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UN Document Symbols & Series Symbols

E/CN.1/

Economic, Employment and Development Commission (1946-1951)

Previous symbol E/EMP/ in 1946

Previous name Economic and Employment Commission (1946-1950)

Information from ST/LIB/SER.B/5/Rev.5

E/CN.2/

Transport and Communications Commission (1947-1959)

Previous symbol E/TRC/ (1946-1947)

Information from ST/LIB/SER.B/5/Rev.5

E/CN.3/

Statistical Commission website

E/CN.4/

The Commission on Human Rights was a subsidiary of the Economic and Social Council; it concluded its 62nd and final session on 27 March 2006; its work is continued by the Human Rights Council.

Available translations:

E/CN.4/Sub.2/

Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (1947-2006)

The Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights was the key subsidiary of the Commission on Human Rights.

  • Established by the Commission on Human Rights under the authority of Economic and Social Council resolution 9 (II) of 21 June 1946
  • Name changed from Subcommission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities by ECOSOC decision 1999/256 of 27 July 1999 (see E/1999/99, p.127)
  • Met in annual sessions from 1947-2006
  • Prior to 19 June 2006, the Subcommission reported to the Commission on Human Rights; its final report was submitted to the Human Rights Council
  • Working document series symbol
    • E/CN.4/Sub.2/year/-
    • example: E/CN.4/Sub.2/2003/1
    • Working documents of the final session were issued under the series symbol A/HRC/Sub.1/-
  • Summary records series symbol
    • Some meetings were closed and the summary records are Restricted documents (not available online);
    • E/CN.4/Sub.2/year/SR.-
    • example: E/CN.4/Sub.2/2004/SR.15
    • The summary records of the meetings of the final session were issued under the series symbol A/HRC/Sub.1/session/SR.-
  • Sessional reports
    • Dual symbol: E/CN.4/- and E/CN.4/Sub.2/-
    • example: E/CN.4/641 - E/CN.4/Sub.2/140
    • Provide summaries of the work concluded and contain the text of resolutions and decisions adopted by the Subcommission.
  • Resolutions and decisions were not released as separate documents in paper format but some may be retrieved as individual items through the Charter-based bodies database
  • Work continued by the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee.

Working Groups

Over the years, various ad hoc working groups reported to the Commission and to the Subcommission. 

Special Procedures (1947- )

Many reports were presented to the Commission and the Subcommission by special procedures, such as working groups and special rapporteurs.  These carry on reporting to the Human Rights Council and its subsidiaries. See above for more detail.

Available translations:

E/CN.5/

Commission for Social Development website

  • Temporary Social Commission established by E/RES/7 (I) of 16 February 1946
  • Social Commission established by E/RES/10 (II) of 21 June 1946
  • Renamed the Commission for Social Development by E/RES/1139 (XLI) of 29 July 1966
  • Working documents series symbol
  • Sessional report symbol pattern
  • Meeting records
    • E/CN.5/SR.-- available from 1957-1975
  • Press releases series symbol: SOC/-

E/CN.6/

Commission on the Status of Women website

E/CN.7/

Commission on Narcotic Drugs website

E/CN.8/

Fiscal Commission (1947-1954)

Some documents restricted

Information from ST/LIB/SER.B/5/Rev.5

E/CN.9/

Commission on Population and Development website

E/CN.10/

Economic Commission for Europe (1947)

Symbol changed to E/ECE/ in 1947

Information from ST/LIB/SER.B/5/Rev.5

E/CN.11/

Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE) (1947-1976)

Some documents bear symbol ECAFE/

Symbol changed in 1976 to E/ESCAP

Name change from 1974: Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)

Information from ST/LIB/SER.B/5/Rev.5

 

E/CN.12/

Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA or CEPAL) (1948-1974)

Symbol changed in 1974 to E/CEPAL

Information from ST/LIB/SER.B/5/Rev.5

E/CN.13/

Commission on International Commodity Trade (1954-1963)

Some documents restricted.

Information from ST/LIB/SER.B/5/Rev.5

E/CN.14/

Economic Commission for Africa (1958-1981)

Continued by E/ECA/ from 1982-present

E/CN.15/

Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice website

  • Predecessors and establishment
    • International Group of Experts on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders established by E/RES/155 C (VII) of 13 August 1948
    • Ad Hoc Advisory Committee of Experts on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders established by A/RES/415 (V) of 1 December 1950
    • Advisory Committee of Experts on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders established by E/RES/1086 B (XXXIX) of 30 July 1965
    • Committee on Crime Prevention and Control established by E/RES/1584 (L) of 21 May 1971
      • Abolished by Economic and Social Council resolution 1992/1 of 6 February 1992, in accordance with A/RES/46/152 of 18 December 1991
    • Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice established by E/RES/1992/1 of 6 February 1992, in accordance with A/RES/46/152 of 18 December 1991
  • Working documents series symbol 
  • Sessional reports
  • Press releases series symbol SOC/CP/-

E/CN.16/

Commission on Science and Technology for Development website

E/CN.17/

The Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) is a subsidiary of ECOSOC with primary responsibility for environmental questions. 

  • The General Assembly, in its resolution 47/191 of 22 December 1992, requested the Economic and Social Council to establish a high-level Commission on Sustainable Development to ensure effective follow-up to the Conference on Environment and Development (1992).
  • While General Assembly resolution 47/191 contains its mandate, the Commission was established by Economic and Social Council decision 1993/207 of 12 February 1993 (p. 94 of E/1993/93).
  • The Commission was superseded by the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 67/203. The 20th and last session was held in 2013.
  • The Commission met annually and reported to the Economic and Social Council.
  • The Commission often served as the preparatory body for major conferences on environmental issues.
  • Working documents series symbol
  • Sessional reports
    • Supplement 29 to the Economic and Social Council Official Records (ESCOR)
    • dual symbol: E/year/29 - E/CN.17/year/-
    • example: E/2013/29-E/CN.17/2013/4
  • Press release series symbol

E/CN.18/

United Nations Forum on Forests website

  • Established by E/RES/2000/35 of 18 October 2000 (page 64-66 of E/2000/99).
  • Two predecessors:
    • Ad-hoc Intergovernmental Panel on Forests (IPF) established by ECOSOC decision 1995/226 of 1 June 1995 (page 73 of E/1995/95)
    • Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (IFF) established by E/RES/1997/65 of 25 July 1997 (page 122 of E/1997/97)
  • Working documents symbol series 
  • Sessional report

E/CN.18/ and predecessors

The UN Forum on Forests is a subsidiary of ECOSOC; it took over the tasks of the two predecessor bodies listed below.

  • Established by ECOSOC resolution 2000/35 of 18 Oct. 2000 to "strengthen political commitment to the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests" (p. 64-66 of E/2000/99);
  • The Forum meets annually and reports to the Economic and Social Council;
  • Working documents series symbol
  • Sessional reports
    • Supplement 42 to the Economic and Social Council Official Records (ESCOR)
    • dual symbol: E/year/42 - E/CN.18/year/-
  • Press releases series symbol ENV/DEV/-

Predecessors of the UN Forum on Forests

The Inter-governmental Forum on Forests (IFF) was a predecessor body of the UN Forum on Forests, 1997-2000.

  • Established by ECOSOC resolution 1997/65 of 25 July 1997;
  • The Forum met annually from 1997 to 2000 and reported to the Economic and Social Council;
  • Working documents series symbol

The Ad hoc Inter-governmental Panel on Forests (IPF) was a predecessor body of the Inter-governmental Forum on Forests, 1995-1997.

  • Established by ECOSOC decision 1995/226 of 1 June 1995;
  • The Forum met at irregular intervals between 1995 and 1997 and reported to the Economic and Social Council;
  • Working documents series symbol

E/CN.19/ (first session only)

History of the indigenous peoples at the UN from the DESA website.

Pattern of documentation:

  • Forum documents are currently published under series symbol E/C.19/-. Documents of the 1st session were issued under E/CN.19/-.
  • Press releases pertaining to the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues are issued under series symbol HR/-.
  • Sessional reports