Ever been in the position of preparing for an MUN, drowning in the 15 tabs in your chrome history and then ending up with a mix of random websites, news sites and the occasional Wikipedia article?

It’s insanely overwhelming, unreliable, and, let’s face it, not impressive to the Chair when your best evidence is a 2016 Wikipedia article.

But guess what? Every problem including this has a solution.. or maybe a small cheatcode: The UN Digital Library.

Think of it as the UN’s personal vault. It has everything from resolutions to voting records. It’s public, free, and basically the most underused MUN resource out there. If you learn how to use it, you’ll not only write better position papers but also deliver speeches which sound like you’re actually representing your country instead of winging it.

Enough about the background, let us drive straight into the topic!

What exactly is the “UN Library”? 

At its core, the UN Digital Library is the UN’s official online archive. If the UN has published something, debated it or voted on it, there are high chances that it’s there.

You’ll find:

• Resolutions: The official decisions
• Meeting Records: Who said what in the actual debates.
• Voting Records: Who voted what; yes, no, abstain.
• Reports: Updates from the Secretary General, UNGA, UNSC, ECOSOC etc.
• Treaties & Conventions: Legal agreements between countries.

So instead of relying on second hand articles summarising “what the UN said” you can pull the actual words of the UN itself. Right from the source; original, authentic and the best.

Why should delegates care?

It’s simple, because quoting real UN docs is a game-changer. Most delegates don’t go beyond the international news forums. So if you show up with actual UN records, you’ll stand out instantly! 

Let us take examples from Indraprastha MUN’s very own agendas for the 3rd chapter:

• In WHA, while debating substance abuse and suicide prevention, you can directly cite WHO or UNGA resolutions dealing with public health crises.
• In UNW, while talking about abortion access or sexual violence, you can reference past CEDAW or UNHRC reports. 
• In IAEA, you can actually track Iran’s nuclear programme through the actual IAEA reports and past Board of Governors’ resolutions.

See the difference? Instead of sounding like someone giving just opinions, you’ll sound like a diplomat grounding arguments in real UN precedent.

The Bible Of Model United Nations: UN Charter

In addition to these Resolutions, Treaties, and Conventions we might search the UN Library for, it’s imperative to learn about the backbone of the UN and all of its Organs: the UN Charter.

The Charter of the United Nations, or the UN Charter, is basically the constitution of the whole organization. Not only does it define the basic work and functionality of the UN, but it also lays out the vision, responsibilities, and limitations of its main organs. From the Security Council ensuring international peace and security, to the General Assembly acting as the world’s debate chamber, to the International Court of Justice settling disputes under international law, each organ finds its role and authority within this document. Alongside them, the Economic and Social Council drives development and cooperation, the Trusteeship Council (though now inactive) reminds us of the UN’s role in decolonization, and the Secretariat, led by the Secretary-General, keeps the entire machinery running.
In short, the UN Charter isn’t just paperwork; it’s the foundation that holds the organization together. For a Model UN delegate, understanding it means understanding how real-world diplomacy actually works.

Why Reading the UN Charter Matters Before an MUN

Before stepping into an MUN committee, it is essential to at least once read, understand, or go through the UN Charter. This is because the Charter does not simply outline rules; it explains why committees exist in the first place. It is the founding document that gives life to every organ, every office, and every specialized agency of the United Nations. Without it, there would be no framework for international cooperation, no blueprint for peacekeeping, and no foundation for debate.

When you sit in UNGA-DISEC, you are stepping into one of the main committees of the General Assembly, responsible for disarmament and security. In UNCSW, you are part of a functional commission that falls under the Economic and Social Council and works on women’s rights and gender equality. Similarly, UNHRC is a body within the UN system that directly addresses human rights issues worldwide, while UN Women functions as a specialized UN entity devoted entirely to women’s empowerment.

On the technical side, committees such as the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) operate as specialized agencies outside the six main organs but remain closely tied to the UN framework. The World Health Assembly (WHA) serves as the decision-making body of the World Health Organization, while UNEP functions as the UN’s environmental arm and addresses climate and sustainability challenges. In addition, relatively newer or issue-specific platforms such as UN Ocean exist to handle global maritime concerns, all rooted in the UN’s mandate. Finally, the International Press (IP) is unique to MUNs, since it mirrors how media interacts with international diplomacy and ensures accountability and narrative in global debates.

Knowing where your committee fits in the larger UN structure is not merely trivia. It gives you clarity about what powers your committee has, what limits it faces, and how it interacts with other bodies. A delegate who understands this does not just debate; they strategize. They write resolutions that are grounded in reality, speak with authority, and stand out because they are backed by knowledge of how things actually work in the UN system.

In short, reading the Charter before an MUN equips you with the map and the compass so that when the committee begins, you are not just participating but leading with purpose.

How to Master the UN Charter before participating?

Your strategic journey begins by locating the soul of the organization: the Preamble and Chapter I (Purposes and Principles). This section is the UN’s vow to the world, and it is the key to seizing the moral high ground. Especially, when you open a speech in UNHRC or UNEP, state clearly that your resolution directly fulfills the foundational Article 1(3) mandate. This instantly elevates your proposal from a simple idea to a Charter-backed necessity.

From that moral authority, you must pinpoint the legal authority of your specific committee. Don’t read the Charter page-by-page, but use your PDF reader like a GPS. For instance, if you are in UNGA-DISEC, search for “General Assembly” to find Chapter IV. There, Article 11(1) grants the GA the precise power to recommend on “disarmament and the regulation of armaments.” By citing this number, you demonstrate an exact understanding of your committee’s legal limits and full potential. Similarly, for social bodies like UNCSW or UN Women, search for “Economic and Social Council” (ECOSOC) to find Chapter X. Look at Article 62(1), which gives ECOSOC the mandate to initiate studies on “social, and related matters”; this is the legal foundation that allows these functional bodies to exist and set powerful global standards.

Finally, master the ultimate argument used by the Specialized Agencies like the WHA (Health). These are technical partners, not main organs, and their unique legal status is found by searching for “Specialized Agency.” This reveals Articles 57 and 63, which establish their “relationship” with the UN. This knowledge offers the strategic move: when drafting a policy in the WHA, you don’t just ask for cooperation; you demand it by referencing the Member States’ collective vow in Article 56 to take “joint and separate action” with the UN to achieve its goals. By referencing the Charter in this layered way, you ensure your arguments are not just well-presented, but historically and legally undeniable.

That’s fine, but how to exactly surf through the thousands of documents without getting lost?

Here’s a simple workflow to explore the website:

First off, define your goal.

Don’t just type “mental health” and hope for the best. Narrow it down. Ask yourself the following questions:

• Do I want my country’s voting history?
• Do I need recent resolutions?
• Am I looking for debates to see how states argued? 

Secondly, Search smart!

Use some keywords to narrow down the results:

• Search “mental health AND suicide prevention AND resolution” ; filter by WHO/WHA.
• Search “IAEA AND Iran AND nuclear”; filter by IAEA Board of Governors, past 10 years.
• Search “abortion AND sexual violence AND UN Women” ; filter by reports.

Tip: Avoid vague searches like “human rights”, if you don’t wish to drown in irrelevant pdfs. Be specific, know what exactly you want.

Third Step, Skim like a PRO

Don’t read 80 pages word for word. As mentioned before, know what you want.

• Resolutions: Jump to operative clauses.
• Reports: Go straight to “recommendations” or “conclusions”.
• Meeting Records: Skim for your country’s statements.

Eg: Say you’re a delegate in UNW. If you’re researching marital rape, you do not need the entire transcript but instead just your country’s stance and references to CEDAW General Recommendations.

Finally, Save and Organise!

Arrange everything in folders. Eg: “Reports”, “Resolutions” and “Voting Data” and make sure to LABEL CLEARLY. Trust me, you will definitely be thanking yourself when drafting speeches at 1 am (don’t worry, we’ve all been there!)

Tip: Write primarily important data by hand to remember it thoroughly.

The Application: How UN Docs can give you that supercharger rush in an MUN!

We learnt about what it is, now let’s learn how to actually use this research in an MUN.

Position Papers

Instead of vague claims, ground your arguments!

Eg: “Referring to IAEA Board of Governors Resolution GOV/2022/34, which raised concerns about Iran’s enrichment levels, Israel stresses the urgency of stronger monitoring to maintain regional security”

Tip: Understand codes of the document. Here GOV/2022/34 can be broken into 3 parts:

1. GOV: Board of Governors
2. 2022: The year it was published
3. 34: The sequential number of that document in that year.

Boom, now your position paper looks researched, not recycled.

Speeches

You can sprinkle in some facts to sound credible and immediately get that “main character energy” in your committee!

Eg: “As highlighted in UN Women’s 2023 report on gender justice, survivors of marital rape remain systematically excluded from legal frameworks in over 40 member states. This silence is unacceptable.”

This shows that instead of just debating, you’re backing arguments with real data. 

Bloc Formation

Voting Records = Your strategy guide.

Eg: In UNCSW, countries backing Resolution 1325 of UNSC usually join rights-focused blocs, while quieter states lean on cultural or national approaches.

NOTE: check the receipts so you don’t pitch something your country would never support.

Drafting Resolutions

UN Documents are your template. Don’t just borrow the format, borrow their language

• Preambular phrases: “Recalling WHA Resolution 73.10…”
• Operative phrases: “Encourages Member States to strengthen monitoring mechanisms…”

By echoing UN style, your draft reads like a real resolution instead of a report writing question with 0 practice.

Common mistakes made by delegates

Mistakes are part of the MUN journey, and here’s what some wish they knew sooner:

• Hoarding PDFs: In one MUN, a delegate downloaded every mental health report they could find. By the time debate began, they had 37 PDFs and no idea where to start. The takeaway? Focus on quality over quantity. Only collect what’s truly relevant to your agenda and portfolio.
• Relying on outdated info: Once someone cited a 1972 resolution thinking it was “classic precedent.” The Chair politely reminded it wasn’t useful for a 2025 debate. Stick to the last 10 years; that’s where the real action is.
  
  
• Missing context: Highlighting a resolution without understanding why it passed led to the argument sounding hollow because of the ignorance toward the geopolitical tensions, compromises, and debates behind it. Always check the ‘why’ behind resolutions.
  
  
• Ignoring your country’s stance: Imagine opposing the Sharia Law as the delegate of Afghanistan or Iran… exactly. Knowing your country’s official position isn’t optional but your credibility lifeline.
  
  
• Leaving research unused: All the PDFs, notes, and reports don’t matter if you don’t apply them. That knowledge only counts when it shapes your speeches, position papers, and strategy in committee.
  
  

Realistic walkthrough with few of Indraprastha’s very own agendas for this year.

• UN Oceans
  • Search: “UN Ocean AND marine resources AND climate change.
  • Find: UN report on overfishing and coral reef loss tied to rising sea temps.
  • Country Check: Maldives, a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) pushed for stricter protections, while China (major fishing power) resisted limits.
  • Apply: Use the UN report to show how biodiversity is under threat and why it matters for people’s lives. In your speech, hit with the numbers, like collapsing fish stocks to make the urgency real. Then, think about allies: you might team up with the Maldives and other small island nations to challenge big industrial fishing powers, or work with major fishing countries like China depending on your stance. It’s about combining facts, urgency, and smart partnerships to make your case.
• UNEP
  • Search: “UNEP AND Climate Change AND Migration.”
  • Find: UNEP briefing on millions displaced by floods and desertification.
  • Country Check: Bangladesh called for global frameworks, while the United States resisted binding obligations.
  • Apply: For your position paper, use UNEP’s data to show how many people are being displaced by climate impacts. In your speech, quote warnings about how these crises are setting back sustainable development. When building your bloc, you could team up with Bangladesh and other vulnerable countries to push for recognition of climate refugees, while being aware that countries like the U.S. may resist; or take the opposite approach depending on your country’s stance.

Final Thoughts

The UN Digital Library isn’t just another website but the most powerful free research tool, ignored by countless delegates. Smart use instantly makes your papers stronger, speeches sharper, and debate strategy packed.

No need to read millions of pages, as mentioned before, it’s extremely important to know exactly what you want based on your country, agenda and committee. Once you start using real UN docs, there is no going back. The difference will instantly be noticed, not just in how the committee perceives you, but in how confident you feel speaking.

So the next time you’re prepping for an MUN, don’t just google. Go straight to the source. Guess what? The UN has already written half your speeches, and it’s you who must find them.