About UNGLOBE We, the undersigned United Nations staff members are justly proud to be part of organizations working to realize the high ideals of the UN Charter - the promotion of the fundamental human rights of all people, the equal rights of men and women, the dignity and worth of every human person, and the practice of tolerance. We are proud because the United Nations and our family of Organizations have been global leaders in ensuring that staff members are not discriminated against on the basis of sex, national origin, race, colour or religion. We are proud because our Organizations have been global leaders in remedying past inequities such as the gross under-representation of women in professional and senior posts. We are proud but question -- Why does the UN not accord equal rights to its gay, lesbian and bi-sexual employees? Why does the UN fail to recognize the committed, non-marital relationships of these employees? Why does the UN deny visas, pension, health, survivors and other benefits to the loved ones of its gay, lesbian and bi-sexual employees? Why does the UN not take firm action to end the many cases of overt discrimination against its gay, lesbian and bi-sexual employees? Why is the UN's record on these issues so far behind that of the World Bank and other International organizations? Why, despite a favourable consensus at the April 1998 meeting of the CCAQ (comprised of Heads of Personnel of UN agencies from throughout the world), has the UN Common System consistently failed to take concrete steps toward the non-discriminatory recognition of domestic partnerships? We, the undersigned Staff protest this injustice and believe that the United Nations and its family of organizations must change, we believe that it is time to end discrimination against staff based on sexual orientation.