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Copenhagen Declaration

Recalling Article 100 of the Charter of the United Nations, wherein it is stated that “In the performance of their duties the Secretary-General and the staff shall not seek or receive instructions from any government or from any other authority external to the Organization. They shall refrain from any action which might reflect on their position as international officials responsible only to the Organization”,

Recalling Article 100 of the Charter of the United Nations, wherein it is also stated that “Each Member of the United Nations undertakes to respect the exclusively international character of the responsibilities of the Secretary-General and the staff and not to seek to influence them in the discharge of their responsibilities”,

Recalling Article 101 of the Charter of the United Nations, wherein it is affirmed that “The paramount consideration in the employment of the staff and in the determination of the conditions of service shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity”, and

In pursuance thereof,

We, the Members of FICSA,

On the occasion of the meeting of the 65^th Council of FICSA (Copenhagen, 13 to 17 February 2012) do solemnly declare the following, hereafter to be known as the

Copenhagen Declaration

We reaffirm our commitment to the aims and objectives of the Federation of International Civil Servants’ Associations as stated in the Federation’s Statutes to:

(a)         Ensure the closest cooperation at all levels, with the aim of achieving the purposes set forth in the Charter of the United Nations;

(b)      Promote the development of the international civil service and the defence of its independence, in accordance with the relevant constitutional provisions and the staff regulations of the respective organizations;

(c)      Defend the interests of international civil servants, with due regard for the international standards on human rights, proclaimed or reaffirmed by the organizations in the United Nations system, including international labour standards.

We, furthermore, reaffirm our commitment to the pursuit of fundamental human and labour rights for all international civil servants, including

          (i)      The right to freedom of association,

          (ii)     The right to collective bargaining, through our staff associations and unions, regarding our working conditions;

          (iii)    The right to due process before independent administrative tribunals; and

          (iv)    The application of those rights according to internationally-agreed human rights instruments and labour standards, as embodied in ILO Conventions and Recommendations relating to conditions of employment.

We, moreover, declare our commitment to exert renewed efforts, at all levels, to safeguard the highest standards of impartiality and integrity embodied in the international civil service, in the pursuit of international cooperation and good governance.

Adopted in Copenhagen on the occasion of the 60^th Anniversary of the

Federation of International Civil Servants’ Associations (FICSA) on 18 February 2012.