United Nations Statistical Commission
The United Nations Statistical Commission is a Functional Commission of the UN Economic and Social Council established in 1946;[1] it oversees the work of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Its 24 member states are elected by the Economic and Social Council on the basis of the following geographical distribution: African states (5), Asian States (4), Eastern European States (4), Latin American and Caribbean States (4), Western European and other States (7). Since July 1999 the Commission meets every year. As set forth by the Economic and Social Council, in the terms of reference,[2] the Commission shall assist the Council:
- "In promoting the development of national statistics and the improvement of their comparability;"
- "In the coordination of the statistical work of specialized agencies;"[3]
- "In the development of the central statistical services of the Secretariat;"
- "In advising the organs of the United Nations on general questions relating to the collection, analysis and dissemination of statistical information;"
- "In promoting the improvement of statistics and statistical methods generally."
One of the best known subunits of the Statistics Division is the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names (UNGEGN), also known as the United Nations Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names (UNCSGN). This unit attempts to standardize the names of locations across languages, alphabets, and cultures.
The sixth UN Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names was in 1992 (New York), the seventh in 1998 (New York), the eighth in 2002 (Berlin), and the ninth in 2007 (New York). One issue addressed at these conferences was the Sea of Japan naming dispute.
The Bureau
The officers are the Chairman, 3 Vice-chairmen and the Rapporteur, elected for a one-year period by the members of the Commission at the beginning of a session. Since 1999, its role is more of a steering one; the Chairman may seek for complementary assistance from other members (Friends of the Chair).
- Chairmanship [4]
Year Session Chair
(Country)2014 45th
United Kingdom
Hungary2013 44th
Hungary 2012 43rd
Hungary 2011 42nd
Oman2010 41st
Oman2009 40th
South Africa2008 39th
South Africa2007 38th
Mexico2006 37th
Mexico 2005 36th
USA2004 35th
USA2003 34th
Hungary2002 33rd
Hungary 2001 32nd
Japan2000 31st
Botswana 1999 30th
Botswana 1997 29th
Mexico 1995 28th
United Kingdom1994 Special session
Poland 1993 27th
Netherlands 1991 26th
Netherlands 1989 25th
Argentina 1987 24th
Ghana 1985 23rd
Ireland1983 22nd
Hungary1981 21st
USA 1979 20th
USSR 1976 19th
India1974 18th
United Kingdom 1972 17th
France 1970 16th
France 1968 15th
Australia 1966 14th
Norway1965 13th
Norway1962 12th
Ireland1960 11th
Ireland1958 10th
New Zealand 1956 9th
India 1954 8th
India 1953 7th
United Kingdom 1951 6th
United Kingdom 1950 5th
Netherlands 1949 4th
Netherlands1948 3rd
Canada1947 (August) 2nd
Canada1947 (January) 1st
Canada1946 Nuclear session
USA
Further reading
- Hausner, Isolde: Die „United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names“ (UNGEGN) und die Standardisierung geographischer Namen. In: Kainz, W. / Kriz, K. / Riedl, A. (eds.): Aspekte der Kartographie im Wandel. Festschrift für Ingrid Kretschmer zum 65. Geburtstag. Wien 2004 (= Wiener Schriften zur Geographie und Kartographie).
- Kerfoot, Helen: Role of the United Nations in the standardization of geographical names: some fifty years on. In: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Statistics Division (ed.): Manual for the standardization of geographical names. United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names. New York 2006: 83-97. ISBN 92-1-161490-2
See also
- United Nations Statistics Division
- List of national and international statistical services
- Committee for the Coordination of Statistical Activities (CCSA)
References
- ↑ see all reports at
- ↑ Background information on the Statistical Commission and practical information on its functioning
- ↑ refer also to Committee for the Coordination of Statistical Activities (CCSA)
- ↑ Chairs of past sessions
External links
- Home page for Statistical Commission
- Home page for Statistical Division
- Official home page for UNGEGN
- Website for UNGEGN Working Group on Romanization Systems
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