On United Nations Public Service Day, the UN Public Service Awards are given. The first award ceremony took place in 2003. It is known as the most prestigious international recognition of excellence in public service. The creative achievements and contributions of public service institutions are rewarded that lead to a more effective and responsive public administration in the countries globally.
United Nations Public Service Day 2019: Theme
The United Nations Public Service Forum (UNPSF) 2019 will take place in the Republic of Azerbaijan from 24 to 26 June 2019, under the theme 'Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through effective Delivery of Services, Innovative Transformation and Accountable Institutions’.
The State Agency for Public Service and Social innovations organise the forum under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) through its Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government (DPIDG) together with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). Various parallel workshops will also be organised or some side events to engage different partners.
United Nations Public Service Day: History
On 20 December, 2002, the United Nations General Assembly designated 23 June every year to observe as United Nations Public Service Day by passing a resolution 57/277. Various events are organised to highlight the contributions done by public servants. No doubt democracy and successful governance can’t be achieved without public service or public administration.
Let us tell you that at the same time Africa Public Service Day is also celebrated in Africa to coincide with the United Nations Public Service Day.
This day is celebrated by various public service organisations and departments around the world by organising several events to recognise the role of public servants in making developments and improvements in the community. Events or activities that are organised are as follows:
- Feature stalls and provide information about this day.
- With the guest speakers lunches are organised.
- Internally within public service agencies or departments award ceremonies will also be organised.
- To honour public service special announcements are done etc.
The Agenda of 2030 for Sustainable Development Goals focuses on innovative transformation and emphasise the values and principles like 'leaving no one behind', integration, partnerships and universality which is needed to be taken into action. United Nations Public Service Forum highly focuses on SDG 16 and SDG 10. Public institutions should timely deliver the needed services and should follow the principles of transparency, accountability and inclusion. Also, the forum will provide a platform for the Ministers and other senior decision makers to reflect and realise the SDGs. Even participants also get an opportunity to participate in the discussion and can debate on various emerging topics, strategies, innovative approaches, transformations required to deliver SDGs leaving no one behind the 2030 Agenda.
Therefore, we can say that United Nations Public Service Day is celebrated to recognise the work of public servants, encourage people to pursue careers in the public sector and to highlight the work, contribution of public service in the development process and the service given to the community.