UN Public Service Day
Essential services are part of the response story
This June 2020 Public Service Day item honours people maintaining health and other essential services. It provides historical context about the response workforce, rather than a new infection count.
Our historical COVID-19 account connects this tribute to the wider pandemic period. The methods page explains the distinction between institutional commemoration and evidence measuring service delivery.
From the source
Honouring the public servants who have been working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Whether working in healthcare or delivering essential services in the areas of sanitation, social welfare, education, postal delivery, transport, law enforcement, and more, public servants globally have continued to work in the community as many people shelter at home, risking their lives to ensure ours can continue.
WHO Director-General joined a virtual high-level panel at the United Nations to mark Public Service Day on 23 June to honour the women and men who are risking their lives and health to deliver essential public services amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The event brought together public servants and leaders to discuss the importance of the continuation of public service provision during times of the COVID-19 pandemic. It examined the various approaches countries are taking during the crisis and what measures they are undertaking to better mitigate such challenges in the future. The event also included an orchestral piece performed by the UN Orchestra and featured a video showcasing public servants in action, developed from over 80 submissions received from public servants at national and local levels worldwide.
Speakers included:
Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations (video statement)
Mr. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, President of the General Assembly
H.E. Ms. Sahle-Work Zewde, President of Ethiopia
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General, World Health Organization
Mr. Liu Zhenmin, United Nations Under Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs
H.E. Mr. Chin Young, Minister of Interior and Safety, Republic of Korea
Dr. In-Jae Lee, Deputy Minister of the Interior and Safety, Republic of Korea
H.E. Ms. K.K. Shailaja Teacher, Minister of Health of Kerala State, India
Mr. Jim Campbell, Director, Health Workforce Department World Health Organization
Ms. Annette Kennedy, President of International Council of Nurses
Rosa Pavenelli, General Secretary, Public Services International,
Moderator: Ms. Odette Ramsingh, Executive Director: Human Resources, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
How to watch
DG speech
Link to event
Sources & Verification
World Health Organization (WHO). RSS content used with permission. Formatting adapted for Worldwide Outbreak.
- UN Public Service Day Verify original (opens in a new tab)
Feed retrieved 24 Oct 2026, 14:09 UTC. Story date follows the dated WHO article address; the feed timestamp is 8 Jul 2020.
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