Page 267 - 100 Reflections that Crafted Geneva International_V-Petrovsky_private special edition

Bringing the Concept to Life

The specificity of UNOG lies in its unsurpassed level of expertise in the
fields of human rights and humanitarian affairs; in its long-established tradition
of involvement in economic, trade and development activities; and in its
leading role in disarmament affairs. In all of these areas, UNOG has become a
centre of know-how and contributed significantly to the process of norm-
setting.

In the field of human rights which has been gaining in importance in recent
years, UNOG is home to the High Commissioner for Human Rights who is the
highest UN authority in this matter. He is assisted by the Centre for Human
Rights which is incorporated under his authority. UNOG serves as an
operating base for an increasing number of human rights' field offices which are
being opened around the world.

Concerning humanitarian affairs, Geneva is the Headquarters of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) which works
closely with other Geneva-based international organizations inside the UN
system (such as the World Health Organization) or outside this system (the
International Committee of the Red Cross). UNOG includes as well a
Department of Humanitarian Affairs (DHA) which coordinates international
disaster relief activities and provides operational support in this context.

UNOG is also heavily involved in trade and economic activities. It is the
basis of the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), of the United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and of the International
Trade Centre (ITC) which interacts with the Geneva-based World Trade
Organization (WTO).

UNOG hosts the Conference on Disarmament (CD), the disarmament
negotiating forum of the international community which deals with practically
all issues related to multilateral arms control and disarmament issues. It has
witnessed the conclusion of landmark treaties such as the Treaty on Non-
Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the Convention on the Prohibition
of Chemical Weapons, and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
(CTBT). UNOG is home as well to the United Nations Institute for
Disarmament Research (UNIDIR).

Geneva, with its three United Nations institutes and its United Nations
college in Turin, constitutes one of the major research and training centers of
the United Nations.

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