UN Support Mechanisms for Victims/Survivors of Sexual Harassment
Victim/Survivor-centred Support
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"We are enforcing a victim-centred, zero-tolerance approach to sexual harassment. Fostering a safe, equal, and inclusive working environment across the UN system is an essential part of these efforts."
- Mr. António Guterres, UN Secretary-General
A victim-centred approach is defined by the Office of the Victims' Rights Advocate as putting the rights and dignity of victims, including their well-being and safety, at the forefront of all efforts to prevent and respond to sexual harassment, regardless of the affiliation of the alleged perpetrator.
Fostering a working environment that is free from sexual harassment and that respects the rights and dignity of all staff and non-staff members is a key priority for the UN. The UN strives to ensure that victims receive the support they deserve, from the moment an allegation is received until there is an outcome. Creating an enabling environment in which victims can speak to someone they can trust, safely and confidentially, that they will be listened to and heard, feel supported and empowered, and that they can express their needs and wishes is vital.
The victim-centred approach is founded on the rights of victims and a set of guiding principles. It refers to a systematic way of engaging with victim(s), from the moment that allegations are known and in every subsequent interaction. It requires the empathetic, individualized, holistic delivery of continuous and reliable services in a non-judgmental and non-discriminatory manner.
Over the years, the mechanisms and coordination in the UN system for victim assistance have been gradually strengthened. In 2017, the UN Secretary-General appointed Ms. Jane Connors as the UN Victims’ Rights Advocate (VRA). The role of the Victims’ Rights Advocate is to put the rights and dignity of victims, their experiences, and their needs at the forefront and to provide tangible and sustained assistance victims/survivors. The Victims’ Rights Advocate works with all parts of the United Nations system, including agencies, funds and programmes at their headquarters and in the field, Member States, national human rights institutions, civil society, the media and others, to implement an integrated response to victim assistance.
Please find below a list of UN Support Mechanisms accessible to UN personnel.
Accordion Section Title
Support Mechanisms - UN Secretariat
The OIOS Investigations Division investigates misconduct allegations that involve personnel and entities within the United Nations Secretariat, including field missions. The OIOS investigates a wide range of cases, including gross mismanagement, fraud and corruption, sexual harassment and sexual exploitation and abuse. The best way to report wrongdoing is through the Report Wrongdoing WebPortal
Support provided: Formal investigation of allegations of misconduct
Who can access: OIOS investigates misconduct allegations that involve personnel and entities within the United Nations Secretariat, including field missions. Anyone, regardless of contract and UN affiliation, can report misconduct by a staff member.
Website: https://oios.un.org/investigations
Hotline: + 1 212 963 1111 (24-hour message hotline service to report wrongdoing)
Regular mail: Director, Investigations Division, Office of Internal Oversight Services, 1 United Nations Plaza, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10017, U.S.A
The Ethics Office assists the Secretary-General in ensuring that all staff members perform their functions consistent with the highest standards of integrity as required by the Charter of the United Nations. The Ethics Office provides a secure, confidential environment where staff can feel free to consult on ethical issues – (such as engagement in outside activities and how to avoid and manage conflicts of interest) and seek protection against retaliation for reporting misconduct or cooperating with a duly authorized audit or investigation. The Ethics Office also provides assistance with navigating the various offices and mechanisms available to personnel. The UN Ethics Office serves the Global Secretariat, including duty stations in New York, Geneva, Vienna and Nairobi; all regional commissions, peacekeeping operations, special political missions; and other designated offices. The Office is an independent, confidential, and impartial resource.
Support provided: Ethics advice and protection against retaliation
Who can access: Global UN Secretariat Staff and other designated offices
Website: https://www.un.org/en/ethics/
E-mail: ethicsoffice@un.org
Helpline: +1 (917) 367-9858
Address: United Nations Ethics Office, 323 East 44th Street, Room DC2-0612, New York, NY 10017, USA
The Ombudsman and Mediation services are provided by a versatile team of multilingual professional staff with unique educational and professional backgrounds. Headquartered in New York, and with regional branches in Bangkok, Entebbe, Geneva, Goma, Nairobi, New York, Santiago and Vienna, the Office helps UN employees, regardless of geographical location, contract type or hierarchical level, in complete confidentiality, to address their workplace concerns and resolve conflicts through informal means such as conflict coaching, shuttle diplomacy, review of options and mediation. When consultations are not possible in person, Ombudsman and mediators are available by other means of communication, including by phone, Skype, MS Teams, etc. We provide services to all, virtually or in person, regardless of duty station location, time zone, contract, type of issues, language or cultural preferences, etc.
Support provided: Informal conflict resolution
Who can access: All current and former employees of the UN Secretariat, as well as employees of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
Website: https://www.un.org/ombudsman/
Telephone: +1 917 367 5731
E-mail: unoms@un.org
Contact details for regional branches: https://www.un.org/ombudsman/contact-us
The UN Secretariat Speak Up Helpline is a 24-hour resource for UN Secretariat personnel to consult confidentially with an impartial and trained individual who can provide information on protection, support and reporting mechanisms related to sexual harassment in the workplace. The Speak Up Helpline can be reached via email and telephone.
Support provided: Information on existing policies and available mechanisms in the UN Secretariat to address sexual harassment in the workplace.
Who can access: Global UN Secretariat personnel
Email address: speakup@un.org
Telephone: +1 (917) 367 8910
For more information, please visit: https://iseek.un.org/sexualharassment
Mental wellbeing services provided by the Staff Counsellor’s Office:
- Confidential psychological ‘first aid’ for staff and families requiring immediate psychological or emotional support.
- Confidential short-term individual and group counselling sessions provided by highly qualified mental health professionals.
- Confidential consultations to managers on issues related to the well-being of staff
- Training programmes to help staff build emotional resilience and cope with personal stressors
- Confidential, supportive and caring approach so that personnel feel comfortable in seeking assistance. When contacting the office, there is no need to explain the problem—it is recommended just to ask for an appointment with a counsellor. Check the iSeek information at your duty station, or inquire with the Medical Service, for the office location and details on contacting the Staff Counsellor serving your duty station.
Support provided: Mental wellbeing
Who can access: UN Secretariat Staff
Website: https://hr.un.org/page/mental-wellbeing-psychosocial-support
Email: scolearn@un.org
Telephone: +1 212 963 7044
Address: Secretariat building on the 5th Floor directly next to the elevator (room 505)
As part of the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), Critical Incident Stress Management Unit (CISMU) personnel are primarily responsible for stress management, resilience building and critical incident stress management. They have specific responsibilities in emergency preparedness, emergency response and hostage incident management. Furthermore, they promote and address staff psychosocial wellbeing issues in coordination with Medical Service Division, HR Officers, UN Counsellors from other UN agencies, funds and programmes and senior and line managers UN system-wide. They supervise technically 85 counsellors in the field and trained and coordinate with more than 300 external mental health professionals.
Support provided: Mental well-being
Who can access: UN System-wide personnel regardless of contract type
E-mail: undsscismu@un.org (Check the iSeek information at your duty station, or inquire with CISMU Regional Stress Counsellors for the office location and details on contacting the Staff/Stress Counsellor serving your duty station)
The mission of UNDSS is to enable United Nations system operations through trusted security and safety leadership and solutions. UNDSS provides critical advice and rapid decision-making capacity on to the United Nations Security Management System (UNSMS) on security policy and operational issues to UNSMS members, senior United Nations management and personnel, including through leadership of the Crisis Operations Group, and/or Executive Group on Security. UNDSS enables UN activities through an array of risk-based and solution-oriented security services such as: Close protection, physical security, threat and risk analysis, training, aviation and road safety, stress-counselling, crisis responses, and liaison with host government and partners, including I/NGOs.
Support provided: Advice on Security and Safety Issues
Who can access: UN personnel and all personnel within the UN Security Management System
Website: https://www.un.org/en/safety-and-security (Please contact your duty station for up-to-date security contact information)
Conduct and Discipline Focal Points assist the head of each Secretariat entity to exercise their conduct and discipline function to prevent misconduct, to ensure adequate response when possible misconduct is reported and to provide remedial action for certain forms of misconduct. Personnel can contact their entity’s Conduct and Discipline Focal Point for additional information on the UN standards of conduct.
The Conduct and Discipline Service (CDS) in the Administrative Law Division (ALD) of the Office of Human Resources (OHR) supports and trains Conduct and Discipline Focal Points. Contact your office or department for your Conduct and Discipline Focal Points.
Support provided: Advice on issues of conduct and discipline
Who can access: UN Secretariat personnel in their respective office or department
Conduct and Discipline Teams (CDTs) are based in many peacekeeping missions and special political missions around the world. Some field missions have a conduct and discipline focal point. CDTs and focal points in field missions advise heads of mission on conduct and discipline issues involving all categories of personnel and address all forms of misconduct by United Nations personnel in field missions, including acts of sexual exploitation and abuse.
CDTs provide training for peacekeeping personnel on UN rules and conduct, and draft and implement strategies designed to deter violations of local laws and UN rules and regulations. CDTs are also responsible for developing and implementing outreach and awareness raising activities for the host country’s population.
CDTs receive and assess misconduct allegations and, upon determination by the Head of Mission that an investigation is warranted, refer them to appropriate investigative authorities. CDTs also record, track and follow-up on all cases of misconduct relating to their mission. Furthermore, CDTs coordinate victim assistance for victims of sexual exploitation and abuse, together with other UN partners in the mission as well as with civil society partners.
Support provided: Advice on UN rules and conduct
Who can access: UN Field Missions personnel
Website: https://conduct.unmissions.org/
Guided by the terms of reference (ST/SGB/2008/12), the Gender Focal Points provide critical support to their heads of department by:
- promoting greater awareness of gender issues and a gender-sensitive work environment in the department/office/mission;
- monitoring progress towards the achievement of gender targets;
- contributing to the development and realization of gender targets and providing advocacy; and
- advising and supporting training initiatives on gender sensitivity, work/life balance and career path strategies, encouraging greater participation of women in training programmes.
Contact your office or department for your Gender Focal Point(s).
Support provided: Advice on how to promote gender issues, as per entity-specific implementation plans to respond to the implementation of the Secretary-General's System-wide Strategy on Gender Parity.
Who can access: Personnel in their respective office or department
Based at UN Women, the Focal Point for Women in the UN System is mandated to monitor and report on the status of women in the United Nations system, serving as the chief advocate for monitoring and improving the status of women across the system and assisting the UN Secretary-General in achieving the General Assembly–mandated goal of 50:50 gender balance at all levels in the UN system. The primary functions of the Focal Point for Women in the UN System include:
- leading, coordinating and supporting the network of Gender Focal Points across the UN system.
- supporting UN Women to report on the status of women to the UN General Assembly and the Commission on the Status of Women, with the most recent being the Secretary-General’s report on the Improvement in the Status of Women in the UN System (2021) and the related resolution A/RES/76/142;
- consolidating, monitoring and tracking gender parity progress system-wide through the UN System-wide Dashboard on Gender Parity
- advocating and assisting in policy formulation;
- supporting the creation of enabling environments such as through sharing and showcasing good practices, especially producing and promoting the Enabling Environment Guidelines, its Supplementary Guidance and the Field-specific Enabling Environment Guidelines
- facilitating knowledge-sharing and capacity building through the dedicated Extranet for Gender Focal Points;
- representing the system-wide Gender Focal Points in high-level meetings, including the Chief Executives Board for Coordination Taskforce to Address Sexual Harassment within the Organizations of the UN System, and the Secretary-General’s Working Group on Emergency Measures to Achieve Gender Parity in Peace Operations; and
- providing guidance and advocacy.
Support provided: Advice on the status of women in the UN and how to promote gender issues, especially in relation to the implementation of the Secretary-General's System-wide Strategy on Gender Parity
Who can access: UN System-wide Gender Focal Points and UN personnel
E-mail: focalpoint.forwomen@unwomen.org
The Office of the Victims’ Rights Advocate seeks to put the rights and dignity of victims of sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations and related personnel at the forefront of the United Nation’s prevention and response efforts. We work with all entities of the United Nations system, so victims get the assistance and support they need. We also work in collaboration with Member States, civil society, including national human rights institutions to build networks of support and help ensure that the full effect of local laws, including remedies for victims, are brought to bear.
As the United Nations Victims’ Rights Advocate, Assistant-Secretary-General Ms. Jane Connors has a system-wide mandate to support an integrated, strategic response to victim assistance in coordination with United Nations system actors with responsibility for assisting victims. The role of the Victims’ Rights Advocate is to put the rights and dignity of victims, their experiences, and their needs at the forefront of the United Nations’ fight against sexual exploitation and abuse. Victims of such wrongs often suffer severe trauma. The Victims’ Rights Advocate seeks to ensure that this is acknowledged, that support and assistance is provided in line with each victim’s individual needs, as well as to raise the voices of victims who are often forgotten.
Support provided: Support for victims/survivors of sexual harassment
Who can access: All UN personnel
Website: https://www.un.org/preventing-sexual-exploitation-and-abuse/content/office-victims-rights-advocate
E-mail address: ovra@un.org
Telephone: +1 917 969 8060
OSLA provides legal advice and formal representation to staff members (and former staff members or affected dependents) of the United Nations and many of the Funds and Programmes within the UN common system. Staff members wishing to appeal an adverse administrative decision that affects their terms and conditions of employment, or who are subject to disciplinary action and need legal representation, can seek assistance from OSLA’s team of experienced Legal Officers. OSLA can also assist with informal dispute resolution and advise staff members on the various legal options available.
Staff members requiring assistance or seeking advice should submit an online form using the OSLA case management portal OSLAW and need to create an account to submit the request at: https://oslaw.un.org. OSLA is a wholly independent office, and its Legal Officers are bound by the ethical standards and rules of professional conduct that apply in the respective national jurisdictions where they are admitted to practice law. As such, all cases are handled with the strictest confidence and are subject to the principles of a lawyer-client relationship.
Support provided: Legal advice on staff members’ rights and obligations, informal resolution of disputes and representation to appeal adverse administrative decisions or defend disciplinary action.
Who can access: United Nations Staff Members, former staff, and affected dependents, as well as these same individuals from many of the UN common system Funds and Programmes (for a complete list of who OSLA can assist, visit OSLA’s website).
Website: https://www.un.org/en/internaljustice (here you can also find general guidance to self-represented applicants and the formal system of justice)
E-mail: osla@un.org
Telephone: +1 212-963-3957
Address: 2 United Nations Plaza, Room DC2-0650, New York, NY 10017, USA
United Nations Staff Union (UNSU) is the labour union representing New York Secretariat staff, locally recruited staff in the field, and staff members of UN Information Centers. All staff members are automatic members.
The United Nations Field Staff Union (UNFSU) defends the rights and supports the welfare and well-being of internationally recruited United Nations staff, who are assigned to and work in the UN field entities. These entities include the UN peacekeeping operations, Special Political Missions and UNDSS staff in field entities. Internationally recruited staff in these field operations are automatically members of the UNFSU, unless otherwise desirous.
Support provided: Support on various labor issues or signposting to resources
Who can access: Usually staff members
UNSU Website: https://u-seek.org/
UNFSU Website :https://www.unfsu.org
UNOG Staff Coordinating Council is the union for all staff at United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) which includes UNCTAD, OCHA, ECE, OHCHR, UNRISD and other UN Secretariat staff in Geneva. https://staffcoordinatingcouncil.org/
UN Staff Union Vienna protects the rights and well-being of all UN staff in Vienna and its associated field offices. http://staffunion.unov.org/ UNDP/UNFPA/UNWOMEN/UNOPS Staff Association represents UNDP, UNFPA, UN WOMEN and UNOPS staff. https://www.staffcouncil.org/
ECA Staff Union is the labour union representing staff in the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). https://www.uneca.org/staff-union
Staff Association of ESCAP represents United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) staff https://www.facebook.com/ESCAPStaffAssociation/
The different UN related unions are also organized in federations:
- UNISERV: https://uniserv-federation.com/
- FICSA https://uniserv-federation.com/
- CCISUA https://www.ccisua.org
Accordion Section Title
Support Mechanisms - UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes
The OIOS Investigations Division investigates misconduct allegations that involve personnel and entities within the United Nations Secretariat, including field missions. The OIOS investigates a wide range of cases, including gross mismanagement, fraud and corruption, sexual harassment and sexual exploitation and abuse. The best way to report wrongdoing is through the Report Wrongdoing WebPortal
Support provided: Formal investigation of allegations of misconduct
Who can access: OIOS investigates misconduct allegations that involve personnel and entities within the United Nations Secretariat, including field missions. Anyone, regardless of contract and UN affiliation, can report misconduct by a staff member.
Website: https://oios.un.org/investigations
Hotline: + 1 212 963 1111 (24-hour message hotline service to report wrongdoing)
Regular mail: Director, Investigations Division, Office of Internal Oversight Services, 1 United Nations Plaza, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10017, U.S.A
The Office of the Ombudsman for the United Nations Agencies, Funds and Programmes provides dedicated confidential, impartial and informal dispute resolution services to all contract holders from UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNOPS and UN-Women. These services include listening, conflict coaching, identification and evaluation of options, facilitation of dialogue, shuttle diplomacy and mediation. The Office also informs staff on procedures foreseen in the formal grievance process and makes appropriate referrals where necessary. Staff can contact the Ombudsman Office team on a wide range of workplace issues including but not limited to interpersonal disputes, job and career related issues, harassment and abuse of authority.
Support provided: Informal resolution
Who can access: UN personnel from UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNOPS and UN Women
Website: https://fpombudsman.org/
Email: ombudsmediation@fpombudsman.org
Telephone: +1 646 781 4083
Address: 304 East 45th Street, 6th Floor, Room FF-671New York, NY 10017, US
The UNHCR Ombudsman is one of three pillars of the Office of the UN Ombudsman and Mediation Services, established by the UN General Assembly as the informal component of the UN system of administration of justice, with a mandate to make available confidential services of impartial and independent persons to address work-related issues of personnel. In existence since 1993 as the Mediator, the UNHCR Ombudsman is also ‘the designated informal conflict resolution mechanism within UNHCR’ under UNHCR’s 2014 Policy on Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual Harassment and Abuse of Authority. The Ombudsman’s services range from mediation, shuttle diplomacy, referral within the system, conflict coaching and guidance to a wide range of team interventions and capacity building, with the aim of preventing, mitigating and responding to workplace grievances and conflicts.
Support provided: Informal resolution
Who can access: UNHCR personnel
E-mail: ombuds@unhcr.org
Telephone: +41 22 739 7770
As part of the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), Critical Incident Stress Management Unit (CISMU) personnel are primarily responsible for stress management, resilience building and critical incident stress management. They have specific responsibilities in emergency preparedness, emergency response and hostage incident management. Furthermore, they promote and address staff psychosocial wellbeing issues in coordination with Medical Service Division, HR Officers, UN Counsellors from other UN agencies, funds and programmes and senior and line managers UN system-wide. They supervise technically 85 counsellors in the field and trained and coordinate with more than 300 external mental health professionals.
Support provided: Mental well-being
Who can access: UN System-wide Personnel regardless of contact type
E-mail: undsscismu@un.org (Check the iSeek information at your duty station, or inquire with CISMU Regional Stress Counsellors for the office location and details on contacting the Staff/Stress Counsellor serving your duty station)
The mission of UNDSS is to enable United Nations system operations through trusted security and safety leadership and solutions. UNDSS provides critical advice and rapid decision-making capacity on to the United Nations Security Management System (UNSMS) on security policy and operational issues to UNSMS members, senior United Nations management and personnel, including through leadership of the Crisis Operations Group, and/or Executive Group on Security. UNDSS enables UN activities through an array of risk-based and solution-oriented security services such as: Close protection, physical security, threat and risk analysis, training, aviation and road safety, stress-counselling, crisis responses, and liaison with host government and partners, including I/NGOs.
Support provided: Advice on Security and Safety Issues
Who can access: UN personnel and all personnel within the UN Security Management System
Website: https://www.un.org/en/safety-and-security (Please contact your duty station for up-to-date security contact information)
Guided by the terms of reference (ST/SGB/2008/12), the Gender Focal Points provide critical support to their heads of department by:
- promoting greater awareness of gender issues and a gender-sensitive work environment in the department/office/mission;
- monitoring progress towards the achievement of gender targets;
- contributing to the development and realization of gender targets and providing advocacy; and
- advising and supporting training initiatives on gender sensitivity, work/life balance and career path strategies, encouraging greater participation of women in training programmes.
Contact your office or department for your Gender Focal Point(s).
Support provided: Advice on how to promote gender issues, as per entity-specific implementation plans to respond to the implementation of the Secretary-General's System-wide Strategy on Gender Parity.
Who can access: Personnel in their respective office or department
Based at UN Women, the Focal Point for Women in the UN System is mandated to monitor and report on the status of women in the United Nations system, serving as the chief advocate for monitoring and improving the status of women across the system and assisting the UN Secretary-General in achieving the General Assembly–mandated goal of 50:50 gender balance at all levels in the UN system. The primary functions of the Focal Point for Women in the UN System include:
- leading, coordinating and supporting the network of Gender Focal Points across the UN system.
- supporting UN Women to report on the status of women to the UN General Assembly and the Commission on the Status of Women, with the most recent being the Secretary-General’s report on the Improvement in the Status of Women in the UN System (2021) and the related resolution A/RES/76/142;
- consolidating, monitoring and tracking gender parity progress system-wide through the UN System-wide Dashboard on Gender Parity
- advocating and assisting in policy formulation;
- supporting the creation of enabling environments such as through sharing and showcasing good practices, especially producing and promoting the Enabling Environment Guidelines, its Supplementary Guidance and the Field-specific Enabling Environment Guidelines
- facilitating knowledge-sharing and capacity building through the dedicated Extranet for Gender Focal Points;
- representing the system-wide Gender Focal Points in high-level meetings, including the Chief Executives Board for Coordination Taskforce to Address Sexual Harassment within the Organizations of the UN System, and the Secretary-General’s Working Group on Emergency Measures to Achieve Gender Parity in Peace Operations; and
- providing guidance and advocacy.
Support provided: Advice on the status of women in the UN and how to promote gender issues, especially in relation to the implementation of the Secretary-General's System-wide Strategy on Gender Parity
Who can access: UN System-wide Gender Focal Points and UN personnel
E-mail: focalpoint.forwomen@unwomen.org
The Office of the Victims’ Rights Advocate seeks to put the rights and dignity of victims of sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations and related personnel at the forefront of the United Nation’s prevention and response efforts. We work with all entities of the United Nations system, so victims get the assistance and support they need. We also work in collaboration with Member States, civil society, including national human rights institutions to build networks of support and help ensure that the full effect of local laws, including remedies for victims, are brought to bear.
As the United Nations Victims’ Rights Advocate, Assistant-Secretary-General Ms. Jane Connors has a system-wide mandate to support an integrated, strategic response to victim assistance in coordination with United Nations system actors with responsibility for assisting victims. The role of the Victims’ Rights Advocate is to put the rights and dignity of victims, their experiences, and their needs at the forefront of the United Nations’ fight against sexual exploitation and abuse. Victims of such wrongs often suffer severe trauma. The Victims’ Rights Advocate seeks to ensure that this is acknowledged, that support and assistance is provided in line with each victim’s individual needs, as well as to raise the voices of victims who are often forgotten.
Support provided: Support for victims/survivors of sexual harassment
Who can access: All UN personnel
Website: https://www.un.org/preventing-sexual-exploitation-and-abuse/content/office-victims-rights-advocate
E-mail address: ovra@un.org
Telephone: +1 917 969 8060
OSLA provides legal advice and formal representation to staff members (and former staff members or affected dependents) of the United Nations and many of the Funds and Programmes within the UN common system. Staff members wishing to appeal an adverse administrative decision that affects their terms and conditions of employment, or who are subject to disciplinary action and need legal representation, can seek assistance from OSLA’s team of experienced Legal Officers. OSLA can also assist with informal dispute resolution and advise staff members on the various legal options available.
Staff members requiring assistance or seeking advice should submit an online form using the OSLA case management portal OSLAW and need to create an account to submit the request at: https://oslaw.un.org. OSLA is a wholly independent office, and its Legal Officers are bound by the ethical standards and rules of professional conduct that apply in the respective national jurisdictions where they are admitted to practice law. As such, all cases are handled with the strictest confidence and are subject to the principles of a lawyer-client relationship.
Support provided: Legal advice on staff members’ rights and obligations, informal resolution of disputes and representation to appeal adverse administrative decisions or defend disciplinary action.
Who can access: United Nations Staff Members, former staff, and affected dependents, as well as these same individuals from many of the UN common system Funds and Programmes (for a complete list of who OSLA can assist, visit OSLA’s website).
Website: https://www.un.org/en/internaljustice (here you can also find general guidance to self-represented applicants and the formal system of justice)
E-mail: osla@un.org
Telephone: +1 212-963-3957
Address: 2 United Nations Plaza, Room DC2-0650, New York, NY 10017, USA
United Nations Staff Union (UNSU) is the labour union representing New York Secretariat staff, locally recruited staff in the field, and staff members of UN Information Centers. All staff members are automatic members.
The United Nations Field Staff Union (UNFSU) defends the rights and supports the welfare and well-being of internationally recruited United Nations staff, who are assigned to and work in the UN field entities. These entities include the UN peacekeeping operations, Special Political Missions and UNDSS staff in field entities. Internationally recruited staff in these field operations are automatically members of the UNFSU, unless otherwise desirous.
Support provided: Support on various labor issues or signposting to resources
Who can access: Usually staff members
UNSU Website: https://u-seek.org/
UNFSU Website :https://www.unfsu.org
UNOG Staff Coordinating Council is the union for all staff at United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) which includes UNCTAD, OCHA, ECE, OHCHR, UNRISD and other UN Secretariat staff in Geneva. https://staffcoordinatingcouncil.org/
UN Staff Union Vienna protects the rights and well-being of all UN staff in Vienna and its associated field offices. http://staffunion.unov.org/ UNDP/UNFPA/UNWOMEN/UNOPS Staff Association represents UNDP, UNFPA, UN WOMEN and UNOPS staff. https://www.staffcouncil.org/
ECA Staff Union is the labour union representing staff in the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). https://www.uneca.org/staff-union
Staff Association of ESCAP represents United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) staff https://www.facebook.com/ESCAPStaffAssociation/
The different UN related unions are also organized in federations:
- UNISERV: https://uniserv-federation.com/
- FICSA https://uniserv-federation.com/
- CCISUA https://www.ccisua.org
Accordion Section Title
Additional Support
The UN Programme on Disability/Secretariat for the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (SCRPD) falls within the Division for Inclusive Social Development.
Support provided: Information to support personnel and dependents with disabilities.
Who can access: All UN system-wide personnel.
Website: https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/
Email: enable@un.org
Address: United Nations Secretariat (29th Floor), 405 E 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017, USA.
Body for the equality and non-discrimination of LGBTQI+ staff in the UN system and its peacekeeping operations.
Support provided: Information to support LGBTQI+ personnel.
Who can access: All UN system-wide personnel.
Website: https://www.unglobe.org/
Email: ohrm_globe@un.org (A list of Agency and Duty Station Coordinators can be found here).