Breadcrumb
Processing a document
Processing a publication
Distribution of UN Official Documents
UN Geneva is responsible for the distribution of official UN documents and publications, maintaining stocks of documents and providing quality, timely, efficient, cost-effective and environmentally sustainable document-related services.
Documents are distributed according to the needs of meetings/conferences, substantive offices, permanent missions, official address/mailing lists and individual clients.
Documents are distributed at the distribution counters. They can also be printed from the Official Document System at the Cyber Corner located at the Door 40 distribution counter.
Helpdesk for Delegates & Print-on-Demand
Monday to Friday: 08.30 a.m. – 12.30 pm & 1.30 – 5.30 p.m.
Counter location:
Main counter
E Building / Door 40
Contact:
Phone: +41 22 917 49 00
Email: distribution-counters@un.org
FAQs
The Regulations for the Control and Limitation of Documentation, ST/AI/189/Add.3/Rev.2, define documents and publications: "A document is a text submitted to a principal organ or a subsidiary organ of the United Nations for consideration by it, usually in connection with item(s) on its agenda." United Nations documents are issued for or under the authority of intergovernmental bodies under a United Nations document symbol and include all official records and meeting records of organs or conferences of the United Nations. Attribution in United Nations documents is regulated according to established rules and practices under the authority of the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management. United Nations documents normally bear, in addition to a title corresponding to the subject or agenda item, a subtitle indicating the entity or official responsible for submitting the document. In documents prepared for a body that does not have a sessional agenda, the main title may contain that information.
"The term 'United Nations publication' refers to any written material which is issued by the United Nations to the general public." Examples of United Nations publications include major studies and reports, monographs, edited volumes, statistical compilations, conference proceedings, journals, serial publications such as yearbooks, the United Nations Treaty Series and other international law publications. United Nations publications are generally published in response to legislative mandates or requests by intergovernmental bodies. They may be distributed free of charge or for a price. If sold, United Nations publications are assigned an International Standard Book Number (ISBN/eISBN) or, for serials and periodicals, an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN/eISSN). Publications may be published in print or electronic form, including as mobile applications, and in any other format or media as technology evolves.
If a correction is flagged while a document is still being processed, the information can be included. A new final original file has to be submitted to the Documents Management Section (DMS). If the correction is communicated when the document has already been published, a formal correction by means of a corrigendum or revision will be required.
If the submitter knows in advance that a document has to be submitted late, he or she can reach out to the Documents Management Section (DMS) and negotiate late slotting. If the late submission is not anticipated, the document will be processed as per capacity with no commitment on the release date. If the document is slotted, the delay will be reflected in the official submission compliance of the submitting department.