22 November 2002

"We have an over-riding duty to ensure that we are able to work in a supportive environment – with zero tolerance for any form of stigmatisation or discrimination at the workplace." (Peter Piot – December 2001.)

FICSA participated in a discussion forum on HIV/AIDS in the UN system workplace on 20 November 2002 in Geneva. The forum was organized by UNAIDS to inform participants (HR professionals, staff counsellors, staff representatives and medical service professionals) about progress made to ensure that all staff receive adequate and appropriate medical care and treatment, counselling and support, and to identify the roles that should be played by each category of participant.

Presentations were made on the key components of a workplace policy, current activities and challenges ahead. Participants were informed about a new Joint Learning Strategy for HIV/AIDS for the UN system, which aims to strengthen UN system national response on HIV/AIDS and help staff to understand and respond to HIV/AIDS in the UN workplace.

A key component of the Joint Learning Strategy is the Learning Needs Assessment, which consists of 3 surveys, each targeted to a different group: Individual Staff Members, Human Resources Officers and Facilitators and Trainers. FICSA was asked to promote the survey among the membership and to encourage all individual staff members to complete the questionnaire.

The Learning Strategy website is at: www.developmentgateway.org/unhivlearning. Staff are encouraged to visit the site and to register as a member.

The survey is confidential and should be completed by as many individual UN staff members as possible. This survey will be open for UN system staff based in Switzerland from 25 November until 13 December 2002. Dates have not yet been released for other duty stations.

Please find attached the presentations that were made at the forum and the Guide to implementing the HIV/AIDS Workplace Learning Needs Assessment.