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We do whatever we can to find possible solutions to a real problem: the protection of individual rights in the U.N. justice system.
 

Civil conscience is our stakeholder.

 

That the administration of justice in the United Nations lags so far behind international human rights standards is a matter of urgent concern requiring immediate, adequate and effective remedial action…

Report of the Redesign Panel on the United Nations System of Administration of Justice -United Nations General Assembly A/61/205-


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At a time when the United Nations is playing a decisive role in coping with world problems which affect the lives of millions of people, fair play - a combination of observance of the rules, respect for the defenceless, and prevention of adverse behaviour - is the condition under which human cooperation becomes both possible and necessary.

With a view to this, to help these essential features cross the arbitrary and artificial barriers to realize the UN's potential as a positive force in the world, UNJustice devotes itself to no other task with more dedication than to the very task it got its name from: encouraging fair play in the United Nations system of administration of justice.

 

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Frontpages

Management and governance failures are among the greatest risks to the “right to a right” in the UN internal justice system

While the ongoing reform process of the UN internal justice system has brought improvements to the disposal of the backlog of cases and the addressing of new cases, it should only be seen as a first step towards granting the right of all persons under the jurisdiction of the United Nations to a fair hearing and an effective judicial remedy, which is enshrined in all major human rights instruments.

Furthermore, the large number of disputes brought before the UN internal tribunals still highlight individual failures to remedy management accountability and a continued collective failure of the implementation of an adequate governance style, for which the United Nations Organization is responsible.

Low degrees of transparency and accountability in management frustrate the UN’s enormous positive potential and are seen as serious issues, as weakness in these areas make checking and challenging the actions and decisions of the UN Administration a very complicated exercise.  

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Last Updates & News

U.N. defends Afghan police fund as donors seek probe

13 May 2012

"...the U.N. needs to overhaul its auditing system. Its auditing system is of a different century," said an adviser to the Afghan president.

By Nathan Hodge, Yaroslav Trofimov and Stephen Fildler, The Wall Street Journal

 

U.N.'s incoming management chief bent on reform

12 May 2012

Mr.Yukio Takasu, the new UN Under-Secretary-General for Management, emphasizes the need for "an efficient, transparent and accountable administration" at the world organization.

By Jiji, The Japan Times

 

Senior WIPO staff member on hunger strike to protest injustices

11 May 2012

Today, 11 May 2012, marks the 10th day of the hunger strike.

By the Federation of International Civil Servants' Associations - FICSA

 

 66 persons have been assisted by UNJustice so far. 

 

Urgent Appeals

Unjust: when an outstanding female staffer loses her job and pension entitlements for blowing the whistle on the United Nations

3 April 2012  -Act Now- 

For the Organization's internal justice system to be fair, the decision-making process must shift to an independent legal entity.

 

Guarantee meaningful whistleblowing protection: retaliation and discrimination alleged over the termination of the employment of a Russian female staffer of UNMOVIC – the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission

10 January 2012  -Act Now- 

The woman cooperated with investigations following the discovery of hazardous material in the United Nations archives.

 Update: 15 February 2012

The staff member has submitted to the UNDT a motion for extension of time to file her application.

 

UNODC: Dr. Walter Gehr

10 December 2011  -Act Now- 

Demand for Walter Gehr's complaints of harassment and retaliation to be properly investigated and adjudicated. Dr.Gehr is Senior Legal Advisor in the Terrorism Prevention Branch at the UNODC - the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

 Update: 3 January 2012, 27 February 2012, 28 February 2012, 19 March 2012, 27 March 2012, 11 April 2012

Gehr v. Secretary-General of the United Nations: the parties have received a notice from the UNDT advising them the application has been listed for a directions hearing on Wednesday, 18 April 2012 at 10.30 a.m. (Geneva time).

 

Sad fact that death of a UN-WFP pilot triggers ugly dispute over insurance coverage

20 October 2011  -Act Now- 

Call to address the widow’s concerns over husband's deteriorated health.

 Update: 21 November 2011, 26 November 2011, 23 January 2012, 17 February 2012, 24 February 2012

The widow of UN-WFP pilot Michael Allan Prior said that as of today she has received no response either accepting or rejecting her request of a copy of her husband's contract of employment. No explanation has been given for this silence. The woman added that she will submit under the Appendix D to Staff Rules a request for compensation related to the death and illness of her husband attributable to the performance of official duties on behalf of the Untied Nations.
 

 

For seventeen years “OIOS has constantly declined to release to me, the complainant, the investigative report for my Case No. 0001/94,” says a former UN staff member

18 October 2011  -Act Now- 

The UN Administration should improve transparency and accountability in its operations.

 Update: 21 November 2011

 

UN-WFP official imagines she is a “slave girl” and has “the sickest fantasy of being punished”. The UN’s call on an Italian intern to keep a scandal secret: justice urgently needed 

20 May 2009  -Act Now- 

A senior UN-OHRM official may face criminal prosecution and a civil law suit. The UN Legal Counsel requests that the Government of Italy ensures full respect for the privileges and immunities of the United Nations and its officials.

Update: 21 May 2009, 5 June 2009, 12 June 2009, 23 June 2009, 12 July 2009, 13 July 2009, 24 July 2009, 3 August 2009, 18 September 2009, 23 October 2009, 24 March 2010, 22 June 2010, 28 July 2010, 11 August 2010, 9 October 2010, 17 November 2010, 31 October 2011, 10 February 2012

10 February 2012

Unresolved matter pending before the UNAT: Italy steps in.

 

Good News

Decisions from the UN Ethics Office that there is no prima facie case of retaliation can be appealed through the internal justice system of the Organization. [PDF-87 KB]  

12 May 2011

The United Nations Dispute Tribunal found that the Ethics Office's determinations have direct consequences for the rights of staff members and as such, they fall under the jurisdiction of the Tribunal. 

 

Letters to...

It is easy to forget that real people with challenges are affected by the UN justice system.

If you have a question, ask Edward Patrick Flaherty, Esq.

Read the letters here

 

Dream Big

To be inspired to make a difference in building a fair administration of justice in the UN

 

 

 

Stop the UNJustice clock! 

Today, the United Nations is celebrating without the provision of a system of administration of justice that promotes compliance with human rights norms. To make the United Nations' work a true manifestation of culture and humanness, the United Nations needs a fundamentally new system of justice.

 

It is only fair to stop the UNJustice clock now.

Write to your Permanent Representative to the United Nations

 

Help us to assess access to the United Nations internal justice system

 

 

Archived:

Please read and sign the petition

 


Non-profit Independent International Committee for the Safeguarding of Individual Rights in the United Nations Internal Justice System.
UNJustice is not associated with the United Nations or any of its Funds, Programmes and Specialized Agencies. 
Not an official document of the UN. E-mail: info@unjustice.org. Moral rights 2008 UNJustice. Disclaimer.