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Exceeding the
deadline of January
2009 for the implementation of the new United Nations system of
justice is not an option
20 November 2008
The General Assembly's Fifth Committee (Administrative and
Budgetary) this morning started considering the elements of the
new UN justice system that still require the General Assembly’s
decision.
Given the urgent need for reform and noting numerous delays in the
preparations for its establishment, most speakers expressed
concern and insisted that the deadline of 1 January 2009 must be
respected.
The President of the Staff Union of the United Nations
Secretariat, Mr. Stephen Kisambira, expressed the frustration of
the UN staff.
He said that the current system denied UN staff the justice
enjoyed by ordinary people in the host country. He also said that
the failure of the Secretariat to meet its responsibilities in a
timely manner "smacked of either indifference or incompetence."
He suggested that if the United Nations fails in its efforts to
implement the new system by January 2009, the Fifth Committee
might wish to consider requesting the Secretary-General to allow
the United Nations staff to avail themselves of the jurisdiction
of the federal, state and local law of the United States, in
accordance with Article III of the Headquarters Agreement.
Related
information:
Budget Committee takes up new United Nations administration of
justice system
HQ Agreement
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