THE UNITED NAT!ONS FLAG CODE

AND REGULATIONS

FLAG CODE

I ST/SGB/132

The following is the text of theUnited Nations Flag Code asamended by the Secretary­General on November 11, 1952:

Whereas by resolution 167 (Il)of 20 October 1947 the GeneralAssembly decided that the flag ofthe United Nations should be theofficial emblem adopted by theGeneral Assembly in resolution92 (I) of 7:December 1946, cen­tred on a United Nations bluebackground, and authorized theSecretary-General to adopt aFlag Code, having in mind thedesirability of a regulated use ofthe flag and the protection of itsdignity;

"-'hereas under this authority aFlag Code was issued by theSecretary-General on 19 Decem­ber 1947; and

"-'hereas it has become desir­able to amend this Flag Code topermit display of the United Na­tions Flag by organizations andpersor:s desiring to demonstratetheir support of the United Na­tions;

The Secretary-General, byvirtue of the authority vested inhim, hereby rescinds the FlagCode of 19 December 1947 andadopts the following Flag Code:

1. Design of flag

The Flag of the United Nationsshall be the official emblem ofthe United Nations, centred on a

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United Nations blue background.Such emblem shall appear inwhite on both sides of the flag ex­cept when otherwise prescribedby regulation. The flag shall bemade in such sizes as may fromtime to time by prescribed byregulation.

2. Dignity of flag

The flag shall not be subjectedto any indignity.

3. Flag protocol

(1) The flag of the United Na­tions shall not be subordinatedto any other flag;

(2) The manner in which theflag of the United Nations may beflown, in relation to any otherflag, shall be prescribed byregulation.

4. Use of flag by the United Na­tions and specialized agen­cies of the United Nations

(1) The flag shall be flown:

(g) From all buildings, officesand other property occupied bythe United Nations,

(b) From any official residencewhen such residence has been sodesignated by regulation;

(2) The flag shall be used byany unit acting on behalf of theUnited Nations such as any Com­mittee or Commission or otherentity established by the UnitedNations in such circumstances

REGULATIONS

not covered in this Code as maybecome necessary in the in­terests of the United Nations;

(3) The flag may be flown fromall buildings, offices and otherproperty occupied by any spe­cialized agency of the UnitedNations.

5. Use of fla.g generally

The flag may be used in ac­cordance with this Flag Code byGovernments, organizations andindividuals to demonstrate sup­port of the United Nations and tofurther its principles and pur­poses. The manner and circum­stances of display shall conform,in so far as appropriate, to thelaws and customs applicable tothe display of the national flag ofthe country in which the displayis made.

6. Use of flag in militaryoperations

The flag may be used in mili­tary operations only upon expressauthorization to that effect by acompetent organ of the UnitedNations.

7. Prohibition

The flag shall not be used inany manner inconsistent with thisCode or with any regulationsmade pursuant thereto. On noaccount shall the flag or a replicathereof be used for commercialpurposes or in direct associationwith an article of merchandise.

8. Mourning

The Secretary-General willprescribe by regulation or other­wise the cases in which the flagshall be flown at half-mast assign of mourning.

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9. Manufacture and sale of flag

(1) The flag may be manufac­tured for sale only upon writtenconsent of the Secretary-General;

(2) Such consent shall be sub­ject to the following conditions:

@) The flag shall be sold at aprice to be agreed upon with theSecretary-General,

(!2) It shall be the responsibilityof the manufacturer to ensure thatevery purchaser ofthe flag is fur­nished with a copy of this Code aswell as a copy of any regulationsissued pursuant thereto, and thateach purchaser is informed thathis use of the flag is subject tothe conditions contained in thisCode and in the regulations madepursuant thereto.

10. Violation

Any violation of this Flag Codemay be punished in accordancewith the law of the country inwhich such violation takes place.

11. Regulations

(1) The Secretary-General maydelegate his authority under thisCode;

(2) The Secretary-General orhis duly authorized representa­tive is the only person empoweredto make regulations under thisCode. Such regulations may bemade for the purposes indicatedin this Code and generally forthe purpose of implementing orclarifying any provision of thisCode whenever the Secretary­General or his duly authorizedrepresentative considers suchimplementation or clarificationnecessary.

Secretary-General

Effective 1 January, 1967, thefollowing Regulations, imple­menting the United Nations FlagCode, replace the Regulationsas amended by the Secretary­General on 11 November, 1952.

The Flag Code itself remains asamended on 11 November, 1952.

1. DIMENSIONS OF FLAG

(1) In pursuance to article 1of the Flag Code the proportionsof the United Nations Flag shallbe:

(~) Hoist (width) of the UnitedNations Flag-2,

Fly (length) of the United NationsFlag-3;

or

(2) Hoist (width) of the UnitedNations Flag-3,

Fly (length) of the United NationsFlag-5;

or

(Q) The same proportions asthose of the national flag of anycountry in which the United Na­tions Flag is flown;

(2) The emblem shall in allcases be one half of the hoist ofthe United Nations Flag and en­tirely centred.

n. FLAG PROTOCOL

In pursuance to article 3 (2) ofthe United Nations Flag Code the

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manner in which the United Na­tions Flag may be displayed isas follows:

1. General provisions

(fl,) Under article 5 of the FlagCode the United Nations Flag maybe displayed or otherwise usedin accordance with the Flag Codeby Governments, organizationsand individuals to demonstratesupport of the United Nations andto further its principles andpurposes;

(£) The United Nations Flagmay be displayed alone or withone or more other flags to de­monstrate support of the UnitedNations and to further its prin­ciples and purposes. The Secre­tary-General may, however,limit such display to specialoccasions either generally or inparticular areas. In special cir­cumstances he may restrict thedisplay of the United NationsFlag to official use by UnitedNations organs and specializedagencies;

(Q) When the United NationsFlag is displayed with one ormore other Flags, all flags sodisplayed should be displayed onthe same level and should be ofapproximately equal size;

(s!) On no account may any flagdisplayed with the United NationsFlag be displayed on a higherlevel than the United Nations Flag

and on no account may any flagso displayed with the United Na­tions Flag be larger than theUnited Nations Flag;

(s:) The United Nations Flagmay be displayed on either sideof any other flag without beingdeemed to be subordinated to anysuch flag within the meaning ofarticle 3 (1) of the United NationsFlag Code;

ill The United Nations Flagshould normally only be displayedon buildings and on stationaryflagstaffs from sunrise to sunset.The United Nations Flag may alsobe so displayed at night upon spe­cialoccasions;

(g) The Flag should never beusedas drapery of any sort, neverfestooned, drawn back, nor up, infolds, but always allowed to fallfree.

2. Closed circle of flags

The United Nations Flag shouldin no case be made a part of acircle of flags. In such a circleof flags, flags other than theUnited Nations Flag should bedisplayed in the English alpha­betical order of the countriesrepresented reading clockwise.The United Nations Flag itselfshould always be displayed onthe flagpole in the centre of thecircle of flags or in an appro­priate adjoining area.

3. Line, cluster or semi-circleof flags

In line, cluster or semi-circlegroupings all flags other than theUnited Nations Flag shall be dis­played in the English alphabeticalorder of the countries repre-

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sented starting from the left. TheUnited Nations Flag, in suchcases, should either be displayedseparately in an appropriate areaor in the centre ofthe line, clusterot semi-circle or, in cases wheretwo United Nations Flags areavailable, at both ends of theline, cluster or semi-circle.

4. National flag of the country inwhich the display takes place

(g) The national flag of thecountry in which the display takesplace should appear in its normalposition according to the Englishalphabetical order;

(2) When the country in whichthe display takes place wishes tomake a special display of itsnational flag, such a special dis­play can only be made where thearrangement of the flags takesthe form of a line, cluster orsemi-circle grouping, in whichcase the national flag of thecountry in which the display istaking place should be displayedat each end of the line of flagsseparated from the grouping byan interval of not less than onefifth of the total length of the line.

rn. USE OF FLAG GENERALLY

(~ In accordance with article 5of the United Nations Flag Codethe United Nations Flag may beused to demonstrate the supportof the United Nations and to fur­ther its principles and purposes;

(E) It is deemed especially ap­propriate that the United NationsFlag should be displayed on thefollowing occasions:

(i) On all national and officialholidays,

(ii) On United Nations Day,24 OctOber,

(iii) On the occasion of anyofficial event, particularlyin honour of the UnitedNations,

(iv) On the occasion of anyofficial event which mightor is desired to be relatedin some way to the UnitedNations.

IV. PROHIBITIONS

U0 In accordance with article 7of the United Nations Flag Codeon no account shall the UnitedNations Flag or a replica thereofbe used for commercial purposesor in direct association with anarticle of merchandise;

(h) Notwithstanding anything tothe contrary contained in clause(~) of this section, neither theUnited Nations Flag nor any rep­lica thereof shall be stamped,printed, engraved or otherwiseaffixed on any stationery, books,magazines, periodicals or otherpublications of any nature what­soever in a manner such as couldimply that any such stationery,books, magazines, periodicals orother publications were publishedby or on behalf of the United Na­tions unless such is in fact thecase or in a manner such as hasthe effect of advertising a com­mercial product;

(2) Subject to the provisions ofclauses (h) and @ of this sectionneither the United Nations Flagnor any replica thereof should beaffixed in any manner on anyarticle of any kind which is notstrictly necessary to the displayof the United Nations Flag itself.

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Without restricting the generalityof the foregoing sentence theUnited Nations Flag should notbe reproduced on such articles ascushions, handkerchiefs and thelike, nor printed nor otherwiseimpressed on paper napkins orboxes, nor used as any portionof a costume or athletic uniformor other clothing of any kind, norused on jewellery.

(Q) Notwithstanding anything tothe contrary contained in thissection, a replica of the UnitedNations Flag may be manufac­tured in the form of a lapelbutton;

(~ No mark, insignia, letter,word, figure, design, picture ordrawing of any nature shall everbe placed upon or attached tothe United Nations Flagorplacedupon any replica thereof.

V. MOURNING

(g) Upon the death of a Head ofState or Head of Government ofa Member State, the United Na­tions Flag will be flown at half­mast at United Nations Head­quarters, at the United NationsOffice at Geneva and at UnitedNations offices locflted in thatMember State;

(Q) On such occasions, at Head­quarters and at Geneva, theUnited Nations Flag will be flownat half-mast for one day imme­diately upon learning of the death,If, however, Flags, have alreadybeen flying on that day they willnot normally be lowered, but willinstead be flown at half-mast onthe day following the death;

SCHEDULE OF MEMBER NATIONS IN THE ENGLISH ALPHABETICAL ORDER

In the event of any provision contained in thi~ co~e or in anyregulation made under this code being in confllCt WIt~ the lawsof any State governing the use of its national flag, saId laws ofany such State shall prevail.

(Q) Should the procedure inparagraph (Q) above not be prac­ticable due to weather conditionsor other reasons, the United Na­tions Flag may be flown at half­mast on the day of the funeral,Under exceptional circumstancesit may be flown at half-mast onboth the day of the death and theday of the funeral;

(g) United Nations offices otherthan those covered by paragraph(§!.) above, in the case ofthe deathof a national figure or a Head ofState or Head of Government ofa Member State, will use theirdiscretion, taking into accountthe local practice, in consultationwith the Protocol Office of theMinistry of Foreign Affairs and/or the Dean of the locally ac­credited Diplomatic Corps;

~ The head of a specializedagency is authorized by theSecretary-General to lower theUnited Nations Flag flown bythe agency to half-mast in caseswhere he wishes to follow theofficial mourning of the countryin which the office of the agencyis located. He may also lowerthe United Nations Flag to half­mast on any occasion when thespecialized agency is in officialmourning;

ill The United Nations Flagmay also be flown at half-maston special instructions of theSecretary-General on the deathof a world leader who has had asignificant connexion with theUnited Nations;

(g) The Secretary-General mayin special circumstances decidethat the United Nations Flag,wherever displayed, shall be

flown at half-mast during a periodof official United Nations mourn­ing;

(Q) The United Nations Flagwhen displayed at half-mastshould first be hoisted to thepeak for an instant and thenlowered to the half-mast position.The Flag should again be raisedto the peak before it is loweredfor the day;

CD When the United NationsFlag is flown at half-mast noother flag will be displayed;

ill Crepe streamers may beaffixed to flagstaffs flying theUnited Nations Flag in a funeralprocession only by order of theSecretary-General of the UnitedNations;

ffi:) When the United NationsFlag is used to cover a casket,!t should not be lowered into thegrave or allowed to touch theground.

VI. MANUFACTURE OF UNITEDNATIONS FLAG

In accordance with article 9 (2)(.!!) of the United Nations FlagCode the Secretary-Generalhereby grants permission to sellthe United Nations Flag withoutreference to the Secretary­General as to the price to becharged.

VII. ALPHABETICAL ORDER

Attached is a schedule settingout the English alphabetical orderof the Members of the UnitedNations.

Secretary-General

AfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaArgentinaAustraliaAustriaBarbadosBelgiumBoliviaBotswanaBrazilBulgariaBurmaBurundiByelorussian Soviet

Socialist RepublicCambodiaCameroonCanadaCentral African

RepublicCeylo·nChadChileChinaColombiaCongo (BrazzavilIe)Congo (Democratic

Republic of)Costa RIcaCubaCyprus

Note:

CzechoslovakiaOahomeyDenmarkDominican RepublicEcuadorEl SalvadorEthiopiaFinlandFranceGabonGambiaGhanaGreeceGuatemalaGuineaGuyanaHaitiHondurasHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyIvory CoastJamaicaJapanJordanKenya

KuwaitLaosLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLuxembourgMadagascarMalawiMaiaysiaMaldive IslandSMaliMaltaMauritaniaMexicoMongoliaMoroccoNepalNetherlandsNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNorwaypakistanpanamaParaguayPeruPhilippinespolandportugalRomania

RwandaSaudi ArabiaSenegalSierra LeoneSingaporeSomaliaSouth AfricaSpainSudanSwedenSyriaThailandTogoTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkeyUgandaUkraInian Soviet

Socialist RepublicUnion of Soviet

Socialist RepublicsUnited Arab RepublicUnited KingdomUnited Republic of

TanzaniaUnited StatesUpper VoltaUruguayVenezuelaYemenYugosiaviaZambia

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