Background
Please note: only publishing dates after March 2013 may be considered reliable.
Pages tagged with Security and safety of staff
Date published
A main concern of the United Nations system continued to be the strengthening of system-wide security policies and infrastructures. CEB, through its High-Level Committee on Management, endorsed the new unified security management system. It reiterated its view that security, a prerequisite for programme delivery, is a core responsibility of Member States and should be funded centrally under the United Nations regular budget.
Ensuring the safety and security of the United Nations system staff and reducing the vulnerability of its personnel deployed across the world, particularly those in conflict or highly insecure areas, remain key concerns of CEB.
The United Nations system is unique in the range and coverage of its structures and mandates and in the diversity of the means of action that are at its disposal. These characteristics can be a unique source of strength in addressing the increasingly complex and interrelated challenges that the international community is facing.
The Board reviewed the financing of the United Nations security management system and the pending agreement on the cost-sharing formula for the system. The Board noted that the only outstanding matter in that regard was the concurrence of the World Bank on the formula on the basis of further information to be provided by the United Nations. CEB expected a full agreement would be forthcoming on that important issue shortly.
CEB reviewed the general security environment in which the staff of the United Nations system were currently operating and the nature and relevance of emerging threats. The Board issued a statement expressing serious concern over the recent number of violent attacks against humanitarian workers and United Nations staff operating in various regions of the world. It called upon all Member States to renew their commitment to the protection of humanitarian workers and to ensure safe and unhindered access to all people in need, in keeping with international law and humanitarian principles.
The 2007/08 reporting period marked several important events that have contributed to the continuous efforts of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) to further coordination and cooperation among United Nations system organizations on a wide range of programme, management and operational issues. The increasingly vocal calls from the international community for a more effective, coherent and better performing United Nations elevated the Chief Executives Board to new prominence in intergovernmental debates.
The Board expressed serious concern over the increasing safety and security risks faced by United Nations personnel in many parts of the world. Following the release of the report of the Independent Panel on Safety and Security of United Nations Personnel and Premises Worldwide in June 2008, the Secretary-General requested the High-level Committee on Management to undertake a detailed review of the recommendations contained in the Panel’s report and to prepare actionable recommendations and options for a more effective United Nations system-wide security management system.
Global financial and economic crisis; Second United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (2008-2017); Climate change; United Nations development system working together; Working together in crisis and post-crisis countries; Security and safety of staff; Business practices
CEB has emphasized the need to concretize the discussions and deliberations on the United Nations system’s ability to protect its staff — national, international and non-staff personnel — with the lessons learned from the earthquake in Haiti. Furthermore, it has stressed the need to adequately compensate staff and/or their families in the event of service-incurred injuries, illness or death, resulting from both malicious acts and natural events.
In the face of a rapidly changing world and rising global vulnerability, the United Nations system needs to have in place the most flexible and efficient management systems possible to continue to deliver on its mandates. CEB, through its High-level Committee on Management, has therefore, during the reporting period, continued its work to develop a more effective United Nations security management system in the context of serious emerging challenges to security and safety.
System-wide coherence; Enhancing the contribution of the United Nations system to the Economic and Social Council; Second United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty (2008-2017); Science and technology; Support to staff in emergency situations; Human resources; International Public Sector Accounting Standards; Financial management; Procurement; Information and communications technology; Collaboration with the Joint Inspection Unit.
United Nations system response to the global financial and economic crisis; Supporting progress towards the Millennium Development Goals; Climate change; Security and safety of staff; Harmonization of business practices; United Nations development system working together; Working together in crisis, post-crisis and transition countries;
During the reporting period, there was a major achievement with regard to the security and safety of staff. As of 1 January 2011 the Security Phase System was replaced by an improved Security Level System. The launch of the Security Level System resulted from the effort led by the High-level Committee on Management, in close coordination with the United Nations Department of Safety and Security, to redesign the United Nations Security Management System.
Harmonization of business practices; Security and safety of staff; International Public Sector Accounting Standards.
During 2010/11, the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) intensified its efforts to align the strengths and expertise of its member organizations to respond to the mandates of Member States in a coordinated and effective manner. The adoption by the General Assembly of its resolution 64/289 has been an important directive for the United Nations system in further strengthening the coherence of its system-wide efforts, as detailed in the present report.
CEB attaches highest importance to the issue of staff safety and security. Through the High-level Committee on Management and under the leadership of the Department of Safety and Security of the United Nations Secretariat, CEB has continued to make consistent progress on issues relating to staff safety and security with the active engagement by all members of the Inter-Agency Security Management Network. As of 1 January 2011, the new security level system has been operational.
Harmonization and simplification of business practices; International Public Sector Accounting Standards; Safety and security of staff.
Responding to the call for improved harmonization in human resources (resolution 62/208, para. 121; and resolution 64/289, para. 45), the High-level Committee on Management launched a pilot project on harmonization of the recruitment process in the field. This project is expected to streamline processes and improve mobility for national and general service staff, and also responds to calls for action in the area of human resources from the lessons learned from the “Delivering as one” pilots.
The High-level Committee on Management strategic plan for 2013-2016 identifies harmonization and simplification of business practices as a core activity of the Committee. In this context, the plan focuses on common and shared services, improved common procurement practices, and other initiatives to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the United Nations system.
The High-level Committee on Management strategic plan for 2013-2016 identifies harmonization and simplification of business practices as a core activity of the Committee. In this context, the plan focuses on common and shared services, improved common procurement practices, and other initiatives to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the United Nations system.
The Executive Group on Security was established by the Chief Executives Board to facilitate the rapid decision making capacity of the Under-Secretary General for Safety and Security when an impasse, exigencies or life and limb are at stake preventing the ability of the Designated Official or the Security Management Team to address developing or critical events that require a timely security decision.
The Programme Criticality Framework is a mandatory component of the UN Security Management System (UNSMS) which is used to determine the criticality of all activities carried out by UN personnel in environments of heightened security risk.
The Inter-Agency Security Management Network (IASMN) meets twice a year to review existing and proposed policies and resources related to the UN security management system and makes recommendations on these to the High Level Committee on Management.
A new Security Level System was developed to assess risk through a structured process based on threats (deliberate human causes) and hazards(harmful natural or man-made accidental events) which are examined and weighted to arrive at an appropriate security level.
In 2008 the Independent Panel on Safety and Security of UN Personnel and Premises Worldwide, led by Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi, reviewed the safety conditions of UN system staff operating in challenging security environments.