STAFF SECURITY

Valérie Seguin, General Secretary, FICSA and Edmond Mobio, President, FICSA with
Mr. Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General

Meeting of The President and General Secretary of The Federation of
International Civil Servants’ Associations (FICSA) with Mr. Ban Ki-moon,
Secretary-General of The United Nations. The Secretary-General
welcomed the President and the General Secretary of FICSA, and
reiterated his commitment in enhancing staff-management relations.
He was very pleased to hear that the relations between the staff and the
human resources representatives during the 67th session of the
International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) were going well and were
working together, as he believed “in a meaningful staff-management
dialogue” as mentioned at the last meeting of the Staff-Management
Coordinating Committee (SMCC).

NEW YORK, 22 JULY 2008

Two issues were discussed at this meeting: Enhancing staff-management relations and staff representation in the UN common system and staff security. For the sake of brevity, the following will focus only the issue of security. The full report can be requested from the FICSA office.

Security issues
FICSA regretted the resignation of Sir David Veness as Under-Secretary-General of the Department of Safety and Security (DSS). FICSA was instrumental in advocating not
only the creation of DSS but also that it be led by a security professional. Sir Veness’ departure not only raises concern about his likely successor who must be a seasoned security professional, but also about how accountability is handled at the UN. FICSA reminded the Secretary-General that, following the Canal Hotel attack in 2003, Mr. Tun Myat, the Assistant Secretary-General of UNSECOORD, had also resigned. Now, in 2008, the head of DSS had also tendered his resignation, following the attack on the UN premises in Algiers in December 2007. FICSA asked the Secretary-General whether staff should expect that every time there is a tragedy on the scale of Iraq or Algeria, the Head of DSS will resign. Surely, such events not only warranted a closer examination of the way in which security is managed in the UN system but also an examination of those responsible for managing the system.

The FICSA representatives informed the Secretary-General that it had always questioned the cost-sharing principle that supports the functioning of the UN security system. While it was intended to create ownership of the UN security management system among the agencies, funds and programmes that contribute to it, it has also been problematic in that cost-sharing cannot guarantee committed, regular and sustainable funding for security management. Cost-sharing of course leads to a sense of ownership of the security management system for those who pay into it. Such ownership is exercised through the Inter-Agency Security Management Network (IASMN) which reports to the HLCM which is answerable to the CEB. The recent report of the Independent Panel on the Safety and Security of UN Personnel and Premises Worldwide mentions that the CEB should provide regular guidance and leadership of the security management system. At the same time, the report also argues for solidifying the role of DSS and that the Under-Secretary-General of the Department should have additional authority over security issues in the UN common system.
The FICSA representatives expressed its view that the respective roles of the CEB and DSS need to be clarified when it comes to ownership and governance of the UN security management system. There seem to be too many layers, too many players which not only make it difficult to get to the root of any problem but also make it difficult to determine accountability. There should be no room for ambiguity when it is a question of saving lives and keeping staff safe.
Paragraph 109 of the Panel’s report cites the “open conflict between DSS executive managers over a number of significant issues”. While dealing with the security of our colleagues, there is no room for such conflicts. This is an area in which all staff should be working together for the same unquestioning goal.
The FICSA representatives reminded the Secretary-General that it is not only the internal functioning of the UN security management system that needs to be reformed but that more must also be done to hold Member States accountable for the protective measures provided to UN staff and premises. It is the Member States that have the primary responsibility for ensuring the safety and security of UN staff and operations in their own country. It is the Member States who mandate the UN and its staff to carry out their work, often in the dangerous and insecure locations.
For all the above reasons, the FICSA representatives expressed the hope that the report of the Independent Panel on Safety and Security of UN Personnel and Premises Worldwide would be followed by changes which will lead the UN common system to a more secure workplace all over the world.
The Secretary-General reassured the representatives of FICSA that security of UN staff is of great importance and concern to him.