Madam President,
Distinguished Members of the Council,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

Opening remarks

I am grateful for the privilege of addressing the Security Council on one of the fundamental challenges facing peacekeeping today. The problem of sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations peacekeeping personnel is an abhorrent one. It represents a violation of the duty of care owed by peacekeepers to the local population that they are sent to serve.

Sexual exploitation and abuse threatens to tarnish the very name of the United Nations and undermine our ability to implement Security Council mandates. Indeed, it is precisely our image and reputation that gives us the credibility to work so effectively in war-torn countries and bring peace and stability to millions across the world. Eliminating such misconduct is therefore integral to the success of peacekeeping.

Madam President,

Stopping sexual exploitation and abuse will not happen overnight, but I take courage from the shared sense of urgency and determination that exists with the Secretariat and Member States to address it. I welcome the importance given by the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations this year to this issue. As a result of the Committee's request, the report of the Secretary-General's Advisor on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by UN Peacekeeping Personnel, Prince Zeid Ra'ad Zeid Al-Hussein, was released - a report which must be commended. It provides a candid account of the problem as well as a clear framework for effective action by both the Secretariat and Member States .

I also strongly welcome the report of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations on sexual exploitation and abuse which, once approved by the General Assembly, will provide my Department with a clear and comprehensive strategy for moving forward.

We have come a long way since the allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse against United Nations peacekeepers surfaced in May of last year in the Democratic Republic of Congo. My Department treated this as an issue of the highest priority and I am pleased to report that we have made significant progress in investigating allegations and putting in place wide-ranging measures to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse.

Since 1 December 2004 , investigations have been completed into allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse involving 152 peacekeeping personnel (32 civilians, 3 civilian police and 117 military). So far five UN staff members have been summarily dismissed, nine more are undergoing the disciplinary process and four have been cleared. On the side of uniformed personnel, 2 members of Formed Police Units and 77 military personnel have been repatriated or rotated home on disciplinary grounds including 6 military commanders.

Over the past year, field missions have put in place a wide array of measures to prevent misconduct and to enforce UN standards of conduct. For instance, on the prevention side, missions in Cote d'Ivoire , Sierra Leone and Liberia provide induction training on UN standards of conduct relating to sexual exploitation and abuse. My Department intends to make such training mandatory for all members of peacekeeping operations on arrival in a mission.

Late last year, DPKO issued a policy on human trafficking. This is now accompanied by a resource manual on the issue, which includes a training module and practical guidance for peacekeeping operations on how best to combat human trafficking. In early 2005, awareness-raising posters on sexual exploitation and abuse and brochures on human trafficking were distributed to all missions and are displayed in offices in capitals and in the field, as well as military barracks.

With regard to enforcement of UN standards of conduct, field missions in Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia, the Congo, Ethiopia, Kosovo and Timor-Leste have established lists of premises and areas frequented by prostitutes which are now out-of-bounds to all personnel. We have a network of focal points on sexual exploitation and abuse in all missions to facilitate receipt of allegations as well as telephone hotlines in Sierra Leone and Liberia .

As was mentioned in the Secretary-General's letter to the Council of 9 February 2005 on the United Nations' Mission in the Congo, MONUC, this mission has put in place a number of mission-specific measures to minimize misconduct such as a requirement that contingent members wear their uniforms at all times. Our Congo mission is also strengthening managerial accountability by requiring regional heads of office to come up with concrete workplans on how they will prevent sexual exploitation and abuse.

At Headquarters, DPKO has established a task force aimed at developing guidance and tools for peacekeeping operations to address sexual exploitation and abuse effectively. For instance, we are developing a database, in coordination with the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), to track and monitor allegations and investigations as well as follow-up action. DPKO is also developing internal communications messages to remind peacekeeping personnel of our duty of care and why we serve.

In addition, DPKO is co-chairing with OCHA an inter-agency task force aimed at creating an organizational culture throughout the UN system that prevents sexual exploitation and abuse. It is also developing common policies and guidance, for instance on victim assistance.

DPKO is cooperating closely with OIOS which, under General Assembly resolution 59/287, is in charge of investigating allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse in peacekeeping operations. This collaboration involves developing suggestions, for discussion with troop-contributing countries, on how to facilitate their participation in OIOS investigations involving military peacekeeping personnel.

Madam President,

The problem of sexual exploitation and abuse is likely to look worse before it looks better. In other words, as we improve our complaints mechanisms in the field and as people start to trust that action will be taken against those who violate UN standards of conduct, the number of allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse will probably increase, not decrease.

The various measures that my Department has undertaken over the past year at Headquarters and in the field have opened our eyes to the enormity of the task that lies ahead of us. We need deep, systemic change. I will do my utmost to implement such recommendations with due haste, as will managers and commanders in peacekeeping operations.

I commend the resolve that Council members are showing through the Presidential Statement under consideration today. I also welcome the reference in the statement to be read out by the President at the close of this meeting, which refers to the need for specific provisions to be included in Security Council mandates for peacekeeping operations to address misconduct by peacekeeping personnel. Indeed, DPKO hopes to establish a dedicated capacity to address conduct issues in the form of Personnel Conduct Units at Headquarters and in the field. These units will be an essential tool for preventing misconduct, monitoring compliance with UN standards and ensuring swift follow-up on disciplinary cases. In an organization that aims towards professional standards, this is no longer a luxury but a must.

Madam President,
Distinguished Members of the Council,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Concluding remarks

Sexual exploitation and abuse does not occur in a vacuum. These acts take place where there is a general breakdown in good conduct and discipline. DPKO is ready to address the problem in a comprehensive manner.

However, my Department cannot solve this problem alone. We need to create a culture and environment in peacekeeping operations that does not permit sexual exploitation and abuse. This requires joint action by both DPKO and Member States .

I look forward to continued collaboration.

Thank you.