Australian Legal Information Institute (AUSTLII), Database of Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Act 1944 (Cwlth)

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Act 1947 (Cwlth)

The Australian Treaties Library

Australia and International Treaty Making Information Kit - 

Membership

 The UN is the only international forum in which all nations are entitled to representation and can participate in addressing international issues. Current membership stands at 189 states. 

The UN System

Australia and the UN  (See also Fact Sheet - Australia and the UN)

Australia and the UN  (See also Fact Sheet - Australia and the UN)

AUSTRALIA AND THE UNITED NATIONS

Environmental Issues

The United Nations organisation provides an institutional framework to address an increasing number of international environment issues. Australia works actively and constructively within this framework, and other environmental forums, to address these issues. For detailed and current information on Australian Government activities relevant to the international environment agenda, refer to the web site of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Environment Branch. Information on the Australian approach to the climate change negotiations is available at http://www.dfat.gov.au/environment/climate

The Specialised Agencies

The specialised agencies of the UN are largely concerned with setting standards and regulating activity in areas of their specialty and with taking steps to extend advances in research and technology. Australia has played a prominent part in a number of the agencies, particularly the following:

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). UNESCO stimulates progress and international cooperation in education, science, cultural projects and communications. UNESCO also promotes technical training programs and the protection of World Heritage sites. Australia is a founding member of UNESCO. UNESCO is headquartered in Paris. For further information on Australia's involvement in UNESCO, see the homepage of the Australian National Commission for UNESCO.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO).  Australia has belonged to the ILO since its foundation. With the exception of the current term (1996-99) and the two earlier terms (1960-_63 and 1969-72), Australia has been a government member of the ILO Governing Body since 1945 as a member of the Asian Government Group of countries. The ILO is currently undergoing significant reform to improve its relevance, efficiency and capacity both to influence and to respond to rapid political, social and economic changes around the world.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The FAO was established in 1946. It has four main functions: a development agency, an information centre, an adviser to governments and a neutral forum. FAO members are pledged to raise global nutrition levels, improve production and distribution of all food and agricultural products, and better the conditions of rural people notably in developing countries. Australia, as a major world food producer and agricultural trading nation, was a founder member of FAO and has participated actively in it. Australia's major interests are in FAO's role in facilitating the exchange of information about agriculture, fisheries and forest industries, in maintaining Australia's reputation as a supplier of agricultural products and technology, in participating in FAO's work in codification of food standards and in monitoring surplus disposals/food aid transactions. The FAO is headquartered in Rome.

The World Health Organisation (WHO). WHO aims for the attainment by all people of the highest possible level of health. Australia has been a member of WHO since the organisation's establishment in 1948 participates in WHO programs through financial support and expert participation and is an active member of the Western Pacific Regional Group of the organisation. Australians are involved in a number of WHO programs including as Head of the WHO Program for Substance Abuse (Geneva) and Director of WHO Program Management, Western Pacific Regional Office (Manila). The WHO is headquartered in Geneva.

The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). WMO was established in 1950. Its objectives are to facilitate world-wide cooperation in establishing networks of meteorological observation stations including the rapid exchange of meteorological information; the standardisation of observations and uniform publication of observations and statistics; and the application of meteorology to aviation, shipping, water problems, agriculture and other areas. WMO carries out its mandate most effectively. Australia's priority in the organisation is the acquisition of observational data through the World Weather Watch Program. If Australia were not a member of WMO, it would be almost impossible for Australia to obtain the world_wide meteorological data required to carry out the functions of the Bureau of Meteorology. Australia maintains the only World Meteorological Centre in the southern hemisphere at Melbourne. Australia is a long_standing member of the WMO Executive Council and is influential in the setting of priorities, programs and budgets. An Australian, Dr John Zillman, is currently WMO President. The WMO is headquartered in Geneva.

The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). The 1967 Convention establishing WIPO had its origins in the 19th century conventions for the protection of industrial property and of literary and artistic works. In 1970, WIPO became a single body to administer 15 treaties ('unions') on intellectual property and in 1974 became a specialised agency. Its objectives are to promote the protection of intellectual property rights throughout the world and to ensure administrative cooperation among the now 19 unions. Australia became a member of WIPO in 1972 and is a party to seven of the 19 unions. WIPO is headquartered in Geneva.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). ICAO was established in 1947 after the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation came into force. Its principal objectives were to develop and seek the implementation of internationally agreed standards and procedures for international civil aviation particularly in regard to technical, operational and safety aspects and to develop regional air navigation plans. ICAO has provided an objective international forum for the discussion of complex and at times controversial aviation issues while remaining the independent standards setter for the operation of international civil air services worldwide. As a result of ICAO's work there are now 18 annexes to the Chicago Convention which lay down standards and practices for the safe operation of civil aircraft and the development of airways, airports and air navigation facilities for use by international civil aviation. Australia strongly supports ICAO's activities as a means of furthering our interests in the safety of civil aviation and the availability of regular and efficient air services within Australia and between Australia and overseas destinations. Australia has been a member of the organisation since 1947. ICAO is headquartered in Montreal.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The ITU has responsibility for international cooperation in telecommunications of all kinds. The ITU is a global forum in which Australia can influence the development of key telecommunications standards and the resolution of competing demands on the radio frequency spectrum. Australia supported recent reforms to the ITU's structure and function which have improved the organisation's ability to respond to technological and structural changes in the telecommunications industry. The reforms enhanced the capacity of the ITU's Development Sector to facilitate the development, expansion, and operation of the telecommunications networks and services, particularly in developing countries. Australia is a member of the ITU Governing Council. The ITU is headquartered in Geneva.

The Universal Postal Union (UPU). The UPU was established in 1874. Its Acts and Regulations provide the basis for the operational and financial management of the international postal system including the Universal Postal Convention and related agreements covering, principally, the exchange of mails. Australia joined the UPU in 1907 and is a signatory to the Universal Postal Convention and the Parcel Post Agreement. Australia is a member of the organisation's Postal Operations Council. The UPU is headquartered in Berne.

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO). The IMO was established in 1958 with the purpose of providing the machinery for cooperation on international shipping matters, promoting adoption of the highest practicable standards of maritime safety, navigational efficiency and marine pollution control and prevention; encouraging the removal of discriminatory and unnecessary restrictions on shipping engaged in international trade, and assisting the development of national shipping. Through work within IMO, a comprehensive set of international treaties applicable to shipping has been brought into force. Except for a nine year gap, 1976-84, Australia has served continually on the Governing Council of the IMO and was re-elected in November 1997 for a further two year term, ending in 1999. The IMO is headquartered in London.

United Nations Association of Australia (UNAA). 

To keep abreast of Australia's obligations and responsibilities to the United Nations make use of UNAA's national weekly news summary, UNity.

"The History and Development of the United Nations: Selected Dissertations, 1948-1994" Bibliography compiled by Heather Ruland, Yale University

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade