UN Chronicle | Spotlight on Staff Security

Spotlight on Staff Security
"Honouring Those in Whom the Humanitarian Urge Overtook Personal Security Concerns"
By Nuchhi R. Currier for the Chronicle

Web Article

“Honouring Those in Whom the Humanitarian
Urge Overtook Personal Security Concerns”
Tun Myat, Assistant Secretary-General, UNSECOORD

Much has been written about the unsung heroes of wars but the unsung heroes of "peace and development" remain a much-neglected group. Every day somewhere in the world, a United Nations staff member puts himself or herself in harm's way to further the cause of peace and security for others. Today, International Solidarity Day, the United Nations pays homage to their detained, abducted or missing colleagues with a strong call to action from Secretary-General Kofi Annan. March 25 marks the armed abduction of Alec Collett 18 years ago near Beirut airport, while on assignment for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). A journalist and the Director of the UN Information Centre in Ghana, Mr. Collett has not been heard from since. The plight of him and his family symbolizes that of all still-missing staff members. Mrs. Elaine Collett presented a commemorative lapel pin to Deputy Secretary-General Louise Frechette at UN Headquarters in New York to mark the solemn day.

"The International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members is meant to raise awareness—about the dangerous environments in which some of us have to work, and about what can be done to improve the safety and security of all United Nations staff," said Mr. Annan. Calling staff security a legal responsibility, the Secretary-General urged all Member States to sign and ratify the 1994 Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel. "It is particularly troubling that so few perpetrators have been prosecuted for crimes against United Nations staff. Surely the swift application of justice would be a real deterrent and a blow against such impunity", he said.

Over the past decade, United Nations staff have been called upon to work in increasingly dangerous environments in complex emergency situations. Threats against their safety and security have also accelerated. Since January 1992, at least 214 civilian UN staff members have lost their lives, with seven in 2002 alone making the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Additionally, 261 were kidnapped or taken as hostages, with eight such incidents occurring just last year. Currently, 39 personnel remain in detention somewhere in the world.

The United Nations Security Management System has been reinforced with the appointment of a United Nations Security Coordinator at the Assistant Secretary-General level. Mr. Tun Myat works with over 100 international field security officers and 200 local support staff to coordinate, strengthen and sustain security initiatives. Minimum Operational Security Standards have been developed for compliance by all field offices in the areas of security planning, staff training, telecommunications and security equipment. There are programmes in place for stress counselling of field staff, renewed collaboration between the United Nations, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations and a growing awareness in the donor community of the importance of these programmes.

"In troubled areas of the world there is a vicious cycle of disease, poverty and crime. Humanitarian agencies have their work cut out for them. National staff of international agencies are particularly vulnerable in such areas. We are very aware of the security and training needs of our staff," Mr. Myat said.

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