Mummies in Geneva!

ITU Staff Member

Mummies have recently been discovered in Geneva! More specifically in one of the UN Organizations – not surprisingly, the oldest one. Carbon tests should soon con- firm that ITU management mummified at the Union’s inception, back in 1865.

Indeed, the staff health and welfare policies of this Organization are amongst the most backward of the UN system, not to mention the international organizations outside the UN: Paternity leave is not clearly specified in the Staff Rules and Regulations, however one day is usually granted. There are no explicit policies on adoption leave, nor family emergencies (official paperwork, children’s sickness, etc.) although in practice one day may be granted. No particular policy on breast-feeding exists (no premises pro- vided either) and no crèche facilities or subventions are available. Finally, there is no particular policy regarding smoking in the workplace.

This lack of smoking regulations may seem to many of you contradictory given the signs posted at the entrances to ITU, but do not let yourselves be fooled: there are no enforced rules in ITU regarding this matter. Staff routinely smoke in offices and corridors, regardless of who may be around. Those with respiratory conditions complain and management does … well, NOTHING.

Some of the ITU buildings are installed with windows that open and staff suffering from passive smoking may, rather than throw themselves out of them, try to let some fresh air in. Unfortunately, those working in ITU’s newest building have been denied even this option: the all-metal super-modern “shoe-box” windows are sealed shut.

How can the active, future- looking and trend-setting ITU that organized the WSIS not so long ago allow such backward policies to exist? Our only answer to this question is that management is mummified.

We are sure that scientists and researchers all over the world will try to solve this mystery of the mummies and look forward to any papers published.