Abuse
by UNDP's Philippines Coordinator Raised to Ban Ki-moon by Human Rights Groups
Byline: Matthew
Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis
UNITED NATIONS,
October 2 -- The rising global chorus decrying the lack of accountability by the
UN Development Program has grown louder in the Philippines. Complaining of
abuses by UNDP Resident Coordinator Nileema Noble, a wide range of civil society
and human rights groups, as well as unions, have now written to UNDP
Administrator Kemal Dervis -- click
here for
the NGOs' memo,
here for
the union letter -- and to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:
Ms. Nileema Noble has been the UN Resident
Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in the Philippines for more than a
year. We are aware that numerous staff under her, whether temporary or fixed
term, have complained and filed cases detailing verbal and physical abuse and
arbitrary termination of employment contracts. We are appalled that numerous
incidents involving Ms. Noble establish a pattern of systematic abuse of
authority and downright harassment.
Earlier
in
this controversy,
which Inner City Press covered on
July 31
and on
August 27,
UNDP tried to argue that while 13 UNDP staffers in the Philippines took the
unprecedented -- and, in light of UNDP's argument that the UN Ethics Office's
protections against retaliation don't apply to it, dangerous -- step of openly
complaining of abuse by Ms. Noble, she might have more than 13 supporters. Inner
City Press suggested, let there be a referendum, then.
Dervis on the mic, OECD in
background, Nileema Noble not shown
Now the issue has
been raised to Ban Ki-moon:
October 3, 2007
Dear Secretary General Ban Ki Moon,
We, members of the civil society initiated
an online petition signing in response to the issues of abuse of authority,
arbitrariness and harassment against the UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP
Resident Representative in the Philippines. We would like to register our deep
concern that officials, both in the Philippines and in the UNDP, take cognizance
of the issues raised, and as well take appropriate actions.
Attached is the statement and list of
petitioners.
Respectfully yours,
Ana Maria Nemenzo; Atty. Soliman "Sol"
Santos, South-South Network (SSN) and Philippines Campaign to Ban Landmines; Dr.
Jose Eliseo "Joel" Rocamora, IPD; Dr. Amado "Bong" Mendoza, Department of
Political Science, University of the Philippines; Renato Mabunga, Philippine
Alliance of Human Rights Advocates; Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel, Akbayan Party
List
UNDP has
seemed unconcerned with human rights in its funding of government capacity in
Myanmar, Zimbabwe and elsewhere. But can the wider UN ignore the complaints of
human rights groups in the Philippines? We'll see.
Again, because a number of Inner City Press'
UN sources go out of their way to express commitment to serving the poor, and
while it should be unnecessary, Inner City Press is compelled to conclude this
installment in a necessarily-ongoing series by saluting the stated goals of the
UN agencies and many of their staff. Keep those cards, letters and emails
coming, and phone calls too, we apologize for any phone tag, but please continue
trying, and keep the information flowing.
Feedback: Editorial
[at] innercitypress.com
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UN, NY 10017 USA Tel: 212-963-1439
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(and weekends): 718-716-3540
Other, earlier Inner
City Press are listed here, and
some are available in the ProQuest service.
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UN Office: S-453A,
UN, NY 10017 USA Tel: 212-963-1439
Reporter's mobile
(and weekends): 718-716-3540
