First International Criminal Police Congress held in Monaco. Police officer

History

1914

First International Criminal Police Congress held in Monaco. Police officers, lawyers and magistrates from 14 countries meet to discuss arrest procedures, identification techniques, centralized international criminal records and extradition proceedings.

1923

Creation of the International Criminal Police Commission (ICPC) with headquarters in Vienna, Austria, on the initiative of Dr Johannes Schober, president of the Vienna Police.

Wanted persons notices first published in INTERPOL’s International Public Safety Journal.

1926

The General Assembly, held in Berlin, proposes that each country establish a central point of contact within its police structure: the forerunner of the National Central Bureau (NCB).

1927

Resolution to establish NCBs adopted.

1930

Specialized departments established to deal with currency counterfeiting, criminal records and passport forgery.

1932

Following the death of Dr Schober, new statutes put in place creating the post of Secretary General. The first was Austrian Police Commissioner Oskar Dressler

1935

INTERPOL international radio network launched.

1938

The Nazis assume control after deposing of President Michael Skubl. Most countries stop participating and ICPC effectively ceases to exist as an international organization.

1942

ICPC falls completely under German control and is relocated to Berlin.

1946

Belgium leads the rebuilding of the organization after the end of World War II. A new headquarters set up in Paris, and ‘INTERPOL’ chosen as the organization’s telegraphic address. Democratic process to elect the President and Executive Committee instituted.

Present INTERPOL colour-coded notice system initiated and first Red Notices for persons wanted internationally issued.

1949

The United Nations grants INTERPOL consultative status as a non-governmental organization.

1956

Following the adoption of a modernized constitution, the ICPC becomes the International Criminal Police Organization-INTERPOL, abbreviated to ICPO–INTERPOL or just INTERPOL. The Organization becomes autonomous by collecting dues from member countries and relying on investments as the main means of support.

1958

Contributions of member countries revised and financial regulations adopted.

1963

First regional conference held, in Monrovia, Liberia.

1965

The General Assembly sets out formal responsibilities and operating policies for NCBs.

1971

The United Nations recognizes INTERPOL as an intergovernmental organization.

1972

A Headquarters Agreement with France recognizes INTERPOL as an international organization.

1982

An independent body created to monitor the implementation of INTERPOL’s internal rules in relation to data protection. This will become the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL Files in 2003.

1989

INTERPOL moves its General Secretariat to Lyon, France.

1990

The X.400 communication system launched, enabling NCBs to send electronic messages to each other and to the General Secretariat directly.

1992

An automated search facility for remote searches of INTERPOL databases introduced.

1995

As part of a programme of regionalization the General Assembly adopts guidelines for the establishment and operation of Regional Bureaus.

1998

INTERPOL Criminal Information System (ICIS) database created.

2002

The I-24/7 web-based communication system launched, significantly improving NCBs’ access to INTERPOL’s databases and services. Canada is the first country to connect to the system.

Database of stolen and lost travel documents launched.

2003

Official inauguration of the Command and Coordination Centre at the General Secretariat, enabling the organization to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

2004

INTERPOL liaison office inaugurated at the United Nations in New York and first Special Representative appointed.

2005

First INTERPOL-United Nations Special Notices issued for individuals subject to UN sanctions against Al Qaeda and the Taliban.

Technology known as MIND/FIND allows frontline officers to connect directly to INTERPOL's systems.

2009

Official opening of the Office of the Special Representative to the European Union in Brussels.

History of Nobelprize.org

Nobelprize.org had its beginnings in 1994 when Professor Nils Ringertz*, Secretary of the Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine at the time, decided to use the Internet to reach a large audience during the announcement of the year's Nobel Laureates. Together with Dr. Hans Mehlin, they published the first Nobel Prize press release online, announcing the 1994 Physiology or Medicine Nobel Laureates. Twelve thousand visitors were recorded that year. In 1996, they were joined by Dr. Agneta Levinovitz and Gudrun Franzén. Initial funding was provided by the Knowledge Foundation of Sweden and later by the Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation. By this time, Professor Ringertz had successfully convinced the other Nobel Prize-Awarding Institutions to follow suit and the press releases for the Nobel Prize in Physics, Chemistry, Literature and Peace, as well as the Economics Prize, started to become available on the Internet.

The next step was to publish the biographies of the Nobel Laureates as well as the illustrated presentations of the Nobel Prize-awarded works in Physics, Chemistry and Physiology or Medicine. In 1996, it became the official web site of the Nobel Foundation, taking the name 'Electronic Nobel Museum', which was later changed to 'Nobel e-Museum'. The web site's activities were no longer confined to the announcements and the Nobel Laureates' biographies. Information about Alfred Nobel, the Nobel Foundation and the Nobel institutions, Nobel Lectures, Presentation and Banquet Speeches, and articles about and by the Nobel Laureates were made accessible, at no cost.

Starting in 1998 live web casts were presented via the web site during the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony in Stockholm. In 1999 visitors could watch the Nobel Laureates presenting their Nobel Lectures live on the website. The Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony in Oslo was likewise webcast live. With the growing world-wide proliferation of computers, the number of site visitors had increased to more than 2.5 million in 2000.

To reach an even wider audience, especially the young, for whom most primary site information is too complex and incomprehensible, it was decided to develop online educational productions. The strategy was to present information about the Nobel Prize- awarded achievements in a way that is 'fun' and attractive. With financial support from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation the staff was expanded to include educators, writers, illustrators, and interactive technology experts, who collaborated in multi-disciplinary teams in order to create interactive games, tutorials and teaching tools based on the achievements of the Nobel Laureates. Designed to engage, teach and inspire users, the Educational Program was launched in May 2001.

In 2004 another change of name took place, this time from 'Nobel e-Museum' to 'Nobelprize.org', which was now registered as a trademark. At the same time, Nobel Web AB was formed as a Swedish corporate entity in charge of the site. In October 2010 Nobel Web AB merged with Nobel Media AB. Nobel Media AB is a subsidiary of the Nobel Foundation Rights Association, a non-profit association managing the rights of the Nobel Foundation.

Today, Nobelprize.org has become the ultimate source for information about the Nobel Prize and the Nobel Laureates. The variety and number of site-accessible documents, photos, audiotapes, videotapes, films and articles, now reaching several hundreds, have grown tremendously. In 2010 over 40 million visited Nobelprize.org and more are expected to come.

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* Nils Ringertz was born in 1932. He got an MD/PhD in medicine in 1960 and specialized in medical cell genetics. His main line of research has been nucleocytoplasmic signaling and digital imaging of cell structures using fluorescent probes. Nils Ringertz served as professor of medical cell genetics at Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm in 1969-1993, was chairman at the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB) of the Medical Nobel Institute in 1977-1993, and chairman of the Medical Nobel Committee 1976-1999. From 1963 to 1993 he was editor of Experimental Cell Research (Academic Press). Nils Ringertz was a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and served with a number of international scientific organizations. In 1994 he initiated the Electronic Nobel Museum Project (ENM) which led to the Nobelprize.org (NeM). Nils Ringertz died in his home in Stockholm on June 8, 2002.