Department of Safety and Security

The United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) is a Secretariat department that manages the security of UN staff, eligible dependents, premises, and assets across all duty stations. It is headed by an Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security who reports directly to the Secretary-General and chairs the Inter-Agency Security Management Network (IASMN), which coordinates security policy across the UN system.

UNDSS was established by the General Assembly in 2004 through resolution A/RES/59/276, consolidating the former Office of the United Nations Security Coordinator (UNSECOORD), the civilian component of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations' security service, and the Security and Safety Services at headquarters and offices away from headquarters. The reform followed the 19 August 2003 bombing of the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, which killed Special Representative Sergio Vieira de Mello and 21 other UN personnel and exposed gaps in the UN's pre-existing security arrangements.

The department operates the United Nations Security Management System (UNSMS), under which Designated Officials (usually the senior UN official in a country) and Security Management Teams apply the Security Risk Management (SRM) process to set the Security Level System (SLS) for each location. UNDSS issues clearances through the TRIP (Travel Request Information Process) platform, conducts threat and risk assessments, runs the Saving Lives Together framework with NGOs, and manages hostage incident coordination.

Core functions include:

• Threat and risk analysis for field operations and headquarters
• Policy and compliance under the UNSMS framework
• Operational support, including close protection for senior officials and visiting dignitaries
• Training and certification of UN security professionals
• Crisis and emergency management, including evacuation and relocation decisions

UNDSS is funded through a cost-sharing arrangement between the UN regular budget and participating agencies, funds, and programmes, reflecting its system-wide mandate.