[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 121 (Tuesday, July 25, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1511-E1512]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


      THE EMPLOYMENT OF U.S. CITIZENS IN THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM

                                 ______


                          HON. LEE H. HAMILTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 25, 1995
  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that U.S. 
citizens are allocated approximately 15 percent of U.N. posts, despite 
the fact that U.S. assessed contributions amount to 25 percent of the 
organization's regular budget. The geographic distribution formula for 
U.N. employees, which includes population and membership as well as 
contributions, does not appear to reflect the disproportionate 
responsibilities born by the United States within the U.N. system. A 
separate concern is that the U.N. Secretariat consistently fails to 
meet even this relatively low employment allocation; only 10 percent of 
all U.N. employees are U.S. citizens.
  I believe this is a serious problem that deserves high-level 
consideration. My reservations about U.N. employment policies are 
outlined in a letter I sent recently to the Department of State. I ask 
that my letter, and the Department's response, be included in the 
Congressional Record.

                                                      Committee on


                                      International Relations,

                                    Washington, DC, June 16, 1995.
     Hon. Warren Christopher,
     Secretary of State,
     Department of State,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Secretary: I write to inquire what steps the 
     Administration has taken to increase the employment of U.S. 
     citizens in the United Nations system.
       My inquiry is prompted by the most recent report to 
     Congress on this subject, as required by section 181 of P.L. 
     102-138, which was submitted on June 2.
       My reading of the report indicates the following:
       (1) The United States accepts the U.N. Secretariat's 
     ability to exclude large numbers of U.N. positions from the 
     application of the principle of equitable geographic 
     distribution; and
       (2) The United States accepts a geographic distribution 
     formula for U.N. employees which allocates the United States 
     roughly 15% of U.N. posts, even though the United States 
     contributes 25% of the U.N. regular budget and about 30% of 
     U.N. peacekeeping costs.
       I would appreciate a clarification of whether these 
     statements reflect U.S. policy, and if so, the date these 
     policies were adopted, and why.
       I am concerned that even this relatively low allocation is 
     barely met in the U.N. Secretariat, and is not being met in 
     eight of the nine U.N. agencies on which the report focuses. 
     As a whole, the report states that only 10% of all U.N. 
     employees are U.S. citizens, a level which has not increased 
     significantly over time.
       I find it difficult to believe that there are 
     insufficiently qualified U.S. applicants for available U.N. 
     posts, particularly in the area of humanitarian relief and 
     aviation expertise where large numbers of U.S. citizens have 
     unique skills and are seeking employment.
       I would therefore appreciate an answer to the following 
     questions:
       (1) What are the principal obstacles to increase hiring of 
     U.S. citizens in the U.N. system? Do these obstacles vary by 
     agency?
       (2) Is a registry kept of U.S. citizens interested in and 
     qualified for U.N. posts which are advertised?
       (3) What office within the State Department is responsible 
     for assisting U.S. citizens seeking employment at the United 
     Nations, and how many personnel does that office have?
       (4) What specific steps has the Department taken, both with 
     the Secretariat and with other U.N. agencies, to address the 
     underrepresentation of U.S. citizens?
       I understand that equitable geographic distribution of U.N. 
     posts is one among several principles guiding decisions on 
     U.N. employment, the foremost of which I hope would be 
     competence. I am puzzled nonetheless that U.S. representation 
     remains so persistently low within the U.N. system.
       I would appreciate any information you could supply, and 
     stand ready to work with you to address this imbalance.
       With best regards,
           Sincerely,
                                                  Lee H. Hamilton,
     Ranking Democratic Member.
                                                                    ____



                                     U.S. Department of State,

                                    Washington, DC, July 19, 1995.
       Dear Mr. Hamilton: This is in response to your letter of 
     June 16 to Secretary of State Christoper inquiring about the 
     steps the Administration has taken to increase the employment 
     of U.S. citizens in the United Nations system. As you are 
     aware, the Secretary of State is responsible for leading and 
     coordinating the U.S. Government's efforts to ensure that the 
     staffs of UN agencies and other international organizations 
     include an equitable number of Americans in professional 
     positions.
       In your letter, you asked for information regarding the 
     United Nations Secretariat's geographic distribution formula, 
     and clarification of U.S. policy regarding the application of 
     this formula. Prior to 1962, the UN's geographic distribution 
     system for professional staff was based simply, and 
     informally, on member states' contributions to the regular 
     budget. The UN first debated the geographic distribution 
     issue during the General Assembly's seventeenth session in 
     1962.
       In this debate, the United States proposed a resolution 
     calling on the secretary General to consider giving weight to 
     the factors of population and membership, as well as the 
     financial contributions of states, and to consider widening 
     the categories of Secretariat staff subject to geographical 
     distribution. The formula eventually approved called for 60% 
     of the posts to be filled on the basis of member states' 
     assessed contributions, and the remaining 40% to be filled 
     based on their population and membership. The GA also 
     recognized that not all professional posts should be included 
     within the geographic distribution formula. These included 
     posts with special technical and language requirements, 
     national restrictions, and all General Service 
     (administrative) positions.
       The formula in place today maintains the same three 
     weighted factors: contributions, population and membership. 
     Over the years, the weight given to contributions has 
     decreased slightly, from 60% in 1962 to the current 55%. 
     Therefore, even though the United States may contribute 25% 
     to most UN agencies, the desirable ranges of U.S. 
     professional representation in these agencies average between 
     15% to 18%. Other major contributors to the UN have similarly 
     proportional ranges.
       Following are our responses to your other four questions.
       1. What are the principal obstacles to increased hiring of 
     U.S. citizens in the UN system? Do these obstacles vary by 
     agency?
       The historical under-representation of Americans in many of 
     the UN agencies is due to a number of factors, including 
     stiff competition from nationals of other member countries, 
     the lack of foreign language skills by some American 
     candidates, and our lack of participation at most UN agencies 
     in Junior Professional Officer (JPO) programs which encourage 
     promotion from within. In addition, some Americans are 
     deterred from considering such positions because of the high 
     cost of living in many UN cities, the lack of employment 
     opportunities overseas for spouses, and other family and 
     career considerations. It is for these reasons that Americans 
     tend to be better represented in many of the New York offices 
     of the UN Secretariat, and at the New York headquarters 
 
[[Page E 1512]]

     offices of UNICEF and UNDP, and less well represented at, for 
     example, UNHCR in Geneva, and FAO in Rome.
       As a result of U.S. Government and the UN agencies' own 
     vacancy dissemination and recruitment efforts, we know that 
     large numbers of U.S. citizens receive timely information 
     about UN employment opportunities and that many apply for 
     these positions. UN agencies have confirmed that for most 
     positions, they receive ample numbers of applications from 
     highly qualified U.S. citizens.
       2. Is a registry kept of U.S. citizens interested in and 
     qualified for UN posts which are advertised?
       Our Bureau for International Organization Affairs (IO) 
     maintains a roster (registry) of U.S. citizens qualified for 
     senior (D-level and above) positions in UN agencies and other 
     international organizations. We also disseminate vacancy 
     announcement information on all professional posts.
       3. What office within the Department is responsible for 
     assisting U.S. citizens seeking employment at the United 
     Nations, and how many personnel does that office have?
       Within IO, the UN Employment Information and Assistance 
     Unit (IO/S/EA) is responsible for assisting U.S. citizens 
     seeking information about international employment 
     opportunities and for holding UN agencies accountable for 
     hiring a fair share of Americans. This office consists of 
     three staff members.
       In addition, Ambassador Albright, the U.S. Permanent 
     Representative to the United Nations at our Mission in New 
     York, and our Permanent Representatives at our other missions 
     overseas are fully committed to assisting U.S. citizens 
     regarding employment opportunities within the UN system, and 
     to holding UN agencies accountable for reaching established 
     U.S. representation levels.
       4. What steps has the Department taken, both with the 
     Secretariat and other UN agencies, to address the under-
     representation of U.S. citizens?
       The Department regularly consults with UN agencies (and 
     other international organizations) to review their hiring of 
     Americans. IO/S/EA assists these agencies by collecting and 
     disseminating vacancy information. The office prepares a bi-
     weekly list of vacancies and distributes the list to hundreds 
     of sources: Federal agencies, public and private 
     organizations, academic institutions, associations, and 
     individuals. The office assists interested Americans in 
     working their way through the UN employment and application 
     procedures and encourages qualified candidates to apply 
     directly to the organizations for professional (P-level) 
     positions. The office also is the focal point for information 
     regarding the detail and transfer of Federal employees to 
     international organizations.
       IO/S/EA works closely with other Federal agencies and 
     encourages them to draw on their own professional networks to 
     recruit and submit qualified candidates to UN agencies. 
     Working with other Federal officials, it is the Department's 
     policy to submit a slate of three or more highly qualified 
     candidates for each announced senior-level vacancy. In the 
     past few years, the office has increased its efforts to 
     identify and recruit women for these senior positions, with 
     some success.
       We continually advise the UN agencies that while the U.S. 
     Government is prepared to offer assistance, it remains their 
     responsibility to take whatever steps are necessary to hire 
     and maintain adequate numbers of U.S. citizens on their 
     professional and senior staffs.
       I hope this information addresses the questions you asked. 
     We certainly appreciate your continued interest in UN 
     activities and willingness to work with us to improve U.S. 
     representation in the UN system.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Wendy R. Sherman,
                         Assistant Secretary, Legislative Affairs.
     

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