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Rules and standards are key to advance the well-being of citizens

The role of international organisations (IOs) is critical in the development of rules and standards that can help advance the well-being of citizens in an increasingly globalised world.  This was one of the main conclusions of an event organised by OECD on 2 November on “International Regulatory Co-operation: The Role of International Organisations in Fostering the Rules of Globalisation”.


The event featured the presentation and discussion of case studies of a series of organizations, including UNECE, “The case of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe”,   the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Organization for Legal Metrology (OIML) and the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as an OECD report presenting common traits and specific features of international organizations in establishing global soft- and hard-law tools.


International organisations and country delegates reflected on the effectiveness and impact of international regulatory cooperation.


UNECE Executive Secretary Christian Friis Bach showcased examples of successful tools for international regulatory cooperation developed by UNECE including globally harmonized regulations for vehicles, the five digit coding system for trade locations (e.g. CHGVA for Geneva, Switzerland) that we all see on our luggage tags, and the only legally binding international instruments on environmental democracy – the Aarhus Convention and its Kiev Protocol.


OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria – in his opening remarks – stressed that international organizations must do more to ensure the implementation of the tools that are shaped under their umbrella. Mr. Bach offered the UNECE “Working Party on Regulatory Cooperation and Standardization Policies” as a forum to join forces for strengthened enforcement and implementation of both national and global standards and regulations.


Want to know more? Please join an International Luncheon on 14 November at the Maison de la Paix, Chemin Eugène-Rigot 2, Geneva, Room S8, Petal 2, Level 1, where these publications will be presented to the International Geneva Community.

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