After
Month of UN Abuse and Ban
Inner City Press' Formal
Complaint to Guterres' UN
Security
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS,
August 6 -- A month after
Inner City Press' reporter was
roughed up by UN Secretary
General Antonio Guterres'
Security officers as he
covered the UN Budget
Committee meeting on Guterres'
$6.7 billion budget, a formal
complaint has been filed,
here. After Guterres' UN
banned Inner City Press from
entering the building while
taking no action against the
UN Department of Safety and
Security (DSS) officers who
engaged in brutality on July
3, the UN's impunity is
challenged in the filing,
under the UN's rules the Under
Secretary General of DSS Peter
Drennan of Australia but
copied and directed to
Guterres, to whom additional
arguments have been made,
watch this site. From the text
of the filing with UN
Security: REPORT OF PROHIBITED
CONDUCT (HARASSMENT, ABUSE OF
AUTHORITY) AND ‘FORMAL
COMPLAINT’ SUBMITTED TO UN
UNDER SECRETARY GENERAL FOR
SAFETY AND SECURITY, MR PETER
DRENNAN, PURSUANT TO
ST/SGB/2008/5
Dear Under
Secretary General Drennan,
I am a journalist who has been
reporting on the UN and its
specialized agencies since
2005. I became accredited by
the UN in 2005 and was a
Resident Correspondent from
2006 into 2016, when while
covering the Ng Lap Seng /
John Ashe UN bribery scandal I
had my accreditation reduced
to non-resident correspondent.
My articles are widely read
around the world as well as
within UN Headquarters in New
York and other UN duties
stations, by Member States, UN
staff and by those with an
interest in the workings of
the organization. My articles
are frequently critical of the
UN establishment and its
senior officials. I have
broken the news on many of the
most significant stories in
the UN, including on sexual
abuse, notably in relation to
child sexual abuse in the
Central African Republic,
Cameroon and retaliation
against whistleblowers across
the UN system. I have reported
on irregular UN appointments
and promotions, including in
relation to DSS staff, and
also on DSS’ processing of a
threat against former UNESCO
Director General Irina
Bokova. The fact that I
bear witness to inconvenient
truths is no justification for
my censure and ill-treatment.
I hereby submit
to you, as the ‘responsible
official’ at the UN Department
of Safety and Security
(pursuant to ST/SGB/2008/5), a
report of prohibited conduct
and ‘formal complaint’ of
severe harassment and abuse of
authority against me by UN
Department of Safety and
Security staff (DSS) member
Lieutenant Ronald E. Dobbins
and four other unnamed DSS
staff members. These five DSS
staff members harassed me,
including using physical
force, and abused their
authority to have me removed
from the UN premises, in
violation of ST/SGB/2008/5 and
of the UN Media Access
Guidelines and other UN
policies, as well as the right
to freedom of
expression. The
harassment and abuse of
authority against me occurred
inside UN premises on 22 June
2018, when Lt. Dobbins and
four members of DSS' Emergency
Response Unit (ERU)—who
refused to identify
themselves—expelled me from
the building and again on 3
July 2018 with a DSS officer
who did not give his name but
who tore my shirt and twisted
my arm.
On 22 June 2018 I
was working at the UN as an
accredited journalist, in
compliance with the UN Media
Access Guidelines, covering an
event in the General Assembly
that was listed in the UN
Media Alert as beginning
at 6 pm, but for which
Secretary General Guterres
only arrived at 6:45
pm to give his speech.
At 7:15 pm I was
going back up to the so-called
media bullpen Room S-408 on
the fourth floor of the
Secretariat Building to write
my article about the Secretary
General's speech when Lt.
Dobbins stopped me at the
turnstile and wrongfully
ordered me leave the building.
(Significantly, I have
previously published an
article, on
InnerCityPress.com, with a
leaked DSS email about
irregularities with Dobbins'
and others' promotions.) In
response, I requested that Lt.
Dobbins call the Media
Accreditation Unit, so that
they could inform him of the
rule that states that I can
stay in the UN building for an
advised event after 7
pm and for one hour
after.
But Lt. Dobbins
refused to call the Media
Accreditation Unit and instead
called four ERU officers, who
proceeded to physically push
me out through the lobby, even
as I pointed out to them other
non-resident correspondents
remaining behind. (Some were
to attend, and on information
pay for, the DSS barbecue with
cash bar that night just
outside the GA lobby). I asked
for the ERU officers' names
and Lt. Dobbins told them not
to provide it and instead
stated “you've got my name.”
But even that he refused to
spell, telling me “Spell it
how you want.” All of this was
captured on video.
On 3 July 2018 I
was covering the advised Fifth
(Budget) Committee meetings in
the 1B basement, interviewing
the Committee chair Tommo
Monthe in the Vienna Cafe area
and preparing to upload the
interview when I was
physically grabbed by Lt.
Dobbins and an unnamed partner
(DSS staff member). I was
forced out of the building
while the Budget meeting I had
a right to cover (as I have
for ten years, including the
last two as a non-resident
correspondent) continued
to 4 am. My arm was
hurt, my shirt torn, and my
laptop damaged. A video
record of this use of force
against me is available on
Innnercitypress.com. I filed a
criminal report with the
17th Precinct of the New
York Police Department (NYPD)
on 4 July 2018.
On July 5, 2018,
the day after I filed the
criminal report with the NYPD,
I was informed by DSS officers
that I was “banned” from the
UN and have remained so as of
that date. I am told there is
a letter banning me and that
my photo is in an array of
such banned people, putting me
at risk. My repeated requests
to DSS staff for the reasons
for my ban and for a copy of
the letter banning me remain
unanswered. I have also asked
which UN official took the
decision to ban me, but have
not been told.
The ejection,
including by force, and
continued exclusion of an
accredited journalist from the
UN premises constitutes
prohibited conduct, harassment
and an abuse of authority, as
defined by ST/SGB/2008/5. This
policy sates that complaints
can be made by any person who
may have been subjected to
prohibited conduct by a UN
staff member in a work-related
situation. Please confirm
receipt of this filing
immediately.
COMPLAINANT
1. Matthew
Russell Lee, US citizen,
journalist, accredited since
2005 by the UN, with Inner
City Press:
http://www.innercitypress.com/
RECEIVABILITY
2. This Complaint
is submitted to you pursuant
to the following regulations
and guidelines:
Secretary General’s bulletin
‘Prohibition of
discrimination, harassment,
including sexual harassment,
and abuse of authority’
(ST/SGB/2008/5)
UN Media Access Guidelines
ICSC Standards of Conduct for
the International Service
UN Staff Regulations and Rules
Secretary General’s bulletin
‘Delegation of authority in
the administration of the
Staff Regulations and Staff
Rules’
3. ST/SGB/2015/1
ST/SGB/2008/5, paragraph 5.11,
requires the ‘aggrieved
individual’ to submit a
complaint to the head of
department, or office.
Accordingly, I am submitting
this complaint to you as the
head of DSS. I have sent a
copy of this complaint to the
Department of Human Resources,
consistent with the
requirements of ST/SGB/2005/8.
4. ST/SGB/2005/8 states:
2.3 In their interactions with
others, all staff members are
expected to act with
tolerance, sensitivity and
respect for differences. Any
form of prohibited conduct in
the workplace or in connection
with work is a violation of
these principles and may lead
to disciplinary action,
whether the prohibited conduct
takes place in the workplace,
in the course of official
travel or an official mission,
or in other settings in which
it may have an impact on the
workplace.
5. My complaint is clearly
receivable under paragraph 2.4
of ST/SGB/2008/5, which
states:
2.4 The present bulletin shall
apply to all staff of the
Secretariat. Complaints of
prohibited conduct may be made
by any staff member,
consultant, contractor, gratis
personnel, including interns,
and any other person who may
have been subject to
prohibited conduct on the part
of a staff member in a
work-related situation.
6. The prohibited
conduct, harassment and abuse
authority was perpetrated by
DSS staff members in a
work-related situation, in the
UN premises, when both the
staff members and I were
working.
7. Further, ST/SGB/2008/5
states:
3.2 Managers and
supervisors have the duty to
take all appropriate measures
to promote a harmonious work
environment, free of
intimidation, hostility,
offence and any form of
prohibited conduct. They must
act as role models by
upholding the highest
standards of conduct. Managers
and supervisors have the
obligation to ensure that
complaints of prohibited
conduct are promptly addressed
in a fair and impartial
manner. Failure on the part of
managers and supervisors to
fulfil their obligations under
the present bulletin may be
considered a breach of duty,
which, if established, shall
be reflected in their annual
performance appraisal, and
they will be subject to
administrative or disciplinary
action, as appropriate.
3.3 Heads of
department/office are
responsible for the
implementation of the present
bulletin in their respective
departments/offices and for
holding all managers and other
supervisory staff accountable
for compliance with the terms
of the present bulletin.
8. Under the
policy, as the head of
department you are required to
ensure that my complaint of
prohibited conduct is promptly
addressed in a “fair and
impartial manner”. Failure to
declare and address a conflict
of interest constitutes
misconduct under the Code of
Conduct for International
Civil Servants and UN Staff
Regulations and Rules, to
which you are bound. Should
you decide that you have a
conflict of interest in my
case, given my public
reporting of allegations of
wrongdoing at the highest
levels of DSS, I request that
you refer my complaint to the
Secretary General.
NATURE OF THE
COMPLAINT
9. Staff of UNDSS
have engaged in prohibited
conduct, including harassment
and physical force and abuse
authority towards me, as
defined under paragraphs 1.2
(harassment) and 1.4 (abuse of
authority) of ST/SGB/2008/5.
The UNDSS staff engaged in
this prohibited conduct
include Lieutenant Ronald E.
Dobbins and five unnamed staff
of the Emergency Response
Unit.
10. On 22 June 2018 I was
working at the UN as an
accredited journalist, in
compliance with the UN Media
Access Guidelines, covering an
event in the General Assembly
that was listed in the UN
Media Alert as beginning
at 6 pm, but for which
Secretary General Guterres
only arrived at 6:45
pm to give his speech.
11. At 7:15
pm I was going back up to
the so-called media bullpen
Room S-408 on the fourth floor
of the Secretariat Building to
write my article about the
Secretary General's speech
when Lt. Dobbins stopped me at
the turnstile and wrongfully
ordered me leave the building.
In response, I requested that
Lt. Dobbins call the Media
Accreditation Unit, so that
they could inform him of the
rule that states that I can
stay in the UN building for an
advised event after 7
pm and for one hour
after.
12. But Lt. Dobbins refused to
call the Media Accreditation
Unit and instead called four
ERU officers, who proceeded to
physically push me out through
the lobby, even as I pointed
out to them other non-resident
correspondents remaining
behind. (Some were to attend,
and on information pay for,
the DSS barbecue with cash bar
that night just outside the GA
lobby). I asked for the ERU
officers' names and Lt.
Dobbins told them not to
provide it and instead sated
“you've got my name.” But even
that he refused to spell,
telling me “Spell it how you
want.”
13. Lt. Dobbins displayed
considerable personal animus
towards me. Significantly, I
had previously publicly
disclosed on
InnerCityPress.com an article
with a DSS email showing
irregularities with Lt.
Dobbins and other DSS staff’s
promotions.
14. On 3 July 2018 I was
covering the advised Fifth
(Budget) Committee meetings in
the 1B basement, interviewing
the Committee chair Tommo
Monthe in the Vienna Cafe area
and preparing to upload the
interview when I was
physically grabbed by Lt.
Dobbins and an unnamed partner
(DSS staff member). I was
forced out of the building
while the Budget meeting I had
a right to cover (as I have
for ten years, including the
last two as a non-resident
correspondent) continued
to 4 am. My arm was
hurt, shirt torn, and laptop
damaged. A video record
of this use of force against
me is available on
Innnercitypress.com. I filed a
criminal report with the
17th Precinct of the New
York Police Department (NYPD)
on 4 July 2018.
15. On 5 July 2018, the day
after I filed the criminal
report with the NYPD, I was
informed by DSS officers that
I was “banned” from the UN and
have remained so as of that
date. I am told there is a
letter banning me and that my
photo is in array of such
banned people, putting me at
risk. My repeated requests to
DSS staff for the reasons for
my ban and for a copy of the
letter banning me remain
unanswered. I have also asked
which UN official took the
decision to ban me but have
not been told. The failure to
provide me with this
information is in violation of
my rights as an accredited
journalist and constitutes
further abuse of authority.
HARASSMENT
16. Harassment is
defined under ST/SGB/2005/8
as: 1.2. Harassment is any
improper and unwelcome conduct
that might reasonably be
expected or be perceived to
cause offence or humiliation
to another person. Harassment
may take the form of words,
gestures or actions which tend
to annoy, alarm, abuse,
demean, intimidate, belittle,
humiliate or embarrass another
or which create an
intimidating, hostile or
offensive work environment.
Harassment normally implies a
series of incidents.
Disagreement on work
performance or on other
work-related issues is
normally not considered
harassment and is not dealt
with under the provisions of
this policy but in the context
of performance management.
Clearly the
actions of Lt. Dobbins and
four other unnamed DSS
officials constitute actions
which “alarm”, “abuse”,
“demean”, “intimidate”,
“belittle”, “humiliate” and
“embarrassed” me. The use of
force, including the tearing
of my shirt, physical ejection
from the building and removal
of my laptop, were hostile
acts taken against me as an
accredited journalist, in a
work environment. There was
also clearly a “series of
incidents”, over a period of
weeks.
ABUSE OF
AUTHORITY
17. Abuse of
authority is defined under
ST/SGB/2005/8 as 1.4 Abuse of
authority is the improper use
of a position of influence,
power or authority against
another person. This is
particularly serious when a
person uses his or her
influence, power or authority
to improperly influence the
career or employment
conditions of another,
including, but not limited to,
appointment, assignment,
contract renewal, performance
evaluation or promotion. Abuse
of authority may also include
conduct that creates a hostile
or offensive work environment
which includes, but is not
limited to, the use of
intimidation, threats,
blackmail or coercion.
Discrimination and harassment,
including sexual harassment,
are particularly serious when
accompanied by abuse of
authority.
18. Lt. Dobbins and other DSS
staff have clearly abused
their authority. They have
used their position of
influence, power, and
authority against me to
improperly eject me from the
UN premises, with force, and
exclude me from re-entering
the building. Lt. Dobbins’
personal animus towards me was
obvious from our interactions
and most likely stems from my
reporting of his irregular
promotion. Given my reporting
of allegations against him,
Lt. Dobbins should have
recused himself and his
subordinates from taking any
adverse action whatsoever
against me. His failure
to declare his conflict of
interest and recuse himself
constitutes harassment and
abuse of authority under
ST/SGB/2008/5 and also
misconduct under the UN Staff
Regulations and Rules.
19. Under Article 5.9
ST/SGB/2008/5, you are
required “to provide
continuing support to the
aggrieved party at every stage
of the process”, regardless of
the outcome of investigation.
Accordingly, I request a
meeting to discuss the support
that will be provided to me in
the interim.
20. Please treat this
submission as a ‘formal
complaint’ and a demand for a
fact-finding investigation
into the prohibited conduct of
Lt. Dobbins (including his
conflict of interest) and the
other unnamed DSS staff,
consistent with sections 5 and
6 of ST/SGB/2008/5 and the UN
Staff Regulations and Rules.
21. ST/SGB/2008/5 also
provides for the informal
resolution of complaints. An
informal resolution may be in
the best interests of all
those concerned.
22. This complaint is
submitted without prejudice
and under reservation of all
rights.
Matthew Russell Lee, 5 August
2018
***
Feedback:
Editorial [at] innercitypress.com
UN Office: S-303,
UN, NY 10017 USA
Reporter's mobile (and weekends):
718-716-3540
Other,
earlier Inner City Press are listed here, and some are available in
the ProQuest service, and now on Lexis-Nexis.
Copyright
2006-2015 Inner City Press, Inc. To request reprint or other
permission, e-contact Editorial [at] innercitypress.com
for
|
,
