Vienna, 16 April 2019 - New guidelines to support ongoing efforts for a working environment that embraces equality, eradicates bias and is inclusive of all staff across the United Nations System were launched in Vienna on 11 April.
The Human Resources Management Service of the UN Office at Vienna (UNOV) and UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in partnership with the Gender Team and the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), presented the guidelines recently published by UN Women to Member States and staff.
The event was opened by Giovanni Gallo, Senior Legal Officer at UNODC representing Yury Fedotov, Director-General of UNOV and UNODC Executive Director, and Fatou Haidara, Managing Director of Corporate Management and Operations at UNIDO. Both speakers highlighted the importance of promoting an inclusive workplace.
The Enabling Environment Guidelines provide a valuable aid […], identifying concrete good practices for both management and individuals to help create lasting change, said Mr Gallo.
Katja Pehrman, Senior Advisor at UN Women, gave further insights into the importance of these guidelines to support improvements in the organizational culture and how they are linked to the UN Secretary-General's gender parity strategy. She stressed that "All recommendations of the guidelines serve to take steps towards fostering a safe and supportive workplace in which employees are respected and have equal opportunities, while balancing personal and professional commitments."
Further speakers presented measures already implemented to foster an inclusive organizational culture. Participants also discussed the challenges in the implementation and monitoring of the Guidelines and emphasized the need to pay particular attention to the field offices.
Delegations expressed their appreciation and support for the Guidelines published by UN Women and recognized the ongoing efforts of UNOV/UNODC and UNIDO to create an enabling work environment free from bias and inclusive of all. With this, as the delegate from Switzerland concluded, the organizations are "Not only counting women but making women count."
Enabling Environment Guidelines for the United Nations System
