I. General Information About the Applicant

C1. The first section of the .org Proposal (after the signed copy of this document) covers general information about the applicant. Please key your responses to the designators (C2, C3, C4, etc.) below.

The following sections C2 - C9 contain general information regarding the applicant.

C2. The full legal name, principal address, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address of the applicant, and the URL of its principal world wide web site.

Union of International Associations (UIA)
rue Washington 40,
B-1050 Brussels, Belgium

Telephone: +32 - (0) 2 - 640 18 08
Fax: 643 61 99
E-mail: uia@uia.be
Web page: www.uia.org

C3. A general description of the applicant's business and other activities.

Overview

The Union of International Associations (UIA) is an independent, non-governmental, non-profit body that is apolitical in character. Its programmes are oriented toward the community of international associations whose actions they are designed to facilitate, whether through special studies or through new uses of information.

UIA was founded 1 June 1907, Brussels, as Central Office of International Associations, by Henri La Fontaine (Nobel Peace Prize 1913) and Paul Otlet, Secretary-General of the then International Institute of Bibliography (see more about Paul Otlet), which subsequently became the International Federation for Information and Documentation (FID), and with which UIA activities were closely associated. UIA became a federation, under the present name, at the 1st World Congress of International Organizations (Brussels, 1910).

For nearly a century, , UIA has acted as a clearinghouse for information on international organizations and their constituencies and has been a pioneer in the provision of information on international organizations and their global challenges.

The UIA maintains inter-related databases on over 50,000 intergovernmental and nongovernmental (NGO) organizations (and their meetings), 56,000 world problems, 33,000 organizational action strategies, as well as on 3,200 human values and 4,800 approaches to human development, as well as international meetings, biographical profiles of civil society executives, integrative concepts, and metaphors of relevance to governance. Items in each database are extensively hyperlinked amongst themselves and to other databases. URLs and/or email addresses are provided to over 26,000 internet resources of international bodies [http://www.uia.org/data.htm]

The prime sources of information are the international networks of governmental and civil society bodies profiled in the organization's database -- notably through the documents they produce, especially on the web. The information is selectively restructured to reflect the insights of constituencies with very different concerns, rather than being reconciled with an imposed conceptual scheme. Special effort is made to reflect both claims and counter-claims with respect to particular problems or strategies in order to capture the dynamics between concerned parties and to facilitate dialogue between different perspectives.

The data is currently made available via the Web, on CD-Rom and in reference book form (notably the annual 5-volume Yearbook of International Organizations, 39th edition; the 3-vol. Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential, 4th edition; the International Congress Calendar, 42nd edition; the Who's Who in International Organizations, 3rd edition). The Yearbook is now subtitled Guide to Global Civil Society Networks. Data has been maintained in electronic form since 1976.

Figure C3-1: UIA Strategic Overview

Strategic Focus

The work of UIA may be interpreted in terms of five strategic orientations:

  • Facilitation through information. The most basic concern of the UIA is that of making available information on the worldwide network of international non-profit organizations, especially those of non-governmental character (namely NGOs, also known as non-profits or civil society organizations).

  • Facilitation through recognition. In light of the information maintained on international organizations and their preoccupations, the UIA aims to promote understanding of how such bodies represent valid interests in every field of human activity or belief, whether scientific, religious, artistic, commercial, educational, professional or political. A special focus is given to the recognition of non-governmental bodies by intergovernmental institutions and the need to overcome the legal and administrative obstacles currently preventing the effective use of the full potential of the inter-organizational network.

  • Facilitation through comprehension. The elaboration of new conceptual approaches, which are more appropriate to the complexity and dynamism of the world system, and are viewed by UIA as fundamental to any breakthrough in effective response to the network of world problems faced by international organizations.

  • Organization and meeting facilities. To improve the effectiveness of organizations situated in a particular place, the UIA encourages the creation of federations of international organizations (those established in France, for example) and meetings among these organizations. It has set up several (now independent) organizations for these purposes.

  • Research. The UIA undertakes studies and surveys on the variety of international organizations, including the significance of unconventional and emerging forms (networks, religious orders, information systems, etc), and on their meetings. Problems and possibilities of inter-organizational networking are explored, especially as facilitated by information systems and computer conferencing. A major programme on world problems and human potential, initiated in 1972, is continued on a long-term basis.

Registry Operation

UIA has a long history in organization registries and their management by computer. In fact, the UIA has always operated at the interface between information, its organization and enabling the associations to which this information structure is relevant. The UIA currently handles ten major databases, equivalent to registries, of varying size and degrees of complexity. Most are web-delivered and many are interactive. Additional detail on each is included in Section C15.

  • International organizations. The global network of some 50,000 non-profit bodies in the Yearbook of International Organizations: Guide to global civil society networks Covers non-profit bodies with every kind of human activity and concern.

  • Country participation. Information on the country involvement of international organizations through their memberships. Some 350,000 links between countries and organizations are currently published in the Yearbook of International Organizations (volume 3).

  • Problems (civil society issues). Registry of some 56,000 social and environmental problems that preoccupy international constituencies, profiled in a succession of editions of the Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential (freely available on the web since 1999; embedded in an evolving network of hyperlink relations between organizations, their problems, human resources, values and strategies (see below).

  • Strategies (civil society solutions): Registry of some 33,000 strategies advocated by international constituencies and profiled in the Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential.

  • Human development (and modes of awareness). Profiles of some 4,800 understandings of human development, and any associated modes of awareness, that are often the declared, or underlying, objective of strategies advocated by individual organizations.

  • Human values. Comprehensive registry of 3,200 human values profiled in the Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential because of the manner in which they guide the mode of action of civil society actors and underlie their ability to perceive problems and guide strategies in response to them.

  • International meetings. Registry of 25,000 international meetings, especially those organized by non-profit bodies, profiled in the International Congress Calendar.

  • Biographies of executives of international organizations. Biographical profiles of the principal executives of international non-profit organizations published through the Who's Who in International Organizations.

  • Bibliographies of international organization materials. Studies of international organizations by the academic community as well as the key publication series produced by such organizations or about their concerns. This information is published as part of the Yearbook of International Organizations (volume 4) and part is freely available on the web.

  • Logos and emblems. International organizations are increasingly challenged by issues of use and abuse of their logos, as well as obtaining guidance on designs as yet unused. The UIA responded to this issue in 1997 by producing a World Guide to Logotypes, Emblems and Trademarks of International Organizations.

  • Statutes of international associations. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the UIA has been concerned with the highly problematic legal status of international non-governmental organizations and has been involved in a variety of initiatives to remedy this, most notably with the Council of Europe. As an extension of its registry activity in profiling international bodies, the first edition of a compilation of the legal statutes of these bodies was produced (International Association Statutes Series, 1984) but proved uneconomical. Links are currently provided to the web sites of the organizations.

International Standing and Major Relations

The UIA has an international reputation for producing registry products of high quality on a regular basis within the very tight production schedules required for low-cost reference book and CD production. These capacities have been seamlessly integrated with the interactive services associated with the web dissemination of this registry data since 1996.

The UIA has consultative relations with UNESCO, UN/ECOSOC and ILO. It has collaborated with FAO, the Council of Europe, UNITAR, and the Commonwealth Science Council. It has acted as one of the research institutes in the network of the UN University. A special ECOSOC resolution establishes cooperation between the United Nations and the UIA for the preparation of the Yearbook of International Organizations. Contact is maintained with more than 25,000 international non-governmental organizations eligible for inclusion in the Yearbook.

Based in Brussels since 1910, the UIA is as attentive to international activity based in other countries and continents as to that in Europe. Being a tri-lingual country, the Belgian base encourages a high degree of sensitivity to language-related issues - especially since the majority of its profiling is done in English. Early editions of its Yearbook of International Organization appeared in French, alternatively in English, and then with occasional French versions (on the last occasion in 1995, with support from French-speaking countries through Agence intergouvernementale de La Francophonie / Intergovernmental Agency for the French-Speaking Community. Multilingual access continues to be an important feature of its keyword and subject indexing, notably in the CD and web variants.

C4. The applicant's type of entity (e.g., corporation, partnership, etc.) and law (e.g., Denmark) under which it is organized. Please state whether the applicant is for-profit or non-profit. If it is non-profit, please provide a detailed statement of its mission.

Type of Entity:

Association internationale sans but lucrative (International non-profit association)

Law Under which Organized:

Registered by Royal Decree, dated 2 July 1920, under the Belgian law "regarding the granting of legal personality to international associations with a scientific purpose" (25 October 1919, modified 6 December 1954 to include organizations with "...humanitarian, religious, artistic and educational purposes"). The UIA is registered under the Belgian law of 25 October 1919 as an international association with scientific aims.

For Profit or Non-Profit:

Non-profit, civil society organization

If Non-Profit, Provide Statement of Mission:

The UIA is a non-profit-making international non-governmental organization operating as an institute for research, study, information, consultation, promotion and service. The aims and activities of UIA focus on civil society/non-profit organizations, including to:

  • Contribute to a universal order based on principles of human dignity, solidarity of peoples and freedom of communication

  • Undertake and promote research and study on transnational associative networks, considered essential components of contemporary society

  • Collect and distribute the most comprehensive documentation possible on international organizations and associations, both governmental and non-governmental, and on new forms of transnational co-operation

  • Collect and distribute data on the various meetings organized by international bodies; to encourage and undertake all activity aimed at promoting the development and efficiency of non-governmental networks, as well as intercommunication between people working in the international framework and in inter-associative co-operation

  • Study, categorize, analyse, compare and illuminate world problems as perceived by international organizations

C5. Dun & Bradstreet D-U-N-S Number (if any) of the applicant.

Not applicable

C6. The number of employees currently employed by the applicant.

UIA has 21 employees: 16 salaried, 2 voluntary and 3 contract staff. It also employs an in-house computer system without remuneration.

C7. The applicant's total revenue (in U.S. dollars) in the last-ended fiscal year.

  BEF  EUR USD
2001 30,410,377 753,873  709,474
2000 35,339,837  876,075 824,478

C8. Full names and positions of (i) all directors, (ii) all officers, (iii) all relevant managers, and (iv) any persons or entities owning five percent or more of the applicant.

All Directors (UIA Executive Council: member, affiliation, [nationality])
 All Officers

 

All Relevant Managers

  • CEO / Secretary-General: André Onkelinx

  • Director Finance and Administration / Assistant Secretary General: Geneviève Devillé

  • Director Communications and Research /Assistant Secretary General: Anthony Judge

  • Project Manager: Nadia McLaren

  • Financial and Corporate Advisor: Paul Caron

Any Persons or Entities Owning 5% or more of Applicant

None

C9. Provide the name, telephone and fax number, and e-mail address of person to contact for additional information regarding this application. If there are multiple people, please list all their names, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses and describe the areas as to which each should be contacted.

Anthony Judge
Phone: +32 2 6436189
Fax: +32 2 6436199
judge@uia.be 
Registry, technical

        

Nadia McLaren
Phone: +32 2 6436197
Fax: +32 2 6436199
nadia@uia.be    
Project management


Back to Table of Contents