Ursula Wellen: Guidance to Staff on political activities

Dear colleagues,

As an organization, we continue our commitment to living UNICEF's values in 2020, to emphasize ethical awareness and behaviours, and to cultivate a culture of ethics and integrity, which also includes the values of independence and impartiality.


With respect to the latter, we in the Ethics Office often receive queries regarding the extent to which UNICEF personnel may participate in political activities. Today's message is intended to help us better understand and remind us of the scope of permissible political activities, as UNICEF personnel and as international civil servants.

UN Staff Regulation 1.2 recognizes that while "staff members' personal views and convictions, remain inviolable, staff members must ensure that those views and convictions do not adversely affect their official duties or the interests of the United Nations". All of us are therefore required to conduct ourselves at all times in a manner befitting our status as international civil servants and must not engage in any activity that is incompatible with the proper discharge of our duties. This applies to us regardless of whether we are internationally or locally recruited, we all have the status of international civil servants and are required to maintain independence and impartiality.

UNICEF personnel should avoid any action and, in particular, any kind of public pronouncement that may adversely reflect on their status, or on the integrity, independence and impartiality that are required by that status. This means for instance that while we have of course the right to vote, and while we may also be a member of a political party, we must avoid publicly visible partisan activities that are inconsistent with our status.

Pursuant to our UN obligations, we must therefore exercise extreme discretion in our support (or opposition) of any one particular political party or campaign. This applies for instance in the context of national elections and also with respect to any other divisive political topics or campaigns – and it applies to all of us worldwide, no matter where.

By way of example, here is a list of political activities that we must refrain from as international civil servants. This list is obviously non-exhaustive, and we would strongly recommend that you contact the Ethics Office whenever you are in doubt as to what may be acceptable or not acceptable. 

*Running for political office or undertaking political campaigning;
*Attending political or politically motivated rallies and demonstrations to the extent they could be perceived as advocating for or against one particular government, candidate or party, as well as other acts of public protest or civil unrest;
*Fundraising for political parties or candidates;
*Financial contributions to particular political candidates, (although financial contributions to a political party are allowed); 

* Publicly speaking or advocating for one candidate, party or position over another;
* Public pronouncements or actions that may adversely reflect on the integrity and impartiality that is required by your status as an individual working with the UN. A public pronouncement can be oral or written, or carrying placards or wearing buttons or articles of clothing that advocate a certain political point of view.

Activity on social media may also amount to a public pronouncement. Also, with respect to social media, we must exercise discretion and good judgment in making posts, tweeting or re-tweeting and indicating 'likes' of other people's posts, and avoid accepting or soliciting money for political support. We must refrain from posting comments or articles that promote or criticize any particular government, political candidate, or party. For further guidance, please see UNICEF Guidance Note on the use of Social Media.

Writing articles, making public speeches or giving statements to the press regarding politically charged matters are also considered to be public pronouncement. We are not authorized to speak on behalf of UNICEF on political matters unless to do so is part of our official UNICEF duties or functions. (Note that unless these activities are part of your official UNICEF duties or functions, prior approval is needed).

For further reference, please see the following:

Ethics Office Website

Ethics Office Webinar on Political Activities 2019

Ethics Office Webinar on Political Activities 2017

FAQs on Political Activities

UNICEF's Executive Directive on Outside Activities

Standard of Conduct for the International Civil Service

If you need further information or advice, as always, please do feel free to contact the Ethics Office: +1-212-326-7630 or Email: ethics@unicef.org.

With best wishes for the New Year and beyond,

Ursula Wellen

Principal Adviser

Ethics