Contents of organization descriptions in the Yearbook

Entries may be deliberately abridged when:

• insufficient information has been obtained for whatever reason
• a brief mention is adequate to clarify the nature of the organization
• the organization is apparently inactive or has ceased to exist

1. Organization number: A reference number assigned to identify an organization. Index cross-references in the printed version refer to this number, and also in the International Congress Calendar and the Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential.

   • Found in the print version on the right of each title (e.g. •00123)
   • Found in the online version by hovering the mouse over the organization's title

2. Organization name: The official English or other language title appears first, followed by its abbreviation or initials if any. When available, names in other languages are also given. When an organization does not have an official name in English or French, the editors may provide translated versions (marked by '*'). 

3. Main address: The main address for correspondence. Also includes telephone and fax numbers and e-mail addresses when available. 

4. Secondary addresses: Addresses of registered offices, continental regional offices, information offices and addresses for secondary correspondence.

5. Website(s) and other electronic services

6. History: The date and location of founding (or "establishment" in the case of intergovernmental organizations). Other information on the history and changes in structure or name of the organization is also given.

7. Aims: Principal objectives are summarized, wherever possible on the basis of the organization’s statutes. In some cases keywords are extracted from the aims which are then used to help determine the subject classification of the organization.

8. Structure: The key organs and commissions of the organization are enumerated, together with some indication of the frequency of their meetings and of composition of the executive body.

9. Languages: Official and working languages used by the organization. "Official languages" are normally those specified in the statutes of the organization.

10. Staff: The number of paid and voluntary staff.

11. Finance: Sources of funding and the annual budget figure. The names of sponsoring bodies listed in the Yearbook may be cited.

12. Activities: A summary of the main activities and programme concerns of the organization. Special emphasis is placed on developmental activities, where relevant.

13. Events: Date and location of previous and future periodic meetings or other events (exhibitions, seminars, etc.). 

14. Publications: Titles of major periodical and non-periodical publications produced. Those titles appearing in italics are extracted into Volume 4 of the print version and the Bibliography section of the online version of the Yearbook.

15. Information Services: Names of libraries, databanks and consultancy services in the library and publications field, operated by the organization. Those titles appearing in italics are extracted into Volume 4 of the print version and the Bibliography section of the online version of the Yearbook. Websites or other homepages are not listed here but following the organization's address.

16. Members: Types of membership and numbers of members. This includes, where available, the list of countries represented or in which members are located. See our related FAQ "Which country and territory names are used in the Yearbook?" for more information. An index by country of membership is given separately in the print version in Volume 2. 

17. Consultative Status: Where the organization has some officially recognized relationship to a major intergovernmental organization, this is indicated. See Consultative Status of international organizations for more information.

18. Relations with Intergovernmental Organizations: Where the organization has some special relationship to an intergovernmental organization, this is indicated. Note that the more tenuous links have been omitted from the printed edition descriptions, although they are available in the online version.

19. Relations with Non-governmental Organizations: Where the organization has some special relationship (organic or working) with international non-governmental organizations, this is indicated. Note that the more tenuous links have been omitted from the printed edition descriptions, although they are available in the online version.

20. Date: The last line of the entry may include a date, indicating the last date on which information was received. Two forms are used:

    • 2010.02.16 indicates that the organization concerned checked the entry and returned it on that date;
    • 2010 indicates that the organization concerned has not recently checked the entry, but information has been received in that year from another source.

21. Letter codes: See Types of organization