Second World: another term for the traditionally Marxist-Leninist states of the USSR and Eastern Europe, with authoritarian governments and command economies based on the Soviet model; the term is fading from use; see centrally planned economies
Shanghai Cooperative Organization (SCO): established - 15 June 2001
aim - to combat terrorism, extremism, and separatism; to safeguard regional security through mutual trust, disarmament, and cooperative security; and to increase cooperation in political, trade, economic, scientific and technological, cultural, and educational fields
members - (6) China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
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 Forum (SPF): note - see Pacific Island Forum
South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement(Sparteca): established - NA 1981
aim - to redress unequal trade relationships of Australia and New Zealand with small island economies in the Pacific region
members - (16) Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, NZ, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
Southern African Customs Union (SACU): established - 11 December 1969
aim - to promote free trade and cooperation in customs matters
members - (5) Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland
Southern African Development Community (SADC): note - evolved from theSouthern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC)
established - 17 August 1992
aim - to promote regional economic development and integration
members - (14) Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Southern Cone Common Market (Mercosur) or Southern Common Market: note - also known as Mercado Comun del Cono Sur (Mercosur)
established - 26 March 1991
aim - to increase regional economic cooperation
members - (4) Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay
associate member - (2) Bolivia, Chile
Third World: another term for the less developed countries; the term is obsolescent; 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)
United Nations (UN): established - 26 June 1945; effective - 24October 1945
aim - to maintain international peace and security and to promote cooperation involving economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian problems
constituent organizations - the UN is composed of six principal organs and numerous subordinate agencies and bodies as follows:
1) Secretariat
2) General Assembly: Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS,International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement ofWomen (INSTRAW), Office of the United Nations High Commissioner forHuman Rights, United Nations Center for Human Settlements (Habitat),United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Conference onTrade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations Development Program(UNDP), United Nations Drug Control Program (UNDCP), United NationsEnvironment Program (UNEP), United Nations High Commissioner for HumanRights (UNHCHR), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR),United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), UnitedNations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), United NationsInterregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), UnitedNations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Office of ProjectServices (UNOPS), United Nations Relief and Works Agency for PalestineRefugees in the Near East (UNRWA), United Nations Research Institutefor Social Development (UNRISD), United Nations System Staff College(UNSSC), and United Nations University (UNU), World Food Program (WFP)
3) Security Council: International Criminal Tribunal for the FormerYugoslavia (ICTY), International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR),United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (ANAMA), UnitedNations Compensation Commission, United Nations Disengagement ObserverForce (UNDOF), United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo(UNMIK), United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), UnitedNations Iraq/Kuwait Boundary Demarcation Commission, United NationsIraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM), United Nations MilitaryObserver Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), United Nations Missionfor the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), United Nations Missionin Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone(UNAMSIL), United Nations Monitoring and Verification Commission(UNMOVIC), United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG), UnitedNations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo(MONUC), United Nations Peace-Keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), UnitedNations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET), and UnitedNations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO)
4) Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC): Commission for SocialDevelopment, Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice,Commission on Human Rights, Commission on Narcotics Drugs, Commissionon Population and Development, Commission on Science and Technology forDevelopment, Commission on Sustainable Development, Commission on theStatus of Women, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and thePacific (ESCAP), Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia(ESCWA), Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Economic Commission forEurope (ECE), Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean(ECLAC), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO),International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), International Bank forReconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Center forSecretariat of Investment Disputes (ICSID), International CivilAviation Organization (ICAO), International Development Association(IDA), International Finance Corporation (IFC), International Fund forAgricultural Development (IFAD), International Labor Organization(ILO), International Maritime Organization (IMO), InternationalMonetary Fund (IMF), International Telecommunication Union (ITU),Multilateral Investment Geographic Agency (MIGA), StatisticalCommission, United Nations Educational, Scientific, and CulturalOrganization (UNESCO), United Nations Forum on Forests, United NationsIndustrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Universal Postal Union(UPU), World Health Organization (WHO), World Intellectual PropertyOrganization (WIPO), World Meteorological Organization (WMO), WorldTourism Organization (WToO), and World Trade Organization (WTrO)
5) Trusteeship Council (inactive; no trusteeships at this time)
6) International Court of Justice (ICJ)
UN members - (191) 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 Faso, Burma, Burundi,Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad,Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo,Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba,Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, DominicanRepublic, East Timor, 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, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar,Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania,Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco,Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, PapuaNew Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar,Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, SaintVincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe,Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa,Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland,Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad andTobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE,UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen,Zambia, Zimbabwe; note - all UN members are represented in the GeneralAssembly
observers - (1 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Holy See, Palestine Liberation Organization
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 - (36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
United Nations Civilian Police Mission in Haiti (MIPONUH): established28 November 1997; to support the professionalization of the HaitianNational Police; established by UN Security Council; members wereArgentina, Benin, Canada, France, India, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo,Tunisia, US; mission ended March 2000
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD): established - 30 December 1964
aim - to promote international trade
members - (191) all UN members plus Holy See
United Nations Development Program (UNDP): established - 22 November 1965
aim - to provide technical assistance to stimulate economic and social development
members (executive board) - (36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF): established - 31May 1974
aim - to observe the 1973 Arab-Israeli cease-fire; established by the UN Security Council
members - (6) Austria, Canada, Japan, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden
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 - (188) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antiguaand Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, TheBahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil,Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, CookIslands, 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, Kiribati,North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon,Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former YugoslavRepublic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali,Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, FederatedStates of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique,Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria,Niue, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea,Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia,Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia,Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan,Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey,Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
associate members - (6) Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Macau, Netherlands Antilles, Tokelau
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 General Assembly: established - 26 June 1945; effective - 24 October 1945
aim - to function as the primary deliberative organ of the UN
members - (191) all UN members are represented in the General Assembly
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR): established - 3December 1949; effective - 1 January 1951
aim - to ensure the humanitarian treatment of refugees and find permanent solutions to refugee problems
members (executive committee) - (61) Algeria, Argentina, Australia,Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia,Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Denmark, Ecuador,Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Holy See, Hungary,India, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Lebanon,Lesotho, Madagascar, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands,NZ, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Russia,Serbia and Montenegro, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden,Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UK, US,Venezuela
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 - (169) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina,Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia andHerzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi,Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic ofthe Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, 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, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait,Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania,Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar,Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands,NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, PapuaNew Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar,Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, SaintVincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia,Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand,Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan,Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela,Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR): established - 11 December 1963 adoption of the resolution establishing the Institute; effective - 24 March 1965
aim - to help the UN become more effective through training and research
members (Board of Trustees) - (21) Austria, Brazil, China, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Ghana, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US; note - the UN Secretary General can appoint up to 30 members
United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK): established - 10 June 1999
aim - to promote the establishment of substantial autonomy and self- government in Kosovo; to perform basic civilian administrative functions; to support the reconstruction of key infrastructure and humanitarian and disaster relief
members - (48) Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia,Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Fiji, Finland,France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland,Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Malawi, Malaysia, Nepal,NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia,Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine UK, US,Zambia, Zimbabwe
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL): established - 19March 1978
aim - to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and assist in reestablishing Lebanese authority in southern Lebanon; established by the UN Security Council
members - (8) Fiji, France, Ghana, India, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Ukraine
United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM): established - 9 April 1991
aim - to observe and monitor the demilitarized zone established between Iraq and Kuwait; established by the UN Security Council
members - (32) Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, China, Denmark, Fiji,Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia,Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Romania,Russia, Senegal, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, UK, US, Uruguay,Venezuela
United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP): established - 24 January 1949
aim - to observe the 1949 India-Pakistan cease-fire; established by the UN Security Council
members - (9) Belgium, Chile, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Italy, South Korea, Sweden, Uruguay
United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO): established - 29 April 1991
aim - to supervise the cease-fire and conduct a referendum in Western Sahara; established by the UN Security Council
members - (24) Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, China, Egypt, ElSalvador, France, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland,Italy, Kenya, South Korea, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland,Portugal, Russia, US, Uruguay
United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH): established - 21 December 1995
aim - to establish an International Police Task Force (IPTF) to implement the Dayton Peace Agreement in Bosnia and Herzegovina
members - (47) Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile,China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France,Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland,Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Lithuania, Malaysia, Nepal, Nigeria, Netherlands,Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Spain,Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US,Vanuatu
United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE): established - 31 July 2000
aim - to monitor the cessation of hostilities
members - (44) Algeria, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Bosnia andHerzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark,Finland, France, The Gambia, Ghana, Greece, India, Ireland, Italy,Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway,Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, SouthAfrica, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Tunisia, Ukraine, US,Uruguay, Zambia
United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL): established - 22October 1999
aim - to cooperate with the Government of Sierra Leone and the other parties to the Peace Agreement in the implementation of the agreement; to monitor the military and security situation in Sierra Leone; to monitor the disarmament and demobilization of combatants and members of the Civil Defense Forces (CFD); to assist in monitoring respect for international humanitarian law
members - (31) Bangladesh, Bolivia, Canada, China, Croatia, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Egypt, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Guinea,Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mali, Nepal, NZ,Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand,Ukraine, UK, Uruguay, Zambia
United Nations Mission of Observers in Prevlaka (UNMOP): established - 1 February 1996
aim - to monitor the demilitarization of the Prevlaka peninsula in southern Croatia
members - (22) Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Czech Republic,Denmark, Egypt, Finland, Ghana, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya,Nepal, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Switzerland,Ukraine
United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT): established 16 December 1994; to monitor and investigate violations of the cease- fire of 17 September 1994 between Tajikistan and the Tajik opposition and to assist in the political negotiation process; established by the UN Security Council; members were Austria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ghana, Indonesia, Jordan, Nepal, Nigeria, Poland, Ukraine, Uruguay; mission ended May 2000
United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET): established - 17 May 2002
aim - to provide assistance to structures critical to political stability; to provide law enforcement and public security and to assist in the development of law enforcement agencies; to contribute to external security
members - (29) Australia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Denmark, Egypt,Fiji, Ireland, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Malaysia, Mozambique,Nepal, NZ, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Serbia andMontenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, US, Uruguay
United Nations Monitoring, Verification, and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC): note - formerly known as United Nations Special Commission for the Elimination of Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction (UNSCOM)
established - NA December 1999
aim - to identify, account for, and eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and the capacity to produce them
commissioners - (15) Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, Senegal, Ukraine, UK, US
United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG): established - 24August 1993
aim - to verify compliance with the cease-fire agreement, to monitor weapons exclusion zone, and to supervise CIS peacekeeping force for Abkhazia; established by the UN Security Council
members - (22) Albania, Austria, Bangladesh, Czech Republic, Denmark,Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, SouthKorea, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US,Uruguay
United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of theCongo (MONUC): established - 30 November 1999
aim - to establish contacts with the signatories to the cease-fire agreement and to plan for the observation of the cease-fire and disengagement of forces
members - (51) Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia,Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, China, Cote d'Ivoire, Czech Republic,Denmark, Egypt, France, Ghana, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Ireland,Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mongolia, Morocco,Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Poland,Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, Uruguay, Zambia
United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP): established - 4 March 1964
aim - to serve as a peacekeeping force between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus; established by the UN Security Council
members - (9) Argentina, Austria, Canada, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, South Korea, Slovakia, UK
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA): note - acronym retained from predecessor organization UN Fund for Population Activities
established - NA July 1967
aim - to assist both developed and developing countries to deal with their population problems
members (executive board ) - (36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
United Nations Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP): established 31 March 1995; to monitor border activity in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; members were Argentina, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, Ghana, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Nepal, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, US; mandate ended 25 March 1999
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in theNear East (UNRWA): established - 8 December 1949
aim - to provide assistance to Palestinian refugees
members (advisory commission) - (10) Belgium, Egypt, France, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, UK, US
United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD): established - NA 1963
aim - to conduct research into the problems of economic development during different phases of economic growth
members - no country members, but a Board of Directors consisting of a chairman appointed by the UN secretary general and 11 individual members
United Nations Secretariat: established - 26 June 1945; effective - 24October 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
members - the UN Secretary General and staff
United Nations Security Council (UNSC): 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 General Assembly; Angola (2003-04), Bulgaria (2002-03), Cameroon (2002- 03), Chile (2003-04), Germany (2003-04), Guinea (2002-03), Mexico (2002-03), Pakistan (2003-04), Spain (2003-04), Syria (2002-03)
United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET): established 25 October 1999 to provide security throughout the territory of East Timor; to establish an effective administration; to ensure the coordination and delivery of humanitarian assistance; to support capacity-building for self-government; 28 members including Australia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Denmark, Egypt, Fiji, Ireland, Jordan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mozambique, Nepal, NZ, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, UK, US, Uruguay
United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO): established -NA June 1948
aim - to supervise the 1948 Arab-Israeli cease-fire; currently supports timely deployment of reinforcements to other peacekeeping operations in the region as needed; initially established by the UN Security Council
members - (23) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile,China, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Nepal,Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden,Switzerland, US
United Nations Trusteeship Council: established on 26 June 1945, effective on 24 October 1945, to supervise the administration of the 11 UN trust territories; members were China, France, Russia, UK, US; it formally suspended operations 1 November 1995 after the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau) became the Republic of Palau, a constitutional government in free association with the US; the Trusteeship Council was not dissolved
United Nations University (UNU): established - 3 December 1973
aim - to conduct research in development, welfare, and human survival and to train scholars
members - (24 members of UNU Council and the Rector are appointed by the Secretary General of the United Nations and the Director General of UNESCO)
Universal Postal Union (UPU): established - 9 October 1874, affiliated with the UN 15 November 1947; effective - 1 July 1948
aim - to promote international postal cooperation; a UN specialized agency
members - (187) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua andBarbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, TheBahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil,Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of theCongo, 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, HolySee, 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, TheFormer Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco,Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua NewGuinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania,Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent andthe Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore,Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, SriLanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US,Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia,Zimbabwe
Warsaw Pact (WP): 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 GDR and Albania
West African Development Bank (WADB): note - also known as BanqueOuest-Africaine de Developpement (BOAD); is a financial institution ofWAEMU
established - 14 November 1973
aim - to promote regional economic development and integration
regional members - (9) Central Bank of West African States, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo
international/nonregional members - (5) African Development Bank, Belgium, European Investment Bank, France, Germany
West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU): note - also known asUnion Economique et Monetaire Ouest Africaine (UEMOA)
established - 1 August 1994
aim - to increase competitiveness of members' economic markets; to create a common market
members - (8) Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo
Western European Union (WEU): established - 23 October 1954; effective - 6 May 1955
aim - to provide mutual defense and to move toward political unification
members - (10) Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK
associate members - (6) Czech Republic, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Turkey
associate partners - (7) Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia
observers - (5) Austria, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Sweden
World Bank Group: includes International Bank for Reconstruction andDevelopment (IBRD), International Development Association (IDA), andInternational Finance Corporation (IFC)
World Confederation of Labor (WCL): established - 19 June 1920 as theInternational Federation of Christian Trade Unions (IFCTU), renamed 4October 1968
aim - to promote the trade union movement
members - (102 national organizations) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,Aruba, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil,Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic,Chad, Chile, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic ofthe Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic,Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, FrenchGuiana, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea,Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran,Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Liberia, Liechtenstein,Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,Madagascar, Malaysia, Malawi, Malta, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius,Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua,Niger, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal,Puerto Rico, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro,Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,Suriname, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago,Ukraine, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe
World Customs Organization (WCO): note - began as the CustomsCooperation Council (CCC)
established - 15 December 1950
aim - to promote international cooperation in customs matters
members - (161) Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia,Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh,Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana,Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia,Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China,Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of theCongo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji,Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece,Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India,Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon,Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, The FormerYugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives,Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco,Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, NZ,Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua NewGuinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania,Russia, Rwanda, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro,Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa,Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU): established - 3 October 1945
aim - to promote the trade union movement
members - (125 and the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan,Albania, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia,Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Benin,Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon,Canada, Chile, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic ofthe Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic,Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea,Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, French Guiana, The Gambia, Ghana,Greece, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti,Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Japan,Jordan, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon,Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali,Martinique, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Nepal, New Caledonia, NZ,Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru,Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Romania, Russia,Saint Lucia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, SolomonIslands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Syria,Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu,Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zimbabwe, Palestine Liberation Organization
World Food Program (WFP): established - 24 November 1961
aim - to provide food aid in support of economic development or disaster relief; an ECOSOC organization
members - (36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
World Health Organization (WHO): established - 22 July 1946; effective - 7 April 1948
aim - to deal with health matters worldwide; a UN specialized agency
members - (192) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antiguaand Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, TheBahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil,Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon,Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China,Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of theCongo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, EastTimor, 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, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos,Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, TheFormer Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico,Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco,Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,Nigeria, Niue, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea,Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia,Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore,Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, SriLanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US,Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia,Zimbabwe
associate members - (2) Puerto Rico, Tokelau
observers - (2) Holy See, Liechtenstein
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO): established - 14 July 1967; effective - 26 April 1970
aim - to furnish protection for literary, artistic, and scientific works; a UN specialized agency
members - (179) 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 Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde,Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, DemocraticRepublic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Coted'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, Holy See, 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, The Former Yugoslav Republic ofMacedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, 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 andNevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, SanMarino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia andMontenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland,Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga,Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine,UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia,Zimbabwe
World Meteorological Organization (WMO): established - 11 October 1947; effective - 4 April 1951
aim - to sponsor meteorological cooperation; a UN specialized agency
members - (185) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua andBarbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, TheBahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize,Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, BritishCaribbean Territories, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi,Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad,Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo,Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire,Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica,Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia,Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Gabon, The Gambia,Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, 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, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, TheFormer Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated Statesof Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, NZ, Nicaragua,Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea,Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia,Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore,Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, SriLanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago,Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay,Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
World Tourism Organization (WToO): established - 2 January 1975
aim - to promote tourism as a means of contributing to economic development, international understanding, and peace
members - (140) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola,Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin,Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, BurkinaFaso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, CentralAfrican Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic ofthe Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia,Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, France,Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea,Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea,South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, The FormerYugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives,Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia,Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger,Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland,Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, San Marino, Sao Tome andPrincipe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles,Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,Sudan, Swaziland, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo,Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
associate members - (7) Aruba, Flanders, Hong Kong, Macau, Madeira Islands, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico
observers - (2) Holy See, Palestine Liberation Organization
World Trade Organization (WTrO): note - succeeded General Agreement onTariff and Trade (GATT)
established - 15 April 1994; effective - 1 January 1995
aim - to provide a forum to resolve trade conflicts between members and to carry on negotiations with the goal of further lowering and/or eliminating tariffs and other trade barriers
members - (145) Albania, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium,Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, BurkinaFaso, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad,Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic ofthe Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, TheGambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland,India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein,Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives,Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco,Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria,Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts andNevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, SierraLeone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa,Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan,Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda,UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe
observers - (31) Algeria, Andorra, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Belarus, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Holy See, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Nepal, Russia, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sudan, Tajikistan, Tonga, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen; note - must start accession negotiations within five years of becoming observers
Zangger Committee (ZC): established - early 1970s
aim - to establish guidelines for the export control provisions of the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty (NPT)
members - (35) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg,Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia,Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, UK, US
This page was last updated on 1 August, 2003
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Appendix C - Selected International Environmental Agreements
Air Pollution
see Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides
see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution Concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or Their Transboundary Fluxes
Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Persistent Organic Pollutants
Air Pollution-Sulphur 85
see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions or Their Transboundary Fluxes by at least 30%
Air Pollution-Sulphur 94
see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Further Reduction of Sulphur Emissions
Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds
see Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution Concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds or Their Transboundary Fluxes
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
see Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
Antarctic Treaty
opened for signature - 1 December 1959
entered into force - 23 June 1961
objective - to ensure that Antarctica is used for peaceful purposes only (such as international cooperation in scientific research); to defer the question of territorial claims asserted by some nations and not recognized by others; to provide an international forum for management of the region; applies to land and ice shelves south of 60 degrees South latitude
parties - (45) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil,Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic,Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala,Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Netherlands,NZ, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia,South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US,Uruguay, Venezuela
Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of HazardousWastes and Their Disposal
note - abbreviated as Hazardous Wastes
opened for signature - 22 March 1989
entered into force - 5 May 1992
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 - (149) Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda,Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas,Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin,Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, BurkinaFaso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China,Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Coted'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica,Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, EU,Finland, France, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala,Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran,Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea,Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein,Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania,Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco,Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua NewGuinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania,Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles,Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden,Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia,Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (3) Afghanistan, Haiti, US
Biodiversity
see Convention on Biological Diversity
Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals
note - abbreviated as Antarctic Seals
opened for signature - 1 June 1972
entered into force - 11 March 1978
objective - to promote and achieve the protection, scientific study, and rational use of Antarctic seals, and to maintain a satisfactory balance within the ecological system of Antarctica
parties - (16) Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Poland, Russia, South Africa, UK, US
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (1) NZ
Convention on Biological Diversity
note - abbreviated as Biodiversity
opened for signature - 5 June 1992
entered into force - 29 December 1993
objective - to develop national strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity
parties - (182) Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda,Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas,Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan,Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi,Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad,Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo,Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire,Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica,Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea,Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, TheGambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea,Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India,Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan,Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan,Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein,Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands,Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova,Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal,Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norway, Oman,Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts andNevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, SanMarino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles,Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, SouthAfrica, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden,Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad andTobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK,Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia,Zimbabwe
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (6) Afghanistan, Kuwait, Serbia and Montenegro, Thailand, Tuvalu, US
Climate Change
see United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
see Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the HighSeas
note - abbreviated as Marine Life Conservation
opened for signature - 29 April 1958
entered into force - 20 March 1966
objective - to solve through international cooperation the problems involved in the conservation of living resources of the high seas, considering that because of the development of modern technology some of these resources are in danger of being overexploited
parties - (37) Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, BurkinaFaso, Cambodia, Colombia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Finland,France, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, Senegal, Serbia andMontenegro, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain,Switzerland, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, UK, US,Venezuela
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (21) Afghanistan,Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ghana, Iceland,Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Lebanon, Liberia, Nepal, NZ,Pakistan, Panama, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Uruguay
Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
note - abbreviated as Air Pollution
opened for signature - 13 November 1979
entered into force - 16 March 1983
objective - to protect the human environment against air pollution and to gradually reduce and prevent air pollution, including long-range transboundary air pollution
parties - (48) Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia andHerzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic,Denmark, Estonia, EU, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece,Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia,Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic ofMacedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland,Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia,Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (2) Holy See, San Marino
Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources
note - abbreviated as Antarctic-Marine Living Resources
opened for signature - 5 May 1980
entered into force - 7 April 1982
objective - to safeguard the environment and protect the integrity of the ecosystem of the seas surrounding Antarctica, and to conserve Antarctic marine living resources
parties - (31) Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada,Chile, EU, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, SouthKorea, Namibia, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Peru, Poland, Russia, SouthAfrica, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu
Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of WildFlora and Fauna (CITES)
note - abbreviated as Endangered Species
opened for signature - 3 March 1973
entered into force - 1 July 1975
objective - to protect certain endangered species from overexploitation by means of a system of import/export permits
parties - (156) Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados,Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei,Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada,Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros,Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the 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, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India,Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan,Kenya, South Korea, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,Luxembourg, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar,Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova,Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ,Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea,Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia,Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles,Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa,Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland,Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda,Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam,Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe