established-3 October 1946
aim-Economic and Social Council organization dealing with population matters of importance to the UN
members-(27) selected on a rotating basis from all regions
Rio Group (RG)
established-NA 1988
aim-a consultation mechanism on regional Latin American issues members-(11) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru (suspended), Uruguay, Venezuela; note-Panama was expelled in 1988; Peru was suspended after April 1992 coup
Second World another term for the traditionally Marxist-Leninist states with authoritarian governments and command economies based on the Soviet model; the term is fading from use; see centrally planned economies socialist countries in general, countries in which the government owns and plans the use of the major factors of production; note-the term is sometimes used incorrectly as a synonym for Communist countries
South a popular term for the poorer, less industrialized countries generally located south of the developed countries; the counterpart of the North; see less developed countries (LDCs)
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
established-8 December 1985