STU/67th Council/16/024
23 November 2016

Dear colleagues,

As you may recall, since November 2011 UNESCO recognizes domestic partnerships ‘legally recognized by a competent national authority’ (regardless of the staff member’s nationality). However the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF) applies its own criteria as to whether a staff member is considered married or single. Until now, UNJSPF only granted spousal benefits to staff members whose country of nationality recognized the union.

At its annual meeting last July, the UNJSPF revised its guidelines to recognize civil unions and domestic partnerships according to the law of the country where the union took place, rather than according to the staff member's country of nationality.

This means that all staff members who are currently in a legal union recognized by the UNJSPF will be able to designate their partners as the recipient of pension benefits when the staff member passes away.

To be recognized by the UNJSPF, the civil partnership must be “lawfully entered into and legally recognized by the competent authority of the location where the status was established as long as the union confers the similar legal effects of marriage, specifically including pension rights”.

For example, the French PACS is not recognized by the UNJSPF because it does not confer pension rights.

Another important point: for those staff members whose civil union is recognized by the UNJSPF (according to the attached annex), bear in mind that recognition is not necessarily automatic. You must officially report your status to the UNJSPF. And be sure to receive confirmation that the Fund has registered your union. Also bear in mind that recognition should be requested BEFORE retirement.

Please read the circular letter announcing the revised guidelines and the annex, which lists the unions in various countries as reviewed by the UNJSPF to date.

For more information, you may contact Richard Lo Giudice (r.logiudice@unesco.org), UNESCO coordinator for the LGBTI staff group _UN- GLOBE _or Immo Welter (i.welter@unesco.org), HRM/SAC/P.

Best regards,

The STU Council.