Guide to Writing a Resolution
The resolution is written in the format of a long sentence. The draft resolution is very important because it is what you will lobby and merge from. It contains several parts and most significantly, explains a call(s) for action that your country according to your policy thinks will solve the question being addressed.
No resolution should be more than two pages long. All resolutions must be separated into perambulatory and operative sections. Resolutions should not condemn anything or another country. In fact, ideally they should be conciliatory in nature. This is not an opportunity to make ideological statement or to pick fights with others. Condemnation most often leads to alienation and decreases the chance of success in bringing about international consensus to solve world problems.
1. The Heading
The Heading at the top of the resolution is very important as it is used to facilitate the work of the Secretariat and the Committee Chair in processing the draft resolution. The Heading includes the subject of the resolution (agenda topic), the name of the Committee/Council to which it will be presented, and the name or names of the sponsoring countries.
2. The Text
A. Preamble
This part of the resolution is designed to explain the purpose of the draft and to state the primary reasons for support of the operative clauses which follow. The perambulatory clauses often refer to earlier United Nations resolutions, appropriate articles of the United Nations Charter, or other United Nations actions. It begins in all caps with the name of the body to which the resolution is being submitted. The preamble may not be amended.
B. Operative Clauses
The numbered operative clauses take the form of recommendations for actions or a statement of opinions concerning the situation. Operative clauses are the statement of policy in a resolution. The draft may request action by the United Nations members, Secretariat, or other United Nations bodies. The operative clauses begin with a verb to denote an action, and each clause usually addresses no more than one specific aspect of the action to be taken. Operative clauses may be amended.
Sample perambulatory phrases:
Affirming Expecting Having studied
Alarmed by Expressing its appreciation Having heard
Approving Expressing its satisfaction Having received
Aware of Fulfilling Keeping in mind
Believing Fully aware Noting with deep concern
Bearing in mind Fully alarmed Noting with satisfaction
Confident Fully believing Noting further
Contemplating Further deploring Noting with approval
Convinced Further recalling Observing
Declaring Further seeks Realizing
Deeply aware that (of) Guided by Reaffirming
Deeply concerned Having adopted Recalling
Deeply disturbed Having considered Seeking
Deeply regretting Having considered further Taking into account
Desiring Having devoted attention Taking into consideration
Emphasizing Having examined Taking note
Welcoming Viewing with appreciation
Accepts Emphasizes Reaffirms
Affirms Encourages Recommends
Approves Endorses Reminds
Authorizes Expresses its appreciation Regrets
Calls Expresses its hope Requests
Calls for Further invites Singularly demands
Calls upon Further proclaims Solemnly affirms
Condemns Further reminds Strongly condemns
Confirms Further recommends Suggests
Congratulates Further resolves Supports
Considers Further requests Take note of
Declares Have resolved Trusts
Declares accordingly Invites Urges
Deplores Notes
Draws the attention Proclaims
QUESTION OF: Economic aid and development in developing countries
SUBMITTED BY: Benin
FORUM: The Economic and Social Council
1 RECOGNIZING the situation of need in many developing nations concerning the humanitarian issue
2 of poor, if existing, housing, inefficient agricultural methods, lack of clean water, and lack of basic
3 medical needs,
4
5 GRATEFUL for the aid given by developed countries to Benin in the form of loans and development
6 programs,
7
8 BELIEVING THAT countries could mutually benefit through the establishment of development
9 programs such as the ones in place of Benin,
10
11 CALLS UPON able nations to send building materials and engineers to help educate and facilitate the
12 building of shelter by and for people of developing countries;
13
14 SUGGESTS that developed countries offer agricultural assistance in the form of education and send
15 money to developing countries working in conjunction with the World Food Program (WFP) with the
16 aim of making the use of wasted farm land more efficient and reducing the threat of hunger;
17
18 DRAWS ATTENTION TO the services of the World Health Organization (WHO) and encourages
19 developing nations to work in conjunction with WHO in establishing a plan with the goal of universal
20 immunization, vaccination, and health education.
SUBJECT OF RESOLUTION: The Ongoing Conflict in Iraq
SUBMITTED TO: Security Council
SUBMITTED BY: Libya
CO-SUBMITTED BY: Egypt, Mongolia, Argentina and Congo
1 Affirming the status of Iraq as a sovereign and independent state,
2
3 Alarmed by the presence of some 156,000 foreign military troops within the boundaries of this
4 sovereign state,
5
6 Deeply concerned that the presence of foreign military with the boundaries of a sovereign state not
7 only breaks the international understanding of sovereignty that has been followed since the Treaty of
8 Westphalia in 1648, but in breaking with international custom, is a threat to the sovereignty of all
9 countires,
10
11 Recalling Resolution 1441 holding Iraq in material breach of relevant resolutions including resolution
12 687, specifically in the unwillingness of Iraq of Iraq to cooperate with United Nations inspectors and
13 the IAEA ,
14
15 Recalling Further the letter from Iraq dated 13 November 2002 to Secretary General Kofi Annan
16 indicating the acceptance of Iraq to the resumption of on-site United Nations and IAEA inspections,
17
18 Recognizing the 15th Consolidated Report of the IAEA to the Security Council on the 11 of March
19 2003 acknowledging that Iraq had provided access to all sites requested by the IAEA,
20
21 Noting with Deep Concern that despite the ongoing peaceful discussions with Iraq regarding their non-
22 conformity with previous resolutions, and compliance with recent resolutions, a coalition of 48
23 member nations of the United Nations launched an attack on the sovereign state of Iraq on 20 March
24 2003,
25
26 CONDEMS the use of military force by member nations against another sovereign member nation;
27
28 DEPLORES the violation of international law caused by this disregard to the sovereignty of a
29 member state;
30
31 CALLS FOR all countries currently stationing troops within Iraq to withdraw any troops remaining
32 within the boundaries of this sovereign state;
33
34 AFFIRMS the role of the United Nations and IAEA inspectors in determining the compliance of Iraq
35 with previous Security Council resolutions;
36
37 INVITES member nations to make decisions about any continued use force through the International
38 body of the United Nations which encourage discussion, negotiation and understanding on the part of
39 all parties, instead of by unilateral means;
40
41 REAFFIRMS the purpose the United Nations to maintain international peace and security;
42
43 DECIDES to remain seized of the matter.