19 September 2001
FICSA Update No. 45 2001
United Nations Staff Pledge for Peace and Progress Against Terrorism
United Nations staff throughout the world are pledging for peace and progress, against terrorism.
At the time of writing this update, we are still receiving information on the initiatives taken in the various duty stations.
In New York and Washington, staff massively joined the prayer and remembrance day declared by President George Bush.
In Europe, staff massively followed the call of the European Union Ministers for Foreign Affairs for silence at 10.00 a.m. GMT on Friday, 14 September 2001. Responding in many instances to an invitation from both their Executive Head and their Staff Association or Union, they assembled at a highly symbolic place, for instance around the flagpole in WHO/EURO, Copenhagen, or the Peace Bell in Vienna. In Geneva, over 1,000 staff assembled at the main (Pregny) Gate and marched in silence to the Place des Nations. CERN staff observed the three-minute silence. In Rome, the staff associations called for three minutes of silence and hundreds of staff assembled in the lobby of FAO for the event. Many staff members then exited the building to observe a short ceremony in which the Mayor and the Director-General of FAO planted a tree and installed a plaque across from the FAO building.. In Paris, the staff gathered in the great hall of UNESCO at the invitation of the Director-General, Mr. Koïchiro Matsuura.
In India, the WHO staff members in SEARO observed a two-minute silence to express condolence for the innocent lives lost in terrorism activities.
The expressions of sympathy went to all innocent victims of terrorism throughout the world, past and present. They also come as an expression of support to the Organizations we serve.