Books

This publication offers a strategic guide for integrating sustainable urban and peri-urban forestry into national policies and international environmental frameworks. It provides actionable recommendations, guidance, and tools to help governments mainstream urban forestry across sectors and levels of government. Drawing on global case studies and the San Marino Regional Urban Forestry Action Plan, it highlights how urban forestry contributes to climate resilience, biodiversity, land restoration and the SDGs. The publication also outlines practical mechanisms for embedding urban forestry into national plans and reports under the Rio Conventions, enhancing coherence, visibility, and access to finance. By aligning urban forestry with global goals, it supports greener, healthier, and more resilient cities while advancing national and international commitments.

International trade in services is crucial for economic growth, supporting income, productivity, and resilience. Strengthening service linkages boosts development, with services trade playing a key role in achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. However, there remain considerable data gaps in trade in services statistics. Enterprise and establishment surveys are among the most important sources of trade in services statistics and offer the potential to fill data gaps relating to breakdowns by partner and mode of supply. The Trade in Services Statistics Information System (TiSSTAT), developed at United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), leverages the potential of online surveys and helps to overcome the challenges related to them. This technical paper presents an information system with three main elements: a questionnaire, a set of methodologies that go together with the questionnaire, and a multi-user application that helps reduce response burden and the cost of surveying, while supporting statistical authorities in the compilation of reliable, transparent and detailed trade in services statistics.

The United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) established by the General Assembly in 1955 assesses the levels and effects of exposure to ionizing radiation on human health and the environment. This is the first of two volumes of scientific annexes that summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding the risks of second primary cancer following radiotherapy and future research needs. It is important for establishing the basis for long-term medical care and preventive interventions that will benefit the growing population of cancer survivors.

The present publication contains the third EPR of Kyrgyzstan. It takes stock of progress made by Kyrgyzstan in the management of its environment since it was reviewed for the second time in 2010. It covers legal and policy frameworks and environmental compliance assurance mechanisms and addresses the topics of greening the economy, environmental monitoring, public participation and education. Furthermore, it addresses issues of specific importance to the country related to air protection, biodiversity and protected areas, as well as water, waste and chemicals management. It also examines the efforts of the country to integrate environmental considerations into its policies in the agriculture, energy, industry, transport, land and natural and technological or anthropogenic hazards sectors. It includes a substantive analysis of the country’s participation in and commitments to international environmental agreements, as well as its climate change adaptation and mitigation measures. It includes an assessment of relevant targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and provides recommendations related to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals.

Cette publication propose une feuille de route pratique et concrète à l’intention des autorités publiques, des organismes de réglementation et des structures d’infrastructure qualité souhaitant intégrer les considérations de genre dans leurs structures organisationnelles et leurs résultats. Élaborée dans le cadre d’un projet du sous-programme Commerce de la CEE-ONU sur l'intégration du genre dans l'infrastructure qualité, le Modèle de plan d’action sur le genre est la première du genre dans le système des Nations Unies à cibler directement l’intersection entre l’égalité des sexes et les systèmes réglementaires dans les domaines du commerce, de la normalisation, de la métrologie, de l’accréditation et de l’évaluation de la conformité. L’égalité des sexes reste un pilier central de l’Agenda 2030 pour le développement durable et de la Déclaration et du Programme d’action de Beijing. Pourtant, les progrès vers l’ODD 5 sont au point mort à l’échelle mondiale – et les cadres de gouvernance existants négligent souvent le rôle que peuvent jouer les institutions techniques dans la promotion de résultats sensibles au genre. Cette publication comble cette lacune critique en fournissant aux institutions des étapes concrètes pour :• élaborer des politiques internes visant à favoriser l'équilibre entre les sexes. intégrer des approches sensibles au genre dans les travaux techniques .collecter et utiliser des données ventilées par sexe promouvoir la diversité dans les postes de direction et les processus décisionnels.Structurée autour d’un modèle modulaire et personnalisable, la boîte à outils offre aux institutions un cadre pour entamer ou approfondir leurs efforts d’intégration du genre, en cohérence avec les engagements nationaux et les normes internationales. Elle comprend également une matrice d’évaluation et des exemples de bonnes pratiques issus de la région de la CEE-ONU et d’ailleurs. Bien que conçue à l’origine pour les organismes d’infrastructure qualité, le Modèle de plan d’action sur le genre peut être facilement adaptée à d’autres organisations du secteur public, en particulier celles actives dans les domaines techniques, réglementaires ou des politiques économiques. Cette publication s’appuie sur les travaux de longue date de la CEE-ONU en matière de normes tenant compte des questions de genre, ainsi que sur les efforts de son Groupe de travail des politiques de coopération en matière de réglementation et de normalisation et de son Équipe de spécialistes des normes tenant compte des questions de genre. Elle constitue une contribution concrète et opportune aux efforts internationaux visant à rendre les institutions plus inclusives, efficaces et équitables.

This report is part of Sustainable Mobility and Smart Connectivity initiative, aimed at supporting selected countries in Central Asia, Caucasus and the Western Balkans in transitioning towards sustainable transport and better connectivity. It outlines national action plans designed to build the capacity of national stakeholders to implement sustainable mobility and smart connectivity policies. In collaboration with the Ministries, national stakeholders, and a national consultant, UNECE conducted an in-dept analysis to assess the current state of mobility sustainability and connectivity. The analysis identified key areas for improvement and, in agreement with national authorities, established priority areas for action. Based on these findings, the report proposes tailored actions plans and recommendations for Montenegro to follow in order to improve sustainability of transport sector.

This publication provides a practical and actionable roadmap for public authorities, regulators, and quality infrastructure bodies seeking to integrate gender considerations into their organizational structures and outputs. Developed under the UNECE Trade subprogramme project on Mainstreaming Gender throughout Quality Infrastructure, the GAP Model Blueprint is the first of its kind in the UN system to directly target the intersection of gender equality and regulatory systems in trade, standards, metrology, accreditation, and conformity assessment. Gender equality remains a central pillar of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The publication builds on UNECE’s longstanding work on gender-responsive standards and the efforts of its Working Party on Regulatory Cooperation and Standardization Policies and its Team of Specialists on Gender-Responsive Standards. It represents a timely, concrete contribution to international efforts to make institutions more inclusive, effective, and equitable.

На пятом Совещании высокого уровня по транспорту, окружающей среде и охране здоровья (Вена (в гибридном формате), 17 и 18 мая 2021 года) государства члены решили разработать с целью принятия в 2023 году всеобъемлющую обще европейскую стратегию в области транспорта, окружающей среды и охраны здоро вья, включая четкий план ее осуществления, для достижения согласованной кон цепции и организации дальнейшей работы ОПТОСОЗ.

Le livre de poche des statistiques mondiales est un rapport annuel de compilation d’indicateurs clefs dans les domaines économiques, sociaux et environnementaux présenté en portraits d’une page. Cette édition comprend les profils de 30 régions géographiques mondiales et 232 pays ou zones.

The International Law Commission was established in 1947 with a view to carrying out the responsibility of the General Assembly, under article 13(1)(a) of the Charter of the United Nations, to “initiate studies and make recommendations for the purpose of ... encouraging the progressive development of international law and its codification.” Since its first session in 1949, the Commission has considered a wide-range of topics of international law and made a number of proposals for its codification and progressive development, some of which have served as the basis for the subsequent adoption of major multilateral treaties. The Yearbook of the International Law Commission contains the official records of the Commission and is an indispensable tool for the preservation of the legislative history of the documents emanating from the Commission, as well as for the teaching, study, dissemination and wider appreciation of the efforts undertaken by the Commission in the progressive development of international law and its codification. Volume II (Part One) reproduces the edited versions of the official documents considered by the Commission at the respective annual session.

The Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) Indicator Report tracks progress towards achieving the four objectives of the GCR. This year, 2025, sees the launch of the third GCR Indicator Report, which builds on insights from previous editions and draws on data from the 16 GCR indicators to provide a comprehensive analysis of both progress made and challenges encountered in implementing the Compact. Additionally, the report provides evidence-based examples of how the Compact has impacted refugee responses worldwide. The findings of this report will inform the Global Refugee Forum (GRF) Progress Review in December 2025.  The report highlights some progress seen across the four objectives and emphasizes how impactful collective action can be, and how crucial it is to maintain momentum in implementing the Global Compact on Refugees. Data availability is improving, supporting more informed policies. However, these gains are at risk due to declining funding and weakening international solidarity. 

In accordance with Article 102 of the Charter and the relevant General Assembly Resolutions, every treaty and international agreement registered or filed and recorded with the Secretariat since 1945 is published in the United Nations Treaty Series. At present, the collection includes about 30,000 treaties reproduced in their authentic languages, together with translations into English and French, as necessary.

La présente Recommandation fournit des orientations sur la manière d’établir un arrangement réglementaire commun (ARC), c’est-à-dire un mécanisme que les pays peuvent adopter à titre volontaire pour faciliter l’harmonisation des réglementations relatives aux produits et éviter de répéter certains contrôles de conformité. La présente recommandation a été approuvée pour la première fois en 2001 et révisée en 2015. La révision actuelle clarifie le modèle international, conçu pour soutenir la conformité des produits ainsi que des services, et fournit des orientations supplémentaires concernant l’inclusion des services dans son champ d’application. L’annexe, qui contient le modèle d’Accord Commun de Réglementation (ACR), a été simplifiée par la suppression de la section distincte sur les normes internationales – ces références sont désormais intégrées directement dans les parties pertinentes du texte.

The report reviews the situation of Palestinian women and girls in the Occupied Palestinian Territory from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2024, focusing on their political, social, economic and human rights. The security and political context are assessed, which deteriorated at an alarming rate during the reporting period, with devastating consequences for women’s rights to life, security and protection. The report describes the unprecedented Israeli war on Gaza since 7 October 2023, which has resulted in an escalation of humanitarian and protection crises, with further ramifications for the West Bank, including far-reaching impacts on women and girls. The analysis also focuses on life under occupation in the West Bank, emphasizing the severe consequences for women and girls of movement restrictions, increased arrests and raids. Positive achievements in the advancement of the rights of Palestinian women and girls during the reporting period are also highlighted. Lastly, recommendations are proposed for decision makers, encompassing a broad range of gender-sensitive legal and institutional reforms along with economic and social policy reforms targeting Palestinian women and girls. The report calls for urgent action for a permanent ceasefire and an end to the occupation in line with international law.

Recommendation L provides guidance on how to establish a common regulatory arrangement (CRA) which is a voluntary mechanism that countries can adopt in order to help harmonize product regulations and reduce redundant conformity verifications. Recommendation L was first approved in 2001 and revised in 2015. The current revision clarifies the international model, intended to support conformity of both products and services, and provides additional guidance on the inclusion of services within its scope. The annex contains the international model of a Common Regulatory Arrangement (CRA).

This is the annual report submitted to the General Assembly by the Disarmament Commission for 2024.

The 2024 Orange Book of Results features more than 600 immediate results achieved by UNFPA at the country level in implementing the country programmes in 2024. These results were achieved in close collaboration with governments and other partners including civil society organizations. The publication reflects the accountability of UNFPA for achieving results and can be used as a learning tool.

The State of Commodity Dependence provides a bird’s eye view of commodity dependence in the world. It contains individual statistical profiles for the 195 UNCTAD member States, each comprising of 30 indicators under 4 subtitles - merchandise and commodity export dependence, commodity import dependence, key socio-economic indicators, and indicators on technology. As commodity dependence tends to negatively affect poverty alleviation and food security, a set of indicators is included to help monitor trends in these areas. For each individual member State, 2008-2009 is used as the historical reference period. Moreover, an in-depth analysis of commodity dependence in the 195 UNCTAD member States is presented at the beginning of the report with key messages.

The 3rd edition of the Annual Digest of the Social Protection Reforms in the Arab Region documents 135 policy reforms through various means and sources, including automatic news monitoring and direct inputs from policymakers of ESCWA member States. These reforms indicate significant efforts by Governments to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of national social protection systems. The relative decrease in the number of observed reforms compared to previous years does not imply that Governments’ commitment to social protection has diminished. On the contrary, it signals a transition from temporary, shock-responsive measures to generally more long-term, systemic overhauls of systems and/or adaptation of programmes aimed at providing sustainable protection against life-cycle risks. The changing social protection landscape in the Arab region reflects an increasing commitment among many Arab countries to invest in the welfare of their citizens. Governments are continuously adapting their social protection policies and programmes to evolving societal needs and economic conditions.

This revised edition of the Manual forms part of OHCHR’s updated “Human Rights and Law Enforcement Guidance and Training Package”. The training package also includes a Training Guide on Human Rights for Law Enforcement Officials and an Expanded Pocketbook on Human Rights for Law Enforcement Officials, in addition to presentation slides corresponding to each chapter of the Manual. The Manual provides in-depth information on key instruments, principles and standards for human rights in law enforcement. It explains the application of human rights standards and their implications in law enforcement practice and provides practical recommendations for law enforcement institutions and agencies. The Manual consists of 21 chapters, which are divided into four parts. Each chapter provides the reader with the normative framework of the subject matter and a thorough explanation of the application of the respective principles and standards in law enforcement work.

Le manuel ABC – L’enseignement des droits de l’homme se veut un instrument d’éducation aux droits de l’homme facile à utiliser et qui propose une large palette d’activités correspondant aux droits fondamentaux. Il offre des conseils pratiques aux enseignants et aux professionnels de l’éducation qui souhaitent sensibiliser les enfants scolarisés dans le primaire et le secondaire à la question des droits de l’homme et formule des propositions pour élaborer des activités d’apprentissage. Il ne s’agit nullement d’alourdir des programmes déjà bien chargés, mais d’aider à intégrer la problématique des droits de l’homme dans les matières déjà enseignées.

El Informe sobre comercio y desarrollo 2024 pronostica un crecimiento mundial del producto interno bruto del 2,7 % para 2024 y 2025, lo que marca tres años consecutivos por debajo de la tendencia de crecimiento del 3 % anterior a la pandemia. A nivel regional, Asia meridional muestra el crecimiento más dinámico. Las tres principales potencias de la economía mundial (China, los Estados Unidos de América y la Unión Europea) se encuentran en trayectorias de crecimiento desaceleradas o debilitadas. A pesar del contexto de una revolución tecnológica acelerada, la tan necesaria aceleración de la actividad económica para alcanzar los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible sigue siendo difícil de alcanzar para muchos países del Sur global atrapados por una confluencia de altas cargas de deuda, salidas financieras y de recursos, inversión débil y austeridad forzada. Solo 1 de los 46 países menos adelantados está cumpliendo actualmente la promesa de una meta de crecimiento anual del 7 % en el marco de los Objetivos mundiales.

In 2025, the global prevalence of obesity among school-age children and adolescents exceeded underweight for the first time. This dramatic shift in the face of malnutrition jeopardizes the health and future potential of children, communities and nations.  The 2025 Child Nutrition Report – ‘Feeding Profit: How food environments are failing children’ – reveals how unhealthy food environments are contributing to the worldwide surge in overweight and obesity in children and adolescents. The report presents the latest data on the status, trends and inequities in overweight and obesity among children and adolescents worldwide. It describes how food environments expose children and adolescents to a constant supply of cheap and aggressively marketed ultra-processed foods and sugary drinks, while failing to make nutritious options available and affordable. It also explains how the lack of effective policies leaves countries unprepared to safeguard children and adolescents from these harmful food environments. Drawing from recent examples of countries that have made extraordinary progress, the report presents recommendations to transform children’s food environments.

La Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL) ha manifestado en diversas ocasiones que las tecnologías de la información y las comunicaciones (TIC) no son por sí mismas la respuesta para alcanzar la eficiencia y la eficacia del sistema público, sino que hay que considerar otros elementos clave para el logro de los objetivos. Es así como se ha venido insistiendo en la importancia de los elementos institucionales, culturales, normativos, técnicos, de organización y de liderazgo que contribuyan a consolidar el desarrollo digital de los Gobiernos. Para ello, es imprescindible contar con un modelo robusto y aplicado de gobernanza digital, como se presenta en esta guía, que permita realizar las transformaciones necesarias, tanto en el ámbito de la provisión de servicios públicos como del avance en materia de innovación y desarrollo productivo.

Health and social support systems are essential to human dignity and social well-being. In times of war and conflict, the importance of a care economy intensifies, serving as both a lifeline and a catalyst for recovery and development. Wars often disrupt care systems, increasing the needs of vulnerable populations and placing heavy burdens on caregivers and health workers. Despite their essential role, caregiving services and support systems are frequently overlooked in policy responses to conflict. Rebuilding and strengthening this infrastructure are crucial for recovery. This includes restoring access to healthcare, psychosocial support and daily assistance, while also supporting those who provide these services, many of whom need support themselves. Displaced individuals should be recognized not only as recipients of care but also as active contributors to national relief and rebuilding efforts. Protecting health-care workers is equally vital to ensure that essential services continue during and after crises. By placing health and social support systems at the centre of recovery strategies, Governments can promote sustainable and inclusive rebuilding.