Our theme for this quarter is the United Nations. Below, please see a number of research web sites.

Research Centers

American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research
www.aei.org

AEI is a private, nonpartisan, not-for-profit institution dedicated to research and education on issues of government, politics, economics and social welfare. On the AEI website, research areas are organized under three main divisions: Economic Policy Studies; Foreign and Defense Policy Studies; and Political and Social Studies. Within a topic--such as health policy--articles are sorted chronologically, which can make finding a specific issue difficult. However the website does provide a plethora of information for users with a larger search topic (such as environmental policy or Africa.) Of particular interest are resident scholar Joshua Muravchik and research fellow Vance Serchuk who write on the UN. Their work can be found in the scholars and fellows section. Muravchik's most recent book, The Future of the United Nations, was released in 2005.

The Brookings Institution
www.brookings.edu

The Brookings Institution is an independent research and policy center. Its goal is to promote new ideas and informed public debate, as well as to provide high quality analysis and policy recommendations for decision makers in the US and abroad. Brookings has research programs on economic studies; foreign policy studies; and global economy and development, among others. Its policy centers include education; Northeast Asia; and tax policy. Brookings programs and research projects contain a great deal of information--including reports, policy papers and editorials--and cover a wide variety of topics. The Brookings website also has a news section which has the latest information on policy and other issues.

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
www.ceip.org

The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization that works to advance cooperation between nations and promote active international engagement by the United States. CEIP has experts focusing on all aspects of international policy, including government, business, the economy and technology.  The CEIP website has policy briefs, papers, op-eds, speeches and nearly every other kind of publication available. In addition, information can be garnered by entering a topic into the search window or searching within a program field. Of particular note is Foreign Policy magazine which CEIP publishes and is one of the best sources available to keep up-to-date on global politics, economics and ideas.

Center for Global Development
www.cgdev.org

CGD conducts research on how rich country policies impact people of the developing world. CGD has a number of initiatives, including Engaging Fragile States; HIV/AIDS Monitor; and The Future of the World Bank, among others. In addition to the information available through Initiatives, under the Research Topics heading, visitors to the CGD website can find publications as well as facts and figures on nearly any topic pertaining to international development and aid. Of particular note is the section on the Millennium Development Goals, which has papers, commentary and information on the MDGs. The CGD website also has a blog section which provides updates, analysis and commentary on pertinent issues.

Center for Strategic and International Studies
www.csis.org

CSIS seeks to advance global prosperity and security by providing strategic insights and practical policy solutions to decision-makers. Research and analysis are organized around more than 25 programs grouped under three themes: Defense and Security Policy; Global Challenges; and Regional Transformation. The International Security Program addresses non-military aspects defining US foreign and security policy. Bipartisan outreach to Congress is critical to the CSIS mission and has an influence on every aspect of CSIS research and analysis. By clicking on links to the various research projects, users can access program highlights, associated publications and events, and other information. 

The Century Foundation
www.tcf.org

Focusing on four major issues--the rise of economic inequality; the consequences of the aging population; the evolution of policies to prevent and respond to terrorism; and the enhancement of America's role as an effective global leader--TCF maintains a commitment to moderate, mainstream ideas for meeting America's challenges. The Century Foundation website allows users to choose a broad topic, and then further specify their search. The press releases section gives brief summaries of the latest news reports from TCF for those who want to be in the know, but don't have much time. In June 2007, TCF organized an event entitled The Human Rights Council One Year On: Are We Any Better Off? which discussed current issues facing the body.

Council on Foreign Relations
www.cfr.org

CFR's many scholars are dedicated to producing and circulating ideas so that everyone--policy makers, interested citizens, members, journalists--can better understand the world and the foreign policy choices that face the United States and other governments. The CFR website allows users to search by region, topic or publication type (interview, op-ed, article, etc.) It has information on a wide range of topics, from global governance to proliferation to health science and technology. In 2002, CFR published a report entitled Enhancing U.S. Leadership at the United Nations, which asses the US-UN relationship and suggests a new strategy for improving the effectiveness and reputation of the United States at the UN.

The Henry L. Stimson Center
www.stimson.org

The Stimson Center seeks to create solutions to the problems of national and international security. Work at the Stimson Center is focused around current projects, including The Future of Peace Operations Program which deals with UN reform and other related issues concerning global peacekeeping and the United Nations. This past March, a Stimson Center report by Victoria Holt and Elizabeth Dallas entitled On Trial: The US Military and the International Criminal Court argues that the US needs to engage with the ICC to protect the interests of its military service members. In addition, of particular note is a 2003 report by William Durch, Victoria Holt, Caroline Earle and Moira Shanahan entitled The Brahimi Report and the Future of UN Peace Operations, which offers a critique of UN peacekeeping operations and makes recommendations for change. These reports can be downloaded in full, but please note that they are large PDF files of over 100 pages.

Hudson Institute
www.hudson.org

Using an interdisciplinary approach combining studies in defense, international relations, economics, culture, science, technology and law, the Hudson Institute is dedicated to innovative research and analysis that promotes global security, prosperity, and freedom. Research areas range from Africa to faith and public policy to national security, where users can find related articles available for download. The Hudson Institute policy centers include Global Food Issues, the Center for Middle East Policy, and the Center for Future Security Strategies. Resources in the policy centers contain event papers, interviews, editorials, and audio files. Anne Bayefsky, a Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute, has written extensively on the UN. She launched a website in 2003 named www.bayefsky.com which is dedicated to enhancing the implementation of the human rights legal standards of the UN. In addition, Bayefsky is the editor of Eye on the UN, which is dedicated to making transparent the UN's record on its fundamental promise--to identify, condemn and protect against human rights violations and confront and respond to threats of international peace and security.

The Peter G. Peterson Institute for International Economics
www.iie.com

IIE is devoted to the study of international economic policy. It attempts to anticipate emerging issues and to be ready with practical ideas to inform and shape public debate. IIE research falls under six categories: Country and Regional Studies; Debt and Development; Globalization; International Finance/Macroeconomics; International Trade and Investment; and US Economic Policy. Within these larger research areas are more specific topics, which contain lists of essential reading items including working papers, policy briefs, op-eds, books, testimony and speeches. Of particular interest is the section on International Institutions, which highlights the WTO and the Doha Round. The 'hot topics' section at the right of each page has links to current topics of interest.

RAND Corporation
www.rand.org

RAND experts aim to provide decision-makers with solutions to today's most pressing problems. The international affairs portion of the RAND website has information pertaining to global security and military policy, as well as social and economic policy. Of note is a 2006 report titled Securing Health: Lessons From Nation-Building Missions, which discusses the importance of public health and health care infrastructures within the context of nation-building. In addition James Dobbins, Director of the International Security and Defense Policy Center, published a report in 2005 titled The UN's Role in Nation-Building: From the Congo to Iraq which reviews nearly 50 years of UN nation-building efforts and why the UN has had better success than the United States when it comes to nation-building. This book complements Dobbins' earlier work, America's Role in Nation-Building: From Germany to Iraq. 

Security Council Report
www.securitycouncilreport.org

Security Council Report--an affiliate of Columbia University's Center on International Organization--is an independent not-for-profit organization. Its formation is rooted in the belief that the lack of consistent, high-quality, publicly available information about the Security Council's activities--and those of its subsidiary bodies--is a barrier to effective performance of the Council, as well as a handicap for member states and the general public. At the start of each month, Security Council Report releases a monthly forecast which is an overview of all current Security Council activity, and is found on the homepage. It is very thorough and clear, as information is divided by topic which can be located in the table of contents. Although in various stages of construction, the Security Council Report has sections devoted to peacekeeping, Council membership, the presidency and others, which can be found under the 'About the UN Security Council' tab. In addition, the site has links to current research projects and the Security Council's agenda. The Security Council Report released their most recent report, on Afghanistan, on November 7, 2006.

The Stanley Foundation
www.stanleyfoundation.org

The Stanley Foundation aims to promote and build support for multilateralism in addressing international issues. Its work is centered on a number of current research initiatives. Of note is an initiative entitled United Nations and Global Institutions which seeks to strengthen the UN's capacity to manage significant global issues . The program produces reports, articles and audio files. The Stanley Foundation's quarterly publication Courier gives readers insight into issues related to the Foundation's programming.
 
United States Institute of Peace
www.usip.org

USIP is an independent, non-partisan research center that was established--and is funded--by Congress. Its primary function is to prevent and resolve violent international conflict; promote post-conflict stability and democratic transformations; and increase peace-building capacity, tools, and intellectual resources worldwide. USIP have a number of centers, including the Center for Mediation and Conflict Resolution, and the Centers of Innovations, of which the Religion and Peacemaking and Virtual Diplomacy programs are a part. In addition, in late 2004 the USIP Task Force on the United Nations was created to assess how the UN is fulfilling its mandate, and to recommend courses of action. Information and reports with its findings are available.

Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
www.wilsoncenter.org

The Woodrow Wilson Center aims to bridge the gap between the world of ideas and the world of policy. The Center's particular strength is international affairs, but it also has programs in fields such as global health and comparative urban studies. Programs can be searched on the Center's website by both region and topic, and a variety of publications--latest news, event summaries, and special reports--can be found. The Project on Leadership and Building State Capacity deals with the growing demand for leadership training directed both at the prevention of violent conflict and the reconstruction of war-torn societies. In October 2006, the Wilson Center hosted an event titled Getting the Job Done: Completing the Pending UN Reform Agenda, featuring prominent scholars in the field, including Jan Eliasson, President of the 60th session of the UN General Assembly. A video of the event is available. Dialogue is the Center's award winning weekly radio program that features half-hour conversations with renowned public figures, scholars, journalists and authors. Users can find local radio listings or listen to broadcasts via the web.

Nongovernmental Organizations

Amnesty International
www.amnesty.org

AI undertakes research and action focused on preventing and ending grave abuses of the rights to physical and mental integrity; freedom of expression; and freedom from discrimination; within the context of its work to promote all human rights. AI is nonpartisan and independent of any government, political ideology or economic interest. Nor does it support or oppose any political system or government, or the views of the victims whose rights it seeks to protect. The Amnesty International website has the latest information about human rights issues and access to the Amnesty Library which contains an archive of most reports, news releases and urgent actions published from 1996 to date. One of AI's current campaigns is entitled United Nations. This section has information about the UN Human Rights Council and related topics. Amnesty International-USA is the US section of AI, and focuses on how the United States can help defend human rights. Its website contains information about AI's work and related topics as well as AI events and membership in the US.

The Better World Campaign
www.betterworldcampaign.org

The BWC is dedicated to strengthening the relationship between the US and the UN through outreach, advocacy and communications. BWC also works to promote US leadership in the UN and to increase American public awareness and support for the UN. Its website is organized by issue--mainly those pertaining to the UN--including UN reform, the Millennium Development Goals and peacekeeping. Within the different fields, the site provides the latest developments on issues, in addition to fact sheets and quick links for more information. This website is a good place to start when looking for information regarding major UN issues; it is easy to navigate and all pertinent information about a topic is located in one place. In addition, there is a Congress and the UN section which has up-to-date details about Congressional action on the UN, including budgets and legislation.

Citizens for Global Solutions
www.globalsolutions.org

Citizens for Global Solutions believes that global problems can best be solved by working together to find global solutions. It promotes closer American cooperation with, and support for, international institutions capable of responding to the threats and challenges of the 21st century. The issues tab on the left side of the website lists major topics that CGS is working on. Of particular interest is CGS's work on the International Criminal Court and Peace and Security. These sections contain a number of useful PDF files available for download. In addition, the politics tab allows users to search for legislation and follow 2008 Presidential Candidates' views on pertinent issues.

Coalition for American Leadership Abroad
www.colead.org

COLEAD is a membership organization that believes that American engagement abroad is consistent with and complements efforts to address America's domestic concerns. The Coalition works to increase the American public's knowledge about world affairs and to promote foreign affairs institutions' networks and activities. The Coalition has a variety of programs, including a speakers program, congressional outreach, and conferences. Under the heading 'action center' the Coalition has a sample letter to Congress that users can replicate, urging the Senate and House to increase the foreign affairs budget. Also available is a fact sheet that outlines why it is in America's best interest to augment the foreign affairs budget.

Foreign Policy Association
www.fpa.org

FPA provides independent publications, programs and forums to increase public awareness of, and foster popular participation in, matters relating to foreign policy issues. Current FPA issues include UN reform; the US and Iran; and pandemics and security. Users can also search the FPA website by region, making it easy to find information. Each FPA issue has links to online resources; quizzes; lesson plans for classroom use; and recommended readings. Great Decisions is a briefing book published by FPA; a related program engages citizens to learn about the world via discussion groups located throughout the country. More information about Great Decisions can be found on the FPA website.

Freedom House
www.freedomhouse.org

Through a variety of international programs and publications, Freedom House is dedicated to expanding freedom and democracy around the world. An advocate of young democracies, Freedom House conducts an array of advocacy, education and training initiatives that promote human rights; democracy; free market economics; rule of law; independent media; and US engagement in international affairs. The Freedom House website has information about advocacy, action and analysis around the world. The map of freedom is an interesting tool which shows the degree to which Freedom House has deemed a country to be 'free,' based on political rights and civil liberties. In addition, Freedom House has a link to the UN Democracy Caucus, which helps to promote the values of democracy and human rights within the UN system, and to encourage democratic countries to vote together on key resolutions.

Global Policy Forum
www.globalpolicy.org

GPF monitors policy making at the UN and promotes accountability of global decisions, education and mobilization for global citizen participation. It also conducts advocacy on issues of international peace and justice. GPF has consultative status at the UN and its programs include peace and security; UN finance; and NGOs. Its website's content is organized by issue, most of which pertain to the UN, and for the most part is relatively general. It also has a 'what's new' section which contains articles from various publications about current events.

Human Rights Watch
www.hrw.org

HRW is the largest human rights organization in the United States. Its researchers conduct investigations into human rights abuses in all regions of the world, and publish the findings in dozens of books and reports each year. After calling attention to human rights abuses both at home and abroad, HRW meets with government officials at the UN; EU; in Washington; and in other capitals around the world, to urge changes in policy and behavior. The HRW website is divided by issue (for example the UN) and is further broken down within those larger categories to smaller sub-topics. It provides reports and the latest news on each. In addition, there are photo essays, videos and audio segments which provide a unique perspective on human rights issues.

International Republican Institute
www.iri.org

IRI works to advance freedom and democracy worldwide by developing political parties; civic institutions; open elections; good governance; and the rule of law. It currently operates in 70 counties, training volunteer experts on political party and candidate development; voter education; and women's leadership development, among other tasks. The IRI website is categorized by country program--for example East Timor or Haiti--and has applicable information about IRI's work.

National Democratic Institute
www.ndi.org

NDI is a nonprofit organization that works to strengthen and expand democracy worldwide. It provides practical assistance to civic and political leaders who are working to advance democratic values, practices and institutions. NDI helps build democratic structures, including national legislatures; local governments; broad-based political parties, and nonpartisan civic organizations, and helps safeguard elections and promote government accountability. The NDI website has information regarding the various techniques NDI employs to help nations build democratic structures, and has pertinent research papers and databases.

National Endowment for Democracy
www.ned.org

NED is a private nonprofit organization created to strengthen democratic institutions around the world through nongovernmental efforts. It is guided by the belief that freedom is a universal human aspiration that can be realized through the development of democratic institutions, procedures and values. NED works to consolidate democracy, advance research on democracy, and does so by applying a multisectoral approach. Through its grants, NED provides support to programs throughout the world. The NED Democracy Resource Center (DRC), located in Washington, DC, has thousands of titles available and an online research guide to help users find what they need. In addition, the NED online democracy projects database allows users to search for grants supported by seven international grant-giving organizations.

The Partnership for Effective Peacekeeping
www.effectivepeacekeeping.org

PEP--a program sponsored by Citizens for Global Solutions and Refugees International--works to improve the US national and international peacekeeping infrastructure; build political support for those policies; and facilitate greater understanding of peacekeeping missions. Focusing on the work of the UN, PEP supports effective and successful peacekeeping and stability operations. The PEP website is divided into two main sections--the policy center and the information center. The policy center includes topics such as UN Peacekeeping and UN Reform. The information center's issues include peacekeeping and peacebuilding resources and a list and explanation of UN peace operations. This is a very organized website, making it easy to navigate and extremely useful.  

ReformtheUN.org
www.reformtheUN.org

ReformtheUN.org provides up-to-date information and resources about UN reform. Started by The World Federalist Movement-Institute for Global Policy, it is dedicated to creating a strengthened and more democratized UN. The website has information regarding the UN reform timetable, and key issues raised during the 2005 World Summit. ReformtheUN.org was designed to spread information about current UN reform initiatives and to track progress on issues being currently discussed.

United Nations Association of the USA
www.unausa.org
The United Nations Association of the United States of America is a not-for-profit membership organization dedicated to building understanding of and support for the ideals and vital work of the United Nations among the American people. Its educational and humanitarian campaigns, including teaching students in urban schools, clearing minefields and providing school-based support for children living in HIV/AIDS communities in Africa, allow people to make a global impact at the local level. In addition, its policy and advocacy programs stress the importance of nations working together and the need for United States leadership in the United Nations. The association is affiliated with the World Federation of United Nations Associations.  In addition to details regarding their assorted programs, the UNA-USA website includes information such as fact sheets and talking points which provide users with concise reviews of the main issues concerning US-UN relations, and informs about other pertinent issues.

UNA Advocacy and Membership
      The UNA-USA advocacy center provides UN supporters with dozens of resources to help ensure their voices are heard. The 2007 Advocacy Agenda--which outlines UNA's efforts on behalf of an effective UN and strong US leadership, and identifies priority issues affecting the US-US relationship--is an essential tool that offers direction and guidance to UNA advocacy endeavors. The E-action Network and advocacy guide make it easy for users to get involved. By alerting members, the E-action Network lets users know when the UN needs their support, and provides sample letters that can be personalized with ease. The advocacy guide presents chapters and members with information about how to be effective proponents of the UN, including tips on how to work with the media and meeting with members of Congress. In addition, advocates can keep up-to-date with the Washington Report, which tracks developments on Capitol Hill and in the executive branch that affect US-UN relations, and can find other useful resources in the advocacy center. Membership e-news, resources, partnerships and libraries are available in the UNA membership center.
 
UNA Humanitarian Campaigns
      Adopt-A-Minefield was created by UNA-USA in partnership with the Better World Fund and the US State Department to clear minefields, provide assistance to landmine survivors and create awareness about the dire global landmine situation. By seeking sponsors to adopt minefields; adopt two-month work periods for demining teams; or donate funds for survivor assistance projects, Adopt-A-Minefield has raised over $18 million for mine clearance and survivor assistance, and has cleared over 21 million square meters of land. Adopt-A-Minefield is one of the world's leading minefield-clearing programs. UNA-USA also manages the HERO program, in partnership with USAID. HERO builds awareness and garners funds for comprehensive school-based support to orphans and vulnerable children living in HIV/AIDS-affected communities in Africa. HERO also works with schools to strengthen their response to the most vulnerable learners, as education is the first line of defense against malnourishment, disease and abuse. Projects include feeding schemes; water and sanitation; health; and psycho-social support.

UNA Education Programs
     UNA education initiatives engage students from elementary through graduate school in programs that promote learning and discussion about the UN. The UNA-USA student alliance is a nationwide network of individuals; student advocacy groups; international affairs clubs; and model UN groups that conduct activities that support the work of the UN. Global Classrooms provides middle and high school students with the opportunity to engage in discussion on world issues through interactive simulations and curricular models. It helps develop learning and reading skills while exploring topics such as peacekeeping; sustainable development; and human rights. In addition, UNA supports--and is the driving force behind--the Model UN program. Model UN is a simulation of the UN General Assembly, and other multilateral bodies, which allows students to assume the roles of ambassadors and debate current issues. By doing the research necessary to actively participate in Model UN conferences, students learn how the international community works and about the goals and needs of countries' foreign policy agendas.   

United Nations Foundation
www.unfoundation.org

The UN Foundation supports and strengthens the UN and its causes through a blend of advocacy, grant-making and partnerships. The UN Foundation works closely with the UN Fund for International Partnerships, and through this partnership brings together UN agencies and funds via joint programming to encourage complementary projects. The UN Foundation program areas and grant priorities are focused around four main issues: children's health; environment; peace, security and human rights; and women and population. In nine years, the UN Foundation and partners have delivered $1 billion to UN causes. The UN Foundation's initiative entitled United Nations and Global Security provides information about the now-disbanded High Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change, and produces reports and issue papers on other related topics.

United States Global Leadership Campaign
www.usgloballeadership.org

The US Global Leadership Campaign is a coalition of nearly 400 businesses and organizations whose mission is to ensure continued global engagement and a robust US International Affairs Budget.  Its website has a great deal of information about the International Affairs Budget, including information about the current budget and why the International Affairs Budget matters.

US Government

Bureau of International Organization Affairs of the Department of State
www.state.gov/p/io

The IO Bureau develops and implements US policy at the UN and other international organizations and works to advance US interests through multilateral diplomacy. It also works to ensure that the UN and other international organizations remain viable and effective, and seeks to promote global peace, security, democracy, human rights, economic growth, and health. The IO website has fact sheets, reports to Congress and links to a number of US Missions to various international organizations In addition, it has the latest statements and press releases by US officials regarding the UN and other international organizations.

Government Accountability Office
www.gao.gov

The GAO is the investigative arm of Congress. Both independent and nonpartisan, it studies the programs and expenditures of the federal government, and works to increase government responsibility and efficiency. This site is of interest because it contains information regarding topics such as the cost of peacekeeping; UN reform; and foreign assistance. These reports--including one released in October 2006 on UN reform--can be very helpful when looking to better understand the effectiveness and efficiency of both UN and US government programs.

Library of Congress- THOMAS
http://thomas.loc.gov

A part of the Library of Congress, THOMAS was created to make legislative information available to the public. Users can search for the following items: bills, resolutions, activity in Congress, The Congressional Record, schedules, calendars, committee information, presidential nominations, treaties, and government resources. The THOMAS website is easy to use and organized within the aforementioned categories. Users can search by date; keyword; type; and Congress. In addition, the THOMAS website has links to other Library of Congress resources.

US Department of State
www.state.gov

The State Department website has a great deal of information concerning United States foreign policy. Although the website can seem daunting at first, by clicking on 'issues and press' you can search the site by topic and see highlighted issues. The site is particularly useful if you are looking for press releases and budgets. Videos of State Department daily press briefings are available, as are links to State Department historic resources and US Embassies. 

US House of Representatives
www.house.gov

The US House site contains information about members of Congress, legislation and the House in general. The House website also contains information regarding voting and the legislative process. The Committee on International Relations' website has information about the House's involvement in international issues, including testimony and transcripts.

US Mission to the UN
www.un.int/usa

The US Mission to the UN represents the United States at the UN. It is also the link between the US government and the UN Secretariat. The USUN website has ambassadors' biographical information, Mission press releases, and information on issues such as UN reform; UN administration and budget; and human rights. Also of use are fact sheets, which provide a summary of US involvement in certain UN issues.

US Senate
www.senate.gov

The US Senate website has information about US Senators; the history of the Senate; current Senate proceedings; schedules; hearings; and assignments. Of particular interest may be the Foreign Relations Committee which has jurisdiction over US-UN relations. On its website users can find press releases, legislation and other germane information. 

United States Agency for International Development
www.usaid.gov

USAID is an independent government agency that is responsible for US foreign assistance. It gets policy recommendations from the State Department, and its main goals are to further America's foreign policy interests by expanding democracy and free markets while improving the lives of citizens in the developing world. USAID manages projects in the following areas: agriculture, democracy and governance, economic growth, education, health, global partnerships, and humanitarian assistance in more than 100 countries. The USAID website has information on virtually every aspect of foreign assistance and development, including policy, reports, and facts and figures. It not only discusses US programs, but delves into each issue and why it is important. 

United Nations

United Nations System of Organizations
www.unsystem.org

This site is a guide to websites of the United Nations, its funds and programs, and specialized agencies. It includes links to key projects and initiatives and to various joint programs of the UN system. Listed alphabetically, the website has links to nearly every UN organization and group, and is updated frequently. It also has a useful UN system organization chart which shows how the different arms of the UN are connected. In addition, it has links to UN information centers; UN system libraries; and UN system highlights.

Peace and Security

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
www.iaea.org

IAEA works with Member States and partners to promote safe, secure and peaceful nuclear technologies. Its three main areas of work are promoting safeguards and verification; promoting safety and security; and promoting science and technology. As the world's nuclear inspectorate, the IAEA ensures that nuclear materials are not being used for military purposes; helps countries to upgrade nuclear safety; and mobilizes peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology. IAEA's most recent report, Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement in the Islamic Republic of Iran, was released in August 2006.

UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO)/Peacebuilding Commission
www.un.org/depts/dpko/dpko

DPKO's main mission is to support Member States and the Secretary-General in their efforts to maintain global peace and security. It plans, prepares, manages and directs UN peacekeeping operations so they can fulfill their UN mandates approved by the Security Council. DPKO also works to integrate government and nongovernmental entities into peacekeeping operations. The Peacebuilding Commission was developed to advise and propose integrated strategies for post-conflict recovery--focusing attention on reconstruction, institution-building and sustainable government--in countries emerging from conflict. The DPKO website has information about all current and past UN peacekeeping missions and UN peacekeeping in general, including statistics and reports. 

UN Peacemaker
http://peacemaker.unlb.org

The United Nations' Department of Political Affairs (DPA) has created an innovative new website to give diplomats, politicians, mediators and others critical advice and background information to help them resolve violent conflicts around the world. The website contains a comprehensive, indexed database of modern peace agreements; guidance on how to manage a peace process; and a peacemaker's toolbox with links to resources that include a handbook for drafting the language of peace accords. In order to access information, you must register as a user.

United Nations Security Council
www.un.org/sc

The chief responsibility of the Security Council, under the UN Charter, is to maintain international peace and security. Consisting of five permanent members and ten non-permanent members, the Council can investigate disputes which may lead to international friction; recommend methods for settling disagreements; and call on Members to apply economic sanctions, among other powers outlined in the UN Charter. The Security Council website offers the Council's daily and monthly programs, latest news, and information about rules of procedure. It is very useful if you are looking for specific Security Council resolutions, as they are available to download in their complete form.

Sustainable Development

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
www.fao.org

The FAO leads international efforts to defeat hunger, serving both developed and developing countries. It helps developing countries and countries in transition to modernize and improve agriculture; forestry and fishery practices; and ensure good nutrition for all. The FAO website has a great deal of information about sustainable development, forestry and other related issues. The newsroom and focus on the issue sections provide up-to-date information about the most pressing issues facing the FAO. Information about the CODEX Alimentarius can also be found. The CODEX is a collection of standards, codes of practice, guidelines and other recommendations--developed by a joint FAO and WHO commission--which aims to protect the health of all consumers; ensure fair trade practices in the food trade; and promote coordination of all food standards work undertaken by government and nongovernmental organizations. In addition, the FAO hunger map is a useful graphic that shows where undernourished populations are located and provides food security statistics.

The Millennium Campaign
www.millenniumcampaign.org

The Millennium Campaign was set up in 2002 by the United Nations in order to galvanize support and enthusiasm for the MDGs and their achievement. The Campaign is coordinated by the United Nations Development Program headquarters in New York. The website provides detailed information about each of the eight Goals; tracks each country's progress and MDG campaigns; and shows who's involved (governments, celebrities, NGOs, etc); and what a citizen can do help. In addition, the news center has current stories and updates from the Millennium Development Goal campaigns around the world.

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
www.unicef.org

UNICEF strives to build a world where the rights of every child are realized. UNICEF projects focus on child survival and development; basic education and gender equality; HIV/AIDS and children; child protection; and policy advocacy and partnerships. Through these themes, UNICEF works with others to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child's path. UNICEF also provides emergency assistance to children in need and works to meet the targets of the Millennium Development Goals. The UNICEF website has information about each of its 191 country programs currently active. Users can listen to UNICEF radio which features news and stories from around the world.     

United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
www.undp.org

As the UN's global development network, UNDP advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build better lives. UNDP is on the ground in 166 nations, working to link and coordinate global and national efforts to reach the Millennium Development Goals. The UNDP website has the latest news on UNDP efforts in each region of the world and the MDGs. In addition to helping countries achieve their MDG targets, UNDP works to build democratic governance. By building good governance, nations can provide an 'enabling environment' for the realization of the MDGs, especially the elimination of poverty.

United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
www.unep.org

UNEP is the UN's environmental component. It encourages partnership in caring for the environment and promotes wise use of the planet's natural assets for sustainable development, hoping to enable people to improve their quality of life. Among other things, UNEP assesses global regional and national environmental trends and conditions, and works to integrate economic development with environmental protection. UNEP issues include biodiversity, the ozone, business and industry, and freshwater, among others. A list of all UNEP websites on related issues is also available. 

World Food Program (WFP)
www.wfp.org

WFP is the food assistance arm of the United Nations system. It provides emergency food assistance and supports economic and social development. It also provides the logistical support necessary to get food aid to people in need. WFP works to help victims of natural disasters; displaced people; and the poor in nations around the world. The WFP website has information about current WFP operations, as well as policy statements and reports.

World Health Organization (WHO)
www.who.org

WHO is the UN's pre-eminent health agency. It seeks to provide the highest possible level of health for all people. According to the WHO Constitution, health is defined as a state of complete physical, social and mental wellbeing, not simply the absence of disease or frailty. WHO works both on policy and in the field. On the WHO website, users can look for information by specific health topic or country, and find links to statistical information under the research tools section. 

Human Rights

United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)
www.unifem.org

UNIFEM provides financial and technical assistance to programs and strategies that foster women's empowerment and gender equality. Its principle mission is to advance women's human rights, and its work focuses on four strategic areas: reducing feminized poverty; ending violence against women; reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS among women and girls; and achieving gender equality as part of democratic governance. Based on those core issues, the UNIFEM website has facts and figures; up-to-date news; publications; and other resources. The resources section of the website has additional sources for more information about gender issues and UNIFEM's work.

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
www.ohchr.org

The primary job of the OHCHR is to promote and protect the enjoyment and full realization, by all people, of all rights established in the Charter of the United Nations and in international human rights laws and treaties. It works to prevent human rights violations; secure respect for all human rights; coordinate related activities throughout the UN, and strengthen and streamline the UN system in the field of human rights. The OHCHR website is easy to navigate, as information is divided by issue--such as children, development and indigenous peoples. Within those issues, users will find reports and related documents. In addition, the website's international law section has information about international human rights treaties.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
www.unhcr.org

UNHCR is mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees, and ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another state and return home voluntarily. In addition to helping refugees find safe havens, UNHCR seeks to reduce situations of forced displacement by encouraging states and other institutions to create situations that are conducive to the protection of human rights and the peaceful resolution of disputes. The UNHCR website has information about current UNHCR missions, links to research information and the latest news. In addition, the statistics section provides numerical information on the international refugee situation.

Daily News

US Department of State Listservs
http://www.state.gov/misc/52620.htm#listservs

The State Department offers a variety of e-subscription services, including podcasts and approximately 20 listservs. Listservs range in topic from the latest developments on Africa-related issues, to press briefings, to the daily appointments schedule of Secretary Condoleezza Rice. 

UN News Service
www.un.org/news

The UN News Service website is a complete source for news regarding the UN. It is frequently updated, and has links to multimedia, resources, news conferences, and other useful UN information.
 
UN Press Releases
www.un.org/apps/pressreleases

Each day, the UN publishes press releases which include daily briefings, press conferences, statements, and reports. The site also has links to UN radio, webcasts and photos.

UN Wire
www.unwire.org

UN Wire is a newsletter produced by the UN Foundation. Its daily email briefings provide links to news stories from around the world on UN and international issues, and is free to join. It is a great way to stay up-to-date on all UN news, delivered right to your inbox.

UNIC News/Newsletter
www.unicwash.org

The UN Information Center in Washington, DC works to raise the awareness in the United States of the UN and its work, articulate UN priorities and activities, and strengthen internal and external partnerships. Its activities are intended to improve the American public's understanding of the important work of the UN. The UNIC website has all the latest information about UN activities, in addition to an e-newsletter to which interested parties can subscribe. It also has general information about the UN, including basic facts, UN documents and useful links.