About Office of the United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services (UNOMS):

The Office of the United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services was established on 15 October 2002 as the informal component of the system of administration of justice. The United Nations Ombudsman acts in accordance with the principles of independence, neutrality, confidentiality and informality. For more information about our mandate and principles, please consult our terms of reference [ST/SGB/2016/7].

The United Nations strongly encourages all UN employees to make all possible use of the informal system. Staff can bring workplace concerns and questions to the Office of the Ombudsman to try to resolve disputes amicably and to avoid unnecessary litigation. We recommend that staff contact our office as soon as possible to discuss options in a confidential setting. Attempts at informal resolution are often more effective in the early stages of a dispute. At the same time, staff should be aware of any timelines to file formal complaints.