UN SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS (C-34)
2008 SESSION
general debate: March 10-11, 2008

Index • References to Gender • References to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

Summary
The 2008 substantive session of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations began with a General Debate that took place on 10-11 March. In this session, representatives from troop and police-contributing countries delivered statements regarding their position on current peacekeeping issues.

The session opened with remarks by Mr. Jean-Marie Guehenno, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping operations. Mr. Guehenno noted that despite progress in strengthening peacekeeping abilities, namely the creation of the Department of Field Support, the goals of peacekeeping missions would not be reached without the sustained international support and interest, which is faltering in several of the most crucial conflict areas. Additionally, Mr. Guehenno mentioned the importance of gender perspective in peacekeeping missions, including strategies to combat sexual and gender-based violence. Ms. Jane Lute, the Assistant Secretary-General for Field Support, addressed the budgetary goals and concerns of peacekeeping operations and the newly created Department of Field Support.

As usual, the references made to gender by member states largely focused on increasing the numbers of women deployed as peacekeeping troops and police. However, many countries mentioned the need to appoint women to leadership positions within peacekeeping missions. This followed a pattern of relatively stronger gender language than has been seen in past years, which is likely attributable to the recent briefing conducted by gender advisors of the DPKO to members of the C34. For extracts of gender references from statements, please see below.

The theme of sexual exploitation and abuse was also highlighted during the session, and many member states affirmed their support for the recent Victim Assistance Strategy. The issue of accountability for abuse also was raised, with a few member states calling for implementation of the model MOU (memorandum of understanding) between the UN and member countries that will ideally strengthen the methods for prosecuting personnel involved in misconduct. For specific references to sexual exploitation and abuse by UN personnel, please see below.

References to Gender

Mr. Jean-Marie Guehenno, Under-Secretary General of DPKO
I am pleased that the Special Committee recently had the opportunity to be informally briefed by gender advisers. These gender advisers remind us what it means to look at issues from a gender perspective and of how conflict impacts differently upon women and men, girls and boys. I continue to learn the myriad ways in which a gender perspective is crucial to how we go about peacekeeping, be it increasing the role and contribution of women in the political process, for instance the election of women officials at the municipal level in Haiti, or the development of strategies to combat gender-based violence, including patrolling of IDP camps by peacekeepers, in Darfur.

Over the coming year, we will focus in particular on addressing gender issues in security sector reform, in electoral processes, and in efforts to support national capacities to address gender-based violence. We continue to count on Member States to ensure that pre-deployment gender training is provided to all military and police personnel and that greater numbers of female personnel are deployed to peacekeeping missions. This will better equip us to respond to challenges on the ground, and allow the UN to serve as a model for the principles that we espouse. We still have far to go, however, I do believe that progress is being made both at Headquarters and in our field missions.

Indeed, I am pleased to inform you that over the past year there has been a 60% increase in the number of women appointed to key leadership functions in peacekeeping, including such posts as SRSG in Liberia, DSRSGs in Burundi, Liberia and the Sudan; the Police Advisor in Burundi; and the Deputy Police Commissioner in Darfur, and the Deputy Police Advisor at DPKO Headquarters, who will be arriving next month.

Ms. Jane Holl Lute, Officer-in-Charge, Department of Field Support
It is time that we address […] contract procedures and improve conditions of service, an element of which is necessary if we are going to make progress on Resolution 1325 and increase the number of women serving in peacekeeping and serving at senior levels.

European Union
Women, together with children, comprise a large proportion of civilian victims of conflicts and, compared to men, have less access to resources, power and decision-making before, during, and after conflict, while their experiences in these situations are significantly different. Ensuring full participation of women in conflict prevention and resolution, and addressing specific needs of women in conflict and post conflict situations, are key aspects of mainstreaming a gender perspective into peacekeeping operations, in line with Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000).

Canada
Our delegations wish to commend the Secretary General for his efforts to increase the number of women serving in UN peace operations and in Headquarters. An increase of more than 40% in the senior leadership is remarkable, but with only 17% of the total senior positions, there is still a long way to go. Let me also express our satisfaction with the emphasis on the gender balance when recruiting for the Standing Police Capacity. We also know the importance of gender in UN policing, and this is a step in the right direction.

Israel
[…] we support efforts to promote gender equality in peacekeeping, and commend the Secretary General for his efforts to increase the number of women serving in UN peacekeeping forces and at headquarters.

India
The emphasis by the Secretary General on his commitment in ensuring increased participation of women in operational peacekeeping is welcome. India has traditionally been contributing lady military and police officers to a number of UN missions. We are particularly honored to have provided the first full Female Formed Police Unit for peacekeeping work. The unit completed its first year in January in assisting the UN mission in Liberia and has been highly appreciated for its outreach to the most vulnerable sections of society, i.e. women and children, in a post-conflict environment.

Korea
Third, following the new organizational arrangement at the headquarters, the need for doctrine has become a matter of greater importance. There have been great achievements in this area, such as the policy directives on quick impact projects, reinforcement for field missions, staff welfare and recreation, as well as guidelines for the participation of women in elections and police officers on assignment with peace operations.
[…] Finally, my delegation welcomes the remarkable increase in the number of women serving in the field, in particular in leadership positions. Since February 2007, there has been a 40% increase in the number of women serving in senior civilian positions in field missions, and as a result, women now make up 17% of total senior positions. My delegation hopes that such progress will continue on.

Namibia
Namibia has in line with Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) maintained its steady increase of women participation in peacekeeping operations. We have deployed women as Contingent Members, Military Observers, Staff Officers and individual police officers. Nearly in every UN mission we were involved in, we had deployed women alongside their male counterparts. In Liberia, for example we had deployed over 100 women as Contingent Members. […] The United Nations gender statistic of 31 December 2007 does not represent a correct reflection of the participation of women in peacekeeping operations as it only covered statistics of the top 20 troop contributors. It is important that all troop-contributing countries are covered.

Nigeria
My delegation wishes to recall Security Council resolution 1325 which provides very important mandate for mainstreaming gender perspective in peacekeeping operations. We recognize the contributions of women to the maintenance and promotion of peace and security while acknowledging their specific needs and concerns in armed conflict and its aftermath. Nigeria has considerable number of women in both military and police establishments with the right training for deployment to peacekeeping operations.

Norway
We look forward to receiving a report on the Standing Police Capacity’s (SPC) first year of operation. We are pleased to note that approximately 25 per cent of the officers in the SPC are women. We hope to see a similar development in the overall recruitment of police and military personnel to UN operations, as one of many means of ensuring that UN operations contribute to the implementation of UN SC resolution 1325 on women, peace, and security.

[…] To be successful, SSR must reflect the interests of all citizens. Norway has contributed to the financing of an SSR toolkit that has been developed by the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of the Armed Forces. The purpose is to mainstream gender issues into SSR, to ensure that the needs of women are addressed, and to increase their representation in SSR institutions.

Philippines
The Philippines shall also endeavor to deploy more female personnel in response to the Secretary-General’s call for troop contributing countries to increase the number of women serving in the field. It shall also seriously look at how it could match the number of women personnel deployed with the actual percentage of women in the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.

Switzerland
In the framework of the restructuring process, the swift appointment of qualified staff to key posts is crucial for the credibility of the efforts being made and ultimately for the general support which they will receive. […] At the same time we welcome the specific measures that it adopted in 2007 to recruit more women into leadership roles on the ground.

Turkey
We also strongly support the Secretary-General’s efforts to increase the number of women serving in the field and their participation in leadership positions as well as operational military and police roles.

References to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

Mr. Jean-Marie Guehenno, Under-Secretary General of DPKO
During the past few years, we, the Secretariat and the Membership, have tried to tackle the issue of misconduct comprehensively and decisively. Considerable efforts have been made in the past 12 months to prevent and address misconduct, and, in 2007, incidents of sexual exploitation and abuse decreased from previous years.

It remains essential that the Secretariat and the Membership continue to exercise constant vigilance, so as to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse. I therefore count upon your continued support to ensure that your troops and police fully understand the behavior expected of them as UN Peacekeepers; that commanders ensure good conduct, and the appropriate disciplinary or criminal action is taken against perpetrators after repatriation.

In advance of Ms. Lute’s presentation, I would like to express my appreciation for the inclusion of conduct-related language in the model MOU and for your efforts in contributing to the adoption by the General Assembly of the Comprehensive Strategy on Assistance and Support to victims of sexual abuse and exploitation by UN staff and related personnel. As part of the package of initiatives aimed at tackling conduct issues, I would also urge you to favorably consider the welfare and recreation proposals of the Secretary-General.

Ms. Jane Holl Lute, Officer-in-Charge, Department of Field Support
Incidents of sexual abuse and exploitation will still occur. Incidents in indiscipline will still occur. In 2007, there were 127 allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse, resulting in completed investigation of 136 individuals. For 121 individuals the allegations were substantiated, resulting in the repatriation of 115 individuals. The report of the Secretary-General “Comprehensive Overview of Conduct and Discipline” is very close to being finalized and will be taken up by the appropriate Committee later this spring.

European Union
At the end of last year we achieved the finalization of work on the revised draft model Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and asked for its expeditious implementation. We also welcomed the adoption of the General Assembly resolution on the United Nations Comprehensive Strategy on Assistance and Support to Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by United Nations Staff and Related Personnel. We are looking forward to an early implementation of this important strategy.

The EU has always been strongly supportive of the UN policy of zero tolerance of sexual exploitation and abuse and we believe that prevention must be one of our priorities.

The Non-Aligned Movement
NAM urges total implementation of the Model MOU that the Member States adopted by consensus last year in its letter and spirit.
With regard to the question of assistance to victims of sexual exploitation and abuse, NAM participated actively in the elaboration of the resolution adopted subsequently by the General-Assembly. Member States succeeded in putting in place a focused strategy oriented in order to support victims in an appropriate manner, avoiding irrelevant linkages and agendas.

Canada
During the past year significant progress has been accomplished in the implementation of initiatives to eliminate sexual exploitation and abuse, including revision of the Model MOU and the adoption of a Victim Assistance Strategy. We welcome the recently published policy and note the Secretary-General’s report on welfare and recreation and look forward to discussing it during this session.

India
As regards conduct and discipline of troops, we are convinced that sexual exploitation and abuse are totally unacceptable forms of behavior. We fully support the implementation of a policy of zero tolerance and encourage raising the awareness of those with managerial and command responsibilities and the establishing of standards of conduct, training, and investigation. Careful preparatory training in terms of a multi-cultural, pluralistic and tolerant outlook is as important as subsequent swift punitive action, once culpability is established. WE welcome the General Assembly approves resolution on draft MOU and call upon the DPKO to implement it at the earliest.

Iran
We welcome the adoption of the UN-wide strategy on assistance to victims of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN staff and related personnel contained in resolution A/RES/62/214. In this context, my delegation continues to support the implementation of the UN policy of zero-tolerance in sexual exploitation and abuse in the United Nations Peacekeeping operations in the Headquarters and in the field, and believes that in order to preserve the image and credibility of the United Nations, no perpetrator of such misconduct should enjoy impunity.

Israel
We wish to stress the importance of clear standards of conduct being made binding on all peacekeeping categories, and note the need to use preventative training more extensively and to strengthen the capacity for conduct and discipline teams in the field. We emphasize the importance of the full implementation of a victim’s assistance strategy, and the DPKO should continue to offer guidance to public information experts on sexual exploitation and abuse aimed at improving the flow of information to communities on these issues.

Kenya
We must continue addressing problems relating to sexual abuse and other indiscipline cases in the UN missions. We must emphasize discipline not only on the part of troops, military observers, police and prison officers, but also on civilian officers. It is imperative that we provide leadership and show good examples to the people we are assisting. My delegation therefore welcomes the initiatives that are being put into place to strengthen mechanisms geared towards avoiding the pitfalls that have scandalized peace keeping missions in the recent past. In Kenya we have emphasized awareness training before deployment and timely rotation of troops to minimize such incidences. We support the inclusion of such measures in the Draft Model MOU being used by the Secretariat as the basis for the Status of Force Agreement negotiations with the TCCs.

Namibia
Namibia is disturbed by repeated reports of serious misconduct including Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by peacekeepers in various UN missions. The current methods that are used to investigate such cases leave much to be desired. The delays in submitting the findings to the TCC/PCC are additional cause for concern as justice delayed is justice denied. It is our hope that with the endorsement of the Revised Memorandum of Understanding by the General Assembly which among others stipulates how and who should conduct the investigation of such cases, flows that existed would be something of the past. My country adheres to a Zero Tolerance policy and all cases of serious misconduct including sexual exploitation and abuse by any Namibian peacekeepers will be dealt with seriously.

Nigeria
On the disturbing issue of misconduct and indiscipline among peacekeeping personnel, my delegation notes that such cases of indiscipline have reduced minimally. As modest as this progress may be, we are still of the opinion that the war is not yet over, until the menace is totally eradicated. Similarly, we note that the draft model MOU which was painstakingly negotiated and adopted by the Committee in June 2007, is now being used by the Secretariat as the basis for SOFA negotiations with troop contributing countries. It is our hope that all the stakeholders will abide by the letter and the spirit of the model MOU.

Norway
Before concluding, I would like to welcome the General Assembly’s 21 December of a UN comprehensive strategy on assistance and support to victims of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN staff and related personnel. This is a long overdue measure to strengthen the UN’s policy of zero tolerance of sexual exploitation and abuse. Norway is ready to continue discussions with the secretariat on possible support for UN efforts within this important field.

Philippines
The Philippines wishes to underscore once again the serious importance it places on the issue of sexual exploitation and abuse. It may be noted that as early as 2005, the Philippines has put into place a zero-tolerance policy not only on sexual exploitation and abuse but on all other misconduct that may be committed abroad by its men and women in uniform. […] Here at the United Nations, the Philippines will continue to support all initiatives aimed at addressing the issue of sexual exploitation and abuse.

Russia
Acts of sexual exploitation and abuse as well as other forms of misconduct by the UN peacekeepers undermine confidence in the UN. This behavior cannot remain unpunished. Over the past year, we have adopted a number of important decisions in this regard. I am referring to the amendments introduced to the General Assembly to the model memorandum of understanding between the UN and troop-contributing countries and adoption of the Strategy on Assistance and Support to Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by UN staff and related personnel. Now the secretariat is preparing documents to follow up on them. We think it is important to ensure that these materials are considered in the Special Committee.

Singapore
We are pleased that much success has been achieved this past year in tackling sexual exploitation and abuse, including the successful review of the model MOU, the development of the victim assistance strategy and the 62nd GA resolution on criminal accountability.

Switzerland
We have already to a certain extent made progress-and are aware of the need for further substantial progress-in areas as important as the fight against serious offences such as sexual exploitation and violence by adopting in December 2007 a global strategy of aid and support for the victims of sexual exploitation and violence committed by United Nations and affiliated personnel.

Turkey
Turkey has been a staunch supporter of the UN policy of zero tolerance of sexual exploitation and abuse. We therefore, particularly welcome the adoption of the General Assembly resolution on assistance and support to victims of sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations staff and related personnel. Full implementation of this strategy is a must. Yet what is more important is the prevention of misconduct in the first place. This brings to the fore the importance of the training of peacekeeping personnel. Likewise eliminating the root causes of misconduct deserves the utmost attention. In this respect we look forward to the early implementation of the suggestions contained in the Secretary-General’s report “the comprehensive review of the welfare and recreation needs of all categories of peacekeeping personnel.”