A/RES/55/258 are made to recruit candidates from the national competitive examinations roster against existing vacancies until these rosters are cleared; 16. Regrets that the provisions of section V, paragraph 22, of its resolution 53/221 were not fully complied with, which led to candidates from over-represented countries taking the General Service to Professional category examination in February 2000, and decides, as a one-time exception, to allow the movement of successful candidates from the G to P examination of 2000 from the General Service to the Professional category; 17. Notes the efforts made by the Secretary-General to align the General Service to the Professional category examinations with the national competitive examinations, as required under section V, paragraph 22, of resolution 53/221, and decides that henceforth recruitment of qualified staff from the General Service to the Professional category should be limited to the P-1 and P-2 levels and be permitted up to 10 per cent of the appointments at those levels; 18. Emphasizes the need for a systematic rejuvenation of the Secretariat and for retaining younger Professional staff, particularly in the light of the age profile of the staff in the Organization; 19. Reaffirms that secondment from government service is consistent with Articles 100 and 101 of the Charter and is beneficial to both the Organization and Member States, and urges the Secretary-General to pursue this practice on a wider scale; 20. Takes note of the recommendations of the report of the Joint Inspection Unit on senior-level appointments in the United Nations and its programmes and funds,6 and notes the comments of the Secretary-General thereon;7 21. Reiterates that the recruitment, appointment and promotion of staff shall be made without distinction as to race, sex or religion, in accordance with principles of the Charter and the provisions of the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations; 22. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure, without exception, the uniform application of the regulations and rules of the Organization in all departments of the Secretariat, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly; 23. Notes paragraphs 62 to 66 of the report of the Secretary-General,8 and requests the Secretary-General to conduct an inspection through the Office of Internal Oversight Services on the issue of possible discrimination due to nationality, race, sex, religion and language in recruitment, promotion and placement, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session; V Mobility Recognizing the value of staff mobility in the Organization, Recognizing also that the requirement for mobility is one of the essential elements of contractual status of staff, Having considered the recommendations of the Secretary-General and the related views of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, 6 See A/55/423. See A/55/423/Add.1. 8 A/55/427. 7 4