MEMORIAL IN HONOUR OF UN STAFF WHO HAVE DIED IN SERVICE OF PEACE UNVEILED BY DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF UNOG

MEMORIAL IN HONOUR OF UN STAFF WHO HAVE DIED IN SERVICE

OF PEACE UNVEILED BY DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF UNOG

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 24 October (UN Information Service) -- A ceremony for the unveiling of a memorial in honour of United Nations staff who have died in the service of peace took place today at the Palais des Nations as part of the commemoration of United Nations Day.

The Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, Sergei Ordzhonikidze, unveiled the memorial and addressed the guests.  Marlène Sequeira, Executive Secretary, Staff Coordinating Council, also spoke.

More than 400 people attended the event, including many ambassadors, permanent representatives, representatives of the media, non-governmental organizations, and staff members of the United Nations Office, as well as from other specialized agencies, United Nations funds and programmes based in Geneva.  Representatives of local authorities were also present, as well as Laurent Moutinot, President of the State Council of the République and Canton de Genève.

The memorial is dedicated to the memory of all colleagues who have died working for the Organization and is a tribute to their achievements and sacrifice in the service of the human family.  It is a unique and collective tribute made possible through the contributions of the United Nations Secretary-General, United Nations programmes and funds, specialized agencies, as well as staff associations and individual staff members in a spirit of solidarity and respect.

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