Abstract:   This article draws attention to the fact that due to the scale and dynamism of the flowing of political and legal processes in Russia, as well as development of the information technology, information systems, and telecommunications networks, including the Internet, the nature and practice of cultural institutions is changing. Today's digital formats increase their importance in the global information space. Special attention is given to the virtual museums as objects of world cultural virtual environment, which hold a worthy place in the global information society. The author shows the role of the state as guarantor of the legislative framework in the development and promotion of digital cultural heritage including virtual museums, both nationally and internationally. In this article the author puts the emphasis on the importance of international legal instruments of UNESCO as a foundation for formation on the normative legal acts of the Russian legislation in the sphere of preservation, availability, and information security of the digital heritage in general, and digital cultural heritage of the Russian Federation in particular. As conclusions the author draws the attention of legal scholars and experts to the following issues: absence of national legislation and legal regulation in the sphere of preservation and conservation of digital cultural heritage in general and the virtual museum in particular; legal definitions; technical regulations; national and international standards for digital cultural heritage.  

Keywords: UNESCO, Digital heritage, Digital heritage, Virtual museum, Information society, Russian Federation, International legislation, National legislation, Legal definitions, Information security

Abstract: This article concerns history of formation and procedural fundamentals of the activities of the specialized institutions (agencies) of the UNO. The author describes institutional provisions for the specialized UN institutions, regulating their plenary, executive and subsidiary bodies, as well as the most significant conditions for decision-making in each of the specialized UN institutions. The author analyzes specific procedural provisions regulating the decision-making practice on various issues in the sphere of competence of such UN institutions. The author applies the methods of comparative legal studies, procedural modeling, procedural schemes (the schemes are not included into the article). Any procedure is aimed at making certain decisions. Therefore, it would be viable to classify the decisions and decision-making subjects, rather than dividing the procedures into decision-making and other procedures. Then one could state that both the procedural norms and functions and structures of the bodies predefine the decision-making practice and influence the nature of these decisions.

Keywords: the UNO, specialized institutions, procedural rules, Secretariat, plenary bodies, executive bodies, subsidiary bodies, the ITU, the UNESCO, the ILO.

Abstract: The article is devoted to the study of the functions of the World Bank as a “bank of knowledge”. Much attention is paid to the policy of open access to the offi cial publications, which form the legal basis for the further reforms in the Bank towards its more open and effi cient activities. The author accents the input of the World Bank into the guarantees of all-inclusive and effi cient implementation of rights and freedoms of people, as relevant to the scientifi c and technological progress.

Keywords: international law, knowledge, globalization, cooperation, effi ciency, progress, science, openness, information.