Updates on the Work of UN-GLOBE

If you are a staff member on a G-4 visa in the United States and in a domestic partnership, and your partner is on a derivative G-4 visa, please know that the State Department is now requiring that you be legally married in order to continue to be able to secure a derivative G-4 visa for your partner.

As the UN System drafts a model policy on sexual harassment, UN-GLOBE is working with UN Administrations to ensure that the policy takes into account not only sexual harassment towards the LGBTIQ+ but also gendered forms of harassment— whether it is towards people who don’t conform to gender roles (women who act too masculine; men who act too feminine), or people who identify as trans.

UN-GLOBE continues to influence decision-making at the UN. In July, we made a presentation at the Human Resources Network meeting that gathered all the heads of human resources. We pitched them on two ideas: training for all staff on LGBTI issues; and establishing gender diversity as an operational concept at the UN.

Join @UNGlobe at @AIDSWalkNYC on 20 May, or volunteer this spring with UNforAll at workshops in Cote d'Ivoire, Afghanistan, Turkey, and Lao PDR.

We have paired 70 staff members in the mentorship program — interns, consultants, and staff members at all P or G levels — with more senior mentors. We are unveiling our Recommendations for inclusive workplaces for trans and gender non-conforming staff and are addressing the UN System-Wide Strategy on Gender Parity. 

As announced last week, UN-GLOBE is making concerted efforts to ensure gender diversity among its ranks, including more trans-identified and intersex staff. Two new UN-GLOBE Coordinators have joined us.

With the launch of a UN-GLOBE mentorship program, we hope to pair off staff, consultants, and interns who are looking for support and guidance on their UN careers together with experienced LGBTI staff members who will act as mentors. The goal is to help solidify the presence of LGBTI staff at all levels of the UN system. The more we establish ourselves into the institutions of the UN, the more we can ensure change from within.