Office of Internal Oversight Services
Address/Websites
United Nations, New York, NY 10017. USA
Background
The Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) is the internal oversight body of the United Nations. Established in 1994 by the General Assembly, the Office assists the Secretary-General in fulfilling his oversight responsibilities in respect of the resources and staff of the Organization through the provision of audit, investigation, inspection, and evaluation services. Internal Audit Division audits assess the adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls for the purpose of improving the Organization’s risk management, control and governance processes. Inspection and Evaluation Division evaluations assess the relevance, efficiency, and effectiveness (including impact) of the Organization’s programmes in relation to their objectives and mandates. Investigations Division investigations establish facts related to reports of possible misconduct to guide the Secretary-General on jurisdictional or disciplinary action to be taken.Policy framework
General Assembly resolutions 48/218B, 54/244 and 59/272 on the establishment and the review of functions and reporting procedures of OIOS. According to the United Nations Financial Regulation 5.15, OIOS is responsible for conducting independent internal audits. These audits are carried out in accordance with the International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing.Areas of Focus
OIOS assists the Organization in achieving better results by determining the factors affecting the efficient and effective implementation of programmes in accordance with, inter alia, the internationally agreed development goals, including those contained in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, and in the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and international agreements since 1992. OIOS undertakes a number of activities to support the commitment of the Organization to gender mainstreaming, including oversight of United Nations gender mainstreaming efforts.
ABOUT 1 RESULTS
Mar 2009 - Sept 2009
OIOS recently commenced a thematic evaluation of the start-up phase of the Secretary-General’s Campaign “UNiTE to End Violence against Women”.
View More
OIOS recently commenced a thematic evaluation of the start-up phase of the Secretary-General’s Campaign “UNiTE to End Violence against Women”. The evaluation will also consider the broader framework in which the campaign is carried out, namely the UN’s work on gender mainstreaming and gender equality. The regional (ECLAC) working group for the Secretary-General’s UNiTE Campaign, in addition to UNIFEM, UNFPA and ECLAC, expanded to include the Interamerican Commission for Women (ICW), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), ILO, OHCHR, PAHO, UNAIDS, UNDP and WFP.As part of a review of the implementation of the mandate of OHCHR, OIOS surveyed 1,200 Colombians from different regions and socio-economic groups. Two thirds of all respondents indicated respect for human rights, as the most important issue to them, on a list that also included economic development, environmental protection and international relations. Women reported significantly higher levels of interest in human rights and significantly lower levels of knowledge concerning human rights mechanisms in Colombia than did men (A/64/203, Box, Knowledge of human rights among the population of Colombia, pp. 9-10). Seventy two per cent of respondents felt violence and civil unrest were definitely human rights issues. Staff of the OHCHR and its partners, from a wide range of stakeholders, were also interviewed, indicating that the OHCHR had contributed to increased protection of potential victims, reduction of human rights violations and more measures to improve access to human rights by marginalized and discriminated groups, including women.OIOS is providing support to the building of capacity and specialized skills for investigating SEA, including advanced training techniques involving victims of sex crimes. OIOS issues reports that request confirmation of follow-up by Member States contributing troops for peacekeeping operations, in order to ensure that allegations of SEA are not treated with impunity.