Using the UN Website to Find United Nations Documents Dan Baker, O’Quinn Law Library SWALL Annual Meeting March 29, 2012

United Nations Materials UN Documents UN Documents “a text submitted to a principal organ or a subsidiary organ of the United Nations [or major UN conferences] for consideration by it, usually in connection with item(s) on its agenda” “a text submitted to a principal organ or a subsidiary organ of the United Nations [or major UN conferences] for consideration by it, usually in connection with item(s) on its agenda” UN Publications UN Publications “any written material which is issued by or for the United Nations to the general public” “any written material which is issued by or for the United Nations to the general public” UN Documents ≠ UN Publications UN Documents ≠ UN Publications

Two Types of UN Publications UN Sales Publications UN Sales Publications General interest, offered for sale to public General interest, offered for sale to public UN Press Releases UN Press Releases Informational announcements Informational announcements UN Pubs may reprint UN Docs UN Pubs may reprint UN Docs Compiled in Sales Pubs Compiled in Sales Pubs Contained in PRs after conclusion of meeting but before publication of official report Contained in PRs after conclusion of meeting but before publication of official report

How to Tell UN Docs from UN Pubs Different “Symbols” (Numbers, Citations) Different “Symbols” (Numbers, Citations) Examples: Examples: UN Doc: E/CN.4/2005/44/Add.1 UN Doc: E/CN.4/2005/44/Add.1 Elements before Session or Year are entities Elements before Session or Year are entities UN Sales Pub: E.09.XVII.8 UN Sales Pub: E.09.XVII.8 Two-digit Year followed by Roman Numerals Two-digit Year followed by Roman Numerals Roman numeral is the Roman numeral is the Sales Publication Category UN Press Release: GA/DIS/3384 No Year or Session provided in number

Two Types of UN Documents Official Records Official Records Serial “publications relating to the proceedings of the principal organs of the UN or certain UN conferences; they include verbatim or summary records of the meetings..., annexes and supplements.” Serial “publications relating to the proceedings of the principal organs of the UN or certain UN conferences; they include verbatim or summary records of the meetings..., annexes and supplements.” Masthead Documents Masthead Documents Basically, all other documents created for or during any UN-related meetings Basically, all other documents created for or during any UN-related meetings

Official Records Resolutions / Decisions Resolutions / Decisions Meeting Agendas Meeting Agendas Meeting Records – Verbatim or Summary Meeting Records – Verbatim or Summary Regular Reports of Subsidiary Organs and Agencies (in Supplements) Regular Reports of Subsidiary Organs and Agencies (in Supplements) Additional Important Documents Relied Upon During Meetings (in Annexes) Additional Important Documents Relied Upon During Meetings (in Annexes)

Masthead Documents AKA Mimeograph or Parliamentary Docs AKA Mimeograph or Parliamentary Docs Anything produced by/for non-principal organs (committees, commissions, etc.) Anything produced by/for non-principal organs (committees, commissions, etc.) Reports from these groups may appear in Annexes, Supplements to Official Records Reports from these groups may appear in Annexes, Supplements to Official Records Will have two symbols: Will have two symbols: Masthead Symbol Masthead Symbol Official Record Symbol Official Record Symbol Required for Bluebook citation if available Required for Bluebook citation if available

UN Databases Many, varied access points available through UN website: Many, varied access points available through UN website: Websites for individual entities may also provide access to some of their documents Websites for individual entities may also provide access to some of their documents

Official Document System

“Previous” ODS

Old ODS – Simple Search

Old ODS – Advanced Search

Old ODS – Basic Search

New ODS

New ODS – Advanced Search

“Narrow Your Search” Results List provides links to further narrow the results Results List provides links to further narrow the results By UN Body By UN Body Limited list; mainly principal organs Limited list; mainly principal organs By Economic Commission By Economic Commission By Language By Language Six official languages plus “Other” Six official languages plus “Other” By Year By Year Only back to 2000 although older docs are avail. Only back to 2000 although older docs are avail.

UNBISnet

UNBISnet - Browse

Questions? Dan Baker

Sources United Nations Documentation: Research Guide United Nations Documentation: Research Guide U.N. Secretariat, Regulations for the Control and Limitation of Documentation: Distribution of Documents, Meeting Records, Official Records and Publications, ¶¶ 2- 5, U.N. Doc. ST/AI/189/Add.3/Rev.2 (Dec. 17, 1985) U.N. Secretariat, Regulations for the Control and Limitation of Documentation: Distribution of Documents, Meeting Records, Official Records and Publications, ¶¶ 2- 5, U.N. Doc. ST/AI/189/Add.3/Rev.2 (Dec. 17, 1985)