ADMINISTRATIVE AND BUDGETARY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS PROPOSALS ON STATUS, BASIC DUTIES, RIGHTS OF UN STAFF
Press Release
GA/AB/3237
ADMINISTRATIVE AND BUDGETARY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS PROPOSALS ON STATUS, BASIC DUTIES, RIGHTS OF UN STAFF
19980821 Concludes Work of General Assembly's Current SessionThe Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) concluded its work for the General Assembly's fifty-second session by approving a draft resolution containing proposed revisions to the Staff Rules and Regulations on the status, basic duties and rights of United Nations staff.
Deciding that the revisions -- previously referred to as a draft United Nations code of conduct -- would be effective as of 1 January 1999, the Assembly would emphasize that managers were bound by the duties and obligations set out in the new article I of the Staff Regulations and the revised chapter I of the 100 series of the Staff Rules and that their higher-level responsibilities entailed increased accountability.
According to the amendments, all United Nations staff at the Assistant Secretary-General level and above would be required to file financial disclosure statements in respect of themselves and their dependent children. Such disclosure should include any substantial transfers of assets and property to spouses and dependent children from any source that might constitute a conflict of interest.
By other terms of the draft -- introduced by the Committee's Rapporteur, Djamel Moktefi (Algeria), who conducted informal discussions on the matter -- the Secretary-General would be requested to prepare rules for particular staff, including finance and procurement officers, and to expedite submission of regulations and rules for the Secretary-General, non-Secretariat officials and experts on mission.
Statements after the Committee's action were made by the representatives of Indonesia, for the "Group of 77" developing countries and China; and Cuba.
The Committee decided to resume considering its working methods at the General Assembly's forthcoming fifty-third session. In addition, it decided to defer until the upcoming session its consideration of strengthening external oversight mechanisms and the Joint Inspection Unit.
Fifth Committee - 1a - Press Release GA/AB/3237 70th Meeting (PM) 21 August 1998
In concluding remarks, the Committee Chairman Anwarul Karim Chowdhury (Bangladesh) said the just concluded session had been difficult. The Committee had considered United Nations reform, the scale of assessments used to share out the Organization's expenses, the budget for the 1998-1999 biennium, the phasing out of gratis personnel and the proposed "code of conduct" for United Nations staff. While considerable achievements had been realized, more could have been done.
The Chairman said he was strongly convinced that unless the Committee's working methods were drastically improved, "we would soon make ourselves irrelevant". It was easy to say "I don't agree", he said. But such contributions did not enhance United Nations efficiency and effectiveness. Obstructionists -- young or old -- did not gain anything in the final analysis.
The Committee should not suffer from self-styled importance, but work for the common good, he said. As he left his responsibilities as Chairman, he called on the Committee to change. Without change in its working methods, no worthwhile progress would be achieved.
Concluding statements were also made by the representatives of Indonesia, on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China; Libya; Costa Rica, on behalf of the Latin American and Caribbean Group; Japan; Turkey, on behalf of the Western European and Other Countries Group; Malaysia, on behalf of the Asian Group; Ghana, on behalf of the African Group; and Syria, on behalf of the Arab Group.
Programme of Work
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) met this afternoon to conclude its work for the third resumed fifty-second session. It was expected to take action on a draft resolution on revisions article I of the Staff Regulations and chapter I of the 100 series of the Staff Rules. [These revisions were formally referred to as a proposed United Nations code of conduct.] Also, the Committee was expected to act on draft proposals related to its programme of work.
Draft Texts
The General Assembly would adopt the revised text of article I of the Staff Regulations, and take note of the revised text of chapter I of the 100 series of the Staff Rules applicable to United Nations staff members, by the terms of a draft resolution submitted by the Djamel Moktefi (Algeria), the Fifth Committee's Rapporteur (document A/C.5/52/L.59). Those actions would be subject to certain modifications in the text, including the deletion of provisions dealing with staff representatives.
Deciding that the amendments would be effective as of 1 January 1999, the Assembly would emphasize that managers were bound by the duties and obligations set out in the new article I and chapter I and that their higher-level functions and responsibilities entailed increased accountability in all their duties managing human and financial resources.
Further, the Assembly would request that the Secretary-General prepare, as a matter of priority, additional rules for particular groups of staff such as finance and procurement officers, as well as staff of separately funded organs. Also, it would request him to expedite submission to the Assembly, at its 1999 session, regulations and rules governing the status, basic rights and duties of the Secretary-General, officials other than Secretariat officials, and experts on mission. In addition, by the same session, he would be requested to prepare a text of the Staff Regulations in gender-neutral terms.
Stressing the importance of the provisions governing the status, basic rights and duties of staff members, the Assembly would request the Secretary-General to issue to every staff member the text of relevant articles of the United Nations Charter; the present resolution; the text of the new article I and chapter I -- including explanatory commentary; relevant extracts from the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations; and the 1954 report of the International Civil Service Advisory Board on Standards of Conduct in the International Civil Service.
By other provisions, the Assembly would note that the Secretary-General would prepare amendments to the 200 and 300 series of the Staff Rules to
Fifth Committee - 4 - Press Release GA/AB/3237 70th Meeting (PM) 21 August 1998
reflect the above amendments, and note that such amendments to the Staff Rules were subject to the requirements of staff regulations 12.2, 12.3 and 12.4.
It would also note that the International Civil Service Commission had decided to update the 1954 International Civil Service Advisory Board Standards of Conduct in collaboration with the Consultative Committee on Administrative Questions. It would look forward to the results of this review.
By the terms of draft proposals submitted by the Committee's Chairman reviewing the working methods of the Fifth Committee (A/C.5/52/L.58), serious efforts would be made to have only one resumed session, of five weeks' duration, to consider matters pending from the main session of the General Assembly and matters related to the financing of peacekeeping operations.
Also by the proposals, the officers of the Fifth Committee would be asked to schedule the general debate on a given report long enough after the issue date of that report to allow enough time for study of the document by Member States, as well as time for the preparation of statements. Reports should be submitted for consideration by the Fifth Committee in accordance with the six weeks' rule. The quality of reports presented by the Secretariat should be "substantially improved", the text adds.
Further by the text, the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) would be asked to schedule its consideration of reports, bearing in mind the organization of work of the Fifth Committee. As necessary, the Advisory Committee should be able to adjust its work programme to meet the requirements of the Fifth Committee.
By other terms of the proposals, the Committee would decide that its officers should not propose coordinators who have a special interest in the agenda items under their responsibilities. Coordinators would be expected to provide impartial leadership and make proposals that facilitate the decision making process. Coordinators would also be asked to maintain full transparency and share information as widely as possible.
By further terms of the text, the Committee would decide that in order to avoid unnecessary confusion and to enhance efficiency, changes in the Committee's programme of work should be kept to a minimum. All efforts by the Committee's officers, delegations and the Secretariat should be made to avoid evening, night or weekend meetings.
Fifth Committee - 5 - Press Release GA/AB/3237 70th Meeting (PM) 21 August 1998
Action on Draft Texts
ANWARUL KARIM CHOWDHURY (Bangladesh), Fifth Committee Chairman, said it was his understanding that the Committee would like to take more time on the question of improving the working methods of the Fifth Committee.
The Committee then decided to resume its consideration of the item at the next session of the General Assembly, which begins in September.
DJAMEL MOKTEFI (Algeria) introduced the draft resolution on the revisions to Article 1 of Staff Regulations and Chapter 1 of the 100 Series of the Staff Rules. He said that informal consultations had taken place in a constructive spirit. The text before the Committee took account of the concerns that had been expressed and retained the interests of the Organization. Staff interests had also been preserved. The spirit of cooperation had demonstrated that the Fifth Committee was highly competent in its work. It was hoped that the text would be adopted without a vote.
The Committee then approved the text as orally amended, acting without a vote.
Statements After Action
PRAYONO ATIYANTO (Indonesia), speaking on behalf of the "Group of 77" developing countries and China, said the revised text, which applied only to United Nations staff, provided guiding principles on the rights, duties and obligations of all staff members. He hoped the resolution's adoption would assist the United Nations in managing staff performance, staff-management relations, and other areas.
Many important elements should be followed up on in coming years, he said. He looked forward to the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) review and update of the 1954 report of the International Civil Service Advisory Board on Standards of Conduct in the International Civil Service, as well as the submission of rules governing the Secretary-General and other officials, and the rules governing other groups of staff.
EVA BRAVO SILOT (Cuba) said the Committee had been forced to examine the item in haste. She would have wanted the Sixth Committee (Legal) to study the text, so that their views on the draft's legal implications could have been heard, even while she recognized that the Fifth Committee was competent to consider the matter. However, she supported the draft resolution, which would contribute to the conditions of employment and service of the staff.
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