Action Through Law
Nathalie Rossette-Cazel, a Juris Doctor (France), has over 20 years of legal experience including a position as a legal officer in UNHCR and WHO Headquarters offices in Geneva. She has equally held the position of human rights officer in WHO. In parallel to her professional tasks, she also served as the Vice-president of the World Health Organization staff union and member of the FICSA Legal Committee. She continues to advise executives of staff unions of several United Nations agencies.
Nathalie leads an international team, allowing her to offer advisory services for any international civil servant working for the headquarters or other regional offices worldwide. IT technology such as teleconferencing, emails and online administrative systems facilitate communication throughout the various stages of the legal procedure. The services offered can be contracted through United Nations staff unions, individual insurance schemes or negotiated on an individual basis.
Valid motifs vary widely from case to case and can include unfair dismissal, challenges to appointments, abolition of post, reassignment and evaluations and to some extent even harassment. Depending on the gravity of the claims and the situation, an internal case can include claims to Regional or/and Headquarters Boards. If the claims remain unsatisfied after this initial phase, there is always a possibility to forward them to the attention of the International Labour Organisation Administrative Tribunal (ILOAT) or the United Nations Dispute Tribunal (UNDT).
Before engaging any legal process, Nathalie and her team ensure that there is always a good collaboration with the members of the staff unions as well as directly with the claimants themselves in order to assess the pros and cons of each case.
Negociation-Mediation
Nathalie and her team value the principle of negotiation and mediation as a primary measure before any formal legal proceedings. Keeping in mind that such proceedings may stretch over long periods of time, negotiation and mediation allow for a more rapid and effective resolution of any conflict. Nathalie's experiences have contributed to a trustworthy relationships with HR and LEGAL departments of several organizations.
Appeals-Claims
LexAct's specialists have the expertise to construct and advise on appeals both to internal appeal committees/boards of international organisations as well as both administrative tribunals of the United Nations system. This mechanism guarantees that all international civil servants employed by the United Nations Agencies enjoy protection against arbitrary acts committed against them by their employer. The Tribunals operate with written claims rather than oral so as not to favor Geneva-based staff, thus facilitating access to civil servants in any country of the world.
Judgements
Hereafter, a selection of judgements from either the ILOAT concerning cases treated successfully by Nathalie and her team.
2014...
TAOIT-116th Session-Judgement No. 3299-Termination for unsatisfactory performances
TAOIT-116th Session-Judgement No. 3261- Execution of Judgement
2013 TAOIT-115th Session-Judgement No. 3224- Termination for unsatisfactory performances and Reinstatement
2012 TAOIT-113th Session-Judgement No.3119- Termination for unsatisfactory performances and Reinstatement
2011 TAOIT-111th Session-Judgement No. 3041-Condition of work and Termination of contract
2009 TAOIT-107th Session-Judgement No. 2817-Change of titles and Hidden sanctions