The UN actually has a long, and successful, history of
establishing international standards, treaties and law (at
lower cost and with less overhead than ISO, IMHO). This is
not in the least at odds with its charter of establishing
greater international understanding and cooperation.
Examples from everyday life are the classification scheme
for dangerous substances, seen on the back of every petrol
tanker; the administration of the "law of the sea"; and
treaties that allow international trade without a foreign
military presence to ensure payment.
The UN also sets social "standards". For example, most of
the world's primary schools use UN-developed curricula and
teaching resources (Australia, being a first world country,
can afford to develop its own).
I'm not denying that the UN also has a political agenda, and
this can currently be seen in the current "rights of
children" dispute between Australia and the UN and in the
Convention on the Prohibition...of Anti-Personnel Mines.
The UN is currently developing a Model Law on Electronic
Commerce that may be of some interest.
-- glen.turner@itd.adelaide.edu.au Network Support Specialist Tel: (08) 8303 3936 Information Technology Division Fax: (08) 8303 4400 University of Adelaide SA 5005