Section Navigation
International
United Nations
The United Nations is the intergovernmental organization (IGO) that facilitates cooperation on international law, security, economic development, social progress, and human rights issues. Almost every recognized independent country is a member state. The UN is divided into the General Assembly (the main deliberative body), the Security Council (which deals with matters of peace and security), the Economic and Social Council (which promotes economic and social cooperation and development), the Secretariat (which provides studies, information, and facilities needed by the UN), and the International Court of Justice. The UN System is comprised of other agencies such as the World Health Organization, UNICEF (UN Children's Fund), UNDP (UN Development Programme), and UNEP (UN Environmental Programme).
Official documents cover the daily work of the United Nations. The United Nations sales publications deal with a multitude of topics and include the environment, human rights, education, gender, social justice, health, country- or region-specific policy issues, and statistics.
- Websites
- Databases
- Official Documents
- Publications
- Statistics
- Treaties
- Other Research Guides
- Contact
Websites
- General Assembly
- Security Council
- Economic and Social Council
- International Court of Justice
- UN Documentation Centre
Official Web Site Locator for the United Nations System of Organizations
UN Organ Org Chart (clickable PDF)
United Nations Dag Hammarskjold Library
- General Assembly Research Guide
- Security Council Research Guide
- Economic and Social Council Research Guide
Databases
UNBISnet: UN Bibliographic Information System
Primary database of the United Nations, offering access to UN documents and publications acquired by the Dag Hammarskjold Library in New York and the UN Library in Geneva. Also included are: commercial publications and other non-UN sources held in the collection of the Dag Hammarskjold Library. 1979 - present with older documents added regularly; Voting Records for resolutions which were adopted by the General Assembly (38th session, 1983 - present) and the Security Council (1946 - present); Citations to speeches made in the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council and the Trusteeship Council (1983 - present). Many ODS documents can be found in UNBISnet.
NOTE: Firewalls may cause problems in accessing full-text documents.
UN Official Document System (ODS)
Comprehensive, though not complete, coverage of all types of publicly-available UN documentation starting in the early to mid-1990s. Categories of documents included are: Resolutions going back to 1946 (Security Council, General Assembly, Economic and Social Council and Trusteeship Council); Selected Security Council and General Assembly documents going back to 1985; Meeting Records; Daily Journals; and Bulletins. NOT INCLUDED IN ODS: UN sales publications; UN public information materials; UN press releases and briefings; UN Treaty Series; Documents that are not publicly released.
United Nations Infoquest (UN-I-QUE)
Database designed by the Dag Hammarskjöld Library in New York to provide quick access to document symbols/sales numbers for UN materials, from 1946 onwards.
Access UN
Index to United Nations documents and publications, designed to enhance access to the Readex United Nations' microfiche collection (last two years only).
Official Documents
Official Documents Collections
| Dates Covered | Document Type/Title | Format | Location |
| 1946-present | Resolutions of the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council and the Trusteeship Council | Online (Free) | ODS: Official documents of the United Nations |
| 1946-present | Resolutions adopted by the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Security Council | Online (Free) | UNBISnet |
| 1946-present | Voting records for all adopted resolutions beginning with its General Assembly 38th session (1983-) and the Security Council beginning with its 1st year (1946-). Links to the full text of resolutions are provided. | Online (Free) | UNBISnet |
| 1946-present | United Nations Documents and Publications | Microfiche | SSH Micro XX 2808 |
| Index 1950-1973 |
United Nations documents index | SSH Ref Stacks JZ4935 .U536 | |
| Index 1974-1978 |
UNDEX (Series A, subject index) | Print |
SSH Ref Stacks JZ 4935 U537 |
| Index 1974-1978 |
UNDEX (Series B, country index) |
SSH Ref Stacks JZ 4935 U538 | |
| Index 1974-1978 |
UNDEX (Series C, list of documents issued) |
SSH Ref Stacks JZ 4935 U539 | |
| Index 1979-1996 |
UNDOC | at SRLF - use UNBISnet | |
| Index 1998-2002 |
United Nations Documents Index | at SRLF - use UNBISnet | |
| Index 2002-present |
United Nations Documents Index (or use UNBISnet) | SSH Ref Stacks JZ 4935 U55 | |
| 1979-present (older documents are being added on a regular basis) |
Catalog of UN documents and publications indexed by the UN Dag Hammarskjöld Library and the Library of the UN Office at Geneva. Also links to many full text resources in the six official languages of the UN (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish), including resolutions adopted by the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Security Council from 1946 onward. | Online (Free) | UNBISnet |
| 1983-present | Speeches: Citations to speeches made in the General Assembly beginning with its 38th session (1983-), the Security Council beginning with its 38th year (1983-), the Economic and Social Council beginning in 1983 and the Trusteeship Council beginning with its 15th special session (1982). Links to the full text of speeches are provided. | Online (Free) | UNBISnet |
| 1989-present | Index to United Nations documents and publications microfiche collection. Includes some links to full text, primarily for the last three years. |
Online (UCSD) | Access UN |
| 1993-present | All types of official United Nations documentation | Online (Free) | ODS: Official documents of the United Nations |
| varies | search Roger by title or keyword for UCSD libraries print holdings | Roger |
General Assembly
| Dates Covered | Document Type/Title | Format | Location |
| 1946-present | Resolutions of the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council and the Trusteeship Council | Online (Free) | ODS: Official documents of the United Nations |
| 1946-present | Resolutions adopted by the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Security Council | Online (Free) | UNBISnet |
| 1946-present | Official Records of the General Assembly | Microfiche | SSH Micro XX 2808 |
| 1946 | Index to the Official Records of the First Part of the First Session of the General Assembly | SSH Ref Stacks JZ 5006 I64 | |
| 1947-1949 | Disposition of Agenda Items ("Index to Proceedings") | SSH Ref Stacks JZ 5006 I64 | |
| 1950-present | Index to Proceedings of the General Assembly | SSH Ref Stacks JZ 5006 I64 | |
| 1946-1986 | United Nations Resolutions. Series 1, Resolutions Adopted by the General Assembly | SSH Ref Stacks JZ 5010 U55 | |
| 1976-present | Resolutions and Decisions Adopted by the General Assembly | SSH Ref Stacks JZ 5010.2 U55r | |
| 1981-present | Resolutions from the General Assembly |
Online (UCSD) | Access UN |
| 1983-present | voting records and full text of resolutions | Online (Free) | UNBISnet |
| 1983-present | citations to speeches with links to full text | Online (Free) | UNBISnet |
Security Council
| Dates Covered | Document Type/Title | Format | Location |
| 1946-present | Resolutions of the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council and the Trusteeship Council | Online (Free) | ODS: Official documents of the United Nations |
| 1946-present | Resolutions adopted by the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Security Council | Online (Free) | UNBISnet |
| 1946-present | voting records and full text of resolutions | Online (Free) | UNBISnet |
| 1946-present | Official Records, including Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, supplements, and special supplements | Microfiche | SSH Micro XX 2808 |
| 1946-1979 | Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council | SSH Ref Stacks JZ 5030 U55ra | |
| 1946-1949 | Index to Proceedings of the Security Council | SSH Ref Stacks JZ 5006.5 I64 | |
| 1964-present | Index to Proceedings of the Security Council | SSH Ref Stacks JZ 5006.5 I64 | |
| 1974-present | Resolutions from the Security Council | Online (UCSD) | Access UN |
| 1983-present | citations to speeches with links to full text | Online (Free) | UNBISnet |
Economic and Social Council
| Dates Covered | Document Type/Title | Format | Location |
| 1946-present | Resolutions of the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council and the Trusteeship Council | Online (Free) | ODS: Official documents of the United Nations |
| 1946-present | Resolutions adopted by the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Security Council | Online (Free) | UNBISnet |
| 1946-present | Official Records of the Economic and Social Council | Microfiche | SSH Micro XX 2808 |
| 1946-1961 | Index to Proceedings of the Economic and Social Council | SSH Ref Stacks JZ 5007 I64 | |
| 1962-present | Index to Proceedings of the Economic and Social Council | SSH Ref Stacks JZ 5007 I64 | |
| 1982-present | Resolutions from the Economic and Social Council | Online (UCSD) | Access UN |
| 1983-present | citations to speeches with links to full text | Online (Free) | UNBISnet |
Publications
| Dates Covered | Document Type/Title | Format | Location |
| varies | search Roger by title or keyword for UCSD libraries print holdings | Roger | |
| 1979-present (older documents are being added on a regular basis) |
Catalog of UN documents and publications indexed by the UN Dag Hammarskjöld Library and the Library of the UN Office at Geneva. Also links to many full text resources in the six official languages of the UN (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish), including resolutions adopted by the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Security Council from 1946 onward. | Online (Free) | UNBISnet |
| varies |
IGO Search is a Google Custom Search Engine covering the websites (including PDF versions of publications) of all major IGOs including the United Nations and its sub-organizations. |
Online (Free) | IGO Search |
Statistics
UNdata
"A World of Data." Single search interface for data produced and collected by various United Nations (UN) organizations.
Statistical Databases
Links to 15 free databases from UN Statistics Division Statistical Databases
United Nations Common Database [UCSD Only]
will be discontinued as of 31 July 2008 and will be replaced by UNdata
Provides 442 economic, social, cultural, health, and demographic data series for countries of the world. Data providers include UN, UNESCO, FAO, WHO, IMF, UNICEF, ITU, and World Bank. Some indicators reach back as far as the 1940s.
United Nations Demographic and Social Statistics
Statistical and demographic information for countries and the world compiled by the UN.
INFONATION: Basic UN Country Statistics
User friendly, international statistical website, allowing users to access summary statistical data for member states of the United Nations. Data retrieval is limited to seven countries at a time.
United Nations Development Programme Human Development Reports
Full text of UNDP Human Development Reports, from 1990 to the next to most current year, plus national Human Development Reports and an excellent statistics section on industrialized and developing countries.
COMTRADE: UN Commodity Trade Statistics Database [UCSD Only]
United Nations database of detailed commodity imports and exports statistics by country, 1962-present.
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) statistical institute website. Includes statistical data sets of world education and literacy indicators, and selected data from the UNESCO Statistical Yearbook.
LexisNexis Statistical [UCSD Only]
1973-present. Abstracts and indexes statistical publications of U.S. federal and state governments, nonprofit and educational institutions, and private publishers. Also international agencies. Full text often included. Previous name Statistical Universe
Treaties
| Dates Covered | Document Type/Title | Format | Location |
| 1964-1981 | Treaty series (United Nations) | SSH Stacks JX 170 U35 | |
| 1975-present | Treaty series (United Nations) | Microfiche | SSH Micro XX 1649 |
| Index 1972-1979 |
Multilateral treaties in respect of which the Secretary-General performs depositary functions. List of signatures, ratifications, accessions, etc | SSH Stacks KZ 171 M86 | |
| Index 1982-present |
Multilateral Treaties Deposited with the Secretary-General |
SSH Ref Stacks KZ 171 M86 (earlier in SSH Stacks) |
Other Research Guides
United Nations Documentation: Research Guide Excellent guide to conducting United Nations research. Includes explanations of documents symbols, indexes, resolutions and decisions, speeches, parliamentary documents, and more.
UN News Centre Search for UN news by region, topic of focus (Iraq, Middle East, terrorism etc.), or by UN body. Includes press releases, factsheets, maps and other resources.
UN System Pathfinder Subject guide to key United Nations publications covering a wide range of topics, including international law, human rights, economic development, peacekeeping, and more.
UN Scholars' Workstation United Nations research mega-site, organized along a variety of topical approaches, formats, and research strategies. Supports the United Nations Studies Program at Yale University.
United Nations Research Guide from Northwestern University
Contact
Annelise Sklar
Librarian
Political Science and State, Local & International Documents
Social Sciences & Humanities Library
University of California, San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive, 0175R
La Jolla, CA 92093-0175
Phone (858) 822-1993
Fax (858) 534-7548
asklar@ucsd.edu
Official Web site of the University of California, San Diego
University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093
(858) 534-2230
Copyright ©2009-2010 Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.