Citing Sources Effectively

Citing UN Documents

UN documents have unique identifiers. Knowing these makes you look professional and makes your sources verifiable.

UN Document Symbols

Every UN document has a symbol: A/RES/78/190 means:

• A = General Assembly
• RES = Resolution
• 78 = 78th session
• 190 = Document number

Other prefixes: S/ = Security Council, E/ = ECOSOC, A/HRC/ = Human Rights Council

Citation Examples

Resolution: United Nations General Assembly, Resolution 78/190, 'The right to privacy in the digital age,' A/RES/78/190 (19 December 2023).

Secretary-General Report: United Nations Secretary-General, 'Report on the situation of human rights in country X,' A/78/345 (15 September 2023).

Treaty: Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, opened for signature 1 July 1968, UNTS vol. 729, No. 10485.

Government Statement: Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations, 'Statement at the 78th General Assembly General Debate,' 23 September 2023.

Practical Tips

• Use footnotes (not in-text citations) for position papers — they're cleaner and match diplomatic writing style.
• Cite the document symbol (A/RES/78/190) alongside the title so anyone can find it in the UN Digital Library.
• When in doubt about format, check your conference's rules. Some specify Chicago, others are flexible.

Going Deeper

Mastery of this topic comes from sustained practice in committee, debate room, and study circle, not from any single lesson. The most successful MUN delegates, debate competitors, and political-research practitioners treat each new concept as a building block for the next conference, tournament, or written brief.

Connecting to Practice

When you encounter this concept in committee, ask yourself three questions:

1. How does this apply to my current position? A delegate representing Brazil on UNSC reform applies political-economic concepts differently than one representing the United States. A debate competitor preparing the affirmative case on a particular topic applies analytical frameworks differently than one preparing the negative.
2. What evidence supports my application? Mastery requires moving beyond abstract concept to specific cited evidence. Build the habit of finding 2-3 primary sources that ground your application of any concept.
3. What counter-arguments would the strongest opposition raise? Anticipating opposition is the single highest-leverage skill in competitive activities. The best delegates and debaters prepare for the strongest version of opposing arguments, not the weakest.

Building Your Resource Library

Develop a personal library of go-to sources for the concepts and issues that matter most for your work. For most MUN and debate competitors, the core library includes:

• Primary documents: UN resolutions, treaty texts, government statements relevant to your committee or topic.
• Quality secondary sources: think-tank reports (CFR, Brookings, CSIS, Chatham House), peer-reviewed journal articles, recognized news outlets.
• Historical context: foundational books and articles on your topic area.
• Recent developments: news in the last 90 days that affects your position.

Why Sustained Practice Matters

The difference between bronze-level and gold-level performance in MUN and debate is not raw intelligence — it is hours of structured practice. Recognized champions typically practice 5-10 hours per week between competitions, not the night before. Build sustainable practice habits, and your performance will improve cumulatively across seasons.