Article I
Regulation 1.1
Status of staff
(a) Staff members are international civil servants. Their responsibilities as staff members are not national but exclusively international;
(b)Staff members shall make the following written declaration witnessed by the Secretary-General or his or her authorized representative:
“I solemnly declare and promise to exercise in all loyalty, discretion and conscience the functions entrusted to me as an international civil servant of the United Nations, to discharge these functions and regulate my conduct with the interests of the United Nations only in view, and not to seek or accept instructions in regard to the performance of my duties from any Government or other source external to the Organization.
“I also solemnly declare and promise to respect the obligations incumbent upon me as set out in the Staff Regulations and Rules.”
(c)The Secretary-General shall ensure that the rights and duties of staff members, as set out in the Charter and the Staff Regulations and Rules and in the relevant resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly, are respected;
(d)The Secretary-General shall seek to ensure that the paramount consideration in the determination of the conditions of service shall be the necessity of securing staff of the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity;
(e)The Staff Regulations apply to all staff at all levels, including staff of the separately funded organs, holding appointments under the Staff Rules;
(f)The privileges and immunities enjoyed by the United Nations by virtue of Article 105 of the Charter are conferred in the interests of the Organization. These privileges and immunities furnish no excuse to the staff members who are covered by them to fail to observe laws and police regulations of the State in which they are located, nor do they furnish an excuse for non-performance of their private obligations. In any case where an issue arises regarding the application of these privileges and immunities, the staff member shall immediately report the matter to the Secretary-General, who alone may decide whether such privileges and immunities exist and whether they shall be waived in accordance with the relevant instruments.
Regulation 1.2
Basic rights and obligations of staff
Core values
(a)Staff members shall uphold and respect the principles set out in the Charter, including faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women. Consequently, staff members shall exhibit respect for all cultures; they shall not discriminate against any individual or group of individuals or otherwise abuse the power and authority vested in them;
(b) Staff members shall uphold the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity. The concept of integrity includes, but is not limited to, probity, impartiality, fairness, honesty and truthfulness in all matters affecting their work and status;
General rights and obligations
(c) Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations. In exercising this authority, the Secretary-General shall seek to ensure, having regard to the circumstances, that all necessary safety and security arrangements are made for staff carrying out the responsibilities entrusted to them;
(d) In the performance of their duties staff members shall neither seek nor accept instructions from any Government or from any other source external to the Organization;
(e) By accepting appointment, staff members pledge themselves to discharge their functions and regulate their conduct with the interests of the Organization only in view. Loyalty to the aims, principles and purposes of the United Nations, as set forth in its Charter, is a fundamental obligation of all staff members by virtue of their status as international civil servants;
(f) While staff members’ personal views and convictions, including their political and religious convictions, remain inviolable, staff members shall ensure that those views and convictions do not adversely affect their official duties or the interests of the United Nations. They shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting their status as international civil servants and shall not engage in any activity that is incompatible with the proper discharge of their duties with the United Nations. They shall avoid any action and, in particular, any kind of public pronouncement that may adversely reflect on their status, or on the integrity, independence and impartiality that are required by that status;
(g) Staff members shall not use their office or knowledge gained from their official functions for private gain, financial or otherwise, or for the private gain of any third party, including family, friends and those they favour. Nor shall staff members use their office for personal reasons to prejudice the positions of those they do not favour;
(h) Staff members may exercise the right to vote but shall ensure that their participation in any political activity is consistent with, and does not reflect adversely upon, the independence and impartiality required by their status as international civil servants;
(i) Staff members shall exercise the utmost discretion with regard to all matters of official business. They shall not communicate to any Government, entity, person or any other source any information known to them by reason of their official position that they know or ought to have known has not been made public, except as appropriate in the normal course of their duties or by authorization of the Secretary-General. These obligations do not cease upon separation from service;
Honours, gifts or remuneration
(j) No staff member shall accept any honour, decoration, favour, gift or remuneration from any Government;
(k) If refusal of an unanticipated honour, decoration, favour or gift from a Government would cause embarrassment to the Organization, the staff member may receive it on behalf of the Organization and then report and entrust it to the Secretary-General, who will either retain it for the Organization or arrange for its disposal for the benefit of the Organization or for a charitable purpose;
(l) No staff member shall accept any honour, decoration, favour, gift or remuneration from any non-governmental source without first obtaining the approval of the Secretary-General;
Conflict of interest
(m) A conflict of interest occurs when, by act or omission, a staff member’s personal interests interfere with the performance of his or her official duties and responsibilities or with the integrity, independence and impartiality required by the staff member’s status as an international civil servant. When an actual or possible conflict of interest does arise, the conflict shall be disclosed by staff members to their head of office, mitigated by the Organization and resolved in favour of the interests of the Organization;
(n) All staff members at the D-1 level and above shall be required to file financial disclosure statements on appointment and at intervals thereafter as prescribed by the Secretary-General, in respect of themselves, their spouses and their dependent children, and to assist the Secretary-General in verifying the accuracy of the information submitted when so requested. The financial disclosure statements shall include certification that the assets and economic activities of the staff members, their spouses and their dependent children do not pose a conflict of interest with their official duties or the interests of the United Nations. The financial disclosure statements will remain confidential and will only be used, as prescribed by the Secretary-General, in making determinations pursuant to staff regulation 1.2 (m). The Secretary-General may require other staff to file financial disclosure statements as he or she deems necessary in the interest of the Organization;
Outside employment and activities
(o) Staff members shall not engage in any outside occupation or employment, whether remunerated or not, without the approval of the Secretary-General;
(p) The Secretary-General may authorize staff members to engage in an outside occupation or employment, whether remunerated or not, if:
(i) The outside occupation or employment does not conflict with the staff member’s official functions or the status of an international civil servant;
(ii) The outside occupation or employment is not against the interest of the United Nations; and
(iii) The outside occupation or employment is permitted by local law at the duty station or where the occupation or employment occurs;
Use of property and assets
(q) Staff members shall use the property and assets of the Organization only for official purposes and shall exercise reasonable care when utilizing such property and assets;
(r) Staff members must respond fully to requests for information from staff members and other officials of the Organization authorized to investigate the possible misuse of funds, waste or abuse.
Regulation 1.3
Performance of staff
(a) Staff members are accountable to the Secretary-General for the proper discharge of their functions. Staff members are required to uphold the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity in the discharge of their functions. Their performance will be appraised periodically to ensure that the required standards of performance are met;
(b) The whole time of staff members shall be at the disposal of the Secretary-General for the performance of official functions. The Secretary-General shall establish a normal working week and shall establish official holidays for each duty station. Exceptions may be made by the Secretary-General as the needs of the service may require, and staff members shall be required to work beyond the normal tour of duty when requested to do so.
Chapter I
Rule 1.1
Status of staff
(a) The declaration made by a staff member on appointment pursuant to staff regulation 1.1 (b) shall be placed in the staff member’s official status file. A new declaration shall be made after a break in service that exceeds three months.
(b) The declaration administered under staff regulation 1.1 (b) shall not prevent the close collaboration of staff with a Government pursuant to an agreement between the Government and the United Nations.
Rule 1.2
Basic rights and obligations of staff
General
(a) Staff members shall follow the directions and instructions properly issued by the Secretary-General and by their supervisors.
(b) Staff members must comply with local laws and honour their private legal obligations, including, but not limited to, the obligation to honour orders of competent courts.
(c) Staff members have a duty to report any breach of the Organization’s regulations and rules to the officials who are responsible for taking appropriate action. Staff members shall cooperate with duly authorized audits and investigations. Staff members shall not be retaliated against for complying with these duties.
(d) Disciplinary procedures may be instituted against staff members who fail to comply with their obligations and the standards of conduct set out in the Charter of the United Nations, the Staff Regulations and Rules, the Financial Regulations and Rules and administrative issuances.
Specific instances of prohibited conduct
(e) Both sexual exploitation and sexual abuse are prohibited. Sexual activity with children (persons under the age of 18) is prohibited regardless of the age of majority or the age of consent locally. Mistaken belief in the age of a child is not a defence. The exchange of money, employment, goods or services for sex, including sexual favours or other forms of humiliating, degrading or exploitative behaviour, is prohibited. United Nations staff members are obliged to create and maintain an environment that prevents sexual exploitation and sexual abuse.
(f) Any form of discrimination or harassment, including sexual or gender harassment, as well as abuse in any form at the workplace or in connection with work, is prohibited.
(g) Staff members shall not disrupt or otherwise interfere with any meeting or other official activity of the Organization, including activity in connection with the administration of justice system, nor shall staff members threaten, intimidate or otherwise engage in any conduct intended, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the ability of other staff members to discharge their official functions. Staff members shall not threaten, retaliate or attempt to retaliate against such individuals or against staff members exercising their rights and duties under the present Rules.
(h) Staff members shall not intentionally misrepresent their functions, official title or the nature of their duties to Member States or to any entities or persons external to the United Nations.
(i) Staff members shall not take any of the following actions with malicious intent, or without authorization, or for personal benefit or for the private gain of any third party: alter, destroy, falsify, misplace, abuse or render useless any official document, record, file or data that is intended to be kept as part of the records of the Organization.
(j) Staff members shall not seek to influence Member States, principal or subsidiary organs of the United Nations or expert groups in order to obtain a change from a position or decision taken by the Secretary-General, including decisions relating to the financing of the Organization’s activities, or in order to secure support for improving their personal situation or the personal situation of other staff members or for blocking or reversing unfavourable decisions regarding their status or their colleagues’ status.
(k) Staff members shall neither offer nor promise any favour, gift, remuneration or any other personal benefit to another staff member or to any third party with a view to causing that staff member or third party to perform, fail to perform or delay the performance of any official act. Similarly, staff members shall neither seek nor accept any favour, gift, remuneration or any other personal benefit from another staff member or from any third party in exchange for performing, failing to perform or delaying the performance of any official act.
Honours, gifts or remuneration
(l) Acceptance by staff members of any honour, decoration, favour, gift or remuneration from non-governmental sources requires the prior approval of the Secretary-General. Approval shall be granted only in exceptional cases and where such acceptance is not incompatible with the interests of the Organization and with the staff member’s status as an international civil servant. If circumstances do not allow for prior approval or if refusal of an unanticipated honour, decoration, favour or gift, including a minor gift of essentially nominal value, would cause embarrassment to the Organization, staff members may receive it on behalf of the Organization provided that it is reported and entrusted to the Secretary-General through established procedures.
(m) The Secretary-General may authorize staff members to accept from a non‑governmental source or a university or a related institution, academic awards, distinctions and tokens of a commemorative or honorary character, such as scrolls, certificates, trophies or other items of essentially nominal monetary value.
(n) Staff members, as part of their official functions, will be expected from time to time to attend governmental or other functions such as meetings, conferences, meals and diplomatic receptions. Such attendance is not considered receipt of a favour, gift or remuneration within the meaning of the Staff Regulations and Rules.
(o) Staff members shall not accept any gift, remuneration or favour from any source having or seeking to have any type of contractual relationship with the Organization.
Conflict of interest
(p) Staff members shall, except as otherwise authorized by the Secretary-General, formally recuse themselves from any involvement in a matter which mightgive rise to an actual or possible conflict of interest as set out in staff regulation 1.2 (m)and take any other action as may be deemed necessary pending the consideration by the Organization of any mitigation or remediation measures. Staff members shall implement the mitigation or remediation prescribed by the Organization to resolve that conflict of interest situation.
(q) Pursuant to staff regulation 1.2 (n), the Secretary-General shall establish procedures for the filing and utilization of financial disclosure statements.
Outside employment and activities
(r) Staff members shall not, except in the normal course of official duties or with the prior approval of the Secretary-General, engage in any outside activities that relate to the purpose, activities or interests of the United Nations. Outside activities include but are not limited to:
(i) Issuing statements to the press, radio or other agencies of public information;
(ii) Accepting speaking engagements;
(iii) Taking part in film, theatre, radio or television productions;
(iv) Submitting articles, books or other material for publication, or for any electronic dissemination.
Approval may be granted in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (p).
(s) Membership in a political party is permitted, provided that such membership does not entail action, or an obligation to take action, by the staff member contrary to staff regulation 1.2 (h). The payment of normal financial contributions to a political party shall not be construed as an activity inconsistent with the principles set out in staff regulation 1.2 (h).
(t) The Secretary-General shall establish procedures whereby staff may seek in confidence clarification as to whether proposed outside activities would conflict with their status as international civil servants.
Travel and per diem for outside activities
(u) Staff members who are authorized by the Secretary-General to participate in activities related to the work of the Organization which are organized by a Government, intergovernmental organization, non-governmental organization or other private source may receive from that organizing entity accommodation, travel and subsistence allowance generally in line with those payable by the United Nations. In such cases the daily subsistence allowance that may otherwise be payable by the United Nations shall be reduced as envisaged by staff rule 7.7 (a).
Rule 1.3
Employment and accessibility for staff members with disabilities
Staff members with disabilities shall enjoy an accessible, non-discriminatory and inclusive workplace, as well as the right to reasonable accommodation, under conditions established by the Secretary-General.
Rule 1.4
Performance of staff
(a) Staff members shall be evaluated for their efficiency, competence and integrity through performance appraisal mechanisms that shall assess the staff member’s compliance with the standards set out in the Staff Regulations and Rules for purposes of accountability.
(b) The Secretary-General shall seek to ensure that appropriate learning and development programmes are available for the benefit of staff.
(c) Performance appraisals shall be conducted regularly for all staff members, including at the Assistant Secretary-General level and above, in accordance with procedures promulgated by the Secretary-General.
Rule 1.5
Notification by staff members and obligation to supply information
(a) Staff members shall supply the Secretary-General with relevant information, as required, both during the application process and on subsequent employment, for the purpose of determining their status under the Staff Regulations and Rules as well as for the purpose of completing administrative arrangements in connection with their employment. Staff members shall be held personally accountable for the accuracy and completeness of the information they provide.
(b) Staff members shall promptly notify the Secretary-General, in writing, of any subsequent changes affecting their status or administrative arrangements under the Staff Regulations or Staff Rules.
(c) Staff members who intend to acquire permanent residence status in any country other than that of their nationality or who intend to change their nationality shall notify the Secretary-General of that intention before the change in residence status or the change in nationality becomes final.
(d) Staff members who have been arrested, charged with an offence other than a minor traffic violation or summoned before a court as a defendant in a criminal proceeding, or who have been convicted, fined or imprisoned for any offence other than a minor traffic violation shall immediately report the fact to the Secretary-General.
(e) Staff members may at any time be required by the Secretary-General to supply information concerning facts anterior to their appointment and relevant to their suitability or concerning facts relevant to their integrity, conduct and service as staff members.
Rule 1.6
Staff member’s beneficiaries
(a) At the time of appointment, each staff member shall nominate a beneficiary or beneficiaries in writing in a form prescribed by the Secretary-General. It shall be the responsibility of the staff member to notify the Secretary-General of any revocations or changes of beneficiaries.
(b) In the event of the death of a staff member, all amounts due to the staff member will be paid to the nominated beneficiary or beneficiaries, subject to application of the Staff Regulations and Rules and of the Regulations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund. Such payment shall afford the United Nations a complete release from all further liability in respect of any sum so paid.
(c) If a nominated beneficiary does not survive, or if a designation of beneficiary has not been made or has been revoked, the amount due to the staff member will, upon the staff member’s death, be paid to the estate of the staff member.
Rule 1.7
Financial responsibility
Staff members shall exercise reasonable care in any matter affecting the financial interests of the Organization, its physical and human resources, property and assets.
Rule 1.8
Liability insurance
Staff members who own or drive motor cars shall carry public liability and property damage insurance in an amount adequate to insure them against claims arising from injury or death to other persons or from damage to the property of others caused by their cars.
Rule 1.9
Proprietary rights
All rights, including title, copyright and patent rights, in any work performed by staff members as part of their official duties shall be vested in the United Nations.