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Review Panel Judges See a Culture of U.N. Secrecy By NEIL MacFARQUHAR

UNITED NATIONS — Independent judges appointed to revamp the way the United Nations reviews decisions on matters like hiring, firing, promotions and raises are accusing Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of shielding an unhealthy culture of secrecy and trying to undermine the new system.

The United Nations Dispute Tribunal, inaugurated last July to replace a process so deteriorated that employees challenging employment decisions sometimes waited years for answers, has succeeded in shrinking a backlog of about 300 cases.

But some of the decisions issued by the tribunal contend that Mr. Ban and the highest levels of management are determined to preserve a system in which their personnel decisions remain absolute. One judge even characterized their lack of cooperation as “an attack on the rule of law.”

Statement on

 The aggression against the “Freedom Flotilla”

of

Staff Representatives and Staff of UN ESCWA, ILO Regional Office for the Arab States, UNRWA, and UN OHCHR, operating in Lebanon

            We, the Staff Representatives and Staff of United Nations  Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia , International Labour Organization Regional Office for the Arab States, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East – UNRWA, and United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights – OHCHR, based in Lebanon and assembled in the UN House on 1 June 2010, while renewing our commitment to the principles of human rights and to the Charter of the United Nations, under whose banner we have pledged to work, express our deep anger and firm condemnation of the attack perpetrated by Israeli forces in international waters, at dawn on 31 May 2010, against a convoy of international human rights activists who were on board of the Freedom Flotilla, headed toward blockaded Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid.

This deliberate attack, unprecedented in the history of conflicts in contemporary times, targeted a maritime convoy carrying food rations and humanitarian aid and provisions, with unarmed civilians of various nationalities on board.  It constitutes a serious and unacceptable violation of all laws and international conventions, particularly those related to human rights, international humanitarian law and the prevention of piracy and violations in times of war and conflict, which the United Nations, its agencies as well as Member States and their peoples work on upholding and enforcing.

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United Nations staff living with HIV applaud Chinese decision to remove HIV related entry restrictions

Geneva 27 April 2010

The United Nations HIV Positive Staff Group (UN Plus) congratulates the Chinese Government for removing HIV related entry restrictions for visitors living with HIV.

UN Plus stands firmly against laws that impede the movement across borders of people living with HIV as they fuel stigma and are of no public health value. Earlier this year, UNAIDS called for global freedom of movement for people living with HIV.  This decision of the Chinese Government is one step in that direction.

We are extremely happy that the Chinese Government has lifted this policy. Restrictions on entry, stay and residence are just one of the many forms of discrimination that those of us living with HIV face worldwide.  As a member of this community, I can imagine what this positive move will mean to my brothers and sisters living in other countries who desire to visit China, just as I desire to visit them. All forms of discrimination against people living with HIV do nothing but make the whole situation worse. We hope other countries that implement such restrictions will follow this example soon’, said Beijing based UN Plus member Ming Tian-hao (alias).

Interview from UN SPECIAL

Mr Mauro Pace (FAO) – NEWLY-ELECTED PRESIDENT FROM FICSA

Before starting the interview, you were in Santiago, Chile when the earthquake hit early on the morning of 27 February. You were there with the General Secretary representing FICSA at the meeting of the ICSC. What were your impressions? Can you give us some details on the experience?

Frankly speaking, although the memory of that night will mark our lives for ever, finding a suitable reply to this question goes beyond my communication abilities. It would be tantamount to describing in a few lines sentiments such as the astonishment, fear, impotence, sorrow, happiness and hope: to me, the earthquake meant feeling all these sentiments at the same time. To date, about ten days later, the real dimension of the tragedy is not yet known, and probably it will never be. Perhaps one day we shall know exactly how many lives were lost and what magnitude of the economic damage was; however, psychological consequences on those who survived, but lost their families, their homes and their source of living will never be measurable. For sure, I was impressed by the unity and the immediate solidarity shown by the Chilean people, of ell ages and classes, to help those who were hit by this tragedy. Both the General Secretary and I are committed to do whatever is in our possibilities to see our Federation contributing to such an exceptional solidarity effort.