Statistics
Investigations
Once an allegation is received, the UN will carry out an administrative investigation. The Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), the independent investigative arm of the UN, is the sole body in the UN responsible for such investigations, but may refer the allegation to other investigative authorities, depending on the category of personnel and the gravity of the allegations. However, specific procedures apply to investigations involving members of military contingents.
For investigation purposes, OIOS has grouped allegations into Category 1 and Category 2 [A/RES/59/287], depending on the risk such cases present to the organisation. Category 1 includes: all offences related to sexual exploitation and abuse including rape, transactional sex, exploitative relationships and sexual abuse, cases involving risk of loss of life to staff or to others, conflict of interest, gross mismanagement, bribery/corruption, illegal mineral trade, trafficking with prohibited goods, life threat/murder, abuse or torture of detainees, arms trade, physical assault, forgery, embezzlement, major theft/fraud, use, possession or distribution of illegal narcotics, waste of substantial resources, entitlement fraud and procurement violations.
Category 2 includes: discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, abusive behaviour, basic misuse of equipment or staff, simple theft/ fraud, infractions of regulations, rules or administrative issuances, traffic-related violations, conduct that could bring the UN into disrepute and breaking curfew.
OIOS is responsible for investigating all Category 1 allegations, including sexual exploitation and abuse, except for military contingents, for whom special provisions apply. Category 2 allegations may be investigated by the Special Investigation Unit (SIU), Military Police, UN Police and ad-hoc panels.
The UN Office of Human Resources Management in the Department of Management takes decisions concerning disciplinary measures for civilian personnel.
When allegations of misconduct involving military and police personnel are substantiated, the UN may repatriate the individuals concerned and ban them from future peacekeeping operations. The disciplinary sanctions and any other judicial actions remain the responsibility of the national jurisdiction of the individual involved.
Members of military contingents deployed on peacekeeping missions remain under the exclusive jurisdiction of their national government. The responsibility for investigating an allegation of serious misconduct and taking subsequent disciplinary action rests with the Troop Contributing Country, in accordance with the revised model memorandum of understanding, endorsed by the General Assembly in 2007. The Troop Contributing Country involved must then report back to the UN on the outcome of misconduct investigations and actions taken.
Misconduct statistics
Record-keeping and data tracking of allegations of misconduct and subsequent actions started in 2006. In July 2008, the Department of Field Support launched the Misconduct Tracking System (MTS), a global database and confidential tracking system for all allegations of misconduct.
An allegation is an unproven report of alleged misconduct, which may not necessarily lead to an investigation if there is insufficient information to warrant an investigation. Allegations are counted per incident, irrespective of the number of individuals involved.
A completed investigation is an investigation report with details on evidence either substantiating or not substantiating the allegations against a number of individuals. Completed investigations are counted on the basis of individuals involved.
Allegations of misconduct defined as Category 1, including those related to sexual exploitation and abuse, have decreased over the past two years, from 269 reported in 2007 to 217 in 2008, representing a 19 per cent reduction.
Allegations of misconduct defined as Category 2 have increased from 677 in 2007 to 1,029 in 2008, representing an increase of 54 per cent. This rise can be attributed to an improved recording and tracking system and reflects more accurately the overall picture of conduct and discipline issues in peacekeeping operations. Of these allegations, the majority involved traffic-related matters (36 percent).
In 2008, investigations were completed concerning 211 personnel. Allegations were found to be unsubstantiated for 48 personnel (23 percent). The remaining allegations were found to be substantiated for 163 personnel (77 percent).
Sexual exploitation and abuse statistics
There has been a steady decline for the third consecutive year of the number of sexual exploitation and abuse allegations, with 83 allegations reported in 2008, compared with 127 allegations reported in 2007, and 371 reported in 2006.
In 2008, investigations in relation to sexual exploitation and abuse were completed for 80 peacekeeping personnel of all categories in all missions. Of these investigations, allegations were substantiated against 70 individuals: 58 military and eight police personnel were repatriated to their home countries, and allegations against four civilian personnel (contractors) were referred to their employers for appropriate disciplinary action.