The UN Ethics Office:

is independent from management and all other UN offices;

is impartial in how it treats individuals;

maintains confidentiality of the information entrusted to it;

is professional in its dealings with its stakeholders.

The office is a resource for those who seek advice before engaging in an activity, to avoid and manage conflicts of interest. By providing clear and action-oriented advice, the office helps staff carry out their jobs professionally and fairly, and manage their private lives in a way that does not interfere with their official duties. All staff are expected to cooperate with the Ethics Office and provide access to records and documents when they are requested.

The Ethics Office was established in 2006 to secure the highest standards of integrity of staff members in accordance with Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, taking into consideration paragraph 161 of the 2005 World Summit Outcome and pursuant to General Assembly resolution 60/248.

The Office carries out its work through five strategic functions: (1) advice, (2) protection against retaliation, (3) financial disclosure, (4) ethics training, and (5) coherence of ethical standards. To learn more about each of our five functions, click on the respective boxes below. If you need to speak with us, click on "Contact Us".