45th session of the Statistical Commission
4 to 7 March 2014, United Nations Headquarters,
New York
UN STATISTICAL COMMISSION
The United
Nations Statistical Commission, established in 1947, is the
apex entity of the global statistical system. It brings together the
Chief Statisticians from member states from around the world. It is the
highest decision making body for international
statistical activities especially the setting of statistical standards,
the development of concepts and methods and their implementation at the
national and international level.
The Statistical Commission oversees the work of the United Nations
Statistics Division (UNSD), and is a Functional Commission
of the UN Economic and
Social Council.
The terms of reference as set forth in Economic and Social Council
resolution 1566 (L) of 3 May 1971, reaffirming its resolution 8 (I)
of 16 February 1946, as amended by resolution 8 (II) of 21 June 1946,
state that the Commission shall assist the Council:
(a) In promoting the development of national statistics and the improvement
of their comparability;
(b) In the coordination of the statistical work of specialized agencies;
(c) In the development of the central statistical services of the Secretariat;
(d) In advising the organs of the United Nations on general questions
relating to the collection, analysis and dissemination of statistical
information;
(e) In promoting the improvement of statistics and statistical methods
generally.
In resolution 1566 (L), the Council stressed the importance of the
Commission's coordination function and the need to achieve an integrated
system in the collection, processing and dissemination of international
statistics; recognized the interest of the Statistical Commission and
the Statistical Division in matters related to the use of computers
in the United Nations system; and requested the Secretary-General to
undertake, in cooperation with the specialized agencies, concerted
action to assist the developing countries in strengthening their statistical
systems.
Terms of reference in
all
6 official languages |
• Arabic |
• Chinese |
• English
|
• French |
• Russian |
• Spanish |
Items considered
The Statistical Commission considers special issues of concern in
international statistical development, methodological issues, coordination
and integration of international statistical programmes, support
of technical cooperation activities in statistics and organizational
matters. Within the terms of the above resolutions, there is flexibility
for the Commission to adjust, where necessary, its priorities and
methods to meet new requirements and maintain a balance between matters
of current concern and the longer-term development aspects of the
statistical system.
- • Agenda items considered from 2000 to 2013
Reporting
The Commission submits a report on each session to
the Economic and Social Council. The report contains an account of
the Commission's proceedings and the action taken on each agenda item.
The Commission may submit to the Council, in the form of draft resolutions,
recommendations to States Members of the United Nations, the Secretary-general
or the specialized agencies. Any financial implications of the draft
resolutions must be brought to the attention of the Commission and
the Council before being adopted and must subsequently be approved
by the organs of the United Nations having the necessary authority.
Membership
The Commission consists of 24
member countries of the United Nations elected by the United
Nations Economic and Social Council on the basis of an equitable
geographical distribution according to the following pattern:
(a) Five members from African States;
(b) Four members from Asian States;
(c) Four members from Eastern European States;
(d) Four members from Latin American and Caribbean States;
(e) Seven members from Western European and other States.
Term of office
The term of office of members is four years.
Frequency of meetings
In July 1999 the Economic and Social Council decided
that the Commission should meet annually for four days each session,
starting in the year 2000.
Officers of the Commission
The officers are the Chairman, 3 Vice-chairmen and
the Rapporteur; they are also referred to as the Bureau. In between
sessions of the Commission, members of the Commission, the Bureau and
the Secretariat consult on the election of the Bureau for the upcoming
session. A Bureau is elected for a one year period with the expectation
that they will be re-elected to a second one year term if available.
Nominations are made by member(s) of the Commission. Elections are
held at the beginning of a session. In practice elections have been
by acclamation. At its thirtieth session the Commission decided to
give the officers of the Commission (if necessary complemented by any
others whose participation is deemed useful by the Chairman) more of
a steering role.
Secretariat support and other participants
The sessions of the Statistical Commission are substantively
serviced by the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) and attended
by the regional commissions, other United Nations organizations, specialized
agencies and related organizations, non-United Nations international
organizations active in international statistical work, and non-governmental
organizations.