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)

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, 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


    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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, Report
      • English

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

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

  • Report of the International Hydrographic Organization
  • Submitted by IHO Liaison Officer
    • GEGN.2/2023/132/CRP.132, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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


    • National Dialogue

    The reports submitted under agenda item 4a, Report s: Governments on the situation in their countries and on the progress made in the standardization of geographical names are a core component of UNGEGN's work, which includes sharing national experiences for knowledge enrichment and assisting Member States who may be addressing the same issues. In order to address these issues in an engaging way a National Dialogue was organized for the 2023 session.

    The topics covered in the reports were grouped into five themes, with one of these themes being addressed each day of the session. Reports' authors were invited to present on one aspect covered in their report, with the intention of thereby bringing the core topics addressed in the national reports to the plenary session for consideration, whilst also giving the authors the opportunity to present their work.

    By addressing these key topics thematically, common strands and work methods became apparent and the session drew conclusions on areas of shared endeavour and ways of working, and also some areas of possible future work.

    This page includes links to each day's composite thematic presentation, and individual links to each speaker's presentation notes.


    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, UNGEGN
  • Panel discussion outline

    • Special Presentation

  • Presenter's Profiles

    • 3rd Meeting, 2 May 2023
  • Ms. Aluki Kotierk (UNPFII)
    • UNPFII Presentation

    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: tool for harvesting digital gazetteers


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