Safety and security
Under the Staff Regulations, the Secretary-General shall seek to ensure "that all necessary safety and security arrangements are made for staff carrying out the responsibilities entrusted to them"[1]. The current framework for safety and security in the United Nations system was established by the General Assembly in section XI of resolution 59/276, which established both the Department of Safety and Security (DSS) and the United Nations security management system (UNSMS).
Security management system
The UN security management system consists of the policies and structures in place to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property.
Framework of accountability
The framework of accountability establishes the roles and responsibilities within the security management system[2]. These include:
- The Secretary-General
- Chief administrative officer of the Organization; accountable for the overall safety and security of United Nations personnel, premises and assets.
- Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security
- Appointed by the Secretary-General under the terms of resolution 59/276. Oversees DSS and exercises delegated authority from the Secretary-General to make decisions relevant to the direction and control of the UNSMS.
- Designated official
- The most senior United Nations official present in a country, the DO is accountable to the Secretary-General, through the Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security, for the security of United Nations personnel, premises and assets within the country or designated area.
- Chief Security Adviser
- Security professional appointed by the Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security to advise the DO on matters of safety and security.
- Security Management Team
- Country-level security coordination mechanism chaired by the DO and which includes the heads of each United Nations system organization present at the duty station as well as the chief security adviser.
- Inter-Agency Security Management Network
- Main governance mechanism for the UNSMS. Subsidiary body of the High-Level Committee on Management consisting of the senior managers overseeing security functions within each member organization of the UNSMS.
Applicability
Personnel covered by United Nations security arrangements include staff members and eligible family members, interns, United Nations Volunteers, consultants and individually-deployed military and police personnel. Military and police contingents (troops and members of formed police units) are covered under separate mechanisms.[3]
Security risk management policy
The security risk management policy is a structured approach to identifying harmful events (threats) that may affect the achievement of objectives, assessing the likelihood and impact of those threats and identifying an appropriate response. The combination of likelihood and impact translates into five levels of security risk: low, medium, high, very high and unacceptable. The policy outlines the four approaches to addressing security risks, namely controlling risk, avoiding risk, transferring risk and accepting risk. [4]
Programme criticality
The purpose of the programme criticality framework is to assess programmatic priorities in changing or volatile security situations. The responsibility for programme criticality lies with the senior United Nations representative in country responsible for programmes (i.e. the resident coordinator or Special Representative of the Secretary-General).
Annual report
An annual report is issued by the Secretary-General on safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel, which is considered under the plenary agenda item "Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations". Prior to the 53rd session, this information was contained in a report to the Fifth Committee on respect for the privileges and immunities of officials of the United Nations and the specialized agencies and related organizations.
Report | Year | Resolution | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
A/75/246 | 2019-20 | ||
A/74/464 | 2018-19 | 74/116 | |
A/73/392, Corr.1 and Corr.2 | 2017-18 | 73/137 | |
A/72/490 | 2016-17 | 72/131 | |
A/71/395 | 2015-16 | 71/129 | |
A/70/383 | 2014-15 | 70/104 | |
A/69/406 | 2013-14 | 69/133 | |
A/68/489 | 2012-13 | 68/101 | |
A/67/492 | 2011-12 | 67/85 |
See also
- Privileges and immunities
- UN Security Policy Manual
- ST/SGB/2013/5 Organization of the Department of Safety and Security