The United Nations special rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association said he is “disappointed” by a move by the United Nations that he says undermines staff’s “obligation and responsibility” to stand up for human rights.
Special Rapporteur Maina Kiai’s comments came in response to an email seen by Devex that was sent by the U.N.’s ethics office in New York reminding staff that taking part in marches, protests and other activities may be “incompatible” with the code of conduct for international civil servants.
The email was sent to staff on Jan. 20, the day before the Global Women’s March, to answer questions raised by staff about whether they can participate in “political activities and social media discussions,” including the Women’s March on Washington. The email concludes that “participating in certain activities, especially those with political overtones, may be viewed as incompatible with our status as international civil servants.”
About the author
Sophie Edwards
Sophie Edwards is a Devex Contributing Reporter covering global education, water and sanitation, and innovative financing, along with other topics. She has previously worked for NGOs, and the World Bank, and spent a number of years as a journalist for a regional newspaper in the U.K. She has a master's degree from the Institute of Development Studies and a bachelor's from Cambridge University.
