New Zealand Law Commission
|
|
[Home]
[Databases]
[WorldLII]
[Search]
[Feedback]
New Zealand Law Commission |
|
[Database Search] [Name Search] [Previous] [Next] [Download] [Help]
THIS CHAPTER PROVIDES A LIST of selected organisations,
associations and treaties which are or may be of particular importance to New Zealand lawyers. It summarises briefly the functions of each and gives information (where relevant) on its short title or acronym, its year of establishment, how it was established, its membership, its relationship to the United Nations, the instruments it administers, its associated or subsidiary bodies, its principal publications, and the New Zealand contact body which might grant access to such publications. Much of this information derives from the United Nations Handbook which is produced annually by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Wellington; and the Law Commission acknowledges the invaluable assistance provided by this source.
In seeking further information, approach first the specialist libraries—the International Documents Collection of the Parliamentary Library, the Victoria University of Wellington Library, and the Auckland City Library: see para 75. Approach the alternative contact bodies listed in this chapter only as a last resort.
Note the abbreviations:
*
New Zealand contact body
IDC
International Documents Collection, Parliamentary Library
MFAT
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
For ease of reference the list is arranged according to the following scheme (and alphabetically within each category):
• governmental organisations
– universal: United Nations and related; treaty bodies; other
– regional
– bilateral
• non-governmental organisations
– universal
– regional
UNITED NATIONS
* IDC; MFAT
Short title: UN
Year established: 1945
Established by: San Francisco Conference of 25 April to 26 June 1945
Membership: 184 countries (as at May 1994)
Functions: To maintain international peace and security; to develop friendly relations among nations; to achieve international co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character; to be a centre for harmonising the action of nations
Instruments: UN Charter of 26 June 1945
Principal publications: UN Yearbook; UN Juridical Yearbook; UN Treaty Series (1946–); Official Records of the General Assembly (1946–); Official Records of the Security Council (1946–); Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council (1946–); UN Reports of International Arbitral Awards (1948–); UN Chronicle (1964–)
Principal organs: (1) General Assembly
Membership: All members of UN
Functions: The plenary organ of the UN, whose resolutions are in general only recommendatory. It elects the 10 non-permanent members of the Security Council, and the 54 members of ECOSOC; appoints the Secretary-General upon the recommendation of the Security Council; elects, concurrently with the Security Council, the judges of the ICJ; and approves the regular budget of the UN
(2) Economic and Social Council
Short title: ECOSOC
Year established: 1945
Established by: UN Charter
Membership: 54 countries
Functions: Responsible for promoting economic and social progress and development, international cultural and educational co-operation, and human rights and fundamental freedoms
Subsidiary bodies: Statistical Commission; Population Commission; Commission for Social Development (CSD); Commission on Human Rights (CHR); Commission on the Status of Women (CSW); Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND); Commission on Science and Technology; Commission on Sustainable Development; Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice; Commission on Transnational Corporations (TNC); Commission on Human Settlements (Habitat); regional economic commissions (see, eg, ESCAP)
(3) Security Council
Membership: 5 permanent members (China, France, the Russian Federation, UK, USA) and 10 non-permanent members, 5 of which are elected annually for a term of 2 years
Functions: To maintain international peace and security
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANISATION
* IDC; Auckland City Library; MFAT
Short title: FAO
Year established: 1945
Established by: Constitution
Membership: 168 countries, including NZ; elected Council of 49 members
Relationship to UN: Specialised agency
Functions: To raise levels of nutrition and standards of living; to secure improvements in the efficiency of the production and distribution of all food and agricultural products; to better the condition of rural populations; and to contribute towards an expanding world economy and ensure freedom from hunger
Principal publications: Basic Texts of the FAO (1960–); Food and Agricultural Legislation; Guide to UN Information Sources on Food and Agriculture
GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE (GATT)
see World Trade Organisation (WTO)
INTERGOVERNMENTAL OCEANOGRAPHIC COMMISSION
* MFAT; NZ National Commission for UNESCO
Short title: IOC
Year established: 1960
Established by: UNESCO General Conference 1960
Membership: 125 member states
Relationship to UN: Associated body of UNESCO
Functions: To develop, recommend, and co-ordinate international programmes for scientific investigation of the oceans and to provide related ocean services to member states
Principal publications: Technical series; manuals and guides; annual reports
INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC
ENERGY AGENCY
* IDC; MFAT
Short title: IAEA
Year established: 1956
Established by: Statute
Membership: 122 countries, including NZ; elected Board of 35 members
Relationship to UN: Independent intergovernmental organisation under UN aegis
Functions: To seek to accelerate and enlarge the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity throughout the world. It has a particular responsibility in the area of safety
Instruments: Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty; Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident; Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency
INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANISATION
* IDC; Ministry of Transport
Short title: ICAO
Year established: 1947 (superseding earlier organisations)
Established by: Chicago Convention 1944 (with annexes)
Membership: 183 contracting states, including NZ; elected Council of 33 members
Relationship to UN: Specialised agency
Functions: To establish standards, recommended practices and procedures relating to international air navigation; foster
the planning and development of international air transport; assist developing nations; development of conventions; resolve disputes between members; and develop co-operation between nations
Instruments: Chicago Convention 1944 (Membership in ICAO); Warsaw Convention 1929 (Rules for international carriage by air); Tokyo Convention 1963 (Offences and other acts committed on board aircraft); Montreal Convention 1971 (Unlawful acts against the safety of civil aviation); annexes; protocols; agreements and arrangements
Principal publications: Standards; technical manuals; circulars; statistics digests; reports; ICAO Journal
INTERNATIONAL COURT
OF JUSTICE
* IDC; MFAT
Short title: ICJ
Year established: 1946
Established by: Articles 7 and 92 of UN Charter
Membership: 15 individuals
Relationship to UN: Principal judicial organ
Functions: To decide cases submitted to it by states in accordance with international law, and to give advisory opinions to the UN and its agencies
Principal publications: ICJ Reports (1947–); ICJ Pleadings (1948–); ICJ Yearbook (1946–)
INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT
* MFAT
Short title: IFAD
Year established: 1976
Established by: Agreement
Membership: 158 countries, including NZ; elected Board of 18 members
Relationship to UN: Specialised agency
Functions: To mobilise additional funds from donor nations to be made available on concessionary terms for agricultural development in developing member countries, the primary aim being to increase food production
INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION
* IDC; MFAT; Department of Labour
Short title: ILO
Year established: 1919
Established by: Treaty of Versailles and related peace treaties
Membership: 172 nations; Governing Body of 56 members, including NZ; composed of government, worker and employer representatives
Relationship to UN: Specialised agency since 1946
Functions: To improve working and living conditions through the adoption of international labour conventions and recommendations setting minimum standards for wages, hours of work, conditions of employment, and social security
Principal publications: Texts of conventions, recommendations, protocols (1919–); legislative series and labour law documents (1919–); judgments of the Administrative Tribunal (1919–); International Labour Review (1919–); Bulletin of Labour Statistics; Yearbook of Labour Statistics; Labour Education; Conditions of Work Digest; Labour Management Relations Series; Management Development Series; Occupational Safety and Health Series; World Labour Report; The World of Work (1992–); International Labour Conventions Ratified by
New Zealand (Department of Labour, 1993); annual report to Parliament of NZ Government delegates to International Labour Conference, Geneva
INTERNATIONAL LAW COMMISSION
* IDC; MFAT
Short title: ILC
Year established: 1947
Established by: UN resolution
Relationship to UN: Subsidiary body of General Assembly
Membership: 34 persons of recognised competence in international law
Functions: To encourage the progressive development of international law and its codification
Principal publications: Yearbook of the International Law Commission (1957–)
INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION
(formerly the Inter-governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation)
* IDC; MFAT
Short title: IMO
Year established: 1958
Established by: Convention of the UN Maritime Conference 1948
Membership: 151 countries, including NZ; Council of 32 members
Relationship to UN: Specialised agency
Functions: To establish and review international standards relating to, among other matters, marine safety, carriage of dangerous goods, ship design, marine equipment, cargoes and containers, and telecommunications
Instruments: International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1960; Convention on Facilitation of Maritime Traffic 1965; International Convention on Load Lines 1966; Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter 1972; Convention on Limitation for Liability for Maritime Claims 1976; International Convention on Salvage 1989
Principal publications: Status of Multilateral Conventions and Instruments (1991–); IMO News
INTERNATIONAL MARITIME SATELLITE ORGANISATION
* Ministry of Commerce
Short title: INMARSAT
Year established: 1979
Established by: Inter-governmental conferences under the auspices of IMO
Membership: 83, including NZ
Relationship to UN: Co-operates with the UN and its specialised agencies
Functions: To provide the space satellites necessary for improving maritime, aeronautical and land mobile communications
Instruments: The Convention on the International Maritime Satellite Organisation 1976 and the Operating Agreement
Principal publications: Various publications on maritime, aeronautical and land mobile communication matters
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND
* IDC; MFAT
Short title: IMF
Year established: 1945
Established by: Bretton Woods Conference
Membership: 179, including NZ; Executive Board of 24 executive directors
Relationship to UN: Specialised agency
Functions: To promote international monetary co-operation, the expansion and balanced growth of international trade, exchange stability, the establishment of a multilateral system of payments, and the elimination of foreign exchange restrictions
Principal publications: Annual Report on Exchange Arrangements and Exchange Restriction; International Financial Statistics; Balance of Payments Manual; IMF Yearbook; IMF Survey; World Economic Outlook
INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION
* Ministry of Commerce
Short title: ITU
Year established: 1865 (NZ became a member in 1867)
Membership: 184 countries, including NZ
Relationship to UN: Specialised agency
Functions: To maintain and extend international co-operation for the improvement and rational use of telecommunications of all kinds
Instruments: Constitution and Convention (Geneva, 1992); International Telecommunication Regulations and International Radio Regulations
Principal publications: A number of newsletters (INTELSAT News), reports, yearbooks and service documents
INTERNATIONAL TROPICAL TIMBER ORGANISATION
* Ministry of Forestry
Short title: ITTO
Year established: 1983
Established by: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
Membership: 64 countries
Relationship to UN: Autonomous organisation within UNCTAD
Functions: To recognise the sovereignty of members over their natural resources, as defined in Principle 1(a) of the Non-Legally Binding Authoritative Statement of Principles for a Global Consensus on the Management, Conservation and Sustainable Development of all Types of Forests
Instruments: International Tropical Timber
Agreement 1994
Principal publications: Annual review and assessment of the world tropical timber situation; reports of the sessions of the International Tropical Timber Council and the Permanent Committees; reports including a technical series and a policy development series, as well as various project reports
INTERNATIONAL UNION
FOR THE PROTECTION OF
NEW PLANT SPECIES
Short title: UPOV
Year established: 1961
Established by: International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants 1961
Membership: 27 countries, including NZ
Relationship to UN: Specialised agency
Function: To establish a system of international protection for breeders of new plant varieties
UNITED NATIONS
CHILDREN’S FUND
* IDC
Short title: UNICEF
Year established: 1946
Established by: UN resolution
Membership: Executive Board of 36 countries
Relationship to UN: Permanent organ of the General Assembly, reporting to ECOSOC
Functions: To assist in the development of permanent child health and welfare services, particularly in developing countries
UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE LAW
* IDC; Auckland City Library; MFAT
Short title: UNCITRAL
Year established: 1966
Established by: Resolution of General Assembly
Membership: 36 states
Relationship to UN: Commission of the General Assembly
Functions: To reduce obstacles to the flow of international trade through progressive harmonisation and unification of private international law; preparation, and promotion of the adoption of, new international conventions; promotion of participation in existing conventions; liaison with UNCTAD and other UN agencies; and provision of training and assistance
Instruments: Convention on the Limitation Period in the International Sale of Goods 1974; UN Convention on the Carriage of Goods by Sea 1978; UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods 1980; UN Convention on International Bills of Exchange and International Promissory Notes 1988; UN Convention on the Liability of Operators of Transport Terminals in International Trade 1991; UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration; UNCITRAL Conciliation Rules; UNCITRAL Model Law on International Credit Transfers; UNCITRAL Model Law on Procurement of Goods, Construction and Services
Principal publications: UNCITRAL Yearbook (1968–); Case Law on UNCITRAL Texts (CLOUT) (1994–); Legal Guide on International Countertrade Transactions
UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT
* IDC; Auckland City Library; MFAT
Short title: UNCTAD
Year established: 1964
Established by: UN General Assembly
Membership: 188 countries, including NZ; the executive body, the Trade and Development Board (TDB), has 39 members, including NZ
Relationship to UN: Permanent organ of the General Assembly
Functions: To promote international trade; formulate and implement principles and policies on international trade; review and facilitate other UN agencies’ activities in the field of international trade and related economic development; initiate action for negotiation and adoption of multilateral legal agreement in the field of trade; and act as a centre for harmonisation of trade and development policies of governments
Instruments: Set of Multilaterally Agreed Equitable Principles and Rules for the Control of Restrictive Business Practices 1980; UN Convention on International Multimodal Transport
Principal publications: Commodity Yearbook; Commodity Price Bulletin; Handbook of International Trade and Development Statistics; Trade and Development Report (1981–)
UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANISATION
* IDC; NZ National Commission for UNESCO
Short title: UNESCO
Year established: 1945
Established by: Constitution
Relationship to UN: Specialised agency
Membership: Membership of the UN carries an automatic qualification for membership of UNESCO; elected Executive Board of 51 members
Functions: To contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among nations through education, science and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms
Principal publications: Records of the General Conference (1947–); copies of agreements, conventions, resolutions, recommendations, statements and declarations; decisions of the Executive Board
Associated
organisations: Intergovernmental Committee for the Intergovernmental Informatics Programme; Intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and Sport; Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin or its Restitution in the Case of Illicit Appropriation; Intergovernmental Committee of the World Decade for Cultural Development (WDCD); Intergovernmental Council of the International Programme for the Social Sciences (MOST); Intergovernmental Council for the General Information Programme; Intergovernmental Council of the International Hydrological Programme (IHP); Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC); International Co-ordinating Council of the Programme on Man and the Biosphere (MAB); International Geological Correlation Programme (IGCP); International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC); World Heritage Committee; UNESCO Regional Science and Technology Advisory Committee for South East Asia
UNITED NATIONS
ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME
* IDC; Auckland City Library; Ministry for the Environment
Short title: UNEP
Year established: 1972
Established by: UN resolution
Membership: 58 nations elected to the Governing Council by the General Assembly on a geographical basis
Relationship to UN: Permanent programme under the umbrella of the General Assembly
Functions: To promote international co-operation in environmental matters and recommend appropriate policies
UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES
* IDC
Short title: UNHCR
Year established: 1951
Established by: UN resolution
Relationship to UN: Permanent organ of the General Assembly
Membership: Executive Committee of 47 members
Functions: To develop solutions for international refugee problems, including the provision of international protection and material assistance
UNITED NATIONS INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION
* IDC; MFAT
Short title: UNIDO
Year established: 1966
Established by: UN resolution
Membership: 167 countries, including NZ; elected Board of 53 members
Relationship to UN: Specialised agency since 1986
Functions: To promote and accelerate industrial development in developing countries
UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION
* Ministry of Commerce
Short title: UPU
Year established: 1874
Established by: Berne Treaty
Membership: 189, including NZ; elected Council of Administration consisting of 40 members, plus one for the representative of the host country of the quinquennial Universal Postal Congress
Relationship to UN: Specialised agency since 1948
Functions: An intergovernmental organisation which regulates the provision of international mail services
Instruments: UPU Constitution and Convention; UPU Postal Parcels Agreement
Principal publications: Executive Council and Committee papers; Congress documents; Convention Annotated Code; and Union Postale Review
WORLD BANK GROUP
Comprising: (1) International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
* IDC; MFAT
Short title: IBRD
Year established: 1946
Established by: Bretton Woods Conference
Membership: 178, including NZ
Functions: To promote the international flow of capital for productive purposes, particularly those which will lead to economic growth in less developed countries
(2) International Development Association
Short title: IDA
Year established: 1959
Established by: IMF and IBRD
Membership: 158 countries, including NZ
Functions: To provide loans for less developed countries on more favourable terms than those offered by the IBRD
(3) International Finance Corporation
Short title: IFC
Year established: 1956 (specialised agency of the UN since 1957)
Membership: 163 countries, including NZ
Functions: To supplement the activities of the IBRD by encouraging the growth of productive private enterprise in member countries, particularly in less developed areas
Associated organisations
of World Bank Group: International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID); Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA); regional development banks (eg, Asian Development Bank (ADB))
WORLD FOOD COUNCIL
* MFAT
Short title: WFC
Year established: 1974
Established by: UN resolution
Membership: 36 members nominated by ECOSOC and elected by the General Assembly
Relationship to UN: UN organ reporting to General Assembly through ECOSOC
Functions: To review major problems affecting the world food situation, and the steps for resolving them; and to recommend remedial action
WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME
* IDC; MFAT
Short title: WFP
Year established: 1961
Established by: Parallel resolutions of UN General Assembly and FAO Conference
Membership: Supervising committee representing 42 countries (Committee on Food Aid Policies (CFA))
Relationship to UN: UN programme
Functions: The UN food aid organisation, which assists poorer countries and provides disaster relief
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
* IDC; MFAT; Ministry of Health
Short title: WHO
Year established: 1948
Established by: UN resolution
Membership: 190, including NZ; Executive Board of 32 individuals
Relationship to UN: Specialised agency since 1948
Functions: To direct and co-ordinate international health work and generally promote activities in health and hygiene
Principal publications: Basic Documents (1956–); Handbook of Resolutions and Decisions of the World Health Assembly and the Executive Board; International Digest of Health Legislation
WORLD INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY ORGANISATION
* MFAT; Ministry of Commerce; IDC
Short title: WIPO
Year established: 1970
Established by: Stockholm Convention 1967
Membership: 154 governments, including NZ; Co-ordination Committee of 52 members
Relationship to UN: Specialised agency since 1974
Functions: To promote the protection of intellectual property worldwide and administer the relevant treaties
Instruments: The Paris Convention 1883 (protection of industrial property); Berne Convention 1886 (protection of literary and artistic works); the Madrid Agreement 1891 (international registration of marks); Patent Cooperation Treaty 1970
Principal publications: Industrial Property and Copyright; International Designs Bulletin; Industrial Property Laws and Treaties; Copyright Laws and Treaties of the World; Intellectual Property in Asia and the Pacific; Industrial Property Statistics; PCT Gazette; Introduction to Patent Law and Practice
WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANISATION
* MFAT; Meteorological Service of NZ
Short title: WMO
Year established: 1950
Established by: WMO Convention 1947
Membership: 177 states and territories, including NZ; Executive Council of 36 members
Relationship to UN: Specialised agency since 1951
Functions: To promote world-wide co-operation in the collection, distribution, and processing of meteorological and hydrological data
Principal publications: Basic documents; operational publications; official records; guides; WMO Bulletin
WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION
* Auckland City Library; IDC; MFAT; Ministry of Commerce
Short title: WTO
Year established: 1995 (as successor to 1947 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT))
Established by: Final Act of the GATT Uruguay Round, 1994
Membership: 86 countries, including New Zealand (as at May 1995)
Functions: A definitive agreement of much broader scope than GATT, which provides the legal and institutional foundation of the multilateral trading system and aims to liberalise world trade. The WTO administers and implements the multilateral and plurilateral trade agreements which together make up the WTO; it acts as a forum for multilateral trade negotiations; it seeks to resolve trade disputes; and it examines national trade policies. It extends beyond trade in merchandise goods to trade in agricultural products, textiles and clothing, as well as services and trade-related aspects of intellectual property
Associated
instruments: GATS (General Agreement on Trade in Services); TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights)
COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE
* IDC; MFAT; Human Rights Commission
Year established: 1987
Established by: Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment 1984
Relationship to UN: Committee of the General Assembly
Membership: 10 experts serving in their personal capacity
Functions: To comment on reports of states parties and inquire into allegations of the systematic practice of torture
COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS
* MFAT
Year established: 1985
Established by: International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 1976
Relationship to UN: Committee of the General Assembly
Membership: 18 members serving in their personal capacity, elected by ECOSOC
Functions: To monitor the implementation of the Covenant on the basis of reports received from states parties
COMMITTEE ON THE ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION
AGAINST WOMEN
* IDC; MFAT
Short title: CEDAW
Year established: 1981
Established by: Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women 1979
Relationship to UN: Committee of the General Assembly
Membership: 23 members serving in their personal capacity, elected by states parties (including one from NZ)
Functions: To monitor the implementation of the Convention on the basis of reports received from states parties
Principal publications: NZ’s first report: MFAT Information Bulletin no 23 (1988)
COMMITTEE ON THE ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
* IDC; MFAT; Human Rights Commission
Short title: CERD
Year established: 1969
Established by: Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination 1965
Relationship to UN: Committee of the General Assembly
Membership: 18 experts serving in their personal capacity, elected by states parties
Functions: To monitor the implementation of the Convention on the basis of reports received from states parties
COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS
OF THE CHILD
* IDC; Ministry of Youth Affairs; MFAT; Human Rights Commission
Year established: 1990
Established by: Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989
Membership: 10 elected experts of recognised competence serving in their personal capacity
Relationship to UN: Committee of the General Assembly
Functions: To examine the progress made by states parties in realising the obligations undertaken in the Convention
Principal publications: NZ’s initial report (Ministry of Youth Affairs, 1995)
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE
* IDC; MFAT; Human Rights Commission
Short title: HRC
Year established: 1976
Established by: International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1966
Relationship to UN: Committee of the General Assembly
Membership: 18 elected members of recognised competence, serving in their personal capacity
Functions: To monitor the implementation of the Covenant on the basis of reports received from states parties
Principal publications: NZ’s reports: MFAT Information Bulletins nos 30 (1990), 36 (1991), and 49 (1994); Core Document on New Zealand (1993)
COMMONWEALTH SECRETARIAT
* IDC
Year established: 1965
Established by: Commonwealth Heads of Government
Functions: To collect and disseminate information; give effect to collective decisions; and generally facilitate the discussion of problems common to Commonwealth countries. The Legal and Constitutional Affairs Division arranges a biennial Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting and provides legislative drafting assistance and courses for government lawyers
Instruments: Commonwealth declarations
Principal publications: Commonwealth Law Bulletin
FINANCIAL ACTION TASK FORCE
* Serious Fraud Office
Short title: FATF
Year established: 1988
Established by: OECD
Functions: To apprehend money launderers
Principal publications: Reports, evaluations and resolutions etc
THE HAGUE CONFERENCE ON PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW
* MFAT
Short title: The Hague Conference/HCOPIL
Year established: First meeting 1893 but permanently established 1955
Established by: Statute of 1951
Membership: 38 governments (including Australia)
Relationship to UN: Agreement for co-operation with UNCTAD and links with UNCITRAL
Functions: To achieve progressive unification of rules of private international law by conclusion of treaties
Instruments: Convention on the Conflicts of Laws Relating to the Form of Testamentary Dispositions 1961; Convention on Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters 1965; Convention on the Law Applicable to Trusts and their Recognition 1985; Convention on the Law Applicable to the International Sale of Goods 1985
Principal publications: Recueil des Conventions—Collection of Conventions (1951–1988)
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
* ACC
Short title: IAIABC
Year established: 1914
Functions: To strengthen and improve the administration of workers’ compensation programmes
Principal publications: The Journal
INTERNATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION
* New Zealand Law Society
Short title: IBA
Year established: 1947
Membership: Individual lawyer members in 173 countries, and 156 law societies and bar associations
Functions: To encourage the discussion of problems relating to professional organisation and status; promote an exchange of information between legal associations world-wide; support the independence of the judiciary and the right of lawyers to practise their profession without interference; keep abreast of developments in the law; and help in improving and making new laws
Principal publications: Directory (annual); International Business Lawyer (monthly); International Code of Professional Ethics
INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY
* Ministry of Commerce
Short title: IEA
Year established: 1974
Established by: Decision of OECD Council and the Agreement on an International Energy Program
Membership: 23 countries, including NZ
Functions: An autonomous body within the OECD framework whose aim is to promote co-operation between energy-producing and consuming countries. It includes energy-related environmental issues in its overall programme of energy co-ordination.
Instruments: Agreement on an International Energy Program; Charter of the International Energy Agency Dispute Settlement Centre; Implementing Agreement for a Cooperative Programme to Establish and Operate IEA Information Centres for the Analysis and Dissemination of Demonstrated Energy Technologies
INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE
FOR THE UNIFICATION OF PRIVATE LAW
* MFAT
Short title: UNIDROIT
Year established: 1926
Established by: Originally, an agreement between the Italian Government and the League of Nations but, since 1940, by multilateral agreement, the UNIDROIT Statute
Membership: 56 governments (including Australia)
Relationship to UN: Agreements with UNCTAD and IMO (among others) and observer status at annual sessions of UNCITRAL
Functions: To examine ways of harmonising and
co-ordinating the private law of states, and to prepare gradually for the adoption by various states of uniform rules of private law
Instruments: Uniform Law on the International Sale of Goods 1964 (ULIS); Uniform Law on
the Formation of Contracts for the International Sale of Goods 1964 (ULF); International Convention on the Travel Contract 1970; Uniform Law on the Form of an International Will 1973; Convention on Agency in the International Sale of Goods 1983; UNIDROIT Convention on International Finance Leasing 1988; UNIDROIT Convention on International Factoring 1988
Principal publications: Bulletin d’informations UNIDROIT; Uniform Law Review; Digest of Legal Activities of International Organizations and other Institutions
INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION OF LEGAL METROLOGY
* Ministry of Commerce
Short title: OIML
Year established: 1955
Established by: Convention
Membership: 52 full members and 42 corresponding members
Functions: To promote uniform rules for legal metrology world-wide
Principal publications: International recommendations on weighing and measuring equipment, and legal metrology; international documents on legal metrology
INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION FOR MIGRATION
* IDC; MFAT
Short title: IOM
Year established: 1951 (as Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration)
Established by: Constitution
Membership: 55 member countries and 42 observers (as at 1993)
Functions: To ensure the orderly flow of migration throughout the world through the organised transfer of qualified human resources and of refugees and displaced persons, and to provide a forum for countries to discuss and promote co-operation on migration issues
Associated
organisations: Refugee and Migrant Service is the NZ agent of IOM
INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SECURITY ASSOCIATION
* IDC; ACC
Short title: ISSA
Year established: 1927
Membership: 238 affiliate members and 83 associate members
Relationship to UN: Consultative status to ECOSOC
Functions: To protect, promote, and develop social security throughout the world
Principal publications: World Bibliography of Social Security; Current Research in Social Security; Trends in Social Security; International Social Security Review
INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION
SATELLITE ORGANISATION
* Ministry of Commerce
Short title: INTELSAT
Year established: 1967 (interim agreements operated until 1971)
Established by: INTELSAT Agreement, 1971
Membership: 131 governments are parties to the INTELSAT Agreement
Functions: To establish a single global commercial telecommunications satellite system and expanded telecommunications worldwide
Instruments: INTELSAT Agreement and INTELSAT Operating Agreement
Principal publications: INTELSAT News
INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION
* MFAT; Department of Conservation
Short title: IWC
Year established: 1946
Established by: International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling 1931
Membership: 40 contracting states, including NZ
Functions: To initiate and conduct research, and disseminate research findings on whales and whaling; and to regulate whaling as to protected species, seasons, waters, size limits, methods etc
ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT
* IDC; National Library of NZ; MFAT; Ministry of Commerce; Ministry for the Environment
Short title: OECD
Year established: 1960
Established by: Convention
Membership: 25 members, including NZ
Functions: To promote sustainable economic growth and the expansion of world trade; and to assist less developed countries
Principal publications: Various reports
Associated
organisations: International Energy Agency (IEA); OECD on Science and Technology Policy; Directorate for Science, Technology and Industry
WORLD CONSERVATION UNION
Short title: IUCN
Year established: 1948
Membership: States and non-governmental organisations
Relationship to UN: Contributed to UN Conference on Environment and Development
Functions: To provide leadership and promote a common approach for the world conservation movement in order to safeguard the integrity and diversity of the natural world and to ensure that human use of natural resources is appropriate, sustainable and equitable
Publications: IUCN Newsletter
WORLD CUSTOMS ORGANISATION
* NZ Customs Dept
Short title: WCO
Year established: 1950 (as Customs Cooperation Council)
Established by: A convention signed in Brussels
Membership: 130 countries
Functions: To promote co-operation amongst members on all customs matters; to examine technical aspects of customs systems and procedures with a view to promoting the highest degree of harmonisation and uniformity amongst members; to promote the uniform application and interpretation of conventions and other instruments; and to promote the exchange of information amongst members
GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS: REGIONAL
ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION forum
* IDC; MFAT; Ministry of Commerce
Short title: APEC
Year established: 1989 (on Australian initiative)
Membership: 18 Pacific Rim nations, including NZ
Functions: An annual forum for the discussion of political and economic issues, particularly the growing interdependence of trade and commerce in the Asia-Pacific region
Subsidiary bodies: APEC Eminent Persons Group (APEC-EPG); APEC Human Resources Development (APEC-HRD); APEC Industrial Science and Technology Working Group; APEC Telecommunications Working Group
ASIA-PACIFIC TELECOMMUNITY
* Ministry of Commerce
Short title: APT
Year established: 1979
Membership: 28 members, 3 associate members and 30 affiliate members
Relationship to UN: Through ESCAP and ITU
Functions: An intergovernmental organisation under the auspices of ESCAP, which fosters international co-operation in telecommunications, technology transfer and human resource development and provides a forum for the governments of the Asia-Pacific region to co-operate on technical compatibility and the efficiency of telecommunications operations
Instruments: Constitution of the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity, Bangkok, 1992
Principal publications: APT Year Book; APT Telecom Journal
ASIAN-AFRICAN LEGAL CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE
Year established: 1956
Membership: Includes governments of India, Japan, Indonesia, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Burma and Syria
Functions: To elaborate on international legal questions common to its members
Principal publications: Quarterly Bulletin (1975–); reports and papers
ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (ADB)
see World Bank Group (Government organisations: universal)
ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH EAST ASIAN NATIONS
* IDC
Short title: ASEAN
Year established: 1967 (Bangkok Declaration)
Membership: Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam
Functions: To accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region; to promote regional peace and stability; and more generally to promote collaboration in the economic, social, cultural, technical, scientific and administrative fields
Instruments: Declaration of ASEAN Concord and Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in South-East Asia 1976
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
* IDC
Year established: 1949
Established by: Statute
Membership: 32 countries
Functions: To achieve a greater unity between its members for the purpose of safeguarding and realising the ideals and principles which are their common heritage and facilitating their economic and social progress; and to maintain and further realise human rights and fundamental freedoms
Instruments: Convention for the Protection of Individuals with Regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data 1981
Publications: European Yearbook (1954–); European Conventions and Agreements; European Treaty Series
Associated
organisations: Consultative Committee on Data Protection
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA
AND THE PACIFIC
* IDC; MFAT
Short title: ESCAP
Year established: 1947 (as Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East—ECAFE); 1974 (as ESCAP)
Established by: UN resolutions
Relationship to UN: Regional economic commission of ECOSOC
Membership: 45 countries within the geographical scope of the Commission, including NZ, 4 non-regional members, and 10 associate members
Functions: To achieve regional economic co-operation; and promote sustainable development and alleviate poverty
EUROPEAN BANK FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT
* MFAT
Short title: EBRD
Year established: 1991
Established by: Agreement of 29 May 1990
Membership: European countries, non-European countries which are members of the IMF, European Community, and European Investment Bank
Relationship to UN: Co-operates with IMF, IBRD, IFC, MIGA
Functions: To foster the transition of Central and Eastern European countries towards open, market-oriented economies; and to promote private and entrepreneurial initiative by assisting recipient member countries to implement structural and sectoral economic reforms, including demonopolisation, decentralisation and privatisation
Principal publications: Annual report
EUROPEAN COMMISSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
* IDC; Ministry of Justice
Year established: 1954
Established by: Council of Europe under the terms of the European Convention on Human Rights
Membership: 28 contracting states
Functions: To receive complaints alleging breaches of the Convention from any party and to attempt to reach friendly settlements; to report to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe if no friendly settlement can be reached, and within 3 months of its report to refer the case to the European Court of Human Rights; and to ensure, along with the European Court of Justice, that there is observance of the engagements undertaken by the contracting parties to the Convention
Principal publications: Yearbook of the European Convention on Human Rights; Decisions and Reports series; Annual Survey of Activities and Statistics
EUROPEAN COURT OF
HUMAN RIGHTS
* IDC; Ministry of Justice; Human Rights Commission
Year established: 1950
Established by: European Convention on Human Rights
Membership: One judge for each member of the Council of Europe
Functions: To hear cases concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention referred to it by parties or by the European Commission of Human Rights; and to give advisory opinions on the same at the request of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe
Principal publications: Judgments and Decisions (1992–); Pleadings, Oral Arguments and Documents
EUROPEAN UNION
* Auckland City Library; IDC
Short title: EU
Year established: 1993
Established by: Treaty on European Union (Maastricht Treaty)
Membership: 15 European countries
Functions: EU is a collective term for a number of European supra-national organisations, the most important of which is the European Economic Community (EEC), instituted by the Treaty of Rome 1957 and now known as the European Community (EC). This is a customs union or common market, in which duties between member states are abolished and external tariffs are erected against third countries. The EC is based on the principles of free movement of goods, persons, services and capital. It has a common agricultural policy and also aims to harmonise the respective national economic policies, particularly external trade, social policy and transport
Subordinate
institutions: Council of Ministers, the Commission, the Parliament, European Court of Justice (ECJ)
Principal publications: Europe Today; Official Journal of the European Communities; Bulletin of the European Union
SOUTH PACIFIC COMMISSION
* MFAT; Alexander Turnbull Library; IDC
Short title: SPC
Year established: 1947
Established by: Canberra Agreement
Membership: 27 South Pacific independent and self-governing nations and territories, including NZ
Functions: Advisory and consultative activities aimed at encouraging the economic and social development of the region, with particular emphasis on agriculture, marine resources, health, socio-economic and statistical services and community education
Associated
organisations: South Pacific Organisations Coordinating Committee (SPOCC); South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
SOUTH PACIFIC FORUM
* MFAT; IDC
Year established: 1971
Membership: 15 South Pacific nations, including NZ and Australia
Functions: An annual gathering of Heads of Government of the independent and self-governing countries of the South Pacific, with the purpose of tackling common issues from a regional perspective, enhancing a regional collective voice, and addressing shared problems of economic development
Associated
organisations: Forum Secretariat; South Pacific Organisations Coordinating Committee (SPOCC); Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA)
SOUTH PACIFIC REGIONAL ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME
* MFAT
Short title: SPREP
Year established: 1980; fully autonomous since 1992
Established by: Port Moresby Forum Declaration on Environment Management
Membership: 27 nations, including New Zealand and Australia
Functions: To assist South Pacific countries and territories to protect and improve their shared environment and manage their resources to enhance the quality of life
Principal publications: SPREP Newsletter; SPREP Reports and Studies; Environmental Case Studies
AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND CLOSER ECONOMIC RELATIONS TRADE AGREEMENT
* MFAT; Ministry of Commerce
Short title: ANZCERTA (CER)
Year established: 1983
Functions: To strengthen the broader relationship between Australia and NZ; and to develop closer economic relations through the gradual expansion of free trade under conditions of fair competition
AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION COUNCIL
* MFAT
Short title: ANZECC
Year established: 1991
Membership: Australian Commonwealth, State and Territory, and NZ Ministers responsible for the environment and conservation; Papua New Guinea has observer status
Functions: To provide a forum for member governments to exchange information and experience; and develop co-ordinated policies for national and international environment and conservation issues
Principal publications: Reports, discussion papers, technical bases
Comparable bodies: Agriculture and Resources Management Council of Australia and New Zealand; Ministerial Council on the Administration of Justice; Australian and New Zealand Minerals and Energy Council; Industry, Technology and Regional Development Council; Ministerial Council on Forestry, Fisheries and Aquaculture
SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL CO-OPERATION
* Ministry of Research, Science and Technology
Short title: STC
Functions: Bilateral agreements (with and without grant programmes) between NZ and other countries for the purpose of encouraging technical and scientific cooperation. Examples: United States (1974/1991); Germany (1977); China (1987); European Community (1991)
INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE
Short title: ICC
Year established: 1920
Established by: International Trade Conference 1919
Membership: National committees of 59 countries, including NZ
Relationship to UN: Observer status at UNCITRAL and links with other UN agencies which deal with economic matters
Functions: To search for practical solutions to obstacles that hamper the mechanism of world trade; speak for the business community in the international arena; provide a forum at which business leaders and intergovernmental organisations can make contact; publish/produce practical works of business relevance; and support the Court of International Commercial Arbitration
Principal publications: ICC Handbook and various other handbooks and guides
INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE
OF THE RED CROSS
* NZ Red Cross
Short title: ICRC
Year established: 1863
Established by: Henri Dunant
Membership: 21 Swiss nationals
Functions: To provide humanitarian assistance
Instruments: Geneva Conventions 1949 and 1977 protocols
Principal publications: International Review of the Red Cross
INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT
* NZ Red Cross
Year established: 1919
Membership: 165 national societies
Functions: To provide humanitarian assistance
INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION OF SECURITIES COMMISSIONS
* Securities Commission
Short title: IOSCO
Year established: 1974
Established by: Securities commissions in countries in North and South America
Membership: 55 countries, including NZ
Functions: To co-operate to ensure a better regulation of the markets, domestically as well as internationally; to promote the development of domestic markets; to exchange information on the respective experiences of member countries; to unite efforts to establish standards and an effective surveillance of international securities transactions; and to provide mutual assistance to ensure the integrity of the markets by rigorous application of the standards and enforcement
Principal publications: Annual reports; conference papers and committee reports
PACIFIC BASIN ECONOMIC COUNCIL
Short title: PBEC
Year established: 1967
Membership: 14 countries, including Australia and NZ
Functions: A purely business group with similar aims to PECC (see below)
PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION COUNCIL
* NZPECC; Law Commission
Short title: PECC
Year established: 1980
Membership: 22 national committees, including NZPECC and AUSPECC
Functions: A tripartite organisation of business leaders, academics and government officials which provides a forum for discussing and analysing economic policy issues and for promoting cooperation based on free and open economic exchanges
Subordinate bodies: Trade Policy Forum (TPF); Minerals and Energy Forum; Pacific Economic Outlook Project
NZLII:
Copyright Policy
|
Disclaimers
|
Privacy Policy
|
Feedback
URL: http://www.nzlii.org/nz/other/nzlc/report/R34/R34-5.html