The UN "Official Document System" (ODS) is a digital record of UN documents in all official languages. In 1996, the UN began to offer governments free access to this system, via a web portal. Others had to pay a hefty fee for access. Since 1997, NGOs have pressed the UN to provide them free access as well. A budget allocation of $1.5 million for new UN computer servers was the last step in the road to access, and the UN opened the ODS to the general public as of December 31, 2004. This page provides information about the ODS and the NGO campaign.
NGOs and the UN | NGO Access at the UN
NGO Access to the United Nations "Official Document System" (May 2003)
Global Policy Forum gives a detailed description of past and present developments of NGO efforts to obtain a free and open access to the UN Official Document System (ODS).
Memo to Secretary-General Kofi Annan (April 25, 1997)
Twelve NGOs urge a review of UN policy of access to the optical disk system in a major statement.
United Nations Opens Official Document System to General Public (December 23, 2004)
After seven years of petitioning and lobbying, NGOs have succeeded in gaining public access to the United Nations Official Document System (ODS) as of December 31, 2004. The ODS currently contains most UN documents, including UN resolutions and selective UN commission documents, mainly from 1993 to the present. (UN Press Release)
NGOs Win ODS Access (January 26, 2004)
In late December 2003, the UN finally approved funding for open public access to the organization's Official Documents System. Global Policy Forum has been leading a campaign for this important information tool for seven years. Lobbying by many NGOs worldwide helped carry the day.
Interim Statement by President Cardoso on Access to the ODS (November 14, 2003)
The Chair of the Panel of Eminent Persons on UN-Civil Society Relations has encouraged the Secretary General to ensure ODS financing in the 2004 budget plans. The Secretary General intends to urge the General Assembly to approve the ODS budget.
Letter on the ODS to Mr. Nitin Desai by the World Federalist Movement (September 18, 2003)
This letter to Mr. Desai, Special Adviser to the Secretary General for the World Summit on the Information Society, asks for support within the framework of the WSIS to secure NGO access to the UN Official Document System.
CONGO Resolution on the ODS (June 26, 2003)
The board of the Conference of NGOs (CONGO) adopted a resolution, recognizing information provided by the United Nations Official Document System as "essential to the work of the NGO community."
Statement on Access to the ODS (June 4 – 6, 2003)
This statement, signed by thirty five NGO leaders, underlines the importance of free access to the ODS for the NGO community.(Global Policy Forum)
Letter Sent by
the World Federalist Movement to Secretary General Kofi Annan (May 19, 2003)
This letter requests the Secretary General's support in providing universal access
to the Official Document System (ODS), a database containing all UN documents
in the six official UN languages. This initiative would help NGOs located far
from the UN while offering the public an invaluable resource. (World Federalist
Movement)
The ODS Episode: A Danger Signal from the Secretariat (July, 1999)
A short description of the battles for access to the ODS in 1996 – 1997. During this period the Secretariat imposed a change for the ODS, favoring a fee - for - service approach to this informative resource. (Global Policy Forum)
Letter from the Summer Institute of Linguistics to the Secretary General (April 16, 1999)
Dr. Clinton Robinson of SIL writes to the Secretary General to request that fees for
access to the UN's optical disk system be lowered or abolished.
Discussion on the Access to the
Optical Disk System at the UN (April - May 1998)
Several comments are assembled here on the issue of the access to the Optical Disk System at the UN.
Access to the Optical Disk System (February 25, 1998)
Report of the Secretary-General
Access to the Optical Disk System (August 21, 1997)
Report of the Secretary-General
Letter by Samir Sanbar, Assistant
Secretary-General for Public Information (June 19, 1997)
A letter written to all signers of the 25 April 1997 memorandum, promising that a policy review is under way.
Memo to Secretary-General Kofi Annan (April 25, 1997)
Twelve NGOs urge a review of UN policy of access to the optical disk system in a major statement.
Secretary General Responds to a Question on the ODS at a Briefing (March 18, 1997)
The SG gives a vague reply to a journalist's question on ODS, but suggests that a policy of openness will eventually prevail.
Letter to Amb. Ahmad Kamal (February 28, 1997)
Protests high charge that the UN has imposed on NGO use of the ODS and argues for free NGO access.
Letter to Amb. Ahmad Kamal (February 7, 1997)
Discusses the UN's new optical disk system and the problem of NGO access to it.
