No. 55 DECEMBER 2018 Legislation on Geographical Names IN THIS ISSU E The Information Bulletin of the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names (formerly UNGEGN Newsletter) is issued twice a year by the Secretariat of the Message from the Chairperson 3 Group of Experts. The Secretariat is served by the Statistics Division (UNSD), Department for Economic and Social Message from the Secretariat 4 Affairs (DESA), Secretariat of the United Nations. Special Feature – Legislation on Contributions and reports received from the Experts of the Group, its Linguistic/Geographical Divisions and its Working geographical names Groups are reviewed and edited jointly by the Secretariat 5 • Legislation on geographical names in and the UNGEGN Working Group on Publicity and Funding. Argentina Contributions for the Information Bulletin can only be • Legislation on geographical names in 6 Cyprus considered when they are made available digitally in • Egypt’s Legislation on geographical 8 Microsoft Word or compatible format. They should be sent names to the following address: • The work involved in bringing on 9 geographical names in Finland Secretariat of the Group of Experts on • Legislation on geographical names in 9 Geographical Names (UNGEGN) New Zealand Room DC2-1678 • Legislation on geographical names in 11 United Nations Norway • Legislación Sobre Los Nombres 11 New York, NY 10017 Geográficos En El Perú USA • Rules and Regulations of the National 13 Committee on Geographical Names in the Tel: (212) 963-5823 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (NCGN) Fax: (212) 963-9851 • Legislation on geographical names in 14 E-mail: Spain [email protected] • Rules of consideration concerning good 15 place-name practice – the Swedish [email protected] example From the Divisions • Arabic Division 16 • Norden Division 17 United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names • Romano-Hellenic Division 18 From the Working Groups Information Bulletin (ISSN 1014-798) is published by United Nations Statistics Division, Department of Economic and • Working Group on Evaluation and 19 Implementation Social Affairs. • Joint ICA/IGU Commission on Toponymy 21 From the Countries The designations employed and the presentation of the • The List of Croatian Exonyms 22 material in this publication do not imply the expression of Special Projects and News Items any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of • How to be able to attend UNGEGN 24 meetings the United Nations concerning the legal status of any • Sponsorship Opportunity to Participate in 25 country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities or the First Session Of UNGEGN concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. • The UN World Geospatial Information 26 Congress, promoted the geospatial way to Previous issues of the Bulletin (formerly Newsletter) can be a better world found at Upcoming events: 27 http://unstats.un.org/unsd/geoinfo/ungegn_info_bulletins. htm UNGEGN Information Bulletin No. 55 • December 2018 • Page 2 Message from the Chairperson My dear colleagues, It is good to be in contact • Issue papers are the key to our knowledge sharing with you again as we and the identification of emerging issues, new approach the next (or first) procedures, new legislation or processes and UNGEGN Session, different or expanded technology use. These are depending how you look at the papers that I would like to see presented for the meeting structure. discussion and I strongly encourage all of us the be willing to put some effort into preparing papers of Firstly, can I wish those who this nature. are celebrating Christmas and New Year a very happy As the bureau will be asking the working group convenors to holiday season. I trust it will be very active in structuring the portions of the session that be a good opportunity to relax and enjoy family activities. they will be chairing by groups in papers with similar subjects to facilitate discussion, it is therefore very important that we I am looking forward to meeting with you all in New York in get the papers by the deadline set by the secretariat, being 28 April/May 2019. This meeting will be an opportunity to January 2019. Compliance with this request will be much continue the great work of 50 years of effort by UNGEGN, appreciated. albeit in a new meeting format. As mentioned before, the foundation and the focus of UNGEGN has not and will not As in the past, I stress the need for papers to avoid completely change as a result of the new meeting format, but how we political statements or politicizing place names matters, as we operate will need some refining and all of us can play a part are a technical committee and need to avoid distractions from in the transition. the core work that we are pursuing. Time will be a critical element, as it will be necessary to On a personal level as this will be the last bulletin I contribute devote the time available to discuss the points that are to as chair and also my last meeting, I would like to thank all important in seeking solutions to the issues that are those who have worked in the bureau, working groups and emerging and need directions or answers. task teams during my term of office and of course I cannot overlook the support of the UN Statistical Division and in To this end, I would encourage the following actions: particular the Secretariat, without whom we would not have an UNGEGN body. The efforts of these individuals are the • Divisional reports should focus on the activities of the reason why UNGEGN is such a successful organization. I count divisions (which are still a critical part of the overall myself privileged to have been part of this body and I organization) and provide a summary of what has recognize and appreciated the sharing of knowledge that has occurred or is planned within the division. These assisted me in my role in Australia and also the companionship reports should be for information only and not contain of all the like-mined professionals who make up this unique the items that are seen a suitable for presentation and body. discussion. • Similarly, country reports should focus on the activities of the country, providing an overall summary report of the activities within the country for information only. Bill Watt Chair, UNGEGN E-mail: [email protected] UNGEGN Information Bulletin No. 55 • December 2018 • Page 3 Message from the Secretariat Dear UNGEGN Experts, Special Feature - Legislation on geographical names As 2018 comes to a close the Working Group on Publicity and Funding hotel stay. Please note that the summary of all papers should be and the Secretariat are delighted to share with you the 55th issue of the submitted before 28 January 2019 to facilitate translation. SUMMARIES Bulletin which focuses on “Legislation on Geographical Names”. Laws received after this date will not be translated and therefore issued in the affect almost all aspects of our lives, they serve as guidelines for the language received. We also kindly ask that when submitting papers conduct of citizens, they regulate how we transact business, access please state the agenda item, the relevant Conference resolution (if justice, protect our environment, and provide legal identity among other applicable) and whether the paper is for information or discussion. things and therefore, without laws there would be chaos. Laws are Member States, Divisions and Working Groups of the Group of Experts generally simple, concise and clear statements crafted from principles are encouraged to prepare their summaries and reports for submission and policies; they are also agents of modernization and social change under AGENDA 5 a-c – REPORTS. The full texts of digital documents which is driven by technological advancement and different prepared in support of items on the provisional agenda for the first administrative arrangements. session should be submitted no later than 18 March 2019. Many will opine that to successfully manage our lives requires rules, As has been the custom over the past years, rooms will be made guidelines and ultimately legislation, and so does the management of available for SIDE EVENTS such as meetings of Working Groups and geographical names. Did you know that the United States and Canada Divisions and special workshops. Should you wish to have a side event have had Geographical Names Orders from as early as 1890 and 1897 and or have related questions, please send the completed side event respectively? In recognition of the need for the proper management of sign-up sheet (which will be posted on the UNGEGN website) to the geographical names several countries have enacted appropriate Secretariat at [email protected]. Side event requests will be accommodated legislation or an order. Eleven such Member States, Argentina, Cyprus, on a first come first served basis. Please note that an exhibition of maps Egypt, Finland, New Zealand, Peru, Norway, the Kingdom of Saudi and posters will not be mounted for the first session, as its value and Arabia, Spain and Sweden have shared articles that provide a wealth of benefits are currently being evaluated. information on the evolution, creation and amendments of their legislation and regulations on geographical names. After reading the General information on session logistics, meeting rooms, identification articles I concluded that geographical names legislation is very diverse in passes, hotel accommodation, visas and other matters will be provided terms of jurisdiction, composition, administration and procedures, and in the NEW YORK RESOURCE GUIDE. Please visit the UNGEGN website can take a long time to draft and enact depending on the government’s in January for the Guide and updates regarding preparations for the first policy priorities and available resources. In addition, on conducting Session. preliminary desk research I found little to no documented guidance on the preparation of geographical names legislation except for the General Remarks UNGEGN Manual for the national standardization of geographical names A big thank you is extended to all our contributors to this issue and to – Chapter III.