U.N. Survey – Staff Blasts Organization 

Stewart Stogel
June 15, 2004 
Newsmax
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2004/6/15/102819.shtml

United Nations -- Staff members feel unprotected when reporting violations of codes of conduct, is just one of the findings contained in a survey of United Nations employees conducted by Deloitte Consulting. 
The survey entitled United Nations Organizational Integrity Survey 2004 (Final Report), is a compilation of responses to a e-mail query of more than 18,000 U.N. staffers worldwide. Deloitte claims more than 1/3 of all U.N. employees answered the e-mail. 
A copy of the narrowly circulated report was obtained by NewsMax. 
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, seeking to spin the survey's findings, says in a letter to staffers (dated June 4); staff believe that not enough action is taken to investigate and address instances of unethical behavior and that those who expose such breeches may put themselves at risk of reprisal. 
Annan added: Few staff think that there is widespread fraud or financial corruption in the Organization. 
The U.N. chief conveniently ignored the fact that senior management of the Organization's worldwide security system have either been transferred or retired in the last three months. 
Not only were there repeated charges of serious incompetence at the executive level following last year's bombing of the U.N.'s Baghdad center (leaving 24 dead and more than 150 wounded), but subsequent financial questions arose during budget hearings in April and May (2004). 
Even now, serious charges against senior members of Annan's staff and his internal oversight department (by a self proclaimed whistle-bower) regarding allegations of a multimillion dollar embezzlement, are the subject of an ongoing internal audit. 
That audit is in addition to an ongoing commission of inquiry seeking to obtain information regarding an alleged embezzlement ranging from $6-10 bil. in the U.N.’s Iraq Oil for Food Program (which ran from 1996-2003). 
The Deloitte study says that fear of retaliation is inhibiting more staffers from coming forward. 
While retaliation is one highlighted problem, the Deloitte study also pointed out that UN staffers believe that integrity and ethical behavior are not taken sufficiently into account in the selection, promotion and assessment processes. 
In his letter, Annan explains: 
Ultimately, perceptions of integrity are shaped by our behavior, our actions and even by our choice of language. A determined effort is being made to articulate integrity concepts and to incorporate them into the training of managers at all levels. In short, we are determined to mainstream these concepts as a daily reality in all our lives and in our professional development. 
The Secretary-General does admit, Staff also perceive that the disciplinary process is applied unevenly, and the outcome of the process is generally not known. 
Annan says, the recommendations of the survey provide a rich range of options. 
To decide on the best options, the U.N. chief explained he will create (yet another) consultative group consisting of a cross-section of staff at different levels, both from New York and from offices away from headquarters. 
Whistle-blowers will be protected insists Annan: We will also develop measures to reinforce formal protection for whistle-blowers, while ensuring that they are not used to cloak false accusations. 
In closing, the Secretary-General says: I want to stress that I am fully committed to addressing the concerns that all of you (staff) have identified in this survey. 
Unfortunately, more than a week after the survey's findings were released to the U.N. staff, most employees have yet to read or even find copies of the study.