Committee Name

Committee Topic
Country Name
POSITION PAPER
A.

Brief Background of the Topic

Historical background and causes of the problem.
What nations directly involved with or affected by the issue?
What effect does this problem have on the international community?

B.

United Nations Involvement

How is the UN involved? How did it originally become involved and what actions has
the UN taken on this issue (i.e. resolutions, conferences, aid contributed etc.)?
Site organs, NGOs and other UN affiliated groups which are involved in the situation.

C.

Country Policy and Involvement

Your nations involvement (if any) with the topic.
Your nations position and policy on the topic and opinion on the UNs actions regarding
the topic.
Your nations past actions regarding the topic (i.e. voting records, resolutions sponsored,
conferences attended, and conventions signed.)
Your nations proposals or plans in dealing with the issue.
Instructions:
Paragraph form
One page per topic (it is okay for a work cited to carry over to a second page)
Font size: 11 minimum (no smaller)
Font style: Times New Roman (no other)
Single spacing, paragraph form
1-inch margins on all sides
DO NOT include maps, graphs, drawings, etc. List only statistics if applicable to the format and
topic.
Committee name must be on the position paper (Novice 1Novice 3, etc.)
WORK CITED!!!

Advanced Delegates:

Advanced delegates face an Open Agenda. As such, we will NOT require a position paper
submission from our Advanced Delegates.

Novice Delegates:

Novice delegates will turn in a position paper for the selected topic. One position paper per
country, per committee.
Novice delegates will email their position paper to gahrnovice@gmail.com as an attachment,
preferably saved in rich text format (RTF). Also, cut and paste the document into the body of the
email in case there are difficulties with attachments.
The committee name must be in the subject box of the email and on the top of the position paper.
The deadline for submission of position papers will be 11:59:59 pm on Wednesday 3/30/2016.

Third Committee
Family Planning
Colombia
Position Paper
All humans have the ability to reproduce and create life, regardless of the political stature of
their home country. However, not all people have equal access to family planning, contraceptive
methods, and reproductive health care programs due to the country in which they live. Since the topic
had been considered taboo in the past, the importance of family planning had not been internationally
discussed until the most recent decades. Family planning should be available to all citizens of the
world because it directly affects everyone. Most developed countries have more information and
assistance available to those interested, but ironically, the under developed nations that need the most
help are the countries that receive the least aid. In all countries, family planning is vital; it makes
contraceptives methods available to families to stop unwanted pregnancies and the spread of sexually
transmitted diseases, such as the highly infectious HIV/AIDS virus. It enables planned pregnancies to
proceed with more safety, making sure pregnant women are in the right condition to deliver with
regular obstetric check ups. Because all countries in the world are somehow affected by these issues
it should be a priority to ensure all countries get the family planning and care they deserve. It is the
responsibility of the international community to work together to improve and maintain reproductive
health issues, because this, quite literally, affects the future of the human race.
Until the early 1990s, the topics of pregnancy and contraception had not been discussed on an
international level. Most of the foremost family planning centers were based in developed countries,
and available to people at certain social and economic levels. The Cairo Conference on Population
and Development in 1994 was the first conference where family planning had been a priority. Since
then, procreation and reproductive health have become more openly important. The leaders of the
international community have been striving to pass resolutions that stop unsafe practices, encourage
medical care, and make contraception more available, as well as organize divisions and programs
devoted to family care. Such groups include the UN Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) and the
Maternal and Newborn Health/Safe Motherhood Unit of WHO, as well as various local groups such
as the US based International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). In difficult political situations,
groups such as the Agency Working Group for Reproductive Health I Refugee Situations and NGOs
have worked together to distribute contraceptive and medical aid.
Colombia, like all countries, is affected by this problem. Although it is amongst the most
populous nations in South America, it is not considered fully developed, because a majority of its
population lives in rural environments, with little to with the modern world. Colombia is a country
with deep cultural roots, and influenced by its ties to Spanish America and the Roman Catholic
Church. Colombians generally believe in using contraception, in fact, Colombia is known for its use
of female sterilization as a contraceptive form. Although open to new ideas, Colombia is yet to see
real progress in the increasing availability of contraceptive care, and even then, follow up counseling
and care is needed to make these programs successful. The most effective solution to the growing
problem of necessary reproductive care is the education of the public of the risks of unplanned
pregnancies, the spread of STDs and STIs and the benefits of a quality family planning program
could offer. The possibilities are endless for developing countries that are ready for positive action,
and although not fully prepared, Colombia is among the countries that acknowledge a growing
problem and are ready to commit to family planning programs.