Remarks by the President of the General Assembly,

Mr. Dennis Francis,

at the Opening of the 97th Session of International Civil Service Commission

5 March 2024

[As delivered]

 

Your Excellency, Mr. Larbi Djacta, Chair of the ICSC,

Your Excellency, Mr. Boguslaw Winid, Vice-Chair of the ICSC,

Under Secretary-General, Ms. Ms. Catherine Pollard,

Distinguished Commissioners, 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thank you for the opportunity to join you today, at this inaugural 97th session of the International Civil Service Commission.

My heartfelt gratitude to the Chair, Vice-Chair, Commissioners, and the dedicated ICSC Secretariat, for their unfailing commitment to ensuring consistent and equitable working conditions across the family of UN organisations.

As we delve into the crucial role of the ICSC, it is imperative to recognize that a single and unified United Nations Common System remains the linchpin for regulating and coordinating the conditions of service for participating organisations.

And further, ensuring the system-wide implementation of decisions and recommendations of ICSC is key to maintaining the integrity and cohesion of this Common System.

In the post-COVID-19 era, the dynamics of the global workforce are evolving rapidly – in a world that is already itself marked by precipitous change.

Amidst this transformation, the fundamental and institutional values of civil services worldwide – including the international civil service – must endure.

It is at this juncture that the indispensable role of the ICSC emerges – a role that is pivotal in upholding and further enhancing the established standards of the international civil service, while facilitating the UN’s agile adaptation to the realities of the new workplace.

The United Nations must be positioned to attract and retain the next generation of the best and brightest international civil servants – individuals of the highest integrity, impeccable impartiality, and steadfast commitment to public service to help carry forward the mantle of our shared mission.

Distinguished Commissioners,

As we reflect on achievements and challenges, the adoption of a new parental leave framework stands out as a significant stride towards gender equality – a mission to which I personally assign a high priority.

Additionally, the recommendations to adjust children’s and secondary dependents’ allowances – long overdue, for over a decade – demand immediate attention.

The comprehensive review of the compensation package is another formidable task ahead of us, and consultations with all stakeholders will be indispensable in that process.

I appreciate the Commission’s consistency in addressing the concerns of the General Assembly – and keeping it informed throughout the entire process.

In wishing you a successful session, allow me to emphasize that Member States and UN common system organizations greatly depend on the invaluable guidance offered by the ICSC in the regulation and coordination of conditions of service.

Rest assured that my office stands ready to extend support wherever necessary and possible, to the critical work of the ICSC.

Distinguished Commissioners, 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me leave you with the words of the late Dag Hammarskjold, that the “International service will expose us to conflicts. It will not permit us to live lazily under the protection of inherited and conventional ideas.

Intellectually and morally, the international service therefore requires courage… Courage to defend our convictions, even when facing the threats of powerful opponents.”

I trust this will help you channel the spirit of the fondly remembered Secretary-General into this session – allowing for fruitful deliberations and decisions that will further advance the cause of the international civil service.

Together, let us forge a meaningful path towards a more just, equitable, and efficient global workforce.

I thank you.