U.N. Ethics Office                                                                                                    Ethics Moment            September 2006

 

On January 1, 2006, the new UN Ethics Office was established. The office is charged with three objectives: (a) to foster a culture of ethics, transparency and accountability; (b) to develop and disseminate standards for appropriate professional conduct; and (c) to provide leadership, management and oversight of the United Nations ethics infrastructure. The office will be staffed initially with four professionals—including a Senior Ethics Officer who will head the office. All are expected to possess an impeccable record for integrity and commitment to professional ethical standards.

 

The primary responsibilities of the Ethics Office are to manage the UN’s financial disclosure program, implement a policy to protect staff against retaliation for reporting misconduct, provide confidential advice and guidance, including administering an ethics helpline, and ensuring annual ethics training for all staff. The Ethics Office is not an enforcement office. Charges of unethical or mis-behavior are handled by the Office of Internal Oversight Services.

 

A UN integrity survey conducted in 2004 found that staff members were concerned about the ethics climate. Similar concerns were expressed by the reports of the Independent Inquiry Committee on the oil-for-food program.

 

Sources: www.daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N05/619/19/PDF/N0561919.pdf?OpenElement

www.globalpolicy.org/reform/topics/general/2006/0117ethics.htm (Accessed July 10, 2006)