members - (20) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, CARICOM, Chile, Colombia,Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala,Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay,Venezuela
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
Secretariat of the Pacific Communities (SPC): established - 6 February 1947
aim - to serve island development in 22 Pacific countries; to develop technical assistance and professional, scientific, and research support; to build planning and management capability
members - (26) America Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, France,French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States ofMicronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, NZ,Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands,Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, US, Wallis and Futuna
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO): established - 15 June 1901
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
observer - (4) India, Iran, Mongolia, Pakistan
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 American Community of Nations (CSN): established - 9 December 2004
aim - to coordinate common policies regarding multilateral organizations, to integrate physical infrastructure, and to consolidate the merger of CAN and Mercosur
members - (12) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Surinam, Uruguay, Venezuela
observers - (2) Mexico, Panama
South Asia Co-operative Environment Program (SACEP): established -January 1983
aim - to promote regional cooperation in South Asia in the field of environment, both natural and human, and on issues of economic and social development; to support conservation and management of natural resources of the region
members - (7) Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC): established - 8 December 1985
aim - to promote economic, social, and cultural cooperation
members - (8) Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
observers - (2) China, Japan
South Pacific Forum (SPF): note - see Pacific Island Forum
South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement(Sparteca): established - 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
Southeast European Cooperative Initiative (SECI): established - 6December 1996
aim - to encourage cooperation among participating states and to facilitate their integration into European structures
members - (12) Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey
observers - (15) Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Canada, France, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Ukraine, UK, US
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, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, 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 - (5) Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela
associate members - (5) Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru; note - Mexico is to become an associate member by the end of 2006
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 (UNAIDS), International Research and Training Institute for theAdvancement of Women (INSTRAW), Office of the United Nations HighCommissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Organization for the Prohibitionof Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Preparation Commission for the Nuclear-Ban-Treaty Operation ((CTBTU), United Nations Center for Human Settlements(UN-Habitat), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), United NationsConference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United NationsDevelopment Program (UNDP), United Nations Drug Control Program(UNDCP), United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), United Nations HighCommissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Institute forDisarmament Research (UNIDIR), United Nations Institute for Trainingand Research (UNITAR), United Nations Interregional Crime and JusticeResearch Institute (UNICRI), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA),United Nations Office of Project Services (UNOPS), United NationsRelief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East(UNRWA), United Nations Research Institute for Social Development(UNRISD), United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC), United NationsUniversity (UNU), World Food Program (WFP)
3) Security Council: International Criminal Tribunal for the FormerYugoslavia (ICTY), International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR),United Nations Compensation Commission, United Nations DisengagementObserver Force (UNDOF), United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT), United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo(UNMIK), United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), UnitedNations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), United Nations Military ObserverGroup in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), United Nations Operation inBurundi (ONUB), United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI),United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO),United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), United NationsMission in the Sudan (UNMIS), United Nations Monitoring andVerification Commission (UNMOVIC), United Nations Observer Mission inGeorgia (UNOMIG), United Nations Organization Mission in the DemocraticRepublic of the Congo (MONUC), United Nations Peace-Keeping Force inCyprus (UNFICYP), United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti(MINUSTAH), and United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO)
4) Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC): Commission for SocialDevelopment, Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice,Commission on Narcotics Drugs, Commission on Population andDevelopment, Commission on Science and Technology for Development,Commission on Sustainable Development, Commission on the Status ofWomen, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP),Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), EconomicCommission for Africa (ECA), Economic Commission for Europe (ECE),Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Foodand Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), InternationalAtomic Energy Agency (IAEA), International Bank for Reconstruction andDevelopment (IBRD), International Center for Secretariat of InvestmentDisputes (ICSID), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO),International Development Association (IDA), International FinanceCorporation (IFC), International Fund for Agricultural Development(IFAD), International Labor Organization (ILO), International MaritimeOrganization (IMO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), InternationalTelecommunication Union (ITU), Multilateral Investment GeographicAgency (MIGA), Statistical Commission, United Nations Educational,Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Forum onForests, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO),Universal Postal Union (UPU), World Health Organization (WHO), WorldIntellectual Property Organization (WIPO), World MeteorologicalOrganization (WMO), World Tourism Organization (WToO), and World TradeOrganization (WTO)
5) Trusteeship Council (inactive; no trusteeships at this time)
6) International Court of Justice (ICJ)
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 Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD): established - 30 December 1964
aim - to promote international trade
members - (193) 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 - (7) Austria, Canada, India, Japan, Nepal, Poland, Slovakia
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 - (191) includes all UN member countries except Liechtenstein, Montenegro, and Singapore (188 total); plus Cook Islands and Niue
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 - (192) 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) - (70) Algeria, Argentina, Australia,Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia,Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Denmark,Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece,Guinea, Holy See, Hungary, India, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan,Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Lebanon, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mexico,Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Nigeria,Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia,Serbia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland,Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UK, US, Venezuela, Yemen,Zambia
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 - (171) includes all UN member countries except Andorra,Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Estonia, Iceland,Kiribati, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Federated States ofMicronesia, Montenegro, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore,Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, US
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) - (18) Belgium, Brazil, China, CzechRepublic, Egypt, France, Ghana, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco,Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, South Africa, Switzerland, US; note - the UNSecretary 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
note - gives civilian support only; works closely with NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR)
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 - (11) Belgium, China, Finland, France, Ghana, India, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Poland, Spain
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 - (8) 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 - (25) Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, China, Croatia, Denmark,Egypt, El Slavador, France, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary,Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland,Russia, Sri Lanka, Uruguay
United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE): established - 31 July 2000
aim - to monitor the cessation of hostilities
members - (39) Algeria, Austria, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina,Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France,Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, India, Iran, Jordan, Kenya,Malaysia, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Poland,Romania, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania,Tunisia, Ukraine, US, Uruguay, Zambia
United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL): established - 19 September 2003
aim - to support the cease-fire agreement and peace process, protect UN facilities and people, support humanitarian activities, and assist in national security reform
Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland,France, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya,South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Moldova, Mongolia,Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,Poland, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, Sweden, Togo, Ukraine, UK,US, Zambia
United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL): established on 22 October 1999; aim was to 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; mandate ended 31 December 2005; members were Bangladesh, Bolivia, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand, Ukraine, UK, Uruguay, Zambia
United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS): established - March 2005
aim - to support implementation of the comprehensive Peace Agreement by Monitoring and verifying the implementation of the Cease Fire Agreement, by observing and monitoring movements of armed groups, and by helping disarm, demobilizing and reintegrating armed bands
members - (59) Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil,Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, China, Croatia, Denmark, Ecuador,Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Guatemala,Guinea, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan,Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Moldova, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal,Netherland, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,Poland, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand,Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET): established on 17 May 2002 to provide assistance to structures critical to public security and to assist in the development of law enforcement agencies; to contribute to extenal security; members were Australia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Denmark, Fiji, Jordan, Malaysia, Mozambique, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Sweden; completed its mandate 20 May 2005
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 - December 1999
aim - to identify, account for, and eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and the capacity to produce them
commissioners - (16) Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, UN Department for Disarmament Affairs, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, Senegal, Ukraine, UK, US
United Nations Operation in Burundi (ONUB): established - 21 May 2004
aim - to support and help implement the efforts undertaken by Burundians to restore lasting peace and bring about national reconciliation
members - (30) Algeria, Belgium, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Egypt,Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Jordan, Kenya, SouthKorea, Malawi, Mali, Nambia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan,Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Senegal, South Africa, Thailand, Togo,Tunisia, Yemen
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 - (26) Albania, Austria, Bangladesh, Croatia, Czech Republic,Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia,Jordan, South Korea, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Russia, Sweden,Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, 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, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia andHerzegovina, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, China, Czech Republic,Denmark, Egypt, France, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, India, Indonesia,Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mongolia, Morocco,Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay,Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, South Africa, Spain,Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Togo, Tunisia, Ukraine, UK, Uruguay,Zambia
United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI): established - 27February 2004
aim - to facilitate the implementation by the Ivorian parties of the peace agreement signed by them in January 2003
members - (41) Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Chad, China,Croatia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, France,The Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, India, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya,Moldova, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay,Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, Tanzania,Togo, Turkey, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Yemen
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 - (7) Argentina, Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, UK, Uruguay
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA): note - acronym retained from predecessor organization UN Fund for Population Activities
established - 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 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) - (22) Australia, Belgium, Canada,Denmark, EC, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon,Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria,Turkey, UK, US
United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD): established - 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 10 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 UNGeneral Assembly; Argentina (2005-06), Republic of the Congo (2006-07),Denmark (2005-06), Ghana (2006-07), Greece (2005-06), Japan (2005-06),Peru (2006-07), Qatar (2006-07), Slovakia (2006-07), Tanzania (2005-06)
United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH): established - 30 April 2004
aim - to stabilize Haiti in many areas for at least six months
members - (19) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Ecuador, France, Guatemala, Jordan, Morocco, Nepal, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Sri Lanka, US, Uruguay
United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO): established -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 - (189) includes all UN member countries except Andorra,Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau (188total); plus Holy See; note - includes the following dependencies orareas of special interest: Australia (Norfolk Island), China (HongKong, Macau), Denmark (Faroe Islands, Greenland), France (FrenchGuiana, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands,Guadeloupe, Iles Eparses, Martinique, Mayotte, New Caledonia, Reunion,Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna), Netherlands (Aruba,Netherlands Antilles), NZ (Cook Island, Niue, Tokelau), UK (Guernsey,Isle of Man, Jersey; Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory,British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar,Montserrat, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, Turks and Caicos), US (AmericanSamoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, South Georgia andSouth Sandwich Islands, Virgin Islands)
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 German Democratic Republic (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 - (6) African Development Bank, Belgium, European Investment Bank, France, Germany, People's Bank of China
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),International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Multilateral InvestmentGuarantee Agency (MIGA)
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 - (105 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,Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France,French Guiana, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea,Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran,Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein,Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta,Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal,Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Niger, Pakistan, Panama,Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania,Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome andPrincipe, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, SouthAfrica, 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 - (168) Afghanistan, 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 AfricanRepublic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic ofthe Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia,Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, East Timor,Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland,France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala,Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, 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, 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 New Guinea, Paraguay,Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda,Saint Lucia, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, SierraLeone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania,Thailand, Togo, Tonga, 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 - (193) includes all UN member countries except Liechtenstein (191 total); plus Cook Islands and Niue
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 - (183) includes all UN member countries except East Timor,Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Montenegro,Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu (182 total); plus HolySee
World Meteorological Organization (WMO): established - 11 October 1947; effective - 4 April 1951
aim - to sponsor meteorological cooperation; a UN specialized agency
members - (188) includes all UN member countries except Andorra, EastTimor, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands,Montenegro, Nauru, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines, San Marino, Tuvalu (179 total); plus Aruba, BritishCaribbean Territories, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Hong Kong,Macau, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, and Niue
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 - (150) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola,Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas,Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia andHerzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi,Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad,Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic ofthe Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, CzechRepublic, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, ElSalvador, 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, SouthKorea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya,Lithuania, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali,Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia,Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger,Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, SanMarino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia,Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, SriLanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo,Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, Uruguay,Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
associate members - (7) Aruba, Flanders, Hong Kong, Macau, Madeira Islands, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico
observers - (1 plus Palestine Liberation Organization) Holy See, Palestine Liberation Organization
World Trade Organization (WTO): 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 - (149) Albania, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium,Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, BurkinaFaso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central AfricanRepublic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of theCongo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba,Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, DominicanRepublic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, EC, Fiji, Finland,France, Gabon, The Gambia, 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, 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, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent andthe Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, 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 - (32) Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Belarus, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Holy See, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Libya, Montenegro, Russia, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Serbia, Seychelles, Sudan, Tajikistan, Tonga, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen; note - with the exception of the Holy See, an observer must start accession negotiations within five years of becoming observers; Montenegro and Serbia each sent 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 - (36) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France,Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea,Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia,Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey,Ukraine, UK, US
observers - (1) EC
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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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, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia,Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated Statesof Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia,Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman,Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines,Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, SaintLucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia,Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, SriLanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad andTobago, 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
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 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, 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, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia,Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname,Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo,Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, 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, Thailand, Tuvalu, US
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,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, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova,Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia,Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (2) Holy See, San Marino
Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially asWaterfowl Habitat (Ramsar)
note - abbreviated as Wetlands
opened for signature - 2 February 1971
entered into force - 21 December 1975
objective - to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value
parties - (125) Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia,Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus,Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana,Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Chad, Chile, China,Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of theCongo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic,Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon,The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland,Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Latvia,Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar,Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco,Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger,Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru,Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, SierraLeone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname,Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad andTobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan,Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia
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, 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, SaintKitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, SaoTome 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
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (3) Ireland, Kuwait, Lesotho
Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes andOther Matter (London Convention)
note - abbreviated as Marine Dumping
opened for signature - 29 December 1972
entered into force - 30 August 1975
objective - to control pollution of the sea by dumping and to encourage regional agreements supplementary to the Convention
parties - (78) Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia,Azerbaijan, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde,Chile, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Coted'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt,Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras,Hong Kong (associate member), Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Italy,Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Libya,Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Nauru, Netherlands, NZ,Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines,Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saint Lucia, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovenia,Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland,Tonga, Tunisia, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Vanuatu
Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use ofEnvironmental Modification Techniques
note - abbreviated as Environmental Modification
opened for signature - 10 December 1976
entered into force - 5 October 1978
objective - to prohibit the military or other hostile use of environmental modification techniques in order to further world peace and trust among nations
parties - (66) Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina,Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Brazil,Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Dominica, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Greece,Guatemala, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, North Korea, SouthKorea, Kuwait, Laos, Malawi, Mauritius, Mongolia, Netherlands, NZ,Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Romania, Russia,Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe,Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland,Tajikistan, Tunisia, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vietnam,Yemen
countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (17) Bolivia,Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Holy See, Iceland, Iran,Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia, Luxembourg, Morocco, Nicaragua, Portugal,Sierra Leone, Syria, Turkey, Uganda
Desertification
see United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa
Endangered Species
see Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES)
Environmental Modification
see Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques
Hazardous Wastes
see Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling
note - abbreviated as Whaling
opened for signature - 2 December 1946
entered into force - 10 November 1948
objective - to protect all species of whales from overhunting; to establish a system of international regulation for the whale fisheries to ensure proper conservation and development of whale stocks; and to safeguard for future generations the great natural resources represented by whale stocks
parties - (42) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria,Brazil, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominica, Finland, France,Germany, Grenada, Guinea, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, SouthKorea, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Oman, Panama,Peru, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines, Senegal, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden,Switzerland, UK, US
International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983
note - abbreviated as Tropical Timber 83
opened for signature - 18 November 1983
entered into force - 1 April 1985; this agreement expired when the International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994, went into force
objective - to provide an effective framework for cooperation between tropical timber producers and consumers and to encourage the development of national policies aimed at sustainable utilization and conservation of tropical forests and their genetic resources
parties - (54) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma,Cameroon, Canada, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo,Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, EU,Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Honduras,India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Liberia,Luxembourg, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Panama, Papua NewGuinea, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden,Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, US, Venezuela
International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994