UNGEGN Divisions
The Group of Experts is composed of experts from various linguistic/geographical divisions that have been established by the UN Conferences on the Standardization of Geographical Names. Countries decide for themselves the division(s) to which they wish to belong; some belong to more than one division. A division chair is selected within a division and he/she is encouraged to stimulate activities in the standardization of geographical names within the division, through technical meetings, correspondence, etc.
Currently, there are 24 divisions that guide the work of UNGEGN during and between its sessions. Individuals interested in initiating activities are encouraged to consult the UNGEGN Secretariat to find points of contact within their divisions.
Linguistic/Geographical Divisions
The Group of Experts shall be composed of experts from linguistic/geographical divisions designated by Governments. The Group of Experts shall be supported in its activities by the following linguistic/geographical divisions:
1. Africa Central Division
Countries
Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe
Chair
Mr. Michel Simeu Kamdem, Cameroon
Vice-Chair
2. Africa East Division
Countries
Botswana, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sudan, Swaziland, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Chair
Mrs. Nivo Ratovoarison, Madagascar
Secretary
Mr. Charles Mwangi, Kenya
Rapporteur
3. Africa South Division
Countries
Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Interim Chair
4. Africa West Division
Countries
Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo
Chair
Mr. Claude Obin Tapsoba, Burkina Faso
Vice-Chair
Mr. Ebrima L. Ceesay, Gambia
Secretary
Mr. Mohamed Hassimiou Fofana, Guinea
RAPPORT FINAL DE L'ATELIER DE SENSIBILISATION SUR LA GESTION DES NOMS DE LIEUX, Ouagadougou, 4 - 8 août 2008
5. Arabic Division
Countries
Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen
Chair
Dr. Awni Mohamed Al- Khawsna, Jordan
Vice-Chair
Mr. Abd Allah Mohamed Al-Ghayhib, Saudi Arabia, Eng. Naima Friha, Tunisia
Reporter
Mr. Ibrahim Al-Jaber Obaid, Jordan
Editor
Website
Arabic Romanization System Report of the fourth Arab Conference on Geographical Names
Arabic, English
6. Asia East Division (other than China)
Countries
Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Japan, Republic of Korea
Acting Chair
7. Asia South-East and Pacific South-West Division
Countries
Australia, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Fiji, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Vanuatu, Vietnam
Chair
8. Asia South-West Division (other than Arabic)
Countries
Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Islamic Republic of Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan
Chair
9. Baltic Division
Countries
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russian Federation
Chair
Website
10. Celtic Division
Countries
France, Ireland
11. China Division
12. Dutch- and German-speaking Division
Countries
Austria, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, South Africa, Suriname, Switzerland
Chair
Ms. Kathleen Van Doren, Belgium
Website
13. East Central and South-East Europe Division
Countries
Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Montenegro, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine
Chair
Website
14. Eastern Europe, Northern and Central Asia Division
Countries
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Chair
15. East Mediterranean Division (other than Arabic)
16. French-speaking Division
Countries
Belgium, Benin, Cameroon, Canada, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, France, Guinea, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Monaco, Romania, Sao Tome and Principe, Switzerland
Chair
Acting Secretary
Website
17. India Division
Countries
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan
18. Latin America Division
Countries
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Spain, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela
Chair
Ms. Susana Rodriguez Ramos, Mexico
Website
19. Norden Division
Countries
Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden
Chair
Vice-Chair
Website
20. Portuguese-speaking Division
Countries
Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, Sao Tome and Principe, Timor-Leste
Chair
Mr. José Elias Mucombo, Mozambique
Vice-Chair
Secretary
Angola
Website
21. Romano-Hellenic Division
Countries
Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, France, Greece, Holy See, Italy, Luxembourg, Moldova, Monaco, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey
Chair
Secretary
22. United Kingdom Division
Countries
Guyana, Jamaica, South Africa, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, New Zealand
Chair
23. USA/Canada Division
RULES1
- The number of linguistic/geographical divisions and their composition may be revised, if necessary.
- A country shall decide for itself the division to which it wishes to belong. A country may be a member of another division provided the nature of its participation does not change the linguistic/geographical character of the division(s) concerned. An experts may be invited to attend meetings of other divisions in the capacity of observer or consultant.
- Each division, if composed of more than one sovereign State, shall select, by methods of its own choosing, an experts to represent the division (Division Chairman) as a whole at the meetings of the Group of Experts.
- In order to guarantee the continuity of work, each division having more than one sovereign State shall select an alternative representative; the divisional representative shall act in close contact with his alternate.
- The divisional representative shall stimulate activities in the standardization of geographical names within his division by all appropriate means (correspondence with national bodies on the standardization of geographical names and national surveying and mapping agencies; organization of meetings of the divisional experts).
- The divisional representative shall be responsible for ensuring that the work of the Group of Experts and its potential for technical assistance are brought to the attention of the individual countries in his division and for reporting to the United Nations any special problems in his division.
- To discuss technical and procedural matters, a division may organize regional meetings during United Nations conferences on the standardization of geographical names and meetings of the Group of Experts, or at any other appropriate time.
