30 November 2001

The Fifth Committee is presently considering the safety and security of UN personnel based on a document submitted by the Secretary-General (A/56/469) and a related report (A/56/619) by the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ). Speakers have stressed the high priority of the issue, noting that its urgency had been reflected in the decision last year (A/RES/55/238) to approve 32 additional posts (16 P; 16 GS) for the Office of the UN Security Coordinator (UNSECOORD) as an interim measure, pending submission of more comprehensive proposals. The Advisory Committee was informed that only eight of the Professional posts would be filled in November 2001. FICSA regrets this delay.

The new proposals include a revised staffing table of 338 posts (19 new posts) to be managed by UNSECOORD, 38 of which are at headquarters; the establishment of the Security Coordinator’s post at the Assistant Secretary-General level; and the reclassification of the position of Deputy Security Coordinator to the D-2 level. Also included are proposals for a cost-sharing formula to be used by participating agencies, funds and programmes. The revised budget estimate for UNSECOORD for 2002-2003 is $53.4 million

The UN Security Coordinator, Mr. Benan Sevan addressed the Fifth Committee. On the subject of accountability, he said that it had not been possible to develop a comprehensive plan; however there was agreement on how to proceed. He would be convening a working group meeting to develop accountability standards in greater detail.

Mr. Sevan said that last year’s decision to strengthen the Office was already paying off. The Office had been able to reinforce its coordinating role in the security management system. The security and stress-management programme was in full swing and, as of 1 November, mobile training teams had offered training to 8000 staff members in 29 countries.

He urged the Fifth Committee to approve the proposal to appoint a full-time Security Coordinator at the ASG level to ensure the provision of "essential focus and leadership to the UN efforts." [It should be recalled that Mr. Sevan had never been permitted to devote all of his efforts to UNSECOORD because he also functioned as Executive Director, Office of the Iraq Programme.]

On strengthening the Office, the proposal consisted of three components: operations in the field; operations at Headquarters to support the field; and executive direction and management.

As of 28 November, representatives of eight Member States (Argentina, Belgium, Egypt, India, Iran, New Zealand, Norway and the United States of America) had made formal statements (see UN Press Releases GA/AB/3481 and 3482 of 26 and 28 November).

The representative called the security and survival of persons devoting their services to the United Nations "a priority" which must be dealt with "in a way commensurate with the new challenges facing the Organization." The security management system required reinforcement and the person in charge must be a high-level official, endowed with the proper authority. He stressed the need to develop a plan for accountability and the importance of providing adequate financing for training.

The representative reaffirmed that security measures constituted an essential function of the United Nations, which must be coordinated under the authority of the Secretary-General and must receive adequate funding based on fair cost-sharing arrangements. He congratulated UNSECOORD and the administrations for their timely adoption of such arrangements.

He noted that the proposals covered only 64 of the 80 high-risk duty stations and said that coverage was "insufficient" and must be extended to all high-risk duty stations. The issue of defining clear lines of responsibility, accountability and a hierarchical security structure must be resolved quickly.

The representative paid tribute to peacekeeping staff, UNSECOORD staff and all those who worked in the field on a daily basis to prevent conflicts, repair the damage caused by disaster and war, provide assistance to civilian populations, protect the rights of victims, and provide for reconstruction and development.

The representative expressed full support for the proposals of the Secretary-General and expressed concern about the use of the term ‘associated personnel’, stating his hope that the 5^th Committee would not be "dragged into a discussion of the concept or definition of associated personnel."

The representative said the safety and security of UN personnel was "of paramount importance" and that he would work with like-minded delegations to ensure that the highest level of security was provided for UN staff.

The representative stressed the importance of the issue and said that the Organization should take all the necessary steps to update its security management system and provide all the means required to meet its operational needs. The Group of 77 also emphasized the need to define clear lines of responsibility and accountability, which were "an essential element of the proposed changes." In addition, "expeditious action" was required to ensure that all the approved posts in the field were filled.

The representative stressed the high priority of the issue and said that the delegations she represented generally endorsed the conclusions and recommendations contained in the ACABQ report. She looked forward to reviewing elements of an upgrade to Headquarters security and supported strengthening UNSECOORD "as a distinct and clearly identifiable structure, headed by a Coordinator with comprehensive responsibility for security strategy and activities in the field." New authorized posts should be filled expeditiously, and urgent priority should be given to staffing all high-risk duty stations. She stated that it was critical that a similar level of coordination at the strategic and operational levels complemented the degree of cooperation on cost-sharing arrangements.

The representative said that the safety and security of UN staff members was a matter of growing concern because those providing protection and assistance to others had also found themselves increasingly under attack. The "alarming number of deliberate acts of harm done to UN personnel through criminal acts was greatly disturbing." What made the situation even more unacceptable was the fact that the killing of UN personnel had been carried out with almost total impunity. "In the half-century history of the Organization, only six people involved in the violent deaths of international staff had ever been brought to justice."

While the primary responsibility for ensuring the safety and security of UN and associated personnel lay with the parties to the conflict and with host governments, all Member States shared a collective responsibility for protecting the individuals who courageously put their lives on the line in order to provide assistance and protection in areas of open hostility and warfare.

She stressed the importance of defining clear lines of responsibility and accountability, and ensuring complete coverage for all 80 high-risk duty stations.

The representative said that the United States placed particular importance on maintaining the security of UN personnel and stated that "everyone had the responsibility to limit further casualties".

He noted that the current proposal would provide coverage for only 64 out of a total of 80 high-risk duty stations and questioned whether it would be sufficient to provide field security officers with the regional knowledge and expertise necessary to make good security assessments. He would like to see a more balanced and broad-based security-staffing pattern at all 80 duty stations that were rated high-risk.

He also wanted to see accountability standards and a clear chain of command established between the field and Headquarters. Many duty stations were staffed with security officers hired by UN agencies in addition to UNSECOORD staff, creating a "huge potential for confusion at all levels during a crisis and the likelihood that standard procedures would not be followed." It was therefore crucial that UNSECOORD take the lead, providing standard operating procedures and directions for all UN security officers and personnel in the field.

The representative concluded by saying that recent extraordinary circumstances had necessitated rapid responses to crisis situations in the international arena. "In the process, the Security Coordinator’s Office and its established security procedures had been circumvented by some participants." He found that situation dangerous and unacceptable. The United Nations must establish rules and guidelines for security that should be followed in all circumstances. They must be flexible and fluid, so that all parties involved respected them. Accountability was the key to holding the whole system together.