The Beginnings and History of

AAFI-AFICS

The Association of Former International Civil Servants (AAFI-AFICS), Geneva, had its beginnings in 1940 as the Amicale des anciens fonctionnaires du BIT. A sister association of former officials of the League of Nations subsequently merged with the Amicale thereby becoming the first association of former international civil servants. In 1955 the Amicale transformed itself into the Association of Former International Civil Servants (AAFI-AFICS) and opened its membership to retirees from the United Nations Secretariat, its agencies and the Specialized Agencies. Subsequently, other associations were formed in New York, Paris and Rome. These associations decided in 1975 to found the Federation of Assocations of Former International Civil Servants (FAFICS).

In 1999 AAFI-AFICS took over the membership of the Nordic Association of Former International Civil Servants (NAFICS) after this Association’s decision to dissolve itself, due to the difficulties it had encountered in maintain useful contacts with a widespread membership living in four different Nordic countries, stretching as far away as from Iceland to Finland. As a result, and thanks to a steady increase of new members, AAFI-AFICS has today become the biggest association of former international officials, with more than 3200 members living in some 90 different countries.

The statutory aims of the Association are the following:

Article 1. The Association is constituted as a non-profit-making organization, governed by Articles 60 et seq of the Swiss Code of Civil Law, with aim of studying, proposing and taking measures to promote and protect the rights and interests of former international civil servants and their survivors. Its headquarters are in Geneva;

Article 2. In order to achieve this aim, the functions of the Association include the support of the work of the organizations of the United Nations system, the representation of its Members before the appropriate bodies of these organizations, the provision of counsel, the promotion of social and friendly contacts between Members and groups of Members, and the dissemination of information.

Assistance to Members

AAFI-AFICS is a cross-organizational association of former international civil servants of all organizations of the UN family. Although its Committee and offices are based in Geneva, its members live in 90 different countries.

- it helps to deal the problems which former officials and their survivors have to face, and recommends solutions;
- it represents them on relevant international and national bodies;
- it informs and advises its members;
- it helps them defend their rights, and when necessary
- it advises them on possible solutions to pressing personal and social problems;
- it promotes the work of the UN family of organizations and encourages solidarity among former officials.

How to contact the Association Write to AAFI-AFICSD – Room C-542-1 Palais des Nations –CH-1211 Geneva 10 – Switzerland Phone (+41) 022 917 33 30, or Fax on (+41) 022 917 00 75, or e-mail to aafi-afics@unog.ch Chairman: atholle@unog.ch

If you need to make a payment to AAFI-AFICS, please ask your bank to transfer the payment to UBS SA, Geneva, account no. 240 128.594 LUT. You may also make the transfer to our Swiss postal account Geneva no. 12-7881-5.