Secretary-General, in Message, Encourages Public Servants Worldwide

 

to Strive for Greater Impact in Building Better Life for All

 

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message for United Nations Public Service Day, observed on 23 June:

On the annual observance of Public Service Day, we honour those who accept the responsibilities of service to humanity and who contribute to excellence and innovation in public service institutions.

For the first time, Public Service Day will be commemorated in Africa.  At a ceremony in Dar-es-Salaam, the United Nations will pay tribute to public servants from all over the world and acknowledge public service institutions for their achievements.

Governments and good governance play a central role in addressing the complex challenges of our times.  Whether it is climate change, the economic crisis, unemployment, health pandemics, or poverty eradication, public servants and good governance are often the first line of defence.  Implementation of the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, also relies heavily on the work of public servants — their leadership, their capacities, their innovations in the delivery of vital services.

The winners of the 2011 United Nations Public Service Awards embody the essential building blocks of good governance: integrity, citizen participation, respect for diversity and gender equality, and effective knowledge management, particularly through the use of modern technologies.  I commend the winners for their commitment to their countries and communities.

I encourage all public servants from around the world to work in that same spirit and strive for greater impact in their important work of building a better life for all.

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For information media • not an official record