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20 June 2005

 

Does the High Commissioner have staff?

 

Regarding RSDWatch’s 11 June headline: “In a speech to his staff, new High Commissioner Antonio Guterres emphasizes openness” —

 

I am not sure if the use of the term "staff" is appropriate given that the "staff" is not paid out of the pocket of the High Commissioner, who is himself a UN staff member. The UNHCR and its High Commissioner are all UN staff, therefore it would be appropriate to say the High Commissioner was talking to his colleagues.

 

Jean-Pascal Obembo, Esq

LLB (Hons), LLM, DESS

 

 

Website manager note: RSDWatch uses the term “staff” in this context to refer to the roughly 6000 employees of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, not to private employees of any individual.

 

 

 

 

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