25th Session of the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names (UNGEGN)

The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names (UNGEGN) was set up by the Secretariat General of the United Nations with mandate to provide encouragement and guidance to member states to establish organization on geographic names and to produce national gazetteers.

UNGEGN meets between the United Nations Conferences on the Standardization of Geographical Names (UNCSGN), now held every five years, to follow up the implementation of resolutions adopted by the Conferences.  The First UNCSGN convened at Geneva from 4 to 22 September 1967. It was attended by 111 representatives and observers from 54 countries. Subsequently, twenty-four sessions of UNGEGN have been held since 1967.

In 2009, the twenty-fifth Session of the UNGEGN will be held at the United Nations facilities in Nairobi, Kenya.  The meeting program will include both plenary-style presentations and breakout discussions and will also offer opportunities for member States to meet, identify collaborative opportunities, and plan next steps. An exhibition will be mounted on the first day of the meeting and remain on display till the close of the meeting,

In this meeting being held in Africa for the first time, it is suggested that African countries should take advantage to show their material - any work on names in connection with mapping or cultural heritage, for example: field collection of names; names and maps; gazetteers and/or databases, etc.  Please let the organizing committee knows if you have suggestions to be considered for: Special presentations; Workshops and Poster exhibit.

Date: 5-12 May 2009
Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Website: http://unstats.un.org/unsd/geoinfo/default.htm
Registration: Please contact Mr. Yacob Zewoldi: Tel: +1 212 963-0445 - E-mail: zewoldi@un.org