United Nations Statistical Commission


The United Nations Statistical Commission is a Functional Commission of the UN Economic and Social Council established in 1946. It oversees the work of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Its 24 member states are elected by the Economic and Social Council on the basis of the following geographical distribution: African states, Asian States, Eastern European States, Latin American and Caribbean States, Western European and other States. Since July 1999 the Commission meets every year. As set forth by the Economic and Social Council, in the terms of reference, the Commission shall assist the Council:
One of the best known subunits of the Statistics Division is the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names, also known as the United Nations Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names. This unit attempts to standardize the names of locations across languages, alphabets, and cultures.
The sixth UN Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names was in 1992, the seventh in 1998, the eighth in 2002, and the ninth in 2007. One issue addressed at these conferences was the Sea of Japan naming dispute.

The Bureau

The officers are the Chairman, 3 Vice-chairmen and the Rapporteur, elected for a one-year period by the members of the Commission at the beginning of a session. Since 1999, its role is more of a steering one; the Chairman may seek for complementary assistance from other members.