Part 101
established - 18 June 1981
effective - 4 July 1981
aim - to promote political, economic, and defense cooperation
members - (8) Antigua and Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
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Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
established - 14 September 1960
aim - to coordinate petroleum policies
members - (13) Algeria, Ecuador, Gabon, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Venezuela
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Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)
established - 22-25 September 1969
aim - to promote Islamic solidarity and cooperation in economic, social, cultural, and political affairs
members - (47 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan (suspended), Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei, Burkina, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization
observer - (1) Turkish-Cypriot administered area of Cyprus
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Paris Club
Note - see Group of 10
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Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)
established - NA 1899
aim - to facilitate the settlement of international disputes
members - (75) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, Laos, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zimbabwe
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Population Commission
established - 3 October 1946
aim - ECOSOC organization dealing with population matters
members - (27) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
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Rio Group (RG)
established - NA 1988
aim - a consultation mechanism on regional Latin American issues
members - (11) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela; note - Panama was expelled in 1988
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Second World
Note - another term for the traditionally Marxist-Leninist states with authoritarian governments and command economies based on the Soviet model; the term is fading from use; see centrally planned economies
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socialist countries
Note - in general, countries in which the government owns and plans the use of the major factors of production; note - the term is sometimes used incorrectly as a synonym for Communist countries
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South
Note - a popular term for the poorer, less industrialized countries generally located south of the developed countries; the counterpart of the North; see less developed countries (LDCs)
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South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
established - 8 December 1985
aim - to promote economic, social, and cultural cooperation
members - (7) Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
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South Pacific Commission (SPC)
established - 6 February 1947
effective - 29 July 1948
aim - to promote regional cooperation in economic and social matters
members - (27) American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, France, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, NZ, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau), Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, UK, US, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna, Western Samoa
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South Pacific Forum (SPF)
established - 5 August 1971
aim - to promote regional cooperation in political matters
members - (15) Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, NZ, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Western Samoa
observer - (1) Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau)
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Southern African Customs Union (SACU)
established - 11 December 1969
aim - to promote free trade and cooperation in customs matters
members - (9) Bophuthatswana, Botswana, Ciskei, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Transkei, Venda
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Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC)
established - 1 April 1980
aim - to promote regional economic development and reduce dependence on South Africa
members - (10) Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe
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Southern Cone Common Market
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(MERCOSUR)
established - 26 March 1991
aim - regional economic cooperation
members - (4) Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay
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Statistical Commission
established - 21 June 1946
aim - ECOSOC organization dealing with development and standardization of national statistics
members - (25) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
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Third World
Note - another term for the less developed countries; the term is fading from use; see less developed countries (LDCs)
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underdeveloped countries
Note - refers to those less developed countries with the potential for above-average economic growth; see less developed countries (LDCs)
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undeveloped countries
Note - refers to those extremely poor less developed countries (LDCs) with little prospect for economic growth; see least developed countries (LLDCs)
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Union Douaniere et Economique de l'Afrique Centrale (UDEAC)
Note - see Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC)
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United Nations (UN)
established - 26 June 1945
effective - 24 October 1945
aim - to maintain international peace and security as well as promote cooperation involving economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems
members - (178) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe; note - all UN members are represented in the General Assembly
observers - (3 and the Palestine Liberation Organization) Monaco, Switzerland, Vatican City, Palestine Liberation Organization
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United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM)
established - 20 December 1988
aim - established by the UN Security Council to verify the withdrawal of Cuban troops from Angola
members - (10) Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Congo, Czechoslovakia, India, Jordan, Norway, Spain, Yugoslavia
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United Nations Center for Human Settlements (UNCHS or Habitat)
established - 12 October 1978
aim - to assist in solving human settlement problems
members - (88) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
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United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
Note - acronym retained from the predecessor organization UN International Children's Emergency Fund
established - 11 December 1946
aim - to help establish child health and welfare services
members - (41) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
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United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
established - 30 December 1964
aim - to promote international trade
members - (181) all UN members plus Monaco, Switzerland, Tonga, Vatican City
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United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
established - 22 November 1965
aim - to provide technical assistance to stimulate economic and social development
members - (48) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
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United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF)
established - 31 May 1974
aim - established by the UN Security Council to observe the 1973 Arab-Israeli ceasefire
members - (4) Austria, Canada, Finland, Poland
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United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
established - 16 November 1945
effective - 4 November 1946
aim - to promote cooperation in education, science, and culture
members - (159) all UN members except Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Brunei, Croatia, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, UK, US, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu; other members are Cook Islands, Kiribati, Monaco, Switzerland, Tonga
associate members - (3) Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Netherlands Antilles
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United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
established - 15 December 1972
aim - to promote international cooperation on all environmental matters
members - (58) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
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United Nations Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP)
established - 4 March 1964
aim - established by the UN Security Council to serve as a peacekeeping force beween Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus
members - (8) Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Sweden, UK
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United Nations General Assembly
established - 26 June 1945
effective - 24 October 1945
aim - primary deliberative organ in the UN
members - (178) all UN members are represented in the General Assembly
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United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
established - 17 November 1966
effective - 1 January 1967
aim - UN specialized agency that promotes industrial development especially among the members
members - (150) all UN members except Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Chad, Croatia, Djibouti, Estonia, Iceland, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Western Samoa; other members are Switzerland, Tonga
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United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
established - 19 March 1978
aim - established by the UN Security Council to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces, restore peace, and reestablish Lebanese authority in southern Lebanon
members - (9) Fiji, Finland, France, Ghana, Ireland, Italy, Nepal, Norway, Sweden
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United Nations Iran-Iraq Military Observer Group (UNIIMOG)
established - 9 August 1988
aim - established by the UN Security Council to observe the 1988 Iran-Iraq ceasefire
members - (25) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Ghana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Senegal, Sweden, Turkey, Uruguay, Yugoslavia, Zambia
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United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP)
established - 13 August 1948
aim - established by the UN Security Council to observe the 1949 India-Pakistan ceasefire
members - (8) Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Uruguay
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United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
established - 3 December 1949
effective - 1 January 1951
aim - to try to ensure the humanitarian treatment of refugees and find permanent solutions to refugee problems
members - (43) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Madagascar, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UK, US, Vatican City, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Zaire
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United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Note - acronym retained from predecessor organization UN Fund for Population Activities
established - NA July 1967
aim - to promote assistance in dealing with population problems
members - (51) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
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United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
established - 8 December 1949
aim - to provide assistance to Palestinian refugees
members - (10) Belgium, Egypt, France, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, UK, US
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United Nations Secretariat
established - 26 June 1945
effective - 24 October 1945
aim - primary administrative organ of the UN
members - Secretary General appointed for a five-year term by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council
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United Nations Security Council
established - 26 June 1945
effective - 24 October 1945
aim - to maintain international peace and security
permanent members - (5) China, France, Russia, UK, US
nonpermanent members - (10) elected for two-year terms by the UN General Assembly; Austria (1991-92), Belgium (1991-92), Cuba (1990-91), Ecuador (1991-92), India (1991-92), Ivory Coast (1990- 91), Romania (1990-91), Yemen (1990-91), Zaire (1990-91), Zimbabwe (1991-92)
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United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO)
established - NA May 1948
aim - initially established by the UN Security Council to supervise the 1948 Arab-Israeli ceasefire and subsequently extended to work in the Sinai, Lebanon, Jordan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan
members - (19) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, US
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United Nations Trusteeship Council
established - 26 June 1945
effective - 24 October 1945
aim - to supervise the administration of the UN trust territories; only one of the original 11 trusteeships remains - the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Palau)
members - (5) China, France, Russia, UK, US
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Universal Postal Union (UPU)
established - 9 October 1874, affiliated with the UN 15 November 1947
effective - 1 July 1948
aim - UN specialized agency that promotes international postal cooperation
members - (168) all UN members except Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Namibia, Slovenia, South Africa, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan; other members are Kiribati, Monaco, Nauru, Netherlands Antilles, Switzerland, Tonga, Tuvalu, UK Overseas Territories, Vatican City
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Warsaw Pact (WP)
Note - was established 14 May 1955 to promote mutual defense; members met 1 July 1991 to dissolve the alliance; member states were Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and the USSR
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West African Development Bank (WADB)
Note - also known as Banque Ouest-Africaine de Developpement (BOAD)
established - 14 November 1973
aim - to promote economic development and integration
members - (7) Benin, Burkina, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo
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West African Economic Community (CEAO)
Note - acronym from Communaute Economique de l'Afrique de l'Ouest
established - 3 June 1972
aim - to promote regional economic development
members - (7) Benin, Burkina, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal
observer - (1) Togo
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Western European Union (WEU)
established - 23 October 1954
effective - 6 May 1955
aim - mutual defense and progressive political unification
members - (10) Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK
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World Bank see International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
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World Bank Group
Note - includes International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Development Association (IDA), and International Finance Corporation (IFC)
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World Confederation of Labor (WCL)
established - 19 June 1920 as the International Federation of Christian Trade Unions (IFCTU), renamed 4 October 1968
aim - to promote the trade union movement
members - (96 national organizations) Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bonaire Island, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curacao, Cyprus, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, French Guiana, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guadaloupe, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Martinique, Mauritius, Mexico, Montserrat, Namibia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
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World Court see International Court of Justice (ICJ)
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World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)
established - NA 1945
aim - to promote the trade union movement
members - (67) Afghanistan, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina, Cambodia, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, France, The Gambia, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, North Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mongolia, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Russia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zaire
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World Food Council (WFC)
established - 17 December 1974
aim - ECOSOC organization that studies world food problems and recommends solutions
members - (36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
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World Food Program (WFP)
established - 24 November 1961
aim - ECOSOC organization that provides food aid to assist in development or disaster relief
members - (30) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
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World Health Organization (WHO)
established - 22 July 1946
effective - 7 April 1948
aim - UN specialized agency concerned with health matters
members - (164) all UN members except Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belize, Bosnia and Hercegovina, China, Croatia, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan; other members are Cook Islands, Kiribati, Monaco, Switzerland, Tonga
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World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
established - 14 July 1967
effective - 26 April 1970
aim - UN specialized agency concerned with the protection of literary, artistic, and scientific works
members - (125) Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe
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World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
established - 11 October 1947
effective - 4 April 1951
aim - specialized UN agency concerned with meteorological cooperation
members - (162) all UN members except Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Croatia, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Grenada, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Moldova, Namibia, Poland, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Western Samoa; South Africa is included although WMO membership is suspended; other members are British Caribbean Territories, French Polynesia, Hong Kong, Slovenia, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, Switzerland
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World Tourism Organization (WTO)
established - 2 January 1975
aim - promote tourism as a means of contributing to economic development, international understanding, and peace