UNITED NATIONS STAFF UNIONS APPEAL TO GOVERNMENTS TO SECURE FREEDOM OF DETAINED STAFFERS
Press Release
ORG/1281
UNITED NATIONS STAFF UNIONS APPEAL TO GOVERNMENTS TO SECURE FREEDOM OF DETAINED STAFFERS
19990323 The umbrella organizations of nine United Nations staff unions worldwide appealed today to Governments to help in securing the release of all United Nations staff members held unjustly and against their will in several countries. The appeal was made by Mehri Madarshahi, President of the Coordinating Committee for International Staff Unions and Associations (CCISUA), which represents thousands of staffers around the world."The international community has an obligation to remedy this terrible situation", said Ms. Madarshahi. "Given the dedicated and selfless service which United Nations staffers render to the international community in advancing peace and development, it cannot be tolerated that United Nations staff be held, detained or abducted, no matter the pretext or justification", she added. "We have seen time and again that if Governments act responsibly, it is very difficult to incarcerate or detain staff. And so we strongly urge Governments today to deploy all their efforts with a view to helping regain the freedom of all our suffering and abused colleagues."
25 March is the anniversary of the abduction of Alec Collett, a British citizen and United Nations staff member, 14 years ago in Beirut, Lebanon. Ever since, this day is observed annually as the "Day of Solidarity with Detained Staff Members" to focus attention on their plight and to advocate their release.
"Alec Collett's case is particularly egregious", Ms. Madarshahi stated. "Years ago, when the 'release of all Western hostages' in the Middle East was proclaimed, Alec Collett's fate was conveniently forgotten. We still have no news about his whereabouts, while his wife and family continue to suffer."
"Likewise", she added, "the world seems to have forgotten the many United Nations staff members who are held without charges while on duty with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). UNRWA staff run schools and hospitals, often at great personal risk in conflict-prone areas, and they deserve the respect, support and protection of all Governments who have established and continue to sponsor this programme."
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In conclusion, Ms. Madarshahi called on all Governments to sign and ratify the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, adopted by the General Assembly in 1994, and entered into force on 15 January 1999. This convention makes it an international crime to abduct or kill a United Nations staff member. Thus far, 23 governments have ratified and an additional 27 governments have signed it.
A list of all United Nations staff members currently detained or missing can be obtained from the United Nations Staff Committee, Room S-525, tel. 963-7075.
For further information, contact Lelei Lelaulu at tel. 963-7074.
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