ACC Statement on Staff Security

In 1997 considering that the organizations of the United Nations system were working closer to the front lines of conflict or even inside conflict zones, as well as in volatile and politically complex situations, which was reflected in numerous casualties there was an urgent need for the United Nations system and the international community to consider at what point an area or a situation had become so dangerous that United Nations system staff must be withdrawn.

The Ad Hoc Inter-Agency Security Meeting held in Rome on 6 and 8 May 1997 discussed and made recommendations on a wide range of issues relating to the security and safety of staff. ACC fully supported the recommendations of the Meeting, and highlighted a number of issues which were of immediate concern to the safety and security of staff in crisis situation and which needed to be jointly addressed by the United Nations system under the auspices of the Office of the United Nations Security Coordinator.