(9th meeting) 2025 Session of the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names

 

Updates from Day 4 at the 2025 Session of UNGEGN

The day kicked off with a special presentation from Norway on geographical names education, showing how interactive engagement can foster awareness and respect for place names as both cultural heritage and tools for sustainable development.

We then explored strategies for building effective work programmes, including recommendations for constructing inclusive and sustainable geographical names authorities—a key theme for many Member States.

Side events included “The World Geographical Names Database and a Unique Identifier for Cities”, which took a deep dive into the tables proposal for a Global Unique Identifier for Cities and detailed how the Secretariat is working with Member States to enhance the management of geographical names globally.

The Group also reviewed the evaluation of the implementation of UNGEGN resolutions and recommendations, and considered the social and economic benefits of supporting sustainable development through toponymy.

We heard updates to toponymic guidelines from Norway, Poland, Finland, Czechia, Austria, and Estonia, and discussed other key issues such as:
• Legal frameworks for geographical names standardization in Norway
• Monitoring and evaluation practices in Indonesia
• The use of awards to recognise excellence in geospatial data and innovation—also from Indonesia

These examples highlight the diverse approaches being taken around the world to strengthen the visibility, governance, and impact of geographical names.

(8th meeting) 2025 Session of the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names

 

Summary

UNGEGN-2025 will take place at UNHQ in New York from 28 April to 2 May 2025. Theme: Advancing geographical names standardization through inclusive, culturally-informed and evidence-based solutions to support sustainable development

(7th meeting) 2025 Session of the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names

 

UNGEGN sessions provide a forum where experts from the interrelated fields of geography, cartography, geospatial information, linguistics and history, from across the world come together to learn and share best practices and norms, new developments in geographical names administration and standardization.

The session also highlights the Group's role as an enabler in preserving cultural heritage and where appropriate support relevant aspects of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

This session will address the theme "Advancing geographical names standardization through inclusive, culturally-informed and evidence-based solutions to support sustainable development".

This theme conforms with General Assembly resolution 70/1, which called for ECOSOC inter-governmental bodies and forums to reflect the integrated nature of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) as well as the interlinkages between them. The 2025 theme was therefore created based on ECOSOC's SDG theme for 2025, 'Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for leaving no one behind' which focuses on the review of SDG goals 3, 5, 8, 14 and 17. Therefore, it is beneficial to encourage focus on this topic and create a platform through the 2025 session to explore inclusive, culturally-informed and evidenced based solutions are being employed by Member States to achieve their goals, and in turn support the Sustainable Development Goals.

(6th meeting) 2025 Session of the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names

 

UNGEGN sessions provide a forum where experts from the interrelated fields of geography, cartography, geospatial information, linguistics and history, from across the world come together to learn and share best practices and norms, new developments in geographical names administration and standardization.

The session also highlights the Group's role as an enabler in preserving cultural heritage and where appropriate support relevant aspects of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

This session will address the theme "Advancing geographical names standardization through inclusive, culturally-informed and evidence-based solutions to support sustainable development".

This theme conforms with General Assembly resolution 70/1, which called for ECOSOC inter-governmental bodies and forums to reflect the integrated nature of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) as well as the interlinkages between them. The 2025 theme was therefore created based on ECOSOC's SDG theme for 2025, 'Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for leaving no one behind' which focuses on the review of SDG goals 3, 5, 8, 14 and 17. Therefore, it is beneficial to encourage focus on this topic and create a platform through the 2025 session to explore inclusive, culturally-informed and evidenced based solutions are being employed by Member States to achieve their goals, and in turn support the Sustainable Development Goals.

(5th meeting) 2025 Session of the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names

 

Description

UNGEGN sessions provide a forum where experts from the interrelated fields of geography, cartography, geospatial information, linguistics and history, from across the world come together to learn and share best practices and norms, new developments in geographical names administration and standardization.

The session also highlights the Group's role as an enabler in preserving cultural heritage and where appropriate support relevant aspects of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

This session will address the theme "Advancing geographical names standardization through inclusive, culturally-informed and evidence-based solutions to support sustainable development".

This theme conforms with General Assembly resolution 70/1, which called for ECOSOC inter-governmental bodies and forums to reflect the integrated nature of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) as well as the interlinkages between them. The 2025 theme was therefore created based on ECOSOC's SDG theme for 2025, 'Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for leaving no one behind' which focuses on the review of SDG goals 3, 5, 8, 14 and 17. Therefore, it is beneficial to encourage focus on this topic and create a platform through the 2025 session to explore inclusive, culturally-informed and evidenced based solutions are being employed by Member States to achieve their goals, and in turn support the Sustainable Development Goals.

(4th meeting) 2025 Session of the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names

 

📢 Getting ready for the 2025 Session of UNGEGN!
#️⃣#2025UNGEGN
📃 Reports for the substantive agenda items of the UNGEGN (Hashtag#UNGEGN) 🌎 🌍 🌏 are available online on the webpage of the 2025 Session: 👉 https://lnkd.in/eqGq3xuH
The 2025 Session of UNGEGN is from 28 April to 2 May 2025

📌 at UN Headquarters, New York USA

Description

UNGEGN sessions provide a forum where experts from the interrelated fields of geography, cartography, geospatial information, linguistics and history, from across the world come together to learn and share best practices and norms, new developments in geographical names administration and standardization.

The session also highlights the Group's role as an enabler in preserving cultural heritage and where appropriate support relevant aspects of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

This session will address the theme "Advancing geographical names standardization through inclusive, culturally-informed and evidence-based solutions to support sustainable development".

This theme conforms with General Assembly resolution 70/1, which called for ECOSOC inter-governmental bodies and forums to reflect the integrated nature of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) as well as the interlinkages between them. The 2025 theme was therefore created based on ECOSOC's SDG theme for 2025, 'Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for leaving no one behind' which focuses on the review of SDG goals 3, 5, 8, 14 and 17. Therefore, it is beneficial to encourage focus on this topic and create a platform through the 2025 session to explore inclusive, culturally-informed and evidenced based solutions are being employed by Member States to achieve their goals, and in turn support the Sustainable Development Goals.

(3rd meeting) 2025 Session of the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names

 

Recapping Day 2 at Hashtag

#2025UNGEGN at the United Nations HQ in New York

* Our Forum on Geographical Names as Cultural Heritage brought thoughtful perspectives on protecting names as part of our shared identity and history. We were honoured to hear a keynote from Ms. Aluki Kotierk, Chair of the 🇺🇳 Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, spoke on “Reducing Inequalities: Safeguarding cultural heritage beyond and across borders, languages and international governance.”

* UNGEGN adopted the concept of a Universal Unique Identifier for Cities. See: https://lnkd.in/euk4dMMH

* Saudi Arabia, Canada, Brunei Darussalam, Slovenia, and Sweden shared their national experiences of cultural aspects of geographical names standardization. See: https://lnkd.in/eWMkmhJU

* In the special presentation and panel discussion on "Artificial intelligence and the future of geographical names standardization" UNGEGN took a landscape view on the opportunity of Hashtag#AI to support Member States with enhancing their geographical names capacity

(2nd meeting) 2025 Session of the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names

Description

UNGEGN sessions provide a forum where experts from the interrelated fields of geography, cartography, geospatial information, linguistics and history, from across the world come together to learn and share best practices and norms, new developments in geographical names administration and standardization.

The session also highlights the Group's role as an enabler in preserving cultural heritage and where appropriate support relevant aspects of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

This session will address the theme "Advancing geographical names standardization through inclusive, culturally-informed and evidence-based solutions to support sustainable development".

This theme conforms with General Assembly resolution 70/1, which called for ECOSOC inter-governmental bodies and forums to reflect the integrated nature of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) as well as the interlinkages between them. The 2025 theme was therefore created based on ECOSOC's SDG theme for 2025, 'Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for leaving no one behind' which focuses on the review of SDG goals 3, 5, 8, 14 and 17. Therefore, it is beneficial to encourage focus on this topic and create a platform through the 2025 session to explore inclusive, culturally-informed and evidenced based solutions are being employed by Member States to achieve their goals, and in turn support the Sustainable Development Goals.

(1st meeting) 2025 Session of the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names

 

Summary

UNGEGN-2025 will take place at UNHQ in New York from 28 April to 2 May 2025. Theme: Advancing geographical names standardization through inclusive, culturally-informed and evidence-based solutions to support sustainable development

Description

UNGEGN sessions provide a forum where experts from the interrelated fields of geography, cartography, geospatial information, linguistics and history, from across the world come together to learn and share best practices and norms, new developments in geographical names administration and standardization.

The session also highlights the Group's role as an enabler in preserving cultural heritage and where appropriate support relevant aspects of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

This session will address the theme "Advancing geographical names standardization through inclusive, culturally-informed and evidence-based solutions to support sustainable development".

This theme conforms with General Assembly resolution 70/1, which called for ECOSOC inter-governmental bodies and forums to reflect the integrated nature of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) as well as the interlinkages between them. The 2025 theme was therefore created based on ECOSOC's SDG theme for 2025, 'Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for leaving no one behind' which focuses on the review of SDG goals 3, 5, 8, 14 and 17. Therefore, it is beneficial to encourage focus on this topic and create a platform through the 2025 session to explore inclusive, culturally-informed and evidenced based solutions are being employed by Member States to achieve their goals, and in turn support the Sustainable Development Goals.

Toponyms as a means of expressing identification, location, possession, belonging, division, and respect for peoples’ cultures

 link 

11-13 Settembre, Palazzetto Mattei, Roma

La Società Geografica Italiana ha il piacere di informare che

dall’11 al 13 settembre 2024 presso la sede di Palazzetto Mattei in Villa Celimontana, Roma

si terrà il Simposio Scientifico Internazionale organizzato da

United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names / Romano-Hellenic Division. 

Scarica qui il programma

L’accesso ai lavori è riservato a coloro che hanno provveduto alla registrazione

Training on Toponymy started

 link 

Toponymy is the science of naming the earth's features, or place names or locations, taking into account the background, historical connections, cultures, and traditions or customs inherent in a region. The Geospatial Information Agency, along with the Asia South East (ASE) Division and the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names (UNGEGN), collaborated to hold an International Toponymy Training in Kuta, Badung, Bali, starting on Monday (19/6/2023).

International toponymy training was attended by participants from UNGEGN member countries, besides Indonesia. There were 132 participants in the international toponymy training in Kuta, Badung, including from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Jordan, Vietnam, and Laos. During the training, the participants received materials on national institutions, models, and procedures; naming of landforms as cultural heritage; cultural heritage in Bali; and the system for collecting landform names.

Representative of UNGEGN Secretariat, Cecille Blake, expressed her appreciation to the Geospatial Information Agency (BIG) and the Asia South East (ASE) Division for organizing the toponymy training and selecting Bali as the location for the training. "Toponymy also emphasizes cultural and historical aspects because the naming of locations will become a collective memory of society and cultural heritage," said Cecille Blake regarding the international toponymy training held in Kuta, Badung, Bali, on Monday (June 19, 2023).

The Chairman of UNGEGN Asia South East Division, Nor Zetty Akhtar Haji Abdul Hamid, also expressed her gratitude to the Geospatial Information Agency for organizing the training.

Training ground

Nor Zetty stated that the training activity had been planned since Indonesia's leadership in the UNGEGN ASE Division for the period 2019-2022. However, its implementation was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. "Bali is the right place for the training because participants can directly compare through visits to the location," said Nor Zetty from Brunei Darussalam.

Furthermore, Aris stated that naming a location or geographic feature requires procedures because the naming of a location is also related to formal requirements. Naming a location or place also requires standardization in order to become a standard and not easily changed.

"The local government has the authority to propose the naming of a location because it relates to the value for the region, the cultural roots of the area, and the traditions in the local community," said Aris.