STU/67th Council/16/004
5 April 2016

Dear colleagues,

Certain staff, but unfortunately not all, were informed of the Director General’s message to senior staff (dated 21 March 2016, here) concerning her candidacy to the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations.

In this message she requests senior staff “not to get involved in any manner in matters relating to my candidacy for the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations, including as regards public statements or comments.” She also requests that the same senior staff “inform staff members in your respective Sectors/Divisions/Offices/Institutes.”

In spite of the uneven communication and the ambiguity as to what the rest of the staff should be informed about (Her candidacy? Her continuation as Chief Administrative Officer? Not to get involved? Or all three?), the STU would like to reiterate that our position is that of the Standards of Conduct for the International Civil Service :

“If the impartiality of the international civil service is to be maintained, international civil servants must remain independent of any authority outside their organization; their conduct must reflect that independence.”

Which implies staff should not ‘get involved in matters’ relating to any candidacy, not just the Director General’s, but that we reserve the right to have our private opinions.

Best regards,

The STU Council.