United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names

Meetings   2023 session of the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names

2023 UNGEGN Session EVALUATION form English

"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)


  • List of Participants GEGN.2/2023/INF/3 (Advanced unedited verison)

    Agenda item 2 - Organizational matters

    2 a) - Adoption of the agenda
    2 b) - Organization of work
  • Organization of work

    • Agenda item 3 - Reports of the Chair and the Secretariat

  • Vers une meilleure intégration au sein des Nations Unies
  • Submitted by Chair

  • Report of the UNGEGN Secretariat
  • Submitted by UNGEGN Secretariat

  • World Geographical Names Database
  • Submitted by UNGEGN Secretariat
    • GEGN.2/2023/111, Summary English
    • GEGN.2/2023/111/CRP.111, 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

    • Report of Ukraine
    • Submitted by Ukraine

    • Report of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
    • Submitted by United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

    • Report of Cameroon
    • Submitted by Cameroon

    • Report of Estonia
    • Submitted by Estonia

    • Report of Norway
    • Submitted by Norway

    • Registro de Nombres Geográficos Continentales, Insulares y de las Formas del Relieve Submarino con fines estadísticos y geográficos de México
    • Submitted by Mexico

    • Report of Jordan Achievements in the period 2021-2022
    • Submitted by Jordan

    • Report of Brazil
    • Submitted by Brazil

    • Report of Lithuania
    • Submitted by Lithuania

    • Report of Finland
    • Submitted by Finland

    • Report of New Zealand
    • Submitted by New Zealand

    • Report of Austria for the period 2021-2023
    • Submitted by Austria

    • Report of Indonesia
    • Submitted by Indonesia

    • Greenlandic place names: status and future plans
    • Submitted by Denmark (Greenland)

    • Report of Bulgaria
    • Submitted by Bulgaria

    • Report of Iceland
    • Submitted by Iceland

    • Report of Argentina
    • Submitted by Argentina

    • Report of the Russian Federation
    • Submitted by Russian Federation

    • Report of the Netherlands
    • Submitted by Netherlands

    • Report of Denmark
    • Submitted by Denmark

    • Standardization of Geographical Names in Japan
    • Submitted by Japan

    • Report of Poland for the period 2021 - 2023
    • Submitted by Poland

    • Report of Sweden
    • Submitted by Sweden

    • 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

    • Report of Slovakia
    • Submitted by Slovakia

    • Report of Slovenia
    • Submitted by Slovenia

    • The activities of the Sultanate of Oman in the field of geographical names
    • Submitted by Oman
      • GEGN.2/2023/95, Summary English
      • GEGN.2/2023/95/CRP.95, Full document/report English

    • Informe de Republica Dominicana
    • Submitted by Dominican Republic

    • 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
      • GEGN.2/2023/98, Summary English
      • GEGN.2/2023/98/CRP.98, Full document/report English

    • Report of the Republic of Moldova on the activities in the field of standardization of geographical names from 2021 to 2022
    • Submitted by Moldova
      • GEGN.2/2023/100, Summary English
      • GEGN.2/2023/100/CRP.100, Full document/report English

    • 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
      • GEGN.2/2023/105, Summary English
      • GEGN.2/2023/105/CRP.105, Full document/report English

    • The most important measures of the Islamic Republic of Iran in order to standardize geographical names between 2021
    • Submitted by Iran
      • GEGN.2/2023/109, Summary English
      • GEGN.2/2023/109/CRP.109, Full document/report English

    • Situación de los Nombres Geogríficos en el Perú
    • Submitted by Perú
      • GEGN.2/2023/110, Summary Spanish
      • GEGN.2/2023/110/CRP.110, Full document/report Spanish

    • Report of Malaysia
    • Submitted by Malaysia
      • GEGN.2/2023/112/CRP.112, Full document/report English

    • Report of Brunei Darussalam
    • Submitted by Brunei Darussalam
      • GEGN.2/2023/119, Summary English
      • GEGN.2/2023/119/CRP.119, Full document/report English

    • 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

  • Report of Arabic Division achievements, 2021-2022
  • Submitted by Arabic Division

  • Report of the China Division
  • Submitted by China Division

  • Report of the Portuguese-speaking Division
  • Submitted by Portuguese-speaking Division

  • Rapport de la Division Afrique centrale
  • Submitted by Africa Central Division
  • Actividades realizadas por México como presidente de la División de América Latina en el intervalo entre períodos de sesiones
  • Submitted by Latin America Division
  • Report of the Norden Division
  • Submitted by Norden Division
  • Report of the Eastern Europe, Northern and Central Asia Division
  • Submitted by Eastern Europe, Northern and Central Asia Division
  • Report of the Baltic Division
  • Submitted by Baltic Division
  • Report of the Romano-Hellenic Division
  • Submitted by Romano-Hellenic Division
  • Publication and archiving of information on the geographical and linguistic divisions of the Group of Experts on the Group's website
  • Submitted by Norden Division
  • Report of the United States of America-Canada Division
  • Submitted by USA-Canada Division
  • Divisions of the Group of Experts
  • Submitted by UNGEGN Bureau and UNGEGN Secretariat
    • GEGN.2/2023/113, Summary English
    • GEGN.2/2023/113/CRP.113, Full document/report English

  • Report of the Asia South-East Division
  • Submitted by Asia South-East Division
    • GEGN.2/2023/118, Summary English
    • GEGN.2/2023/118/CRP.118, Full document/report English

  • Report of the East Central and South-East Europe Division of the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names
  • Submitted by East Central and South-East Europe Division

  • Report of the Dutch- and German-speaking Division
  • Submitted by Dutch- and German-speaking Division
    • GEGN.2/2023/137/CRP.137, Full document/report English

    • Agenda item 4 c) - Reports: Activities on the standardization of geographical names in Africa

  • Rapport Du Task Team for Africa
  • Submitted by Coordinator of the Task Team for Africa

    • Agenda item 4 d) - Reports: National and international meetings and conferences

  • International Seminar on Sea Names, 2021 - 2022
  • Submitted by Republic of Korea
    • GEGN.2/2023/131/CRP.131, Full document/report English

  • International Symposium on the Standardization of Geographical Names - Introducing the Efforts and Contributions by UNGEGN and Japan
  • Submitted by Japan
    • GEGN.2/2023/138/CRP.138, Full document/report English

    • Agenda item 5 a) - Cooperation and liaison with other organizations: International organizations;

  • Report of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
  • Submitted by Liaison Officer, ICANN
  • Report of the Joint International Cartographic Association/ International Geographical Union Commission on Toponymy
  • Submitted by Liaison Officer, ICA
  • Report of the Liaison Officer, International Council of Onomastic Sciences (ICOS)
  • Submitted by ICOS Liaison Officer
    • GEGN.2/2023/121/CRP.121, Full document/report English

  • Report of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research
  • Submitted by SCAGI
    • GEGN.2/2023/124/CRP.124, Full document/report English

  • Cooperation between UNGEGN and UNMAPS
  • Submitted by Norway
    • GEGN.2/2023/128/CRP.128, Full document/report English

  • Report of the International Hydrographic Organization
  • Submitted by IHO Liaison Officer
    • 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

  • Report of the Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management
  • Submitted by UN-GGIM

  • Cooperation and liaison with other organizations: Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management
  • Submitted by UNGEGN Bureau and UNGEGN Secretariat
    • GEGN.2/2023/115, Summary English
    • GEGN.2/2023/115/CRP.115, Full document/report English

    • item 6 a) - Names collection, office treatment, national authorities, features beyond a single sovereignty and international cooperation

  • Introduction to the construction work of geographical names standardization in China
  • Submitted by China

  • Austrian map 1:50,000-UTM (ÖK50)
  • Submitted by Austria

  • Strengthening relationships in geographical names standardization through collaboration with mapping communities and non-governmental organizations in Indonesia
  • Submitted by Indonesia

  • Geographical names within the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf: the role of the coastal State
  • Submitted by Indonesia

  • Naming process of new provinces in Papua Region, Indonesia
  • Submitted by Indonesia

    • Agenda item 6 b) -National and international standardization of geographical names: Toponymic guidelines for map and other editors for international use

  • Update of toponymic guidelines: Finland
  • Submitted by Finland

  • Report of the Coordinator for toponymic guidelines
  • Submitted by Coordinator for Toponymic Guidelines

  • Toponymic Guidelines for Cartography: Sweden. Fourth revised edition
  • Submitted by Sweden
    • 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

  • Adoption d'une politique sur les changements de nomsde lieux
  • Submitted by Canada

  • Prévenir et traiter les critiques envers des noms de lieux
  • Submitted by France

  • Civil lawsuit case arising from a lack of citizen participation in geographical naming and renaming of features
  • Submitted by Indonesia

  • Toponym usage in response to the earthquake disaster in Cianjur Regency
  • Submitted by Indonesia

  • Treatment of different geographical names proposed for port naming
  • Submitted by Indonesia

  • Report of the Working Group on Evaluation and Implementation
  • Submitted by Working Group on Evaluation and Implementation

  • Activating place names in digital geospatial services to support the goals of sustainable development
  • Submitted by Saudi Arabia

  • Using Standardized Geospatial Names Platform as a Driver for Enhanced SDGs Monitoring
  • Submitted by Saudi Arabia

  • Investigating the change of geographical names and its role in sustainable development
  • Submitted by Iran

    • 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

  • Implementation of the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names strategic plan and programme of work for 2021-2029 during the period 2021-2023
  • Submitted by UNGEGN Bureau

  • Report of New Zealand on activities aligned with the strategic plan and programme of work, 2021- 2029, of the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names
  • Submitted by New Zealand

    • Agenda item 9 - Issues of publicity for the Group of Experts and funding of Group projects

  • Report on the activities of the Working Group on Publicity and Funding
  • Submitted by Working Group on Publicity and Funding

    • Agenda item 10 - Toponymic education

  • Report of the Working Group on Training Courses in Toponymy
  • Submitted by Working Group on Training Courses in Toponymy

  • Transferencia de conocimientos técnicos y asesorías a la República Dominicana y Santa Lucía sobre interoperabilidad, estandarización de nombres geogr&1acute;ficos y gestión de nomencl&1acute;tor
  • Submitted by Mexico

  • Strengthening toponymic capacity-building in Indonesia
  • Submitted by Indonesia

  • Dissemination and promotion of Indigenous place names
  • Submitted by Canada

  • Spatial Information Capacity Building Program with Member States of the PAIGH
  • Submitted by Republic of Korea
    • GEGN.2/2023/129/CRP.129, Full document/report English

    • Agenda item 11 - Toponymic terminology

  • Report of the Working Group on Toponymic Terminology 2021-2023
  • Submitted by Working Group on Toponymic Terminology

  • Anthology of geographical terms for natural and human features in Saudi Arabia
  • Submitted by Saudi Arabia

    • Agenda item 12 - Geographical names as culture, heritage and identity, including indigenous, minority and regional languages and multilingual issues

  • Des cartes interactives qui mettent en valeur le patrimoine toponymique du Québec
  • Submitted by Canada

  • Report of New Zealand on new maps showing traditional/customary/ancestral/original Mãori names
  • Submitted by New Zealand

  • Bilingual municipal maps in the Austrian federal province Carinthia
  • Submitted by Austria

  • Minority place-name standardization: a comparison of regulations and approaches in Europe
  • Submitted by Liaison Officer, ICA

  • Draft Best Practices for Indigenous Geographical Names of Canada
  • Submitted by Canada

  • Focus group on Indigenous and minority language geographical names
  • Submitted by Canada

  • Addressing derogatory geographical names in Canada
  • Submitted by Canada

  • Geographic Names and UNESCO World Heritage sites in Saudi Arabia
  • Submitted by Saudi Arabia
    • GEGN.2/2023/102, Summary English
    • GEGN.2/2023/102/CRP.102, Full document/report English

  • Focus group on Commercial and commemorative naming, including urban naming
  • Submitted by Sweden

  • Focus group on Legislation, policies & best practices relating to geographical names
  • Submitted by Sweden

  • Report from the convenor of the Working Group on Geographical Names as Cultural Heritage
  • Submitted by Working Group on Geographical Names as Cultural Heritage
    • GEGN.2/2023/133/CRP.133, Full document/report English

    • Agenda item 13 - Exonyms

  • The endonym/exonym divide as a core topic of critical toponomastics
  • Submitted by Austria

  • Standardization of common exonyms: reconciling reduction and promotion
  • Submitted by Netherlands

  • List of English names of major geographical features situated in the territory of Poland
  • Submitted by Poland

  • Divisions territoriales des pays du monde
  • Submitted by France

  • Report of the Working Group on Exonyms
  • Submitted by Working Group on Exonyms
    • GEGN.2/2023/106, Summary English
    • GEGN.2/2023/106/CRP.106, Full document/report English

  • Proposal on a decision "on the use and safeguarding of exonyms"
  • Submitted by Working Group on Exonyms
    • GEGN.2/2023/107, Summary English
    • GEGN.2/2023/107/CRP.107, Full document/report English

    • Agenda item 14 - Geographical names data management

  • Indonesian geographical names information system (SINAR): improving the interoperability and usability of geographical names
  • Submitted by Indonesia

  • Availability of Dutch geographical names as linked data
  • Submitted by Netherlands

  • Experiment in continuous update methods for the web map entitled "Japan map in multilingual notation"
  • Submitted by Japan

  • Report of the Working Group on Geographical Names Data Management for 2021 and 2022
  • Submitted by Working Group on Geographical Names Data Management

  • Monitoring of the availability of free, easily accessible and authorized data on digital geographical names
  • Submitted by Germany

  • Linked open data developments within the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names
  • Submitted by Convenor

  • The Gazetteers.net web application: a tool for harvesting digital gazetteers
  • Submitted by Convenor

  • Geographical Names Database of Saudi Arabia
  • Submitted by Saudi Arabia

  • On geographical names data modelling and transfer related standards, manuals, or guidelines - some ideas from the Working Group on Geographical Names data Management
  • Submitted by Germany
    • GEGN.2/2023/99, Summary English
    • GEGN.2/2023/99/CRP.99, Full document/report English

    • Agenda item 15 - Writing systems and pronunciation

  • Report of the Working Group on Romanization Systems: current status of United Nations romanization systems for geographical names
  • Submitted by Working Group on Romanization Systems

    • Agenda item 16 - Other geographical names issues

  • Bhumandala Nama Rupabumi awards: a new initiative of the geographical names standardization evaluation mechanism in Indonesia
  • Submitted by Indonesia

  • Liste des noms de pays du GENUNG
  • Submitted by Working Group of Country Names
    • GEGN.2/2023/116, Summary French
    • GEGN.2/2023/116/CRP.116, Full document/report French

    • Agenda item 17 - Presentation and adoption of decisions

  • Draft UNGEGN recommendations and decisions English

    • Agenda item 18 - Adoption of the report on the 2023 session

  • Draft report

    • Agenda item 19 - Arrangements for the 2025 session of the Group of Experts

  • Provisional Agenda for the 2025 session of UNGEGN

    • Statements

    Agenda item 4(a)
    Agenda item 4(d)
    Agenda item 16
    Panel Discussion

    4th Meeting, 2 May 2023
    Moderated by Mr. Sungjae Choo (Republic of Korea), Vice-Chair, UNGEGN

    6th Meeting, 3 May 2023
    Moderated by Ms. Susan Birtles (Australia), Vice-Chair, UNGEGN

    Special Presentation

    Presenter's Profiles

    3rd Meeting, 2 May 2023

    Ms. Aluki Kotierk (UNPFII)
  • Presentation from UNPFII

    • 5th Meeting, 3 May 2023

    Mr. Sohail Elabd (Esri)
  • Addressing Data Challenges: Responding to Emergencies and DisastersEnhancing Global Resilience through Collaboration and Innovation

    • 7th Meeting, 4 May 2023

    Mr. Christian Lotz, Mr. Ihor Doroshenko, Mr. Dariusz Gierczak (Herder Institute)
  • The Gazetteers.net web application: a tool for harvesting digital gazetteers

    • Side Events (forthcoming)


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