——-
North
a popular term for the rich industrialized countries generally located in the northern portion of the Northern Hemisphere; the counterpart of the South; see developed countries (DCs)
——-
North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC)
note - an extension of NATO
established - 8 November 1991
effective - 20 December 1991
aim - to form a forum to discuss cooperation concerning mutual political and security issues
members - (38) Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria,Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece,Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania,Luxembourg, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania,Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US,Uzbekistan
——-
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
established - 17 September 1949
aim - to promote mutual defense and cooperation
members - (16) Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, UK, US
——-
Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA)
established - NA 1958
aim - associated with OECD, seeks to promote the peaceful uses of nuclear energy
members - (23) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US
——-
Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)
note - also known as the London Suppliers Group
established - 1974
aim - to establish guidelines for exports of technical information, processing equipment for uranium enrichment and nuclear materials to countries of proliferation concern and regions of conflict and instability
members - (28) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland,Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania,Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US
——-
Organismo para la Proscripcion de las Armas Nucleares en la America Latina y el Caribe (OPANAL)
see Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL)
——-
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
established - 14 December 1960
effective - 30 September 1961
aim - to promote economic cooperation and development
members - (25) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland,France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg,Mexico, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,Turkey, UK, US
special member - (1) EU
——-
Organization of African Unity (OAU)
established - 25 May 1963
aim - to promote unity and cooperation among African states
members - (53) Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi,Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Coted'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, TheGambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia,Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Sao Tome andPrincipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan,Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
——-
Organization of American States (OAS)
established - 30 April 1948
effective - 13 December 1951
aim - to promote regional peace and security as well as economic and social development
members - (35) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba (excluded from formal participation since 1962), Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, US, Uruguay, Venezuela
observers - (31) Algeria, Angola, Austria, Belgium, Central AmericanParliament, Cyprus, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, EU, Finland, France, Germany,Greece, Holy See, Hungary, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea,Morocco, Netherlands, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, SaudiArabia, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia
——-
Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC)
established - 9 January 1968
aim - to promote cooperation in the petroleum industry
members - (10) Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE
——-
Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)
established - 18 June 1981
effective - 4 July 1981
aim - to promote political, economic, and defense cooperation
members - (7) Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
associate member - (1) British Virgin Islands
——-
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
established - 14 September 1960
aim - to coordinate petroleum policies
members - (12) Algeria, Gabon, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Venezuela
——-
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)
established - 22-25 September 1969
aim - to promote Islamic solidarity and cooperation in economic, social, cultural, and political affairs
members - (47 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan(suspended), Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin,Brunei, Burkina, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, TheGambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait,Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco,Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia,Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE, Yemen,Palestine Liberation Organization
observers - (4) Kazakhstan, Mozambique, Nigeria, "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus"
——-
Paris Club
see Group of 10
——-
Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)
established - 29 July 1899
aim - to facilitate the settlement of international disputes
members - (78) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia,Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China,Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala,Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan,Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico,Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay,Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Slovakia, Spain, SriLanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda,Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zimbabwe
——-
Population Commission
established - 3 October 1946
aim - Economic and Social Council organization dealing with population matters of importance to the UN
members - (27) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
——-
Rio Group (RG)
note - formerly known as Grupo de los Ocho, established in December 1986
established - NA 1988
aim - a consultation mechanism on regional Latin American issues
members - (11) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru (suspended), Uruguay, Venezuela; note-Panama was expelled in 1988; Peru was suspended after April 1992 coup
——-
Second World
another term for the traditionally Marxist-Leninist states with authoritarian governments and command economies based on the Soviet model; the term is fading from use; see centrally planned economies
——-
socialist countries in general, countries in which the government owns and plans the use of the major factors of production; note - the term is sometimes used incorrectly as a synonym for Communist countries
——-
South
a popular term for the poorer, less industrialized countries generally located south of the developed countries; the counterpart of the North; see less developed countries (LDCs)
——-
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
established - 8 December 1985
aim - to promote economic, social, and cultural cooperation
members - (7) Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
——-
South Pacific Commission (SPC)
established - 6 February 1947
effective - 29 July 1948
aim - to promote regional cooperation in economic and social matters
members - (27) American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, France, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, NZ, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau), Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, UK, US, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna, Western Samoa
——-
South Pacific Forum (SPF)
established - 5 August 1971
aim - to promote regional cooperation in political matters
members - (15) Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, NZ, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Western Samoa
observer - (1) Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau)
——-
South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement (SPARTECA)
established - NA 1981
aim - to redress unequal trade relationship of Australia and New Zealand with small island economies in Pacific region
members - (15) Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, NZ, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Western Samoa
——-
Southern African Customs Union (SACU)
established - 11 December 1969
aim - to promote free trade and cooperation in customs matters
members - (9) Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland
——-
Southern African Development Community (SADC)
note - evolved from the Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC)
established - 17 August 1992
aim - to promote regional economic development and integration
members - (10) Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe
——-
Southern Cone Common Market (MERCOSUR)
established - 26 March 1991
aim - regional economic cooperation
members - (4) Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay
——-
Statistical Commission
established - 21 June 1946
aim - Economic and Social Council organization dealing with development and standardization of national statistics of interest to the UN
members - (25) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
——-
Third World
another term for the less developed countries; the term is fading from use; see less developed countries (LDCs)
——-
underdeveloped countries
refers to those less developed countries with the potential for above- average economic growth; see less developed countries (LDCs)
——-
undeveloped countries
refers to those extremely poor less developed countries (LDCs) with little prospect for economic growth; see least developed countries (LLDCs)
——-
Union Douaniere et Economique de l'Afrique Centrale (UDEAC)
see Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC)
——-
United Nations (UN)
established - 26 June 1945
effective - 24 October 1945
aim - to maintain international peace and security and to promote cooperation involving economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems
members - (183 excluding Yugoslavia) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria,Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia,Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus,Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana,Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt,El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland,France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada,Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary,Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica,Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait,Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein,Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta,Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States ofMicronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal,Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama,Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar,Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincentand the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, SolomonIslands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, The FormerYugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu,Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire,Zambia, Zimbabwe; note - all UN members are represented in the GeneralAssembly
observers - (2 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Holy See, Switzerland, Palestine Liberation Organization
——-
United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM II)
note - successor to original UNAVEM
established - 20 December 1988
aim - established by the UN Security Council to verify the withdrawal of Cuban troops from Angola
members - (25) Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Congo, Czech Republic,Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, India, Ireland, Jordan, Malaysia, Morocco,Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain,Sweden, Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe
——-
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
note - acronym retained from the predecessor organization UN International Children's Emergency Fund
established - 11 December 1946
aim - to help establish child health and welfare services
members - (41) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
——-
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development(UNCTAD)
established - 30 December 1964
aim - to promote international trade
members - (187) all UN members plus Holy See, Switzerland, Tonga
——-
United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
established - 22 November 1965
aim - to provide technical assistance to stimulate economic and social development
members - (48) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
——-
United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF)
established - 31 May 1974
aim - established by the UN Security Council to observe the 1973 Arab- Israeli ceasefire
members - (4) Austria, Canada, Finland, Poland
——-
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
established - 16 November 1945
effective - 4 November 1946
aim - to promote cooperation in education, science, and culture
members - (178) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda,Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain,Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia,Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma,Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic,Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica,Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti,Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, EquatorialGuinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, TheGambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia,Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan,Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg,Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius,Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal,Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama,Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar,Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincentand the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands,Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland,Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, The Former Yugoslav Republic ofMacedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan,Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa,Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
associate members - (3) Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Netherlands Antilles
——-
United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
established - 15 December 1972
aim - to promote international cooperation on all environmental matters
members - (58) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
——-
United Nations Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP)
established - 4 March 1964
aim - established by the UN Security Council to serve as a peacekeeping force between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus
members - (8) Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Sweden, UK
——-
United Nations General Assembly
established - 26 June 1945
effective - 24 October 1945
aim - primary deliberative organ in the UN
members - (184) all UN members are represented in the General Assembly
——-
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
established - 17 November 1966
effective - 1 January 1967
aim - UN specialized agency that promotes industrial development especially among the members
members - (165) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia,Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus,Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana,Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde,Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo,Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador,Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia,Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland,Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea,Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta,Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique,Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman,Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland,Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, SaintLucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, SaudiArabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia,Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE,UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia(suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
——-
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
established - 19 March 1978
aim - established by the UN Security Council to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces, restore peace, and reestablish Lebanese authority in southern Lebanon
members - (10) Fiji, Finland, France, Ghana, Ireland, Italy, Nepal, Norway, Poland, Sweden
——-
United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM)
established - 9 April 1991
aim - established by the UN Security Council to observe and monitor the demilitarized zone established between Iraq and Kuwait
members - (33) Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Canada, China, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, France, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela ——-
United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP)
established - 13 August 1948
aim - established by the UN Security Council to observe the 1949 India-Pakistan ceasefire
members - (8) Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Uruguay
——-
United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara(MINURSO)
established - 29 April 1991
aim - established by the UN Security Council to supervise the referendum in Western Sahara
members - (26) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada,China, Egypt, France, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Honduras, Ireland, Italy,Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Switzerland, Tunisia,UK, US, Venezuela
——-
United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador (ONUSAL)
established - 20 May 1991
aim - established by the UN Security Council to verify ceasefire arrangements and to monitor the maintenance of public order pending the organization of a new National Civil Police
members - (16) Austria, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, France, Guyana, India, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Venezuela
——- United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG)
established - 1993 for a period of six months
aim - to verify compliance with the cease-fire agreement reached 27 July 1993 and investigate reports of violations of that agreement
members - (10) Austria, Bangladesh, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Poland, Sierra Leone, Sweden, Switzerland
——- United Nations Observer Mission Uganda-Rwanda (UNOMUR)
established - 1993 for six months
aim - to monitor the Uganda/Rwanda border to verify that no military assistance reaches Rwanda across the border
members - (10) Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Fiji, Hungary, Netherlands, Senegal Slovakia, Zimbabwe
——-
United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
established - 3 December 1949
effective - 1 January 1951
aim - to try to ensure the humanitarian treatment of refugees and find permanent solutions to refugee problems
members - (46) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil,Canada, China, Colombia, Denmark, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany,Greece, Holy See, Hungary, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Lesotho,Madagascar, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway,Pakistan, Philippines, Somalia, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania,Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UK, US, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire
——-
United Nations Operation in Mozambique (UNOMOZ)
established - 16 December 1992
aim - established by the UN Security Council to supervise the ceasefire
members - (18) Argentina, Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, Czech Republic, Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, India, Malaysia, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Uruguay, Zambia
——-
United Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM)
established - 24 April 1992
aim - established by the UN Security Council to facilitate an immediate cessation of hostilities, to maintain a ceasefire in order to promote a political settlement, and to provide urgent humanitarian assistance
members - (33) Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Botswana, Egypt,France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jordan,South Korea, Malaysia, Morocco, Namibia, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan,Romania, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, US, Zambia,Zimbabwe
——-
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
note - acronym retained from predecessor organization UN Fund for Population Activities
established - NA July 1967
aim - to assist in both developed and developing countries dealing with population problems
members - (51) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
——-
United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR)
established - 28 February 1992
aim - established by the UN Security Council to create conditions for peace and security required for the negotiation of an overall settlement of the "Yugoslav" crisis
members - (34) Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada,Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Ghana, India,Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Luxembourg, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria,Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,Tunisia, Ukraine, UK, Venezuela
——-
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the NearEast (UNRWA)
established - 8 December 1949
aim - to provide assistance to Palestinian refugees
members - (10) Belgium, Egypt, France, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, UK, US
——-
United Nations Secretariat
established - 26 June 1945
effective - 24 October 1945
aim - to serve as the primary administrative organ of the UN; a Secretary General is appointed for a five-year term by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council
——-
United Nations Security Council
established - 26 June 1945
effective - 24 October 1945
aim - to maintain international peace and security
permanent members - (5) China, France, Russia, UK, US
nonpermanent members - (10) elected for two-year terms by the UN GeneralAssembly; Brazil (1993-94), Cape Verde (1992-93), Djibouti (1993-94),Hungary (1992-93), Japan (1992-93), Morocco (1992-93), NZ (1993-94),Pakistan (1993-94), Spain (1993-94), Venezuela (1992-93)
——-
United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC)
established - 28 February 1992
aim - established by the UN Security Council to contribute to the restoration and maintenance of peace and to the holding of free elections
members - (45) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium,Brunei, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Egypt, Fiji,France, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan,Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway,Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Senegal, Singapore, Sweden,Thailand, Tunisia, UK, US, Uruguay
——-
United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO)
established - NA May 1948
aim - initially established by the UN Security Council to supervise the 1948 Arab-Israeli ceasefire and subsequently extended to work in the Sinai, Lebanon, Jordan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan
members - (19) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, US
——-
United Nations Trusteeship Council
established - 26 June 1945
effective - 24 October 1945
aim - to supervise the administration of the UN trust territories; only one of the original 11 trusteeships remains - the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau)
members - (5) China, France, Russia, UK, US
——-
Universal Postal Union (UPU)
established - 9 October 1874, affiliated with the UN 15 November 1947
effective - 1 July 1948
aim - UN specialized agency that promotes international postal cooperation
members-(185) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia,Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados,Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina,Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia,Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji,Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See,Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel,Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea,South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia,Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco,Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands,Netherlands Antilles, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, OverseasTerritories of the UK, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kittsand Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, SaoTome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka,Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand,The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad andTobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK,US, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia(suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
———
Warsaw Pact (WP)
was established 14 May 1955 to promote mutual defense; members met 1 July 1991 to dissolve the alliance; member states at the time of dissolution were Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and the USSR; earlier members included East Germany and Albania
——-
West African Development Bank (WADB)
note - also known as Banque Ouest-Africaine de Developpement (BOAD)
established - 14 November 1973
aim - to promote regional economic development and integration
members - (7) Benin, Burkina, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo
——-
West African Economic Community (CEAO)
note - acronym from Communaute Economique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest
established - 3 June 1972
aim - to promote regional economic development
members - (7) Benin, Burkina, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal
observers - (2) Guinea, Togo
——-
Western European Union (WEU)
established - 23 October 1954
effective - 6 May 1955
aim - mutual defense and progressive political unification
members - (9) Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK
associate members - (4) Greece, Iceland, Norway, Turkey
observers - (2) Denmark, Ireland
——-
World Bank
see International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
——-
World Bank Group
includes International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Development Association (IDA), and International Finance Corporation (IFC)
——-
World Confederation of Labor (WCL)
established - 19 June 1920 as the International Federation of Christian Trade Unions (IFCTU), renamed 4 October 1968
aim - to promote the trade union movement
members - (99 national organizations) Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda,Argentina, Aruba, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia,Bonaire Island, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde,Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire,Cuba, Curacao, Cyprus, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador,France, French Guiana, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guadeloupe,Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iran,Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg,Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Martinique, Mauritius, Mexico,Montserrat, Namibia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan,Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico,Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, SaintVincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Spain, SriLanka, Suriname, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, UK, US,Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
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World Court
see International Court of Justice (ICJ)
——-
World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)
established - 3 October 1945
aim - to promote the trade union movement
members - (86) Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria,Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Cambodia,Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, TheGambia, Greece, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti,Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,North Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Madagascar, Martinique, Mauritius,Mexico, Mongolia, Namibia, Nepal, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan,Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Reunion,Romania, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, SaudiArabia, Senegal, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan,Sweden, Syria, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uruguay, Venezuela,Vietnam, Yemen, Zaire
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World Food Council (WFC)
established - 17 December 1974
aim - ECOSOC organization that studies world food problems and recommends solutions
members - (36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
——-
World Food Program (WFP)
established - 24 November 1961
aim - ECOSOC organization that provides food aid to assist in development or disaster relief
members - (42) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
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World Health Organization (WHO)
established - 22 July 1946
effective - 7 April 1948
aim - UN specialized agency concerned with health matters
members - (186) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda,Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain,Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia,Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma,Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic,Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica,Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti,Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, EquatorialGuinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia,Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia,Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar,Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania,Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco,Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua,Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay,Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, SaintKitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino,Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa,Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu,Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela,Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia,Zimbabwe
associate members - (2) Puerto Rico, Tokelau
——-
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
established - 14 July 1967
effective - 26 April 1970
aim - UN specialized agency concerned with the protection of literary, artistic, and scientific works
members - (140) Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia,Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin,Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, CentralAfrican Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Coted'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt,El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana,Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras,Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy,Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Latvia, Lebanon,Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar,Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua,Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland,Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, San Marino, SaudiArabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia,South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, The Former Yugoslav Republic ofMacedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine,UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended),Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
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World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
established - 11 October 1947
effective - 4 April 1951
aim - specialized UN agency concerned with meteorological cooperation
members - (173) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda,Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil,British Caribbean Territories, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi,Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad,Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia,Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, DominicanRepublic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji,Finland, France, French Polynesia, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana,Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, HongKong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel,Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea,Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania,Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta,Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, NZ, Nicaragua,Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay,Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, SaintLucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, SierraLeone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, SouthAfrica (suspended), Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, The Former YugoslavRepublic of Macedonia, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu,Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
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World Tourism Organization (WTO)
established - 2 January 1975
aim - to promote tourism as a means of contributing to economic development, international understanding, and peace
members - (109) Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Austria,Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burundi,Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Coted'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt,Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran,Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, SouthKorea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco,Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay,Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, San Marino, Sao Tome andPrincipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka,Sudan, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE,US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia (suspended), Zaire,Zambia, Zimbabwe
associate members-(4) Aruba, Macau, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico
observer-(1) Holy See
——-
Zangger Committee (ZC)
established-early 1970s
aim-to establish guidelines for the export control provisions of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
members-(29) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic,Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan,Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia,Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US
Appendix D: Abbreviations for Selected International EnvironmentalAgreements
A Air PollutionConvention on Long-Range Transboundary Air PollutionAir Pollution-Nitrogen OxidesConvention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (NitrogenOxides Protocol)Air Pollution-SulphurConvention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (SulphurProtocol)Air Pollution-Volatile Organic CompoundsConvention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (Volatile OrganicCompounds Protocol)Antarctic-Environmental ProtocolProtocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
B BiodiversityConvention on Biological Diversity
C Climate ChangeUnited Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
E Endangered SpeciesConvention on the International Trade in Endangered Species ofWild Flora and Fauna (CITES)Environmental ModificationConvention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use ofEnvironmental Modification Techniques
H Hazardous WastesBasel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements ofHazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
L Law of the SeaUnited Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS)
M Marine DumpingConvention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes andOther Matter; note - also known as the London ConventionMarine Life ConservationConvention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the HighSeas
N Nuclear Test BanTreaty Banning Nuclear Weapons Tests in the Atmosphere, in OuterSpace, and Under Water
O Ozone Layer ProtectionMontreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer
S Ship PollutionInternational Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships(MARPOL)
T Tropical TimberInternational Tropical Timber Agreement
W WetlandsConvention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially AsWaterfowl Habitat; note - also known as RamsarWhalingInternational Convention for the Regulation of Whaling
Note: Not all of the selected international environmental agreements haveabbreviations.
6 April 1994
Appendix E: Selected International Environmental Agreements
Air Pollution
see Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
——-
Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides
see Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (Nitrogen Oxides Protocol)
——-
Air Pollution-Sulphur
see Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (Sulphur Protocol)
——-
Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds
see Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (VolatileOrganic Compounds Protocol)——-Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
see Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
——-
Antarctic Treaty
date opened for signature - 1959
objective - to ensure that Antarctica is used for peaceful purposes, for international cooperation in scientific research, and that it does not become the scene or object of international discord
parties - (42) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil,Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic,Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary,India, Italy, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Netherlands, NewZealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia,Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, UnitedKingdom, United States, Uruguay
——-
Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of HazardousWastes and Their Disposal
note - abbreviated as Hazardous Wastes
date opened for signature - 1989
objective - to reduce transboundary movements of wastes subject to the Convention to a minimum consistent with the environmentally sound and efficient management of such wastes; to minimize the amount and toxicity of wastes generated and ensure their environmentally sound management as closely as possible to the source of generation; and to assist LDCs in environmentally sound management of the hazardous and other wastes they generate
parties - (65) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, TheBahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China,Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia,European Union, Finland, France, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran,Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia,Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico,Monaco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Peru, Philippines,Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal,Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland,Syria, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, UnitedKingdom, Uruguay
note - the following countries have signed, but not yet ratified the convention: Afghanistan, Bolivia, Colombia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Israel, Lebanon, New Zealand, Russia, Thailand, Turkey, United States, Venezuela
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Biodiversity
see Convention on Biological Diversity
——-
Convention on Biological Diversity
note - abbreviated as Biodiversity
date opened for signature - 1992
objective - to develop national strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity
parties - (53) Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Australia, TheBahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Brazil, Burkina, Canada, China,Cook Islands, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, European Union,Fiji, Germany, Guinea, Hungary, India, Japan, Jordan, Malawi, Maldives,Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal,New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,Portugal, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Seychelles, Spain, SriLanka, Sweden, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Western Samoa, Zambia
note - the following countries have signed, but not yet ratified theconvention: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Austria,Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia,Botswana, Bulgaria, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, CentralAfrican Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica,Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, ElSalvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana,Greece, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland,Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya,North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia,Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia,Malta, Mauritania, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Morocco,Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman,Pakistan, Panama, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, San Marino,Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, SolomonIslands, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Switzerland, Syria,Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine,United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela,Vietnam, Yemen, former Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zimbabwe
——-
Climate Change
see United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
——-
Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the HighSeas
note - abbreviated as Marine Life Conservation
date opened for signature - 1958
objective - to solve through international cooperation the problems involved in the conservation of living resources of the high seas, considering that through the development of modern techniques some of these resources are in danger of being over exploited
parties - (37) Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina,Cambodia, Colombia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Finland, France,Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, Senegal, SierraLeone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand,Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States,Venezuela, former Yugoslavia
note - the following countries have signed, but not yet ratified the convention: Afghanistan, Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ghana, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Lebanon, Liberia, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Panama, Sri Lanka, Taiwan (Canada signed on behalf of Taiwan), Tunisia, Uruguay
——-
Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
note - abbreviated as Air Pollution
date opened for signature - 1979
objective - to protect the human environment against air pollution and to gradually reduce and prevent air pollution, including long-range transboundary air pollution
parties - (38) Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina,Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, EuropeanUnion, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland,Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway,Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, formerYugoslavia
note - the following countries have signed, but not yet ratified the convention: Holy See, San Marino
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Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (Nitrogen OxidesProtocol)
note - abbreviated as Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides
date opened for signature - 1988
objective - to provide for the control or reduction of nitrogen oxides and their transboundary fluxes
parties - (23) Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic,Denmark, European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy,Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Slovakia,Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States
note - the following countries have signed, but not yet ratified the convention: Belgium, Greece, Ireland, Poland, Spain
——-
Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (Sulphur Protocol)
note - abbreviated as Air Pollution-Sulphur
date opened for signature - 1985; a second protocol to further reduce sulfur dioxide emissions was completed in 1994
objective - to provide for a 30% reduction in sulfur emissions or transboundary fluxes by 1993