Union of International Associations

The Union of International Associations (UIA) is a non-profit non-governmental research institute and documentation center based in Brussels, Belgium, and operating under United Nations mandate. It was founded in 1907 under the name Central Office of International Associations by Henri La Fontaine, the 1913 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and Paul Otlet, a founding father of what is now called information science.

Union of International Associations
AbbreviationUIA
Formation1907; 117 years ago (1907)
TypeINGO
Location
Region served
Worldwide
Official language
English/French
Websitewww.uia.org

The UIA is an independent research institute and a repository for current and historical information on the work of global civil society. It serves two main purposes: to document and promote public awareness of the work of international organizations (both INGOs and IGOs), international meetings, and world problems. The UIA also supports and facilitates the work of international associations through training and networking opportunities.

It has consultative status with ECOSOC and UNESCO.

History

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The two founders started work setting up the Central Office of International Organisations and then conducting a survey of international organisations with headquarters in Belgium.[1] Then with the help of the sociologist Cyril van Overbergh they extend this research to organisations based elsewhere.[2] After collaborating with Alfred Fried on the production of Annuaire de la Vie Internationale they produced their own edition without him.[2]

Top meeting places

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2018

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Top international meeting countries in 2018[3]
Rank Country Number of meetings
1   Singapore 1,177
2   South Korea 854
3   Belgium 849
4   United States 592
5   Japan 579
6   Austria 472
7   France 455
8   Spain 441
9   United Kingdom 329
10   Germany 296
Top international meeting cities in 2018[3]
Rank City Number of meetings
1   Singapore 1,177
2   Brussels 733
3   Seoul 431
4   Vienna 401
5   Tokyo 313
6   Paris 259
7   Madrid 190
8   London 183
9   Barcelona 148
10   Geneva 145

1999 to 2018

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Top international meeting countries from 1999 to 2018[3]
Rank Country Number of meetings
1   United States 24,064
2   France 13,903
3   Belgium 11,838
4   Germany 11,479
5   Singapore 10,155
6   United Kingdom 9,943
7   Italy 9,920
8   Spain 9,278
9   South Korea 8,102
10   Austria 7,785
Top international meeting cities from 1999 to 2018[3]
Rank City Number of meetings
1   Singapore 10,155
2   Brussels 9,683
3   Paris 6,515
4   Vienna 5,916
5   Seoul 4,291
6   Geneva 3,992
7   London 3,575
8   Berlin 3,072
9   Barcelona 3,018
10   Tokyo 3,012


Publication

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In 1923, UIA published Code des voeux internationaux, codification générale des voeux et résolutions des organismes internationaux, with a preface by Henri La Fontaine.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Laqua, Daniel Wouter Van Acker and Christophe Verbruggen. 2019. International Organizations and Global Civil Society: Histories of the Union of International Associations. London: Bloomsbury Academic.
  2. ^ a b Rayward, W. Boyd (1993). World Encyclopedia of Library and Information Services. American Library Association. ISBN 9780838906095. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d "Union of International Associations 60th International Meetings Statistics Report" (PDF). UIA. 26 June 2019.
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