First Quarter March 2018

News & Views;

Views

from XUNICEF

March 20, 2018

Farewell to Tony; Welcome to Henrietta

We said our thanks and goodbyes to Tony Lake, while at the same time inviting him to join us in XUNICEF. Tony worked closely with us in the campaign for Baquer Namazi’s freedom. He accepted our invitation to XUNICEF enthusiastically and is now a member. We also welcomed Henrietta Fore as UNICEF’s new Executive Director. She replied saying that she looked forward to working closely with us.

Those Who Abuse

"This problem has lingered for too long." wrote Executive Director, Henrietta Fore in a letter to staff on February 28th summing up actions she plans to take following several weeks of internal discussions among staff on ending sexual exploitation and abuse. (Continues, Page 3)

Two Years Too Many

“Just wonderful, what a show of human solidarity worldwide...” wrote one member of XUNICEF, summing up the tremendous outpouring of support by retirees for freeing Baquer Namazi after two years of imprisonment in Tehran’s Evin Prison. 450 people from 35 countries participated in photos they contributed of themselves holding placards, calling for Baquer’s freedom. The Facebook postings reached 1,700 people. Fingers crossed for Baquer’s eventual freedom! ( Continues, Page 5)

New Boss, New Priorities

“... your funding priorities tend to go more humanitarian and less development — and that's something we have to find a balance for. As the world becomes heavier in conflict, it drives the need on the humanitarian side higher so as an agency, you have to save lives. But you can't forget that there is a development agenda.”, Henrietta Fore said in Juba, South Sudan. During In her first official field visit since taking office, she went on to announce “a shift in priorities” for UNICEF. .

“I fully agree that it is high time for UNICEF and others to think out of the box!!!, wrote one member.

“I would suggest it is perhaps time to stay inside the box.”, answered another member. “A major problem is aid agencies flitting about on policy to follow the “latest Thinking” or someone’s sexy report that has caught the headlines. Going too slowly? then lets change.” ( Continues, Page 6)

The Ties That Bind Us

“What a labor of love. Thank you for undertaking and for sharing this rich bibliography. It is alive and expanding, strengthening those ties that bind.” commented one member in a thank you to Fouad Kronfol, who has been hard at work assembling a bibliography of works by UNICEF and former UNICEF authors. Have something to add?

Reunion 2018

“Greetings from Bangalore !” Mark your calendars for November 8 to 13. The organizing committee has issued its Memo #1, detailing their latest plans. An update is planned for later this month. See you in Bangalore?

RIP Revy and Allegra

We lost two pillars of UNICEF in recent days. The sad news of Revy Tuhulungwa’s passed away on March 11th shocked us. Then, just this week we suffered another shock when news arrived of Allegra Morelli’s death. Anecdotes, remembrances and condolences have poured in for both.

Quick Reads - other items briefly mentioned

UNICEF staff member killed in CAR 

 A so far unidentified national staff member was killed on February 25th along with a party of five government education personnel in Markounda in the northeast of the Central African Republic.

Una McCauley passes away 

UNICEF former Representative in Togo, Panama, and Sri Lanka, and former child protection officer in Nairobi, Ms. Una McCauley, died on February 23rd. She was serving at the time as UN RC in Sri Lanka at the time of her death..

Good news on long term social development trends 

Tony Kennedy and Nigel Fisher circulated an article on the good news in six trends in world living conditions and the world’s progress on various social development fronts.

More - potentially good news 

A vaccine pill Ebun Ekunwe circulated news of first steps taken on development of pills as an avenue to deliver vaccines..

UN Special Envoys 

Tom McDermott circulated highlighting the outstanding work of our colleagues Staffan de Mistura, UN Special Envoy for Syria and the shaky ceasefire recently agreed there, along with Ismail Cheikh, who recently stepped down following three years service as UN Special Envoy for Yemen. 

The UN - Comedy or Sitcom?

Okay, we knew it was often a comedy, but now a sitcom? Seems someone is finally turning UN life into a TV sitcom. A Canadian producer announced that it is preparing to launch “The Mission”. Admittedly, the first season concerns life in the Canadian Mission to the UN, not the UN, but the creators are former UN staff and promise future seasons in field locations. As if auditors were not enough for field offices to worry about.

Building XUNICEF 

The number of members in XUNICEF is steadily growing. Do you know of friends who are former UNICEF staff and might want to stay in touch? Send them this little form to fill and return to Oscar Fernandez.

Happy Nowruz 2018 ! 

Congratulations to all celebrating the day, which this year falls on March 21st, but the celebration goes on all week. And best wishes for a Happy Spring for everyone in the northern hemisphere.!

Those Who Abuse

(Continued from Page 1)




A parallel discussion among XUNICEF members, began with concerns aired in our group in early February when the UNICEF Netherlands admitted shortcomings in the role UNICEF has played in caring for children abused by UN Peacekeeping troops in the Central African Republic (CAR).



Shortly after the CAR story came a major news story and subsequent political outcry over sexual abuse by some Oxfam aid workers in Haiti. Several former UNICEF staff worried about the impact the political storm might unfairly have on Oxfam's work and by extension on other charities. Two went on to publish articles on the consequences for the world of a disproportionate attack on Oxfam and by extension on the entire aid community. https://newint.org/blog/2018/02/15/trashing-of-oxfam and http://www.ipsnews.net/2018/02/demonizing-oxfam-fair-foul/



The next news to hit was the resignation of UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, Justin Forsyth on February 22nd over accusations concerning his previous post as Chief Executive of UK Save the Children. Forsyth was accused both of mishandling charges of abuse by a subordinate and his own behaviour in sending inappropriate texts and commenting on what young female staff were wearing. He said he was resigning not because of mistakes made, but to protect both UNICEF an SCF.



The following day, February 23rd, Henrietta Fore released a video message to all staff.

https://weshare.unicef.org/Folder/2AMZIF2AAJJY



Someone, perhaps a current staff member, launched an online petition on Change.org calling for more bold steps:

https://www.change.org/p/petition-demanding-unicef-action-on-sexual-harassment-and-abuse-of-authority



At this point it is not clear what will come next. We can be sure though that the story is far from over. The aid community in general along with UNICEF will be under pressure to introduce better monitoring and response mechanisms. Former UNICEF staff along with other current and former aid workers will need to press their respective organizations for improvements in recruitment, mentoring and supervision.

Member comments included:

"So for sure - something has to change in this system for such cases not to reoccur. I believe it might be fair to say that all of us who stayed in the organization for many years ...have stories to tell. "​

"The change has to come from each of us. In our era while we fought silently and vocally against such behavior whenever we could, the tide was not with us. It is now time with # me too and no more campaigns to actually practice zero tolerance. "

"i do believe that this shift in the winds is necessary, but not sufficient to clean up. I just hope we move in a way that it doesn't take us too far the other way. Recalling how the clean-up after "Nairobigate" (1995 i believe) resulted in most managers taking a "risk averse" position on everything! Balance is the key."


"I hope that the "strong" letter does not only refer to alleged cases of harassment / abuse of women, but also that of children and men. And, I hope that the "strong" letter is signed by men and women!"

"I know of such cases but had to keep my mouth shut." ​

"I spoke up in the 80's but the perpetrator was moved to a nice post elsewhere. ....One bad egg amonst many wonderful individuals I had the pleasure of working with​."


"Sexual harassment at work place and Abuse of Authority are related but Abuse of Authority on its own is a separate (and may be even bigger) issue in Unicef.​"


"Sexual harassment and abuse of authority are related in some ways but are two different issues. For now, of course, prevention and taking actions on sexual harassment is the priority." ​

Two Years Too Many

(Continued from page 2)



February 22nd 2018 marked the second anniversary of the arrest and imprisonment of our colleague, Baquer Namazi. Baquer is now 81 years old and suffering from serious cardiac problems, but still facing 8 more years of his sentence for supposed espionage activities. The reality is that he and his younger son, Siamak, are simply two among the 14 dual nationals held in Iran as hostages in continuing negotiations with the US and other western countries over sanctions and nuclear issues.


For anyone not already familiar with the case, see Maggie Black’s great article Another Anniversary to Deplore published on Other News on February 22nd.

From the earliest days when we learned of his arrest, a group of former staff have campaigned for Baquer’s freedom through a campaign of appeals to Iranian officials, letters the UN Secretary General, President of the Executive Board, government officials in the countries where retirees live, press articles, and so forth. Tony Lake was deeply committed to freeing Baquer, and issued a total of five official statements of concern on behalf of UNICEF. The SG also wrote and then met with Iranian President Rouhani and other officials.

While Baquer is still not truly ‘free’, the campaign has provided a great measure of moral support to him and his family, and in particular his wife, Effie, who remains alone in Tehran in order to be able to visit her husband and son. The campaign has also helped to keep up a good level of public awareness of the case and thereby a steady drum of political support - not just in the West, but also in other countries not directly involved in the nuclear debate.


Baquer remains very ill. Prior to prison he underwent a bypass operation, and after going to prison went back to hospital for insertion of a pacemaker. After an emergency trip to hospital in January, the authorities allowed him a short furlough at home.


Following a few days at home recovering, Baquer was sent for examination by the state medical examiner to determine his fitness to return to prison. The state medical authorities recommended that he be allowed to stay at home for a minimum of three additional months. Many of us hoped that this would signal a longer parole. However, despite the recommendations of their own physicians, the government ordered Baquer back to prison two days later. He left a deeply moving letter of thanks to his colleagues for their support in the campaign for his freedom. We received the letter through his elder son in Dubai..


Ten days later Baquer suffered yet another emergency cardiac event and was again in hospital. He is now again home on furlough, and we are praying that the authorities will now leave him there. There may never be a formal parole or pardon, but more likely an unannounced de facto ‘house arrest’ - a sort of ‘decision not to decide’. While this is agonizing for Baquer and his family, it is certainly better than a return to prison.


As happened for last year’s first anniversary, Maggie Black and a small group of volunteers this year organized a photo campaign which called for UN and UNICEF former and current staff to submit photos of themselves holding placards calling for Baquer’s release.


The turn-out this year was enormous. As mentioned above, 450 retirees and their families and friends from 35 countries joined in the campaign. Many groups came together for the photos. In addition to groups from Japan, South Asia, and NY which participated last year, this year saw many new groups join from Europe, Africa, Central and South America.


See many of the photos here, or click the Facebook link shown here and above. A full set will be published sometime soon.

New Boss, New Priorities

( Continued from Page 1)




Shortly following her return to NYHQ Ms. Fore issued a message to staff on partnerships UN Reform, and cost-efficiencies and attaches the SG’s report to the GA on Repositioning the UN for the 2030 Agenda . She says, “As we embark on ‘year one’ of our new Strategic Plan, this reform is an opportunity to bring fresh ideas to all aspects of UNICEF’s work.”




Comments followed quickly from members on both the Juba statement and this latest message to staff.




“Re-boot? I wonder if the new Ex Dir can lead that. I wonder if the Organisation is ready for that?”




“Many UNICEF representatives I knew who felt that the first thing they had to do when appointed was to change the existing programme and staff. Out with the old, in with the new... There is so much merit in bringing about change only after a sufficient period of observation, reflection and learning !!”




“I totally agree with you and was very puzzled when the new EXD came with her statement- after only one visit to the field.”




“Maybe the new EXD felt that she had to make a statement of some kind being new to UNICEF, thinking that a change is something that is expected with every new EXD to the organization? I don't know, but it would have been good if she had at least waited until she had set her feet on the ground in a variety of UNICEF supported countries and seen the work the organization supports on the ground. That would have given her an opportunity to reflect on what we do, how we do thing sand what she might find timely and appropriate to change. Change for the sake of change is seldom very effective and it also meets a lot of resistance among staff and partners. “




“I too of course hope that the new ExDir will be bold, unconventional, progressive and ensure that children’s rights remain at the heart of the work of UNICEF & that she will speak out unequivocally whenever children’s rights are disregarded - no matter what the politics & interests might be.”




“Agencies have to stay the course. It is a long and winding road, but due to fickle and ever changing programmes, too much chasing Donors white and green papers, too much “thinking outside the box”, that road has led us back to where we started.”




“UNICEF field staff have been (are being) bombarded by endless processes requested by UNICEF HQ in the last 20 years, particularly after the decentralisation of responsibilities to the Regional Offices and the start of UN reforms. It seems that some parties in UNICEF HQ have to justify their existence by keeping on adding processes after processes.”




“UNICEF was gradually becoming an Agency of processes, with less and less time available on interactions with partners, implementers and beneficiaries of UNICEF-assisted programmes. Some staff would say we are gradually metamorphosing in bureaucrats or "glorifying clerks" and losing our edge as a front line field organisation.”




“Changing UNICEF’s approach to development may be difficult. In particular, I would prefer UNICEF not to march to the tune of the private sector. It should be the other way around, with UNICEF impacting the way the private sector operates.”




“The focus on the increasing role of the private sector can be either good or not so good. I would have personally preferred another angle to this whole discussion but then of course we have to wait and see.




“The ExDir is pushing for a focus on adolescent’s skill training/vocational training. …. I am not so sure that I agree with such a focus considering various issues but then again - we will have to keep an open eye and wait and see.




“What is for sure is that the situation of millions and millions of children in the world today calls for a departure from the way the development/humanitarian organizations have worked so far and calls for out-of-the-box/even ‘radical' thinking and consistent engagement with rights-holders as well as duty-bearers to address the underlying causes leading to so many children being uprooted, targeted in conflicts and/or losing their lives and chances to lack of access to quality education, health, nutrition, sanitation and protection services.




“I'm not sure of what entity is being referred to in needing to shift to "sustainable developmental priorities" and away from "bandaging small wounds". This is certainly not the UNICEF I know of the 1990s and early 2000s. Has the entire organization abandoned sustainable developmental priorities in favorable of bandaging in the last six or eight years?




“That said, of course new ideas and rethinking of priorities are always welcome in my view. Greater private sector involvement in the promotion of children's rights, welfare, protection and development is needed with the Gates Foundation work an excellent example.




“I was watching TV last evening, BBC news, quoting UNICEF and telling us about high IMR, lack of water, children not educated etc etc. Deja Vu. Someone has turned the clock back 30 years i thought.”




“When I hear people saying lack of water and sanitation, then i remember how water and sanitation were blacklisted and almost thrown out of UNICEF, just when the programme was picking up speed.. well...΅




Several members suggested that former staff set up a group who could advise the Executive Director on any refocusing efforts in light of their experience and the history of past reform efforts. Proposals for how to present this idea were raised, along with the question of how best to make the advice of retirees something the Exdir would actively seek and value.




“A group of exUNICEFers could be constituted to assist the EXDIR and the Organisation in reviewing the whole UNICEF policy for capacity building of its staff (+ NatComs) and come-up with a long term strategy to improve the UNICEF approach and content with sufficient human/financial resources. Later-on the same ex-UNICEFer group could help in monitoring the implementation of that strategy and provide further assistance if when needed. “





The discussion then veered a bit off topic and turned the the leaders which made UNICEF great. Some members began listing leaders with whom they had worked and admired. It took only a short time before others noted that the initial lists included only men. What about the women? Further lists of greatly admired women leaders quickly followed. Soon there were calls from both women and men “to please stop these lists”, which some saw as sexist and others as having no point.




Leadership and what an effective Executive Director might do to push UNICEF forward then returned as the focus of discussion by members.




“Without leadership, others take UNICEF space as a child rights agency adopt our mandate and strategies, and UNICEF is left behind as a second hand agency. It has already started and some like to call it " partnership" although it is cutting the feet under our existence and strength as an agency.”




Some members asked whether the changes sought by the new Executive Director that reflect donor and public lack of understanding of the progress so far made and resulting donor pressures.




“This divergence of perspectives - internal and external - has haunted UNICEF for a long time, perhaps it is widening. Internally UNICEF tends to judge itself on what has been achieved or is in progress, which is substantial and noteworthy! Outsiders tend to judge UNICEF on perceptions of what hasn't or isn't being done, which is justifiable and a matter for serious consideration. Perhaps both perspectives are true. The organization would benefit by giving more attention to understanding these divergent perspectives.”




“It is an important message that the good work being done is not visible outside the organization; even strong believers who have been a part of UNICEF for decades cannot now from an external perspective see nor do they hear what is being done by UNICEF and its staff. Recognizing how difficult that is in today's world of information overload, that should be taken seriously for if we feel in the dark, how much more might others have an even greater lack of understanding. On the other hand, it is not good enough to tout the good that is being done; there are also many reasons why the current approach deserves to be debated, when judged against what is not being done (actual needs including threat to basic rights).”




“At some point UNICEF lost the script, when professional fundraisers started leading country programs. Writing colourful (and here I mean, in every sense of the word) donor reports became a bona fide task in itself, and if anyone raised any questions about the veracity of the information, one was considered a renegade. While funds chased UNICEF earlier, instead in this new generation program environment, UNICEF started chasing funds.”




Many members pointed to suspicions that UNICEF’s rights agenda may be lost amidst a push for ‘solid development outcomes’. They pointed to an child rights advocacy role UNICEF should be playing in the developed world.




“We know, and have known for some considerable time, what is needed. Duty bearers have to pick up the cudgel and lead their own programmes instead of accepting whatever a donor or aid agency wants and wants them to do.




“Seems that the two last EXDs have not liked the idea that they have to advocate for children's rights. Within a changing world and the many threats and challenges facing children, UNICEF must be much more proactive in overseeing and advocating for the implementation of the CRC with governments and partners, including those in socalled industrialized countries. This is UNICEF's mandate, and it is alarming that very little is done in this respect. Sometimes it even seems that advocacy is left for other children's agencies to do.”




“If change is the idea for the new EXD a more action oriented advocacy in all countries, including the so called industrialized ones is what she should take on, personally and for the organization. This would increase UNICEF's credibility in industrialized countries, in particular, where UNICEF has been reduced to a charity and resource mobilizer. “




“To change the notion that UNICEF is only a fundraising office in industrialized countries, has to happen very fast in order to save children from further harassment, imprisonment and return to countries in war and conflict. Instead of only seeing the foreign minister during country visits, filing requests for more funding, she should visit the Parliament, the ministries of Justice, the ministry of Family/children affairs, and go to the asylum seeker camps, and temporary "prisons" for children, where they are kept before they are returned to war torn countries by the first morning flights. “




“I agree it is sad how the CRC seems to have been forgotten. A couple of years ago the British Prime Minister Cameron was talking about something and i was thinking yes that’s the CRC, hey thats the CRC!! it is a legal instrument after all but it seems even our own developed countries have, perhaps conveniently, forgotten about it.”

Retiree Advisory Group?

As we learn more about UNICEF’s ‘new Strategic Plan’ discussions will likely return in XUNICEF. There will also be efforts to interest the new Executive Director in establishing a retiree advisory group.




Stay tuned !!

PDF copy

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1m6u9U568inxF3HSzKAQcgZTvleOm_4F-