--- title: "UN & Model UN Acronyms: Searchable List | Model Diplomat" description: "Decode 135 UN and Model UN acronyms, from DISEC and SOCHUM to UNHCR vs UNHRC, GSL and NHSMUN. Search or filter by category. Free, no signup." url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/tools/mun/acronym-decoder" --- > For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://modeldiplomat.com/llms.txt). Skip to main content Search acronyms Searches acronyms, full names, other names and notes. Case and punctuation don't matter. Showing 135 of 135 acronyms. ## A - ### APEC Other organizations Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation - ### A/RES Model UN procedure General Assembly resolution (UN document symbol) Prefix on the official symbol of a General Assembly resolution. Cite it when you quote past action in a position paper. - ### ASEAN Other organizations Association of Southeast Asian Nations - ### ATT Treaties, law & policy Arms Trade Treaty - ### AU Other organizations African Union ## B - ### BD Model UN procedure Best Delegate Usually the top individual award in a committee. Award names and order vary by conference. - ### BG Model UN procedure Background guide The study guide the dais writes on each committee topic. Start your research here. - ### BMUN US Model UN conferences Berkeley Model United Nations A student-run organization at UC Berkeley that hosts a high school conference on campus. - ### BRICS Other organizations Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (plus expansion) - ### BWC Treaties, law & policy Biological Weapons Convention ## C - ### CARICOM Other organizations Caribbean Community - ### CCW Treaties, law & policy Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons The forum where states have discussed lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS). - ### CEDAW Treaties, law & policy Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women - ### CND UN organs & committees Commission on Narcotic Drugs A functional commission of ECOSOC on drug control policy. - ### COP Treaties, law & policy Conference of the Parties The meeting of the states that are party to a treaty. In the news, “COP” followed by a number usually means the UNFCCC climate summit. - ### COPUOS UN organs & committees Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space The General Assembly committee dealing with international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space. UNOOSA is its secretariat. - ### CRC Treaties, law & policy Convention on the Rights of the Child - ### CSW UN organs & committees Commission on the Status of Women A functional commission of ECOSOC focused on gender equality. - ### CTBT Treaties, law & policy Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty - ### CTBTO Other organizations Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization - ### CWC Treaties, law & policy Chemical Weapons Convention Implemented by the OPCW. ## D - ### DDR Treaties, law & policy Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration The process of disarming former combatants and helping them return to civilian life, often part of a peace operation's mandate. - ### DISEC UN organs & committees Disarmament and International Security Committee (UNGA First) The General Assembly's First Committee, covering disarmament and international security. One of the most common Model UN committees. Also: First Committee, GA1 - ### DPO UN agencies & offices Department of Peace Operations The Secretariat department that runs UN peacekeeping. - ### DPPA UN agencies & offices Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs - ### DR Model UN procedure Draft resolution A resolution that has been formally introduced but not yet voted on. ## E - ### E10 UN organs & committees Elected ten members of the UN Security Council The ten non-permanent members, elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms. They have no veto. Also: Elected members, Non-permanent members - ### ECOFIN UN organs & committees Economic and Financial Committee (UNGA Second) The General Assembly's Second Committee, covering economic and financial questions. Also: Second Committee, GA2 - ### ECOSOC UN organs & committees Economic and Social Council One of the six principal organs of the UN. Coordinates the UN's economic, social and environmental work and oversees commissions such as the CSW. - ### ECOWAS Other organizations Economic Community of West African States - ### EEZ Treaties, law & policy Exclusive economic zone The sea area, up to 200 nautical miles from the coast under UNCLOS, where a coastal state has rights over resources. - ### EU Other organizations European Union ## F - ### FAO UN agencies & offices Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations ## G - ### G7 Other organizations Group of Seven - ### G20 Other organizations Group of Twenty - ### G77 Other organizations Group of 77 A coalition of developing countries at the UN. The name has stuck even though membership has grown well past 77. - ### GCC Other organizations Gulf Cooperation Council Official name: the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf. - ### GSL Model UN procedure General Speakers' List The running list of delegates waiting to give formal speeches. At most conferences, debate returns to it whenever no motion is on the floor. Also: Speakers List ## H - ### HM Model UN procedure Honorable Mention An individual committee award. Names vary by conference. - ### HMUN US Model UN conferences Harvard Model United Nations A high school conference run by the Harvard International Relations Council and staffed by Harvard undergraduates. - ### HNMUN US Model UN conferences Harvard National Model United Nations - ### HSC Model UN procedure Historical Security Council A Security Council simulation set on a past date. Delegates may only use what was known at that time. ## I - ### IAEA UN agencies & offices International Atomic Energy Agency Promotes peaceful uses of nuclear energy and verifies nuclear safeguards. A related organization of the UN system rather than a specialized agency. - ### IBRD UN agencies & offices International Bank for Reconstruction and Development With the International Development Association (IDA), one of the two institutions people mean by “the World Bank”. Also: World Bank - ### ICAO UN agencies & offices International Civil Aviation Organization - ### ICC Other organizations International Criminal Court An independent court created by the Rome Statute that tries individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and aggression. It is not a UN organ. - ### ICCPR Treaties, law & policy International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights - ### ICESCR Treaties, law & policy International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights - ### ICJ UN organs & committees International Court of Justice The UN's principal judicial organ, in The Hague. Hears disputes between states and gives advisory opinions. Compare the ICC, which tries individuals. Also: World Court - ### ICRC Other organizations International Committee of the Red Cross - ### IDP Treaties, law & policy Internally displaced person Someone forced from home who has not crossed an international border, so is not a refugee in law. - ### IFAD UN agencies & offices International Fund for Agricultural Development - ### IGO Other organizations Intergovernmental organization An organization whose members are states, such as the UN, the AU or NATO. - ### IHL Treaties, law & policy International humanitarian law The law of armed conflict, including the Geneva Conventions. - ### ILO UN agencies & offices International Labour Organization - ### IMF UN agencies & offices International Monetary Fund A specialized agency of the UN system. - ### IMO UN agencies & offices International Maritime Organization - ### IMUNA US Model UN conferences International Model United Nations Association The nonprofit that runs NHSMUN. - ### IOM UN agencies & offices International Organization for Migration The UN system's migration agency, a related organization of the UN. Also: UN Migration - ### ITU UN agencies & offices International Telecommunication Union ## J - ### JCC Model UN procedure Joint crisis committee Two or more crisis committees, often opposing sides of one conflict, whose actions affect each other. ## L - ### LAS Other organizations League of Arab States Also: Arab League - ### LAWS Treaties, law & policy Lethal autonomous weapons systems - ### LDCs Treaties, law & policy Least developed countries ## M - ### MDGs Treaties, law & policy Millennium Development Goals The eight goals for 2000 to 2015 that the SDGs replaced. - ### Mod Model UN procedure Moderated caucus Short speeches on a narrow sub-topic, called on by the chair. A motion sets the topic, total time and speaking time. - ### MUN Model UN procedure Model United Nations Used interchangeably with “Model UN”. Also: Model UN ## N - ### NAIMUN US Model UN conferences North American Invitational Model United Nations A student-run high school conference in Washington, D.C., hosted by the Georgetown International Relations Association. - ### NAM Other organizations Non-Aligned Movement - ### NATO Other organizations North Atlantic Treaty Organization - ### NDC Treaties, law & policy Nationally determined contribution Each Paris Agreement party's national climate plan. - ### NGO Other organizations Non-governmental organization - ### NHSMUN US Model UN conferences National High School Model United Nations A high school conference held each year in New York City, run by IMUNA. - ### NMUN US Model UN conferences National Model United Nations A university-level conference. - ### NPT Treaties, law & policy Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons ## O - ### OAS Other organizations Organization of American States - ### OCHA UN agencies & offices Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs The part of the UN Secretariat that brings humanitarian actors together to respond to emergencies. - ### OD Model UN procedure Outstanding Delegate An individual committee award, usually ranked below Best Delegate. Names vary by conference. - ### ODA Treaties, law & policy Official development assistance Government aid that promotes the economic development and welfare of developing countries. - ### OECD Other organizations Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development - ### OHCHR UN agencies & offices Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights The Secretariat office for human rights, based in Geneva. It supports the Human Rights Council but is a separate body. - ### OIC Other organizations Organisation of Islamic Cooperation - ### OP Model UN procedure Operative paragraph A numbered clause that says what the body decides, requests or recommends. “OP3” means the third operative clause. Also: Operative clause - ### OPCW Other organizations Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Implements the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). - ### OPEC Other organizations Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries - ### OSCE Other organizations Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe ## P - ### P5 UN organs & committees Permanent five members of the UN Security Council China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. A no vote from any of them blocks a substantive Security Council decision. Also: Permanent Five, Permanent members - ### PBC UN organs & committees Peacebuilding Commission - ### PGA UN organs & committees President of the General Assembly - ### POI Model UN procedure Point of information At many conferences, a question to a speaker who has yielded to questions. Some rules use the term for a question to the chair instead. - ### PP Model UN procedure Preambular paragraph A clause at the top of a resolution that gives context and justification. Drafters refer to them as PP1, PP2 and so on. Some delegates also use “PP” for position paper, so check the context. Also: Preambulatory clause ## R - ### R2P Treaties, law & policy Responsibility to Protect The principle, endorsed at the 2005 World Summit, that states must protect their populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. Also: RtoP - ### ROP Model UN procedure Rules of procedure The conference's rulebook for motions, points, speeches and voting. Rules differ between conferences, so read yours. ## S - ### SADC Other organizations Southern African Development Community - ### SALW Treaties, law & policy Small arms and light weapons - ### SCO Other organizations Shanghai Cooperation Organisation - ### SDGs Treaties, law & policy Sustainable Development Goals The 17 goals of the 2030 Agenda, adopted by the General Assembly in 2015. Many resolutions tie their clauses to a specific SDG. - ### SG UN organs & committees Secretary-General Head of the UN Secretariat. At a Model UN conference, the student who leads the conference staff usually holds this title too. Also: UNSG - ### SIDS Treaties, law & policy Small island developing States - ### SOCHUM UN organs & committees Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee (UNGA Third) The General Assembly's Third Committee, covering social, humanitarian and cultural questions, including human rights. Also: Third Committee, GA3 - ### SPECPOL UN organs & committees Special Political and Decolonization Committee (UNGA Fourth) The General Assembly's Fourth Committee, covering special political questions and decolonization, including peacekeeping. Also: Fourth Committee, GA4 - ### S/RES Model UN procedure Security Council resolution (UN document symbol) Prefix on the official symbol of a Security Council resolution. ## T - ### TPNW Treaties, law & policy Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons ## U - ### UDHR Treaties, law & policy Universal Declaration of Human Rights Adopted by the General Assembly in 1948. A declaration, not a treaty, but the foundation later human rights treaties build on. - ### UNAIDS UN agencies & offices Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS - ### UNCLOS Treaties, law & policy UN Convention on the Law of the Sea Also: Law of the Sea - ### UNCTAD UN agencies & offices UN Conference on Trade and Development Despite the name, a permanent UN body that works on trade and development, not a one-off conference. - ### UNDP UN agencies & offices UN Development Programme - ### UNEP UN agencies & offices UN Environment Programme - ### UNESCO UN agencies & offices UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization - ### UNFCCC Treaties, law & policy UN Framework Convention on Climate Change The 1992 climate treaty. The Paris Agreement was adopted under it. - ### UNFPA UN agencies & offices UN Population Fund - ### UNGA UN organs & committees UN General Assembly Every UN member state has a seat and one vote. Most Model UN committees are simulations of the General Assembly or its committees. Also: GA, General Assembly - ### UN-Habitat UN agencies & offices UN Human Settlements Programme - ### UNHCR UN agencies & offices UN High Commissioner for Refugees The UN Refugee Agency. Easy to mix up with UNHRC, the Human Rights Council. Also: UN Refugee Agency - ### UNHRC UN organs & committees UN Human Rights Council The intergovernmental body, based in Geneva, whose member states are elected by the General Assembly. Not to be confused with UNHCR, the refugee agency. Also: HRC, Human Rights Council - ### UNICEF UN agencies & offices UN Children's Fund - ### UNIDO UN agencies & offices UN Industrial Development Organization - ### Unmod Model UN procedure Unmoderated caucus Informal time out of your seat to negotiate, form blocs and write working papers. - ### UNODA UN agencies & offices UN Office for Disarmament Affairs The Secretariat office for disarmament. It supports the work of the First Committee (DISEC). - ### UNODC UN agencies & offices UN Office on Drugs and Crime - ### UNOOSA UN agencies & offices UN Office for Outer Space Affairs - ### UNRWA UN agencies & offices UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees - ### UNSC UN organs & committees UN Security Council Fifteen members: the five permanent members (P5) and ten elected for two-year terms (E10). Also: SC, Security Council - ### UN Women UN agencies & offices UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women - ### UPU UN agencies & offices Universal Postal Union - ### USG UN organs & committees Under-Secretary-General A senior UN official. At many Model UN conferences, a senior student staff member who oversees a group of committees. ## V - ### VC Model UN procedure Verbal Commendation An individual committee award, often read out rather than given a gavel. Names vary by conference. ## W - ### WFP UN agencies & offices World Food Programme - ### WHO UN agencies & offices World Health Organization - ### WIPO UN agencies & offices World Intellectual Property Organization - ### WMD Treaties, law & policy Weapons of mass destruction - ### WMO UN agencies & offices World Meteorological Organization - ### WP Model UN procedure Working paper An informal draft of ideas a bloc circulates before it becomes a draft resolution. - ### WTO Other organizations World Trade Organization Know them cold? Test yourself on the diplomatic acronyms quiz. [Play the acronyms quiz](https://modeldiplomat.com/play/g/diplomatic-acronyms) ## How to use the acronym decoder 1. ### Type the acronym or the name Search by the letters (DISEC, unhcr, A/RES) or by words from the full name (refugees, speakers list). Case, spaces and punctuation are ignored, and the closest match comes first. 2. ### Narrow it by category Pick UN organs and committees, UN agencies, Model UN procedure, treaties and policy terms, other organizations, or US Model UN conferences to see only that group. 3. ### Browse the A to Z index With the search box empty, every acronym is listed alphabetically. Jump to a letter from the index to scan a whole section of your background guide at once. 4. ### Read the note, then research the body Many entries say what the body does or how the term is used in committee. When an acronym matters to your topic, research what that body has actually done before you cite it. ## The General Assembly's six Main Committees Many large Model UN committees simulate one of these. Conferences use the acronym, the number or both, so “GA1”, “First Committee” and “DISEC” are the same room. | Committee | Acronym | Covers | | --------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | | First CommitteeDisarmament and International Security Committee | DISEC | Disarmament and international security | | Second CommitteeEconomic and Financial Committee | ECOFIN | Economic and financial questions | | Third CommitteeSocial, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee | SOCHUM | Social, humanitarian and cultural questions, including human rights | | Fourth CommitteeSpecial Political and Decolonization Committee | SPECPOL | Special political questions and decolonization, including peacekeeping | | Fifth CommitteeAdministrative and Budgetary Committee | None | The UN's administration and budget | | Sixth CommitteeLegal Committee | None | Legal questions | ## Acronyms delegates mix up Getting one of these wrong in a speech costs you credibility with the dais. Learn the difference before committee starts. - UNHRC vs UNHCR UNHRC is the Human Rights Council, the intergovernmental body of member states in Geneva. UNHCR is the UN Refugee Agency. The letters are one swap apart, and mixing them up in a speech is a common slip. - UNHRC vs OHCHR The Human Rights Council is made up of member states and passes resolutions. OHCHR, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, is part of the Secretariat and supports that work. - ICJ vs ICC The International Court of Justice is a principal organ of the UN and hears disputes between states. The International Criminal Court is a separate, treaty-based court that tries individuals. - P5 vs E10 The P5 are the five permanent members of the Security Council, each with a veto on substantive decisions. The E10 are the ten members elected for two-year terms, without a veto. - PP vs OP Preambular paragraphs open a resolution and give its reasons. Operative paragraphs are numbered and say what the body does. In delegate chat, PP can also mean position paper, so check which one someone means. - Mod vs unmod A moderated caucus is formal debate on a narrow sub-topic, with the chair calling on speakers. An unmoderated caucus is informal time out of your seat to negotiate and write. - A/RES vs S/RES The prefix on a UN document symbol tells you who adopted it: A/RES for the General Assembly, S/RES for the Security Council. Cite the full symbol when you point to past action. ## Using acronyms in papers and speeches **In a position paper,** write the full name the first time, with the acronym in brackets: “the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)”. After that, the acronym alone is fine. When you point to past action, cite the document symbol, such as an A/RES or S/RES number, rather than “a UN resolution”. **In a speech,** fewer is better. The committee's own name and household acronyms like UNSC, WHO or NATO are safe. For anything a newer delegate might not know, say the name. You have a minute or so, and a room that is decoding your acronyms is not following your argument. **In a resolution,** follow your conference's format guide. Many ask for full names in the clauses themselves, and clauses are often read aloud when a draft is introduced, so spelled-out names are easier for the room to follow. **Before you cite a body,** check what it actually does. Naming UNEP in a disarmament speech, or asking the ICJ to prosecute an individual, tells the chair you learned the acronym but not the institution. ## Frequently asked questions What do DISEC, ECOFIN, SOCHUM and SPECPOL stand for? They are the first four Main Committees of the UN General Assembly. DISEC is the Disarmament and International Security Committee (First Committee). ECOFIN is the Economic and Financial Committee (Second). SOCHUM is the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee (Third). SPECPOL is the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth). The Fifth and Sixth Committees, Administrative and Budgetary and Legal, have no widely used acronym. What is the difference between UNHRC and UNHCR? UNHRC is the UN Human Rights Council, an intergovernmental body of member states based in Geneva. UNHCR is the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the UN Refugee Agency. They are easy to confuse because the letters are nearly the same, so double-check which one your committee and your sources mean. What is the difference between the ICJ and the ICC? The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the UN's principal judicial organ. It settles disputes between states and gives advisory opinions. The International Criminal Court (ICC) is an independent court created by the Rome Statute that tries individuals for crimes such as genocide and war crimes. It is not a UN organ. What do GSL, mod and unmod mean in Model UN? GSL is the General Speakers' List, the queue of delegates waiting to give formal speeches. Mod is short for moderated caucus, a timed debate on a narrow sub-topic in which the chair calls on speakers. Unmod is short for unmoderated caucus, informal time out of your seat to negotiate and draft. Exact rules differ by conference, so check your rules of procedure. What do PP and OP mean in a resolution? PP means preambular paragraph and OP means operative paragraph. Preambular paragraphs set out the context and reasons for a resolution. Operative paragraphs are numbered and state what the body decides, requests or recommends, so OP3 is the third operative clause. Should I use acronyms in my position paper or speech? In writing, give the full name the first time followed by the acronym in brackets, then use the acronym. In speeches, the committee's own name and very common acronyms such as UNSC or WHO are fine, but say the full name of anything less familiar. The chair and other delegates may not know it, and a speech is harder to reread than a page. Is the acronym decoder free? Yes. It is free, needs no account and runs in your browser. If you want to research what a UN body has actually done on your topic, a free Model Diplomat account includes 375 credits on day one, then 75 a day. ## Keep preparing [All Model UN tools](https://modeldiplomat.com/tools/mun) [Guide](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/mun/resources/beginner-guides/model-un-beginners-guide) [Model UN Beginner's Guide](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/mun/resources/beginner-guides/model-un-beginners-guide) [The whole conference, from committee assignment to awards, in plain language.](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/mun/resources/beginner-guides/model-un-beginners-guide) [Guide](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/mun/resources/position-papers/complete-position-papers-guide) [Position Papers Guide](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/mun/resources/position-papers/complete-position-papers-guide) [Where the UN bodies and treaties above belong in your paper, and how to cite them.](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/mun/resources/position-papers/complete-position-papers-guide) [Tool](https://modeldiplomat.com/tools/mun/motion-reference) [Motions Reference](https://modeldiplomat.com/tools/mun/motion-reference) [Every common motion with its vote, precedence and example wording.](https://modeldiplomat.com/tools/mun/motion-reference) [Guide](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/mun/resources/us-conferences/us-model-un-conferences-guide) [US Model UN Conferences](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/mun/resources/us-conferences/us-model-un-conferences-guide) [What to expect at the conferences whose acronyms you will see on invitations.](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/mun/resources/us-conferences/us-model-un-conferences-guide) Want to drill them? [Play the diplomatic acronyms quiz](https://modeldiplomat.com/play/g/diplomatic-acronyms). ## From the acronym to what the body has done Knowing that UNODC is the UN Office on Drugs and Crime gets you through a speech. Knowing what it reported last year on your topic wins the room. Model Diplomat researches the UN bodies, agencies and treaties behind your committee topic and cites its sources. The button opens search with a prompt ready for your committee's details. A free account includes 375 credits on day one, then 75 a day. [Research the bodies on my topic](https://modeldiplomat.com/search?q=I%27m%20a%20Model%20UN%20delegate.%20For%20my%20committee%20topic%2C%20explain%20which%20UN%20bodies%2C%20agencies%20and%20treaties%20matter%20most%2C%20what%20each%20has%20actually%20done%20on%20this%20issue%20in%20recent%20years%2C%20and%20which%20ones%20I%20should%20cite%20in%20my%20position%20paper.%20My%20committee%2C%20topic%20and%20country%20are%20below.\&submit=0)[Start a position paper](https://modeldiplomat.com/search?template=position-paper)