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ALESSANDRA VELLUCCI
Exclusive: “Without Aggressive Cash Conservation Measures,” UN Could “Default on Its Legal Obligations,” Warns Antonio Guterres
The severity of the liquidity crisis of the UN, first revealed by The Geneva Observer and outlined in a December 28, 2023, interoffice memorandum by the organization’s controller, has now been confirmed by a subsequent letter from the UN Secretary-General himself, dated January 25, 2024. Antonio Guterres’ note, obtained
The UN in Geneva: Please Leave the Lights Off
The UN is politically embattled these days. It is also seriously cash-strapped. The Palais des Nations will shut down from December 20 and reopen on January 7 in a cost-saving effort to offset increased electricity costs unaccounted for in its regular budget for 2023. “During that period, staff members will
#120 The G|O Briefing, December 1, 2022
The ICRC's "silent failure" on Ukraine — Geneva's role in demining efforts — A new US-Chinese bipolar world? Maybe not! — A response from the UN
UN puts a price on media access
“The UN is telling us that only money can allow coverage of UN and UN agencies activities,” one reporter observes. “This runs completely against the UN General Assembly’s resolutions.”
#119 The G|O Briefing, November 24, 2022
Human rights defenders cheer UN vote | Stop bothering us, UN tells the press | Alaa Abd El-Fattah is still in jail. His sister talks to The G|O |
#111 THE G|O Briefing, September 29, 2022
WESTERN RELIEF AFTER ITU VOTE | ANXIETY AT CONFERENCE ON DISARMAMENT |SPEAKING FOR THE UN | AUROCRACIES NEVER COLLAPSE NICELY | FIFA AND WTO! FOUL
Adjusted to hybrid working and afflicted by vaccine hesitancy, will the Palais ever go back to normal?
In 2021, just over 5,000 meetings were held, out of which around 2,300 were in person and 2,400 in a hybrid format. Geneva came close to a shut-down.
The precarious reality of the UN's external employees
They represent nearly half of the UN’s global workforce, according to the latest figures available (published in a 2014 Joint Inspection Unit report), but Geneva’s UN consultants and individual contractors continue to suffer precarious employment conditions.
A freshly invigorated association has decided to address the issue. The Consultants
#102 The G|O Briefing, June 23, 2022
Fighting for better working conditions for the UN’s outside workforce - WTO: Yes it can!