UNDT/2019/081, Barrie
As the matter was settled by mutual agreement, the case is closed.
Non-selection to the post of Senior Co-Ordinator UNICEF.
The desirability of finality of disputes within the workplace cannot be gainsaid. Equally, the desirability of finality of disputes in proceedings requires that a party should be able to raise a valid defence of res judicata, which provides that a matter between the same persons, involving the same cause of action, may not be adjudicated twice. Matters that stem from the same cause of action, though they may be couched in other terms, are res judicata, which means that an applicant does not have the right to bring the same complaint again. The object of the res judicata rule is that “there must be an end to litigation” in order “to ensure the stability of the judicial process” and that a party should not have to answer the same cause twice. Once a matter has been resolved, a party should not be able to re-litigate the same issue. An unequivocal withdrawal means that the matter will be disposed of such that it cannot be reopened or litigated again.