08 July 2016 - Two Filipinos nominated for the prestigious Baobab Awards of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) highlight the high esteem with which Filipinos working in the United Nations (UN) system are regarded by their colleagues and provide a source of pride and inspiration for their fellow Filipinos, said Ambassador Cecilia B. Rebong, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the UN and Other International Organizations in Geneva.

Digna Francisco and Noemi Reyes, who respectively work for the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions and the Secretariat of the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species, were nominated last June for the category Support Service Award. It recognizes staff members who “have provided consistent and exceptional support and have often gone above and beyond their duties to provide high quality of service.”

According to the UNEP, the Baobab Awards, which was established in 2007 and which is named after the Baobab Tree that symbolizes strength, power and resilience, recognize individuals who have exhibited exceptional performance and dedication in helping achieve the organization’s goals.

There are approximately 200 Filipinos working in the UN system and other international organizations in Geneva. These include the UNEP, World Intellectual Property Organization, International Telecommunications Union, UN Conference on Trade and Development, and World Health Organization, among others.

“In my frequent dealings with international organizations in Geneva, I have come to know – and be extremely proud – of the excellent reputation that Filipinos here enjoy,” said Ambassador Rebong.

“The nominations affirm not only the professional excellence of Digna and Noemi but also of Filipinos that have been making their respective marks in pursuing progress in the multilateral setting,” she added.

Geneva is the location of the headquarters of 10 UN bodies like the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, six specialized agencies like the International Labor Organization and World Meteorological Organization, 15 international organizations outside the UN system like the World Trade Organization and the International Committee of the Red Cross, and several other non-governmental organizations and international offices. END