The United Nations (UN)’s Public Service Day is annually observed across the globe on 23 June to celebrate the value and virtue of public service to the community and emphasise the contribution of public service in the development process.
- The Day also aims to recognise the dedication and work of public servants and inspire young people to pursue public service careers.
Background:
i.On 20 December 2002, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/57/277, proclaiming 23 June as UN Public Service Day.
- The 1st ever UN Public Service Day was observed on 23 June 2003
ii.The UN Public Service Day also marks the anniversary of the date when the International Labour Organisation (ILO) adopted the Convention on Labour Relations (Public Service) in 1978 (ILO Convention No. 151).
Note: This Convention is a framework for determining the working conditions of all civil servants worldwide.
Events 2024:
The 2024 UN Public Service Forum and Awards Ceremony takes place from 24 to 26 June 2024 in Incheon, Republic of Korea, under the theme ‘Fostering Innovation amid Global Challenges: a Public Sector Perspective’.
- The Forum is co-organized by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) through its Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government (DPIDG) and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) of the Republic of Korea.
The UN Public Service Awards (UNPSA):
i.The UNPSA program established by the UN in 2003, is the most prestigious international recognition that aims to promote and support innovation and excellence in public service delivery worldwide.
ii.It was established following the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) resolution in 2002.
- The resolution endorsed a recommendation from the Group of Experts on the UN Programme on Public Administration and Finance (ECOSOC resolution, E/RES/2001/45).
iii.It rewards the creative achievements and contributions of public service institutions that lead to a more efficient and responsive public administration globally to address the social, economic, and environmental needs of society.
Note: The UNPSA Ceremony is part of a UN Public Service Forum, which takes place in different regions of the world.
UNPSA Winners:
Fifteen initiatives from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Germany, Indonesia, Jordan, Latvia, Portugal, Republic of Korea, South Africa, Tanzania and Thailand will be recognized at the UN Public Service Awards Ceremony.
Click to know about the 2024 UNPSA Winners
The UN Public Service Forum:
i.The UN Public Service Forum is a global event focused on capacity development in public governance.
ii.Organised annually by the UN DESA with a host country, the Forum includes capacity-development workshops, the UNPSA ceremony, and a Ministerial Roundtable.
iii.In 2024, the Forum emphasises fostering innovation and transformation in the public sector to enhance the capabilities of public administrations.
- It will also provide the opportunity to highlight innovative public sector initiatives through its 2024 UNPSA Ceremony.
iv.The Forum also coincides with the UN Public Service Day and Africa Public Service Day (APSD).
