Elia Yi Armstrong retired from international civil service after nearly 25 years with her last posting as Director of the UN Ethics Office from 2015 to 2023. Before this she was Director of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Ethics Office between 2008 and 2012.
The conversation started with exploring more about the process of writing her contribution.
‘I really enjoyed writing it, but I also found it more challenging than expected. The norm-based leadership part was easier given my experience. It was a nice reflection opportunity at the end of my career.’
Yi Armstrong shared some of the reactions to her article. ‘I have had positive feedback. No one argues against the Oath of Office or the declaration of service – it’s not the concept that’s problematic, but the implementation.’
We were also keen to see if she concurred with the view that the Oath of Office should remain a cornerstone for international civil servants of the future.
‘Yes, I believe it must remain. Regulations and rules can change, but for the UN to survive and thrive, it must maintain its independence and impartiality. With 193 Member States and external actors, people must trust that we stand for the UN charter, not for anyone’s side.’
The next question was if this important cornerstone could be weakened over time and Yi Armstrong said that this was her ‘fear’ and qualified her statement saying: ‘I think it can be eroded, not thrown out – because then the whole building would collapse – but loosened in the name of flexibility.’
She goes on to describe her understanding of ‘erosion’ as the way it undermines the Oath of Office by short-term gains at the cost of long-term effects.
‘Leaders want to please Member States, but the UN must say unpopular things. People may turn away, but it is necessary to uphold our principles. The UN may be called outdated, but if it didn’t exist, we would have to invent it all over again.’
On the exploration of what are the enablers of good UN leadership Yi Armstrong referred to the article ‘Is the UN prepared for the leadership challenges of today?’ by Ameerah Haq, a former colleague and long-serving international civil servant.
‘In Ameerah Haq’s article for this report, she points out the importance of institutional support for leaders, and I second that. Without it, leaders risk losing confidence, becoming timid, or feeling they must go rogue to get things done.’
‘I also believe that empathy and rapid communication are key for leaders, especially when faced with conflicting information. The UN must improve its transparency because a lack of it undermines trust. Ultimately, leadership comes from within. You don’t stop to check a framework in moments of need – you just act.’
‘And lastly, balancing the personal and professional. Here I believe the Ethics Office plays an important role in addressing and helping leaders navigate the conflicts of interest. Still, we are not erasing individuals to fit the organisation, but they must understand they represent it.’
Bringing the conversation closer to home we explored how much Yi Armstrong knew about Dag Hammarskjöld before writing her article. We learnt that this was nearly a twenty-year journey.
‘I started reading his articles back in 2004 when I was a part of the team that set up the Ethics office. Back then we had to convince Member States to spend money on this thing and so, I started reading Dag Hammarskjöld’s work. I had never really tried to read his stuff before, so it was really a crash course.’
‘I was impressed by his breadth of honesty. He explores integrity and morality, crucial for international civil servants, both rooted in honesty. I also found his sense of mysticism interesting — like in Markings, where his beliefs seemed to ground him, especially when making unpopular decisions with key Member States’, she mused.
Could Yi Armstrong draw parallels between her life and that of Dag Hammarskjöld? ‘I used to be religious when I was much younger but have now outgrown [a] portion of it. However, it gave me lots and lots of practice in how to stand up for something you believe in. I think the same thing also happens at the UN. With more sophistication, if you like.’
‘You don’t need to be provocative. People respect and understand when you stand firm, as long as you offer the same respect and understanding in return – not agreement, but respect.’
About the Bird of Truth
The Bird of Truth in its current habitat, residing on Dag Hammarskjöld’s desk at Backåkra Museum, located in the southern part of Sweden.
A main tenet of this publication is the ‘Art of Leadership in the UN’ and this edition features art and objects from the Dag Hammarskjöld collection. Yi Armstrong’s article featured Dag Hammarskjöld’s Bird of Truth and we were keen to hear what she thought of the match.
‘I love this sculpture, and its history and Dag Hammarskjöld’s personal use of it.’
‘It must have been quite a powerful tool to use in those close meetings, where Dag Hammarskjöld silently urged his guest to re-think and speak the truth. I would like to have my own.’
The Bird of Truth is a stone sculpture made by Tyra Lundgren that was very dear to Dag Hammarskjöld. He kept the bird on his desk and used it in his diplomatic meetings. If Hammarskjöld sensed dishonesty in the other person, he would silently turn the bird to face his guest, letting the bird’s gaze speak for itself.
Learn more about the Bird of Truth
Authors: Sandra Jakobsson and Simone Hagfeldt