Newsroom

UNDP has received the letter from the Director of the UN Ethics Office on the case it recently reviewed on the alleged retaliation against a former UNDP worker, Mr. Artjon Skhurtaj. 

The UN Board of Auditors is preparing to begin the second phase of an external audit into the operations of UNOPS, UNICEF, UNFPA, and UNDP in DPRK, as requested by the UN Secretary-General. UNDP has supported and will continue to cooperate fully with this audit. 

UNDP is proceeding to arrange an additional and complementary external review to take place under the auspices of UNDP’s Executive Board. A formal announcement on this review will be made in a few days.  This review would look into issues relating to UNDP’s operations in DPRK not covered in the second phase of the external audit, including Mr. Skhurtaj’s allegations.

The review would be complementary to the current external audit and could be led by a highly respected individual or team outside the UN system.  UNDP supports this review as it will look into all aspects not covered by the UN Board of Auditors.  UNDP believes that having multiple processes reviewing related or identical issues would not be the most effective way to achieve closure of this matter.

UNDP currently has a protection against retaliation policy within its Harassment and Abuse of Authority policy. This policy has both informal and formal mechanisms available to both staff and individuals on short-term contracts to address allegations of retaliation.