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Research Guides

Research UN Mandates

Further Research Suggestions

Mandates can be hard to pin down, especially for programmes or activities that are undertaken as a regular part of the work of a department or division.

The Office for Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) and the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) both produce documents about the work of various departments and divisions. Often these reports include an introduction with extensive historical background information. There may also be details about specific activities undertaken by the department.

For example, A/67/867 transmits a JIU report on Financing for humanitarian operations in the United Nations system, which details the "trajectory of humanitarian financing in the United Nations".

JIU report indicating initial resolutions on humanitarian financing

The Index to the Proceedings allows one to trace the documentation related to a particular agenda item over time. 

The Yearbook of the United Nations includes the full text of all resolutions of the principal organs and can be searched full text for specific words or phrases.

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Read Carefully

It is important to read documents carefully. UN language can be difficult to interpret.

Check citations. A resolution may "take note" of a report of the Secretary-General and "approve" the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ): it may be necessary to read both of the reports to understand exactly what was approved (or not).

For example, the resolution that approves the resources for the establishment of the Rule of Law unit is, A/RES/63/263, Questions relating to the programme budget for the biennium 2008–2009, section II: Revised estimates relating to the Rule of Law Unit. 

A/RES/63/263 takes note of the report of the Secretary-General; Endorses the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report of the ACABQ

To find out what the General Assembly endorsed, it is necessary to check A/63/594, the report of the ACABQ as well as A/63/154, the report of the  Secretary-General.

Details about the functions of the Rule of Law Unit are set out in the report of the Secretary-General. 

A/63/154 sets out the Functions of the Rule of Law Unit