using the un website to find united nations documents dan baker, o’quinn law library swall annual...
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Using the UN WebsiteUsing the UN Websiteto Find Unitedto Find United
Nations DocumentsNations Documents
Dan Baker, O’Quinn Law Dan Baker, O’Quinn Law LibraryLibrary
SWALL Annual Meeting SWALL Annual Meeting
March 29, 2012March 29, 2012
United Nations MaterialsUnited Nations Materials
UN DocumentsUN Documents ““a text submitted to a principal organ or a a text submitted to a principal organ or a
subsidiary organ of the United Nations [or subsidiary organ of the United Nations [or major UN conferences] for consideration by it, major UN conferences] for consideration by it, usually in connection with item(s) on its usually in connection with item(s) on its agenda”agenda”
UN PublicationsUN Publications ““any written material which is issued by or for any written material which is issued by or for
the United Nations to the general public”the United Nations to the general public” UN Documents ≠ UN PublicationsUN Documents ≠ UN Publications
Two Types of UN PublicationsTwo Types of UN Publications
UN Sales PublicationsUN Sales Publications General interest, offered for sale to publicGeneral interest, offered for sale to public
UN Press ReleasesUN Press Releases Informational announcementsInformational announcements
UN Pubs may reprint UN DocsUN Pubs may reprint UN Docs Compiled in Sales PubsCompiled in Sales Pubs Contained in PRs after conclusion of Contained in PRs after conclusion of
meeting but before publication of official meeting but before publication of official report report
How to Tell UN Docs from UN PubsHow to Tell UN Docs from UN Pubs
Different “Symbols” (Numbers, Different “Symbols” (Numbers, Citations)Citations)
Examples:Examples: UN Doc: E/CN.4/2005/44/Add.1UN Doc: E/CN.4/2005/44/Add.1
Elements before Session or Year are entitiesElements before Session or Year are entities UN Sales Pub: E.09.XVII.8UN Sales Pub: E.09.XVII.8
Two-digit Year followed by Roman NumeralsTwo-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 DocumentsTwo Types of UN Documents
Official RecordsOfficial Records SerialSerial “publications relating to the “publications relating to the
proceedings of the proceedings of the principal organsprincipal organs of of the UN or certain UN conferences; they the UN or certain UN conferences; they include verbatim or summary records of include verbatim or summary records of the meetings . . . , annexes and the meetings . . . , annexes and supplements.”supplements.”
Masthead DocumentsMasthead Documents Basically, all other documents created for Basically, all other documents created for
or during any UN-related meetingsor during any UN-related meetings
Official RecordsOfficial Records
Resolutions / DecisionsResolutions / Decisions Meeting AgendasMeeting Agendas Meeting Records – Verbatim or Meeting Records – Verbatim or
SummarySummary Regular Reports of Subsidiary Organs Regular Reports of Subsidiary Organs
and Agencies (in Supplements)and Agencies (in Supplements) Additional Important Documents Additional Important Documents
Relied Upon During Meetings (in Relied Upon During Meetings (in Annexes)Annexes)
Masthead DocumentsMasthead Documents
AKA Mimeograph or Parliamentary DocsAKA Mimeograph or Parliamentary Docs Anything produced by/for non-principal Anything produced by/for non-principal
organs (committees, commissions, etc.)organs (committees, commissions, etc.) Reports from these groups may appear Reports from these groups may appear
in Annexes, Supplements to Official in Annexes, Supplements to Official RecordsRecords Will have two symbols: Will have two symbols:
Masthead SymbolMasthead Symbol Official Record SymbolOfficial Record Symbol
Required for Bluebook citation if availableRequired for Bluebook citation if available
UN DatabasesUN Databases
Many, varied access points available Many, varied access points available through UN website: through UN website: http://www.un.org/en/
Websites for individual entities may Websites for individual entities may also provide access to some of their also provide access to some of their documentsdocuments
Official Document SystemOfficial Document System
““Previous” ODSPrevious” ODS
Old ODS – Simple SearchOld ODS – Simple Search
Old ODS – Advanced SearchOld ODS – Advanced Search
Old ODS – Basic SearchOld ODS – Basic Search
New ODSNew ODS
New ODS – Advanced SearchNew ODS – Advanced Search
““Narrow Your Search”Narrow Your Search”
Results List provides links to further Results List provides links to further narrow the resultsnarrow the results By UN BodyBy UN Body
Limited list; mainly principal organsLimited list; mainly principal organs By Economic CommissionBy Economic Commission By LanguageBy Language
Six official languages plus “Other”Six official languages plus “Other” By YearBy Year
Only back to 2000 although older docs are Only back to 2000 although older docs are avail.avail.
UNBISnetUNBISnet
UNBISnet - BrowseUNBISnet - Browse
SourcesSources
United Nations Documentation: Research United Nations Documentation: Research GuideGuide http://www.un.org/Depts/dhl/resguide/symbol.h
tm
U.N. Secretariat, Regulations for the Control and U.N. Secretariat, Regulations for the Control and Limitation of Documentation: Distribution of Limitation of Documentation: Distribution of Documents, Meeting Records, Official Records Documents, Meeting Records, Official Records and Publications, and Publications, ¶¶ ¶¶ 2-5, 2-5, U.N. Doc. U.N. Doc. ST/AI/189/Add.3/Rev.2 (Dec. 17, 1985)ST/AI/189/Add.3/Rev.2 (Dec. 17, 1985)