions are
severely underrepresented.6 More fundamentally, some have questioned the continued relevance of the
UNSC as regional players attempt to play a larger role in conflict resolution.7

Ireland seeks to cultivate an environment in which under-represented nations are able to have a voice,
clearly voicing their interests and concerns on the world stage especially with regard to humanitarian
solutions adopted to maintain peace and stability.89 To this end, Ireland has expressed its strong
support for more African representation in the UNSC and an expansion of non-permanent seats.1011
In council, Ireland will also seek to support other smaller states in a concerted effort to fight for fair
representation.

Ireland is also a member of the Accountability, Coherence, and Transparency (ACT) Group, a group
of 27 small countries which advocate for more open and efficient practices in the UNSC.12 Ireland thus
also supports more consultations with regional organisations when drafting resolutions, and limits on
veto power to ensure that the UNSC remains effective when faced with crimes against humanity.

6
United Nations. (2019a, November 25). Security Council Must Expand, Adapt to Current Realities or Risk Losing
Legitimacy, Delegates Tell General Assembly amid Proposals for Reform. Retrieved May 31, 2021, from
https://www.un.org/press/en/2019/ga12217.doc.htm
7
Recchia, S. (2020). Overcoming Opposition at the UNSC: Regional Multilateralism as a Form of Collective Pressure.
Journal of Global Security Studies, 5(2), 265–281. https://doi.org/10.1093/jogss/ogaa013
8
Carswell, S. (2021, January 1). Ireland takes seat on powerful UN Security Council, aiming to be ‘consensus builder.’ The
Irish Times. Retrieved May 31, 2021, from
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/ireland-takes-seat-on-powerful-un-security-council-aiming-to-be-consensus-bui
lder-1.4448190
9
Ireland. (n.d.). IRELAND - United Nations Security Council 2021–2022. Retrieved May 31, 2021, from
https://www.ireland.ie/global-diaspora/stories/ireland---united-nations-security-council-2021-2022.php
10
Dowd, C., & Schottli, J. (2021, February 3). Ireland and India on the UN Security Council. Institute for International
Conflict Resolution and Reconstruction. https://iicrr.ie/ireland-and-india-on-the-unsc/
11
Mawe, T. (2016, February 22). Informal meeting of the General Assembly on the Intergovernmental Negotiations on the
question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the
Council. Department of Foreign Affairs (Ireland). Retrieved May 31, 2021, from
https://www.dfa.ie/media/pmunny/speechesstatements/Statement-by-Ireland-on-Security-Council-reform-22-February-20
16.pdf
12
The Accountability, Coherence and Transparency (ACT) Group. (2019, May). Factsheet – Better Working Methods for
today’s UN Security Council. Retrieved May 31, 2021, from
https://www.eda.admin.ch/dam/eda/en/documents/aussenpolitik/internationale-organisationen/20190910-factsheet-act_
EN.pdf

5
The delegation of Ireland supports the introduction of a Veto Code of Conduct, like the one created
by the ACT Group,13 which would oblige P5 members to refrain from using their veto against
measures preventing mass atrocities (which can be determined by the ICJ). This would bolster the
legitimacy of the UNSC by making it more effective in serious cases.

Ireland also advocates for transparent and consistently-applied criteria by which to admit new
permanent members, who should not have veto power. This would ensure that the UNSC permanent
membership accurately reflects geopolitical realities, while preserving the efficiency of the council.

Finally, Ireland calls for an expansion of the non-permanent membership of the UNSC to 26
members, to improve regional representation and lend greater legitimacy to the council.

The delegation of Ireland looks forward to a lively and constructive debate with other countries on this
issue.

Word Count: 500

13
Accountability, Coherence and Transparency (ACT) Group. (2015, December). Code of Conduct regarding Security
Council action against genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes.
https://www.globalr2p.org/resources/code-of-conduct-regarding-security-council-action-against-genocide-crimes-against-h
umanity-or-war-crimes/

6
Bibliography

Accountability, Coherence and Transparency (ACT) Group. (2015, December). Code of Conduct
regarding Security Council action against genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes.
https://www.globalr2p.org/resources/code-of-conduct-regarding-security-council-action-again
st-genocide-crimes-against-humanity-or-war-crimes/
Campos, R. (2018, June 2). U.S. vetoes U.N. resolution denouncing violence against Palestinians.
Reuters. Retrieved May 31, 2021, from
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-palestine-un-vote-idUSKCN1IX5UW
Carswell, S. (2021, January 1). Ireland takes seat on powerful UN Security Council, aiming to be
‘consensus builder.’ The Irish Times. Retrieved May 31, 2021, from
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/ireland-takes-seat-on-powerful-un-security-council
-aiming-to-be-consensus-builder-1.4448190
Dowd, C., & Schottli, J. (2021, February 3). Ireland and India on the UN Security Council. Institute
for International Conflict Resolution and Reconstruction.
https://iicrr.ie/ireland-and-india-on-the-unsc/
Glennon, M. J. (2003). Why the Security Council Failed. Foreign Affairs, 82(3), 16–35.
https://doi.org/10.2307/20033576
Kuele, G., & Weiss, T. G. (2014, April 7). The Veto: Problems and Prospects. E-International Relations.
Retrieved May 31, 2021, from
https://www.e-ir.info/2014/03/27/the-veto-problems-and-prospects/
Ireland. (n.d.). IRELAND - United Nations Security Council 2021–2022. Retrieved May 31, 2021,
from
https://www.ireland.ie/global-diaspora/stories/ireland---united-nations-security-council-2021-
2022.php
Mawe, T. (2016, February 22). Informal meeting of the General Assembly on the Intergovernmental
Negotiations on the question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the

7
 Security Council and other matters related to the Council. Department of Foreign Affairs
(Ireland). Retrieved May 31, 2021, from
https://www.dfa.ie/media/pmunny/speechesstatements/Statement-by-Ireland-on-Security-Co
uncil-reform-22-February-2016.pdf
Pifer, S. (2020, March 17). Crimea: Six years after illegal annexation. Brookings Institute. Retrieved
May 31, 2021, from
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2020/03/17/crimea-six-years-after-illegal-
annexation/
Recchia, S. (2020). Overcoming Opposition at the UNSC: Regional Multilateralism as a Form of
Collective Pressure. Journal of Global Security Studies, 5(2), 265–281.
https://doi.org/10.1093/jogss/ogaa013
The Accountability, Coherence and Transparency (ACT) Group. (2019, May). Factsheet – Better
Working Methods for today’s UN Security Council. Retrieved May 31, 2021, from
https://www.eda.admin.ch/dam/eda/en/documents/aussenpolitik/internationale-organisation
en/20190910-factsheet-act_EN.pdf
United Nations Security Council. (n.d.). Functions and Powers. Retrieved May 31, 2021, from
https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/functions-and-powers
United Nations. (2020a, November 16). Security Council Must Reflect Twenty-First Century Realities,
Delegates Tell General Assembly, with Many Calling for Urgent Expansion of Permanent Seats.
Retrieved May 31, 2021, from https://www.un.org/press/en/2020/ga12288.doc.htm
United Nations. (2019a, November 25). Security Council Must Expand, Adapt to Current Realities or
Risk Losing Legitimacy, Delegates Tell General Assembly amid Proposals for Reform. Retrieved
May 31, 2021, from https://www.un.org/press/en/2019/ga12217.doc.htm