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Referencing - International Law: UN Special Rapporteurs or Representatives

How do I reference a document from UN Special Rapporteurs or Representatives?

This guidance applies whether you found the document in print or online.

author | title | (date) | UN Doc | document number

Footnote and bibliography:
e.g. United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) (Sub-Commission) Report by Special Rapporteur Kalliopi K. Koufa (27 June 2001) UN Doc E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/31

To pinpoint, follow the citation with a comma and the page number. To pinpoint several pages, insert a dash between the page numbers:
e.g. United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) (Sub-Commission) Report by Special Rapporteur Kalliopi K. Koufa (27 June 2001) UN Doc E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/31, 5-8

Author

The first time you reference the document, give the name of the author in full, e.g. United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR). After that, it can be given in abbreviated form, e.g. UNCHR.

Title

  • Abbreviate resolution to 'Res'
  • Do not cite resolution titles
  • Do not include 'The' at the beginning of the title
  • Use capitals for the major words.

Date

The date is always given in (round brackets).

Document number

Each UN document has a unique reference number ('symbol') located at the top right of the document.

You can find a guide on what UN symbols mean on the UN website.