international relations

International Maritime Organization (IMO)

The International Maritime Organization was established in 1959 with the purpose of providing a forum for intergovernmental cooperation regarding shipping engaged in international trade. Its current areas of activity include: maritime safety, marine pollution, international trade, navigation techniques and technical matters effecting shipping. Its website offers a description of the history and purpose of the IMO and a list of its members. It also includes summaries of all the conventions and treaties adopted since its origin. Information on publications can also be accessed.

Union of International Associations (UIA)

The Union of International Associations was founded in 1907. It is an independent non-governmental organisation which aims to facilitate the evolution of a worldwide network of non-profit organisations. It promotes research on the legal and political problems facing these bodies. The UIA website has information on the purpose of the organisation, a list of members, and details of UIA publications, including reports, research studies and guidelines for NGO action. There is also a news section.

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is a specialized agency of the United Nations which acts to maintain and extend international cooperation in the standardization and improvement of all forms of telecommunication. Its website provides information on the history and membership of the ITU with the full-text of all its press releases from 1996 onwards. It also offers a calendar of forthcoming events, news cuttings relating to the telecommunications sector and information on world radio communication conferences.

Organization of American States

The Organization for American States (OAS) is a regional forum for dialogue and cooperation on political, economic and social issues in the Americas. In addition to general information on its membership and programmes, the website contains the full-text of a number of OAS documents including its charter, annual report, conventions, treaties, all resolutions from the General Assembly and Permanent Council from 1994 onwards, and press releases from 1995 onwards. Also included are the transcripts of key speeches made by the Secretary General and the Assistant Secretary General since 1995.

Nordiska Rådet / Nordiska Ministerrådet

Website of the Nordic Council and Nordic Council of Ministers. The site provides information about official cooperation between the governments and parliaments of Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Iceland. It also has facts and figures about the Nordic region, news. The Resources section includes teaching materials for schools, maps, photographs and links to dictionaries of the Nordic languages. The site is available in English and the Scandinavian languages.

Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)

The IPU is an international organisation of parliaments of sovereign states which acts to promote parliamentary democracy and provides a forum for worldwide parliamentary dialogue. Its website is available in French or English and includes information on the structure, purpose and activities of the IPU. The full-text of recent press releases from the organisation and the text of resolutions are accessible. Also available online is PARLIT, the IPU's searchable database of bibliographic references to books and articles relevant to the study of parliamentary law and practise.

Chatham House

Chatham House was founded in 1920 (as the Royal Institute of International Affairs) to stimulate debate and research on important developments in the international arena. Its website contains details about the Institute, its members, publications and recent events. Some documents can be viewed online, others are offered to subscribers only. All aspects of British foreign policy and international security are covered, including US foreign policy and the 'war against terrorism' and the Middle-East conflict.

International Committee of the Red Cross

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is the leading international humanitarian organization. Its website has a substantial section devoted to international humanitarian law ('Law and War'). It includes the Geneva Conventions, with commentaries, and a database of customary international humanitarian law. The site also provides ICRC publications, including cases studies and the International Review of the Red Cross back to 2004 (plus two earlier issues), as well as e-learning modules. The site is available English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Portuguese.

Statewatch database

Statewatch is a non-profit voluntary organisation which monitors the state and civil liberties in the UK and the rest of Europe. The Statewatch Database contains more than 25,000 records, including news, features, pamphlets, reports, legislation, EU resolutions and agreements, details of UK parliamentary debates and those of the European Parliament and reports on European Court of Human Rights cases. Material less than 6 months old can be accessed free of charge; older materials require a subscription.

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