UN Cares

On 29 July 2010 UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon awarded a "special commendation" to UN Cares during the UN 21 Awards at UN Headquarters in New York.

UN Cares is an inter-agency programme designed to reduce the negative impact of HIV on the UN workplace by educating UN staff and families on HIV and provide support for staff living with HIV.

The programme is designed to help staff and families to access their rights defined in the 1991 United Nations HIV/AIDS Personnel Policy and in the ILO Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS and the World of Work and recognize their individual responsibilities related to HIV. The global programme was launched in May 2008.

Developed through interagency consultation between UNAIDS Cosponsors and other UN bodies, UN Cares is available to UN system personnel and their families in all entities and all duty stations.

“This commendation by the Secretary-General acknowledges the outstanding global effort from UN colleagues worldwide and those who volunteer their time to disseminate UN Cares messages in the UN workplace,” said Ms Jan Beagle, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, Management and External Relations.

“UNAIDS plays a vital role in supporting UN Cares and the award highlights the great work of UNAIDS staff around the world in support of this groundbreaking programme that benefits thousands of UN employees and family members worldwide,” Ms Beagle added.

UN 21 Awards

The UN 21 Awards annual awards were established as part of the reform effort by the former Secretary-General Kofi Annan in 1996 to provide recognition to staff members for innovation, efficiency and excellence in the delivery of the Organization's programmes and services. Commendations are given for excellence and/or outstanding inter-agency coordination.