"Strengthening relationships, links and connections in geographical names standardization and for sustainable development and pandemic recovery"
The 2023 session of the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names (UNGEGN) was convened from 1 to 5 May 2023 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. There were 10 meetings, and each meeting was three hours: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 3-6 p.m. attended by approximately 219 UNGEGN delegates from 62 Member States, who introduced and discussed 60 technical papers (excluding National and divisional reports).
Objectives
UNGEGN session provided a forum for experts from the interrelated fields of geography, cartography, geospatial information, linguistics and history, from across the world come together to learn and share best practices and norms, new developments in geographical names administration and standardization. The session highlighted the Group's role as an enabler in preserving cultural heritage and supported relevant aspects of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The session addressed the theme "Strengthening relationships, links and connections in geographical names standardization and for sustainable development and pandemic recovery" . This theme is not only aligned to the theme of the 2023 ECOSOC High-level Political Forum on sustainable development, but also to UNGEGN's Strategic Plan and Programme of Work 2021-2029, Strategy 2: Relationships, links and connections. Good relationships, links and connections are fundamental to all UNGEGN's strategies and are at the heart of the work of the United Nations. This topic was explored through discussion papers and panel discussions on 2 May which featured speakers from a Member State, the private sector, academia and an international technical organization
Work Programme
The Group of Experts has a robust work programme anchored in its Strategic Plan and Programme of Work 2021-2029. The following topics were addressed during the session: - place names supporting sustainable development, toponymic data management and gazetteers, romanization systems, diversity and inclusion, capacity building in toponymy and geographical names as cultural heritage.
Other Activities
A series of side events consisting of working groups and divisional meetings, special workshops and an orientation session for new attendees were held during the session. To keep you, our national representatives, observers and special interest groups informed on activities, discussions and outcomes, the UNGEGN 2023 session, the website continues to be updated. Therefore, we encourage you to continue to monitor this website for updates such as the 2023 session report (when it becomes available) and to complete the session evaluation form 3rd UNGEGN Session EVALUATION (google.com).
The documents of the 2023 session of UNGEGN will be available from the links below;
Note:
Please be informed that the technical reports submitted by regional entities and member states are not reviewed or edited by the Secretariat. These reports facilitate the technical discussion of the subject matters on the agenda and help clarify technical issues. The contents of the reports does not reflect the position of the United Nations Secretariat.
The designations employed and the presentation of material does not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, city or area, or of its authorities, concerning the appellation of places, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
Documents (general)
- Provisional Agenda for the 2023 session of UNGEGN
- Annotated provisional agenda
- Organization of work
- Documentation for the session
- List of Documents GEGN.2/2023/INF/2
Agenda item 2 - Organizational matters
2 a) - Adoption of the agenda
- Provisional Agenda for the 2023 session of UNGEGN
- Annotated provisional agenda
2 b) - Organization of work
Agenda item 3 - Reports of the Chair and the Secretariat
- GEGN.2/2023/4, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/4/CRP.4, Full document/report English
Agenda item 4 a) - Reports: Governments on the situation in their countries and on the progress made in the standardization of geographical names
- Report of Cyprus
- Submitted by Cyprus
- GEGN.2/2023/5, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/5/CRP.5, Full document/report English
- Report of Ukraine
- Submitted by Ukraine
- GEGN.2/2023/10, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/10/CRP.10, Full document/report English
- Report of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Submitted by United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- GEGN.2/2023/12, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/12/CRP.12, Full document/report English
- Report of Cameroon
- Submitted by Cameroon
- GEGN.2/2023/16, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/16/CRP.16, Full document/report French
- Report of Estonia
- Submitted by Estonia
- GEGN.2/2023/17, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/17/CRP.17, Full document/report English
- Report of Norway
- Submitted by Norway
- GEGN.2/2023/18, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/18/CRP.18, Full document/report English
- Registro de Nombres Geográficos Continentales, Insulares y de las Formas del Relieve Submarino con fines estadísticos y geográficos de México
- Submitted by Mexico
- GEGN.2/2023/19, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/19/CRP.19, Full document/report Spanish
- Report of Jordan Achievements in the period 2021-2022
- Submitted by Jordan
- GEGN.2/2023/25, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/25/CRP.25, Full document/report Arabic
- Report of Brazil
- Submitted by Brazil
- GEGN.2/2023/27, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/27/CRP.27, Full document/report English
- Report of Lithuania
- Submitted by Lithuania
- GEGN.2/2023/28, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/28/CRP.28, Full document/report English
- Report of Finland
- Submitted by Finland
- GEGN.2/2023/30, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/30/CRP.30, Full document/report English
- Report of New Zealand
- Submitted by New Zealand
- GEGN.2/2023/32, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/32/CRP.32, Full document/report English
- Report of Austria for the period 2021-2023
- Submitted by Austria
- GEGN.2/2023/35, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/35/CRP.35, Full document/report English
- Report of Indonesia
- Submitted by Indonesia
- GEGN.2/2023/42, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/42/CRP.42, Full document/report English
- Greenlandic place names: status and future plans
- Submitted by Denmark (Greenland)
- GEGN.2/2023/53, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/53/CRP.53, Full document/report English
- Report of Bulgaria
- Submitted by Bulgaria
- GEGN.2/2023/54, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/54/CRP.54, Full document/report English
- Report of Iceland
- Submitted by Iceland
- GEGN.2/2023/56, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/56/CRP.56, Full document/report English
- Report of Argentina
- Submitted by Argentina
- GEGN.2/2023/57, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/57/CRP.57, Full document/report Spanish
- Report of the Russian Federation
- Submitted by Russian Federation
- GEGN.2/2023/59, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/59/CRP.59, Full document/report English | Russian
- Report of the Netherlands
- Submitted by Netherlands
- GEGN.2/2023/60, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/60/CRP.60, Full document/report English
- Report of Denmark
- Submitted by Denmark
- Standardization of Geographical Names in Japan
- Submitted by Japan
- GEGN.2/2023/65, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/65/CRP.65, Full document/report English
- Report of Poland for the period 2021 - 2023
- Submitted by Poland
- GEGN.2/2023/68, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/68/CRP.68, Full document/report English
- Report of Sweden
- Submitted by Sweden
- GEGN.2/2023/70, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/70/CRP.70, Full document/report English
- Report of Italy
- Submitted by Italy
- Report of Greece
- Submitted by Greece
- Report of Latvia
- Submitted by Latvia
- Report of Canada
- Submitted by Canada
- Report of Czechia
- Submitted by Czechia
- Report of Croatia on the activities in the field of standardization of geographical names in 2022
- Submitted by Croatia
- GEGN.2/2023/90, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/90/CRP.90, Full document/report English
- Report of Slovakia
- Submitted by Slovakia
- GEGN.2/2023/92, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/92/CRP.92, Full document/report English
- Report of Slovenia
- Submitted by Slovenia
- GEGN.2/2023/93, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/93/CRP.93, Full document/report English
- The activities of the Sultanate of Oman in the field of geographical names
- Submitted by Oman
- Informe de Republica Dominicana
- Submitted by Dominican Republic
- GEGN.2/2023/96, Summary Spanish
- Activities on the national standardization of the names of geographical objects of the Republic of Armenia
- Submitted by Armenia
- Report of Hungary
- Submitted by Hungary
- Report of the Republic of Moldova on the activities in the field of standardization of geographical names from 2021 to 2022
- Submitted by Moldova
- Achievements of The National Committee on Geographical Names in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Submitted by Saudi Arabia
- Report of Cambodia
- Submitted by Cambodia
- GEGN.2/2023/104/CRP.104, Full document/report English
- National Report of Türkiye
- Submitted by Türkiye
- The most important measures of the Islamic Republic of Iran in order to standardize geographical names between 2021
- Submitted by Iran
- Situación de los Nombres Geogríficos en el Perú
- Submitted by Perú
- Report of Malaysia
- Submitted by Malaysia
- GEGN.2/2023/112/CRP.112, Full document/report English
- Report of Brunei Darussalam
- Submitted by Brunei Darussalam
- Report of Australia
- Submitted by Australia
- GEGN.2/2023/120/CRP.120, Full document/report English
- National Report of Thailand on Geographical Names
- Submitted by Thailand
- GEGN.2/2023/125/CRP.125, Full document/report English
- Informe de Costa Rica
- Submitted by Costa Rica
- GEGN.2/2023/126/CRP.126, Full document/report Spanish
- Country Report on the situation of geographical names in Mozambique
- Submitted by Mozambique
- GEGN.2/2023/127/CRP.127, Full document/report English
- Report of the Republic of Korea
- Submitted by Republic of Korea
- GEGN.2/2023/130/CRP.130, Full document/report English
- National Report of South Africa
- Submitted by South Africa
- GEGN.2/2023/134/CRP.134, Full document/report English
- Report of the Republic of Cape Verde
- Submitted by Cape Verde
- GEGN.2/2023/135/CRP.135, Full document/report English
- Report of the Arab Republic of Egypt for the period 2019-2023
- Submitted by Egypt
- GEGN.2/2023/139/CRP.139, Full document/report Arabic
- Report of the Republic of Azerbaijan
- Submitted by Azerbaijan
- National Report of Zambia
- Submitted by Zambia
- GEGN.2/2023/141/CRP.141, Full document/report English
Agenda item 4 b) - Reports: Divisions of the Group of Experts
- GEGN.2/2023/15, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/15/CRP.15, Full document/report French
- GEGN.2/2023/20, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/20/CRP.20, Full document/report Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/55, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/55/CRP.55, Full document/report English
- GEGN.2/2023/58, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/58/CRP.58, Full document/report Russian | English
- GEGN.2/2023/67, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/67/CRP.67, Full document/report English
- GEGN.2/2023/72, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/72/CRP.72, Full document/report English
- GEGN.2/2023/77, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/77/CRP.77, Full document/report English
- GEGN.2/2023/80, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/80/CRP.80, Full document/report English
- GEGN.2/2023/122/CRP.122, Full document/report English | Annex - Model for UNGEGN National Reports
- GEGN.2/2023/137/CRP.137, Full document/report English
Agenda item 4 c) - Reports: Activities on the standardization of geographical names in Africa
- GEGN.2/2023/114, Summary English | French
- GEGN.2/2023/114/CRP.114, Full document/report English | French
Agenda item 4 d) - Reports: National and international meetings and conferences
- GEGN.2/2023/131/CRP.131, Full document/report English
- GEGN.2/2023/138/CRP.138, Full document/report English
Agenda item 5 a) - Cooperation and liaison with other organizations: International organizations;
- GEGN.2/2023/26, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/26/CRP.26, Full document/report English
- GEGN.2/2023/36, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/36/CRP.36, Full document/report English
- GEGN.2/2023/121/CRP.121, Full document/report English
- GEGN.2/2023/124/CRP.124, Full document/report English
- GEGN.2/2023/128/CRP.128, Full document/report English
- GEGN.2/2023/132/CRP.132, Full document/report English
Agenda item 5 b) - Cooperation and liaison with other organizations: Economic Commission for Africa
Agenda item 5 c) - Cooperation and liaison with other organizations: Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management
item 6 a) - Names collection, office treatment, national authorities, features beyond a single sovereignty and international cooperation
Agenda item 6 b) -National and international standardization of geographical names: Toponymic guidelines for map and other editors for international use
- GEGN.2/2023/136/CRP.136, Full document/report English
Agenda item 7 - Social and economic benefits, supporting sustainable development, measures taken and proposed for the implementation of resolutions
- GEGN.2/2023/101, Summary English
- GEGN.2/2023/108, Summary English
Agenda item 8 - Monitoring and evaluation of the strategic plan and programme of work, 2021-2029, and of the work of the Group of Experts
- GEGN.2/2023/33, Summary Arabic | Chinese | English | French | Russian | Spanish
- GEGN.2/2023/33/CRP.33, Full document/report English
Agenda item 9 - Issues of publicity for the Group of Experts and funding of Group projects
Agenda item 10 - Toponymic education
- GEGN.2/2023/129/CRP.129, Full document/report English
Agenda item 11 - Toponymic terminology
Agenda item 12 - Geographical names as culture, heritage and identity, including indigenous, minority and regional languages and multilingual issues
- GEGN.2/2023/117, Summary English
- GEGN.2/2023/123, Summary English
- GEGN.2/2023/133/CRP.133, Full document/report English
Agenda item 13 - Exonyms
Agenda item 14 - Geographical names data management
Agenda item 15 - Writing systems and pronunciation
Agenda item 16 - Other geographical names issues
Agenda item 17 - Presentation and adoption of decisions
Agenda item 18 - Adoption of the report on the 2023 session
Other Documents
Communication
- Announcement letter: Member States | Observers
- Note Verbale: English French Spanish
Documentation guide
About the venue
Side event
Statements
Agenda item 4(a)
Agenda item 4(d)
Agenda item 16
National Dialogue
1st Meeting, 1 May 2023
Presentation Speaker notes- GEGN.2/2023/10/CRP.10 - Ukraine
- GEGN.2/2023/12/CRP.12 - United Kingdom
- GEGN.2/2023/53/CRP.53 - Denmark (Greenland)
- GEGN.2/2023/57/CRP.57 - Argentina
- GEGN.2/2023/65/CRP.65 - Japan
- GEGN.2/2023/68/CRP.68 - Poland
- GEGN.2/2023/103/CRP.103 - Saudi Arabia : Arabic | English
3rd Meeting, 2 May 2023
Presentation Speaker notes5th Meeting, 3 May 2023
Presentation Speaker notes- GEGN.2/2023/19/CRP.19 - Mexico
- GEGN.2/2023/27/CRP.27 - Brazil
- GEGN.2/2023/59/CRP.59 - Russian Federation: Russian | English
- GEGN.2/2023/64/CRP.64 - Denmark
- GEGN.2/2023/78/CRP.78 - Greece
- GEGN.2/2023/79/CRP.79 - Latvia
- GEGN.2/2023/86/CRP.86 - Czechia
- GEGN.2/2023/134/CRP.134 - South Africa
7th Meeting, 4 May 2023
Presentation Speaker notes- GEGN.2/2023/5/CRP.5 - Cyprus
- GEGN.2/2023/18/CRP.18 - Norway
- GEGN.2/2023/42/CRP.42 - Indonesia
- GEGN.2/2023/56/CRP.56 - Iceland
- GEGN.2/2023/71/CRP.71 - Italy
- GEGN.2/2023/130/CRP.130 - Republic of Korea
9th Meeting, 5 May 2023
Presentation Speaker notes- GEGN.2/2023/60/CRP.60 - the Netherlands
- GEGN.2/2023/85/CRP.85 - Canada
- GEGN.2/2023/119/CRP.119 - Brunei Darussalam
Panel Discussion
4th Meeting, 2 May 2023
Moderated by Mr. Sungjae Choo (Republic of Korea), Vice-Chair, UNGEGN
- Panel discussion outline
- Strengthening Relationships in Geographical Names Standardization through Collaboration with Mapping Communities and Non-Governmental Organizations in Indonesia (Mohamad Arief Syafii, Indonesia)
- UNGEGN and Academia (Kohei Watanabe, Exonym Working Group, Teikyo University)
6th Meeting, 3 May 2023
Moderated by Ms. Susan Birtles (Australia), Vice-Chair, UNGEGNPowerpoint Presentations
3rd Meeting, 2 May 2023
Agenda item 6a Agenda item 7
- GEGN.2/2023/43/CRP.43 (Indonesia)
- GEGN.2/2023/43/CRP.43 (Indonesia)
- GEGN.2/2023/44/CRP.44 (Indonesia)
- GEGN.2/2023/46/CRP.46 (Indonesia)
4th Meeting, 2 May 2023
Agenda item 7
7th Meeting, 4 May 2023
Agenda item 128th Meeting, 4 May 2023
Agenda item 3 Agenda item 149th Meeting, 5 May 2023
Agenda item 16
Special Presentation
Presenter's Profiles
3rd Meeting, 2 May 2023
Ms. Aluki Kotierk (UNPFII)
5th Meeting, 3 May 2023
Mr. Sohail Elabd (Esri)
7th Meeting, 4 May 2023
Mr. Christian Lotz, Mr. Ihor Doroshenko, Mr. Dariusz Gierczak (Herder Institute)