Oath of Office Ceremony (in English and French)

Dear Colleagues:

A warm welcome to all of you. It is my pleasure to represent the Secretary-General and to hold the Oath of Office ceremony with you today.

Through the declaration of the Oath of Office, we affirm our commitment to the United Nations and to its core values. The United Nations embodies the highest aspirations of the peoples of the world – security, development and human rights for all.

As international civil servants, we bear the responsibility of translating these ideals into reality. And in doing so, we are responsible to adhere to the highest standards of conduct. Please let me express my admiration for your commitment and courage in choosing this unique career.

The Oath of Office, together with the principles outlined in the Charter of the United Nations, are the basic tenets that will guide you in the exercise of your duties throughout your career as an international civil servant.

In this regard, I ask you to be mindful of the words contained in this solemn declaration. The Oath of Office invokes loyalty and discretion. Loyalty both to the United Nations and to those we serve. It also asks us to be discreet and conscientious in our actions, and to place the goals and integrity of the Organization above personal interests. As former Secretary-General, Dag Hammarskjöld once said, “the private man should disappear and the international public servant take his place”.

It is our responsibility to never forget that this integrity, as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, embraces all aspects of an international civil servant’s behaviour. Together with competence and efficiency, these qualities should be present in everything we do. Each and every day.

Mindful of these words, I would like to ask the two designated colleagues to read the Oath of Office, first in French and then in English.

Pause for the two colleagues to read the Oath of Office in French and English

Je remercie nos deux nouveaux collègues pour la lecture de ce serment.

Chers collègues,

Travailler pour l’Organisation des Nations Unies est un privilège et un honneur. La carrière que vous avez choisie ne sera pas toujours un long fleuve tranquille mais elle sera passionnante, exaltante, épanouissante. Vous allez, en effet, grâce à votre détermination et votre engagement, contribuer à construire un monde meilleur pour tous.
Vous appartenez désormais à la grande famille des Nations Unies et permettez-moi, au nom du Secrétaire général, de vous souhaiter la bienvenue dans cette famille aux multiples facettes et aux possibilités illimitées.

Je vous remercie de votre attention.