UN Cares Introduction to UN Cares in the Philippines

Background:

In October 2005, the UN Cares concept was introduced as a workplace initiative that ensures the implementation of the UN Personnel Policy on HIV/AIDS as agreed to in 1991. The UN Human Resource Network endorsed UN Cares in July 2006, and the High Level Committee on Management (HLCM) agreed on its funding in November 2007.

Formally launched in March 2008, UN Cares is designed as an inter-agency approach that unifies all AIDS workplace programmes across the UN system, including the integration of the Global Learning Strategy. It promulgates 10 minimum standards for the well-being of staff, and provides a comprehensive range of benefits to all UN staff and their families. It supports counselling and emergency prevention measures (post-exposure prophylaxis or PEP starter kits), and measures aimed to putting an end to stigma and discrimination.

Recognizing that the Global Learning Strategy and UN Cares overlap in the area of education and information, the roles and functions of Learning Facilitators have been expanded to include UN Cares. However, given the programme coverage of UN Cares (education and information, policies and procedures, and provision of services), a number of countries have initiated the establishment of UN Cares Working Groups on AIDS (UNCWG) to include Human Resource officers and representatives of staff associations to ensure effective and efficient operationalization of UN Cares and the Global Learning Strategy at country level.

UN Cares in the Philippines

To facilitate and coordinate the implementation of the UN Cares Global Learning Strategy, the Philippines convened the UN Cares Working Group (UNCWG) in 2008. The UNCWG was envisioned to ensure the development and implementation of plans to meet the 10 Minimum Standards set out by the UN Cares and Global Learning Strategy which is guided by the “Guiding Principles” and “Operational Plan on AIDS in the UN Workplace in the Philippines” approved by the UN Country Team (UNCT) in 2004.

The UNCWG is made up of the following:

• Three Learning Facilitators (ILO, UNFPA and UNAIDS Secretariat)
• UN Cares Focal Persons designated by Head of Agency
• Designated representative of the Federation of UN Associations in the Philippines (FUNAP)

Given its mandate on AIDS in the Workplace, ILO is designated as the Convenor of the UNCWG, being both a member of the Joint Team on AIDS and a Learning Facilitator while the UN Coordination Office (UNCO) is the Co-convenor.

To know more about UN Cares, please go to www.uncares.org or contact any of the following UNCWG members.

UN Cares Materials