ACIS
Advance
Cargo Information System (See UNCTAD chapter)
AELE
French for EFTA
AFL-CIO
American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations
(U.S. association of trade unions)
AHC
Ad Hoc Committee (often refers to the Conference on Disarmament
Committee charged with negotiating a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
(See the CD chapter)
AIC
American International Club (Geneva)
AID
(U.S.) Agency for International Development
.
AIDS
Acquired ImmunoDeficiency Syndrome (WHO chapter)
AKF
Aga Khan Foundation
ANA
American Nurses Association (ICN chapter)
ANSI
American National Standards Institute (private, nonprofit corporation
representing U.S. interests in ISO and IEC C Standardization chapter)
ANZUS
Alliance formed by the U.S., Australia and New Zealand
APEC
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
ARI
Acute Respiratory Infections (WHO chapter)
ASEAN
Association of South East Asian Nations (Brunei, Thailand, Singapore,
Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines)
ATAG
Air Transport Action Group (ATAG chapter)
AZT
Azidothymidine (WHO chapter)
B
BIT
French for ILO
BWC
Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (CD chapter)
C
CAT
Committee Against Torture (Human Rights chapter)
CBM
Confidence Building Measure
CBO
Congressional Budget Office
CCI
French for ITC
CCPR
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (OHCHR Chapter)
CCW
Convention on the Prohibition and on Use of Certain Conventional
Weapons (known as the Convention on Conventional Weapons)
CD
Conference on Disarmament
CDC
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta, USA, See WHO
chapter)
CE
French for EC
CEE
French for ECE and EEC
CERD
Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
(OHCHR chapter)
CERN
European Laboratory for Particle Physics (French initials for its
former name)
CESCR
Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (Human Rights
chapter)
CFE
Conventional Armed Forces in Europe
CIA
Central Intelligence Agency (U.S.)
CICG
Centre International de Conferences de Geneve (Geneva's International
Conference Center)
CICR
French for ICRC
CIEL
Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL chapter)
CIS
Commonwealth of Independent States (former USSR)
CITES
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora (CITES chapter)
CNUCED
French for UNCTAD
COARE
Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Response Experiment (WMO chapter)
CPA
Comprehensive Plan of Action (UNHCR chapter)
CPC
Committee for Program and Coordination (The main organ of the UN
General Assembly for planning, programming and coordination; it
reviews UN programs, recommends order of priorities, and reviews
programs to avoid duplication)
CSCE (Now OSCE)
Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki process
that began in 1975 to improve security nd cooperation), comprising
all countries in the area stretching from Vancouver (Canada) to
Vladivostok (Russia). In 1994, member states seeking to give new
political impetus to the CSCE in the post-Cold War era renamed it
the OSCE or Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
CTA
Central Tracing Agency (International Red Cross chapter)
CTBT
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CD chapter)
CWC
Chemical Weapons Convention (CD chapter)
D
DHA
Department of Humanitarian Affairs, predecessor of OCHA (OCHA chapter)
DMZ
Demilitarized Zone
DSB
Dispute Settlement Mechanism (WTO chapter)
DSU
Dispute Settlement Understanding (WTO chapter)
E
EAP
Environmental Action Program (ECE chapter)
EBU
European Broadcasting Union
EC
European Community (Brussels; see also, EU below)
ECA
Economic Commission for Africa (Addis Ababa; ECE chapter)
ECE
Economic Commission for Europe (ECE chapter)
ECLAC
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (Santiago;
ECE chapter)
ECOSOC
Economic and Social Council (UN General Assembly body; promotes
economic and social progress and development)
EDIFACT
Electronic Data Interchange For Administration, Commerce and Transport
(ECE and UNCTAD chapters)
EEA
European Economic Area (EFTA chapter)
EEC
European Economic Community (same as EC)
EFTA
European Free Trade Association
EMEP
Cooperative Program for Monitoring and Evaluation of the Long-range
Transmission of Air Pollutants in Europe (ECEchapter)
EMS
Expedited Mail Service/Express Mail Service (UPU chapter)
ENSO
El Ni¤o/Southern Oscillation (WMO chapter)
EPA<br>
Environmental Protection Agency (U.S.)
EPI
Expanded Program of Immunization (WHO)
ESCAP
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Bangkok;
ECE chapter)
ESCWA
Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ECE chapter)
EU
The European Union. After the November 1, 1993, entry-into- force
of the Treaty on European Union, or "Maastricht Treaty,"
the European Union became the preferred usage when referring collectively
to the newly strengthened institutions of the European Community.
F
FAO
Food and Agriculture Organization (UN agency based in Rome; liaison
office in Geneva)
FCCC
Framework Convention on Climate Change (WMO and IPCC chapters)
FCTC
Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO chapter)
FDA
(U.S.) Food and Drug Administration
FMCT
Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty (CD chapter)
FTA
Free Trade Agreement
G
GAO
General Accounting Office (U.S.)
GARP
Global Atmospheric Research Program (WMO chapter)
GATS
General Agreement on Trade in Services (WTO chapter)
GATT
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (WTO chapter)
GAVI
Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (WHO chapter)
GAW
Global Atmospheric Watch (WMO chapter)
GEF
Global Environment Facility (joint effort of UNDP and UNEP to support
environmental projects in Third World)
GEN
Geneva Environment Network
GMT
Greenwich Mean Time
GOS
Global Observing System (WMO chapter)<br>
GPA
Global Program on AIDS (now UNAIDS; See UNAIDS chapter)
GCI
Green Cross International (GCI chapter)
GRID
Global Resource Information Data Base (UNEP chapter)
Group B
Group of developed market-economy countries
Group D
Former East-bloc countries
Group of 77
Developing countries (now numbering over 120 countries)
G-7
Group of seven industrialized Western economic summit nations (U.S.,
UK, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, and Japan)
GPS
Global Positioning System (See ITU chapter)
GSP
Generalized System of Preferences (UNCTAD chapter)
GTS
Global Telecommunications System (WMO chapter)
H
HCHR
High Commissioner for Human Rights (See OHCHR chapter)
HIV
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (AIDS-causing virus; UNAIDS chapter)
HRC
Human Rights Commission (OHCHR chapter)
I
IAEA
International Atomic Energy Agency (Vienna-based independent intergovernmental
agency under the aegis of the UN; promotes the peaceful uses of
atomic energy, and prevents, through safe-guards and inspections,
the spread of nuclear weapons)
IARC
International Agency for Research on Cancer (Lyon-based WHO research
agency)
IATA
International Air Transport Association
IBE
International Bureau of Education
ICANN
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (WIPO chapter)
ICAO
International Civil Aviation Organization (Montreal; develops principles
and techniques of international air navigation and air transport
to ensure the safe and orderly growth of civil aviation C IATA chapter)
ICARA
International Conference on Assistance to Refugees in Africa (UNHCR
chapter)
ICBM
Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
ICC
International Chamber of Commerce
ICDO
International Civil Defense Organization
ICJ
International Commission of Jurists
ICMC
International Catholic Migration Commission (See ICMC chapter)
ICN
International Council of Nurses
ICRC
International Committee of the Red Cross (International Red Cross
chapter)
ICSU
International Council of Scientific Unions (WMO chapter)
ICVA
International Council of Voluntary Agencies (See ICVA chapter)
IDNDR
International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction
IEA<br>
International Economic Affairs (section at U.S. Mission)
IEC
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC chapter)
IFs
International Sports Federations (IOC chapter)
IFAD
International Fund for Agricultural Development (Rome-based UN specialized
agency to increase food production in developing countries through
loans for projects benefiting the rural poor in the poorest food-deficient
regions)
IFOR
Implementation Force (International NATO-led force in Bosnia)
ILC
International Law Commission
ILO
International Labor Organization
IMF
International Monetary Fund (Washington based international financial
institution that seeks to stabilize the international monetary system
as a sound basis for the orderly expansion of international trade)
INF
Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (treaty; Bureau of Arms Control
chapter)
INS
Immigration and Naturalization Service (U.S.)
IOC
International Olympic Committee (Lausanne; see IOC chapter)
IOM
International Organization for Migration
IPC
Integrated Program of Commodities (UNCTAD chapter)
IPCC
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC chapter)
IPEC
International Program for the Elimination of Child Labor (ILO chapter)
IPU
Inter-Parliamentary Union
ISDN
Integrated Services Digital Network (ITU chapter)
ISO
International Organization for Standardization (Standardization
chapter)
ITC
International Trade Center
ITO
International Trade Organization (WTO chapter)
ITU
International Telecommunication Union
IUC
Information Unit for Conventions; UNEP body providing information
on Environmental Conventions. (See UNEP chapter)
IUCN
International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources;
known as the "World Conservation Union" (IUCN chapter)
IUHEI
Geneva's Graduate Institute of International Studies (Institut Universitaire
de Hautes Etudes Internationales)
J
JCIC
Joint Compliance and Inspection Commission (See Bureau of Arms Control
chapter)
JCS
Joint Chiefs of Staff (U.S.)
L
LDCs
Least Developed Countries
LEP
Large Electron/Positron collider (CERN chapter)
LHC
Large Hadron Collider (CERN chapter)
LRTAP
Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (convention, see ECE chapter)
LWF
Lutheran World Federation
M
MEA
Multilateral Environmental Agreement (such as the Basel Convention,
or the Conventions on Biological Diversity and Climate Change)
MFA
Multifiber Arrangement (WTO chapter)
MFN
Most-Favored Nation clause (WTO chapter)
MIRV
Multiple Independently-targetable Re-entry Vehicle (multiple warheads)
MSS
Mobile Satellite Systems (ITU chapter)
MOA
Memorandum of Agreement
MOU
Memorandum of Understanding
N
NAFTA
North American Free Trade Agreement (concluded among U.S., Canada
and Mexico)
NGLS
United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service
NGO
Non-governmental Organization
NIS
Newly Independent States (former USSR republics)
NNWS
Non-Nuclear Weapons States (CD chapter)
NOAA
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (U.S. Department
of Commerce)
NOCs
National Olympic Committees (IOC chapter)
NPT
Non-Proliferation Treaty (CD chapter)
NSA
Negative Security Assurances (CD chapter)
NTM
National Technical Means (of verifying arms agreements)
O
OAS
Organization of American States
OAU
Organization of African Unity
OCHA
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
OCOGs
Organizing Committees of the Olympic Games (IOC chapter)
ODP
Orderly Departure Program (UNHCR & IOM chaptes)
OECD
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (Paris; 25
industrialized country members)
OHCHR
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
OMM
French for WMO
OMPI
French for WIPO
OMS
French for WHO
ONU
French for UN
ONUG
French for United Nations Office in Geneva (UNOG)
ONUDI
French for UNIDO
OPEC
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Algeria, Gabon, Indonesia,
Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United
Arab Emirates, Venezuela)
ORT
Oral Rehydration Therapy (WHO chapter)
OSCE
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. New name for
a strengthened CSCE in post-Cold War Europe.
OSIA
On-Site Inspection Agency (U.S. agency which verifies arms control
treaties with inspection provisions, such as INF, CFE, Open Skies
and START.
P
Palais
UN headquarters in Geneva (short for "Palais des Nations")
P-5
Or Perm-5. Five permanent members of the UN Security Council (U.S.,
UK, USSR, China, France)
PAM
Programme Alimentaire Mondial (French for WFP)
PARinAC
Partners in Action (See ICVA chapter) NGOs working in partnership
with UNHCR
PCT
Patent Cooperation Treaty (WIPO chapter)
Perm Five
Or P-5. Five permanent members of the UN Security Council (U.S.,
UK, USSR, China, France)
PKO
Peacekeeping Operations
PLO
Palestine Liberation Organization
POP
Persistant Organic Pollutant (see ECE chapter)
PNUD
French for UNDP
PSA
Political and Specialized Agency affairs (section at U.S. Mission)
PSE
Producer Subsidy Equivalent (measure of cost of agriculturtal support
programs C PSEs measure the value of the monetary transfers by consumers
and taxpayers to farmers as a result of agricultural policy)
R
RMA
Refugee and Migration Affairs (section at U.S. Mission)
S
SALT
Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (forerunner to START)
SBC
Secretariat of the Basel Convention
SCC
Standing Consultative Commission
SIDA
French for AIDS, Syndrome d'Immunodeficit Acquis
SLBM
Sea-Launched Ballistic Missile
SNF
Short-range or tactical Nuclear Forces
S&P
Santitary and Phytosanitary Measures (WTO chapter)
START
Strategic Arms Reduction Talks (ACDA chapter)
T
TIA
Transparency in Armaments (CD chapter)
TIR
Transport International Routier (ECE chapter)
TLT
Trademark Law Treaty (WIPO chapter)
TPRM
Trade Policy Review Mechanism (WTO chapter)
TRAINS
Trade Analysis and Information System (UNCTAD chapter)
TRIMs
Trade-Related Investment Measures (WTO chapter)
TRIPs
Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (WTO chapter)
U
UIT
French for ITU
UN
United Nations
UNAIDS
The UN's interagency program on AIDS launched in 1996, replacing
WHO's Global Program on AIDS
UNCED
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development ( Rio de
Jeneiro, Brazil, June 1992)
UN/CEFACT
The United Nations Center for Faciiation of Procedures and Practices
for Administration, Commerce and Transport (See the ECE chapter)
UNCHR
UN Commission on Human Rights (OHCHR chapter)
UNCTAD
UN Conference on Trade and Development
UNDP
UN Development Program (New York; liaison office in Geneva)
UNESCO
UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Paris; liaison
office in Geneva See IBE chapter)
UNEP
UN Environment Program (Nairobi, with European office in Geneva)
UNFCCC
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
UNFPA
UN Fund for Population Activities (New York)
UNGA
UN General Assembly (New York)
UNHCHR
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (also OHCHR)
UNHCR
UN High Commissioner for Refugees
UNHRC
UN Human Rights Commission
UNICEF
UN Children's Fund
UNIDIR
UN Institute for Disarmament Research (Geneva; autonomous institution
within UN undertaking independent research on disarmament and security)
UNIDO
UN Industrial Development Organization (Vienna)
UNITAR
UN Institute for Training and Research (New York)
UNO
United Nations Organization
UNOG
United Nations Office in Geneva
UNPA
UN Postal Administration (only organization other than governments
allowed to issue postage stamps)
UNSCOM
UN Special Commission for the destruction of Iraqi weapons of mass
destruction
UNV
UN Volunteers (Moved from Geneva to Bonn in 1995)
UNVIE
United Nations Office in Vienna
UPOV
Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (WIPO chapter)
UPU
Universal Postal Union (Bern)
USDA
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USIA
United States Information Agency (No longer exists. Integrated into
the State department in 1999)
USIS
United States Information Service (No longer exists. Itegrated into
the State Department in 1999)
USITC
U.S. International Trade Commission (independent fact-finding agency
of the U.S. government that studies the effects of tariffs and other
restraints to trade on the U.S. economy; it conducts public hearings
to determine whether particular U.S. industries are injured or threatened
with injury by dumping, export subsidies in other countries, or
import surges)
USTR
United States Trade Representative
W
WBCSD
World Business Council for Sustainable Development
WCC
World Council of Churches
WCMC
World Conservation Monitoring Center (IUCN chapter)
WCP
World Climate Program (WMO chapter)
WEF
World Economic Forum (see WEF chapter)
WFP
World Food Programme (Rome; UN-FAO body)
WHA
World Health Assembly (WHO chapter)
WHO
World Health Organization (see WHO chapter)
WIPO
World Intellectual Property Organization (see WIPO chapter)
WJC
World Jewish Congress (see WJC chapter)
WMO
World Meteorological Organization (See WMO chapter)
WOCE
World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WMO chapter)
WTO
World Trade Organization (WTO chapter)
WWF
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF chapter)
WWW
World Wide Web (Cern Chapter) or World Weather Watch (WMO chapter)
Z
Zulu
Same as GMT
