Yearbook of the United Nations

With its comprehensive coverage of UN engagement in political and security matters, human rights issues, economic and social questions, legal issues, and institutional, administrative and budgetary matters, the Yearbook of the United Nations stands as the most authoritative reference work available on the activities and concerns of the Organization.^[1] Fully indexed, the Yearbook also includes the texts of all major General Assembly, Security Council and Economic and Social Council resolutions and decisions. This in-depth narrative of its annual work has been produced by the United Nations since 1946.
The most recently published Yearbook, Volume 61, covering the achievements of the United Nations in 2007, appeared in March 2011. It was launched in May at the Dag Hammarskjöld Auditorium in association with a panel discussion on "Getting the Facts Right"^[2] in today’s media context, moderated by Robert Bullock and featuring Robin Andersen, Norhan Basuni, Pamela Falk and Roland Schatz, that addressed such topics covered by the volume as: the conflict in Darfur; attacks on UN and humanitarian workers; progress towards the Millennium Development Goals; the problem of climate change; and the repercussions of the global financial crisis.
Structure and scope. The Yearbook is subject-oriented and divided into five parts covering political and security questions; human rights issues; economic and social questions; legal questions; and institutional, administrative and budgetary questions. Chapters and topical headings present summaries of pertinent UN activities, including those of intergovernmental and expert bodies, major reports, Secretariat activities and, in selected cases, the views of States in written communications.
Activities of United Nations bodies. All resolutions, decisions and other major activities of the principal organs of the United Nations and, on a selective basis, those of subsidiary bodies are either reproduced or summarized in the appropriate chapter. The texts of all resolutions and decisions of substantive nature adopted by the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council are reproduced or summarized under the relevant topic. These texts are preceded by procedural details giving date of adoption, meeting number and vote totals (in favour–against–abstaining) if any; and an indication of their approval by a sessional or subsidiary body prior to final adoption. The texts are followed by details of any recorded or roll-call vote on the resolution/ decision as a whole.
Major reports. Most reports of the Secretary-General, along with selected reports from other UN sources, such as seminars and working groups, are summarized briefly.
Secretariat activities. The operational activities of the United Nations for development and humanitarian assistance are described under the relevant topics. For major activities financed outside the UN regular budget, selected information is given on contributions and expenditures.
Views of States. Written communications sent to the United Nations by Member States and circulated as documents of the principal organs are summarized in selected cases, under the relevant topics. Substantive actions by the Security Council are analyzed and brief reviews of the Council’s deliberations given, particularly in cases where an issue was taken up but no resolution was adopted.

References

1. ^ Official Yearbook of the United Nations Homepage
2. ^ Getting the Facts Right