10 Article I of the Staff Regulations and Section 1 of the Staff Rules outline the duties, obligations and privileges of all staff members in the Organization. All staff who work for WHO must abide by them including to reflect the value placed by the Organization on integrity, independence, and impartiality.
20 The Standards of Conduct for the International Civil Service were revised and updated in 2013 by the International Civil Service Commission. These standards are a guide to the expected standards of conduct for all staff, and should assist all staff members in understanding better the obligations placed on staff conduct by the Organization's Constitution, Staff Regulations and Rules, as well as their role as international civil servants.
30 Privileges and immunities are granted to WHO staff members in the interest of the Organization, and not for their personal benefit. The Director-General has the duty to ensure that WHO staff members do not abuse the privileges and immunities granted to them in the interest of the Organization. Such immunity does not exempt staff members from the duty to observe the laws and regulations of the host country. The Director-General will waive the immunity of any staff member in any case where the Director-General considers that the immunity would impede the course of justice and can be waived without prejudice to the interests of the Organization (see Information Note 23/2006).
40 As part of the standards laid down in Article I of the Staff Regulations and Section 1 of the Staff Rules, staff members have a duty to observe the laws and regulations of the host country, including traffic regulations. This obligation applies to all staff members, whether or not they are acting in their official capacity, and whether or not they hold diplomatic status. On WHO premises staff members are also required to abide by the traffic and parking regulations of the Organization. This duty applies to all staff members, irrespective of whether they have diplomatic licence plates. In relation to traffic offences immunity is normally waived, even if the staff member was acting in his or her official capacity at the time the alleged offence was committed.
50 Staff members who fail to observe the laws and regulations of the host country, or who abuse the privileges and immunities granted to the Organization, as indicated above, may be subject to disciplinary proceedings, in accordance with Article X of the Staff Regulations and Section 11 of the Staff Rules. Members of the families of staff members must also comply with the laws and regulations of the host country, and WHO traffic and parking regulations. Staff members should take all necessary steps to ensure family members do so. Failure to do so may also result in disciplinary action being taken by the Organization against the staff member concerned or other action against the staff member or family member concerned (see Information Note 23/2006).
