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STU/65th Council/13/024
19 November 2013

UNESCO’s Constitution places humanism at the core of the Organization’s unique mission

The UNESCO Staff Union (STU) recognizes the need to reform the Organization and to reduce its budget, but this cannot be brought about solely through shaking up human resources without justification on programme grounds.

STU draws the attention of the Director-General and the Member States to the fact that, in the complete absence of clear justification, a clear restructuring plan, a human resources emergency plan and practical solidarity mechanisms, terminations would violate UNESCO’s humanist essence.

Indeed, STU is concerned that separations, which will not be based on any coherent and logical programmatic and organic reform, or on clearly-set objectives, will be the result of arbitrary decisions based either on purely financial considerations or, worse still, personal issues.

It is essential to establish a comprehensive, justified and concise restructuring plan which clearly delineates the new objectives, programme priorities and activities and the organizational structure which will result from staff cuts and/or redeployment.

Furthermore, STU is concerned about the reform of the governance of the Medical Benefits Fund (MBF). As stated in paragraph 5 of its resolution dated 4 September 2013, the Extraordinary General Assembly of MBF Participants, sovereign in the matter, “considers that it is premature to take a decision on the proposed new Rules and governance structure; and decides to adjourn the Assembly until the External Auditor’s Report is made available to it”.

The draft resolution approved by the APX Commission on 8 November, deciding to amend the Rules of the Medical Benefits Fund as set out in document 37 C/38 Add. Part 3, violates the rights of staff members in a system in which they are stakeholders.

The Director-General and the Member States have emphasized on many occasions that the staff is the Organization’s most valuable asset. STU can but share that position.

Defending the staff is also defending UNESCO.