Definitions • DPKO Compilation of Guidance and Directives on Disciplinary Issues • DPKO Briefing on Disciplinary Issues

Report of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Assistance and Support to Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
December 2007 (A/62/595)
The Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Assistance and Support to Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse held several meetings at United Nations Headquarters on 19 December 2007. A Draft Resolution on Assistance and Support to Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse was subsequently adopted.

To read the full report, including the draft resolution, please click here

Recommendations on Peacekeeping operations approved by fourth committee, including proposed ‘United Nations standards of conduct’
July 17, 2007 -(UN press release) The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) this morning approved the proposals and recommendations of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations contained in its annual report, and recommended that United Nations standards of conduct be included in the revised draft model memorandum of understanding between the United Nations and troop contributing countries.

Joint UN-Sudan Government task force to deal with issue of sexual exploitation
January 18, 2007 –(UN News Center) As part of the United Nations zero tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation, the world body’s mission in Sudan today agreed with the Government and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to set up a joint task force to foster coordination, information-sharing and action to stamp out the problem wherever it may occur.

To read the full story, click here

PRESS CONFERENCE BY ASSISTANT SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS
ON ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE BY PEACEKEEPERS
January 5, 2007
The reputation of United Nations peacekeeping was one of its most powerful assets, which was why the Organization had responded so strongly to the issue of sexual exploitation and abuse by its peacekeepers, and addressed it structurally and systemically, the Assistant Secretary-General for Mission Support in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Jane Holl Lute, said today.

To read the full UN press release, click here

Making the standards contained in the Secretary-General’s bulletin binding on contingent members and standardizing the norms of conduct so that they are applicable to all categories of peacekeeping personnel
December 2006 (A/61/645)
Following the report released by the initial Group of Legal Experts appointed by the Secretary General in August of 2006 regarding conduct and accountability, a second Group of Legal Experts was formed. The second Group reviewed the processes that the United Nations undertakes togenerate a force for a peacekeeping operation. From that review, it identified a number of ways by which a troop-contributing country could be placed under an obligation at international law to ensure that the standards in the Secretary-General’s bulletin bind contingent members in the period prior to the conclusion of a memorandum of understanding or similar document. A number of recommendations are made in that regard.

To read the report, click here

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS LEGAL EXPERT GROUP AIMED AT STRENGTHENING PEACEKEEPING ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY ON SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
October 13, 2006
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has appointed a second Group of Legal Experts to conduct a study on the best ways to ensure that the Secretary-General’s bulletin on sexual exploitation and abuse (ST/SGB/2003/13) is binding on contingent members, and that United Nations norms of conduct are applicable to all categories of peacekeeping personnel.

To read the full UN press release, click here

Ensuring the accountability of United Nations staff and experts on mission with respect to criminal acts committed in peacekeeping operations
August 2006, (A/60/980)
This report contains the findings and recommendations of a Group of Legal Experts appointed by the Secretary General in October 2005 to conduct a study on the best ways to ensure that United Nations staff members and experts on mission who serve in peacekeeping operations and who commit crimes during their peacekeeping assignments can be held criminally accountable.The study was among a wide range of recommended actions proposed by Prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid Al-Hussein, the Secretary-General’s Adviser on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by United Nations Peacekeeping Personnel, in his March 2005 report “ A comprehensive strategy to eliminate future sexual exploitation and abuse in UN peacekeeping Operations” (A/59/710)

To read the report, click here

UN's legacy of shame in Timor
July 22, 2006 (The Age)
United Nations peacekeepers have abandoned at least 20 babies fathered with poverty-stricken Timorese women.A UN investigation has also uncovered a culture of cover-up, in which babies born to peacekeepers and sex crimes committed by UN staff in the past seven years have been kept secret because of a "fear of shame and embarrassment' in the deeply religious country.

To read the rest of the news story, click here

New strategy aims to help victims of sexual exploitation committed by UN staff
13 July 2006
As part of further efforts by the United Nations to enforce its “zero tolerance” policy for sexual exploitation and abuse, Secretary-General Kofi Annan has put forward a draft strategy on assistance and support to victims of such behaviour by UN staff and related personnel, including recommendations for medical care and child maintenance.The strategy represents more than 12 months of wide-ranging consultations involving UN operations, Member States and various organizations, and offers a number of specific proposals to the General Assembly on ways for the UN to deal with the issue of sexual exploitation and abuse.

To read the draft strategy on assistance to victims of sexual exploitation, please click here

•Security Council HOLDS Public Meeting on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Peacekeeping Operations
23 February 2006
On 23 February 2006, a public meeting focused on the issue of sexual exploitation and abuse in peacekeeping operations was convened by the United States, in its capacity as president of the Security Council in the month of February. During this meeting, the Council received briefings from the Under-Secretary- General for Peacekeeping Operations and the Adviser to the Secretary-General on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by UN Peacekeeping Personnel. Council members and other states also made statements addressing the issue.

For more about this meeting, including links to statements delivered during the session, please CLICK HERE

• UN PeacekEEping chief addressES security council in open debate on women peace and security
October 27 2005
Around the fifth anniversary of the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1325, the Security Council, under the Presidency of Romania, held an Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security. In addition to all 15 Security Council members, 26 other UN Member States, 3 UN entities, 2 intergovernmental bodies and 2 civil society representatives made interventions throughout the day's proceedings. Those addressing the council included Jean Marie Guehenno, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations. To read his statement, please CLICK HERE

To see a compilation of statements made during the open debate addressing sexual exploitation and abuse and related themes in gender and peacekeeping, please CLICK HERE

•Eradicating sexual abuse by peacekeeping personnel among main concerns in Fourth Committee debate
21 October 2005
Sustained peacebuilding, inter-regional cooperation and the need to eradicate sexual abuse by United Nations peacekeeping personnel were the main concerns of delegates, as the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) began its general debate on "A Comprehensive Review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects."

For more on the debate and a summary of delegates' statements, CLICK HERE

•UN PEACEKEEPING CHIEF URGES STATES TO POLICE THEIR TROOPS AGAINST SEX ABUSE
21 October 2005
In a speech to the General Assembly's Fourth Committee as it began its annual comprehensive review of peacekeeping operations, Jean-Marie Guéhenno, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, stressed that the eradication of sexual exploitation and abuse in United Nations peacekeeping missions depended on the enforcement of established standards by troop-contributing countries. He noted that the Department of Peacekeeping Operations would need the continued commitment of Member States so as to rid United Nations peacekeeping of sexual exploitation and abuse, including the solicitation of prostitutes.

For more on the speech by Jean-Marie Guéhenno, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, CLICK HERE

• Secretary-General's statement on the recall of a Nigerian unit from MONUC
15 September 2005
Following allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by some members of a Formed Police Unit from Nigeria in Kinshasa, the Government of Nigeria has decided to recall the unit from the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), without prejudice to the decision of the United Nations investigation and review process.

For the related news story : "Nigeria recalls UN Peacekeepers" CLICK HERE

•SECURITY COUNCIL HOLDS FIRST-EVER PUBLIC MEETING ON SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE
31 May 2005
On 31 May 2005, the Security Council, under the Presidency of Denmark, held its first-ever public meeting devoted exclusively to sexual exploitation and abuse. The Council heard from Prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid Al-Hussein (Jordan), the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, and Jean-Marie Guéhenno, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations. The Presidential Statement, issued at the end of the session, was read by Council President Ellen Margrethe Løj (Denmark).

For the presentation by Prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid Al-Hussein (Jordan), the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, CLICK HERE.

For the presentation by Jean-Marie Guéhenno, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, CLICK HERE.

For the Security Council Presidential Statement (S/PRST/2005/21), CLICK HERE.

For the Security Council's Press Release, "Security Council Condemns 'In Strongest Terms' All Acts of Sexual Abuse, Exploitation by UN Peacekeeping Personnel" (SC/8400), CLICK HERE.

• Comprehensive review on a strategy to eliminate future sexual exploitation and abuse in United Nations peacekeeping operations
Programme budget implications of draft resolution A/C.4/59/L.20
Statement submitted by the Secretary-General in accordance with rule 153 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly
Available 11 May, document dated 20 April 2005
The present report outlines the budgetary implications and/or consequential changes in the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2004-2005 and the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2006-2007, as well as the budgets for the support account for peacekeeping operations, the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire, the United Nations Operation in Burundi, the United Nations Mission in Liberia, the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone and the United Nations Mission in the Sudan for the period from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006.

For a related UN news story, "Additional Staff Needed to Stop Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Peacekeeping-UN Report," CLICK HERE.

• NEWS: GLOBAL: UN REFORMS AIM TO END SEXUAL ABUSE BY PEACEKEEPERS
10 May 2005 (IRIN)
When Roxanna Carrillo came to work at the new United Nations peacekeeping mission in Burundi in September 2004, she knew she needed to clarify the standards of behaviour expected of personnel.

• NEWS: Complaints of Sexual Infractions at UN Last Year Doubled from 2003
5 May 2005 (UN News)
The number of allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation made by and about United Nations personnel in 2004 was more than double the number reported in 2003, a development that is deeply distressing, even though contributing factors include clearer reporting procedures and new response measures, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan says in a report to the General Assembly.

• NEWS: UNMIL Investigating Alleged Sexual Misconduct by Peacekeepers in Four Incidents
3 May 2005 - (IRIN)
Allegations of sexual misconduct by UN peacekeepers serving in Liberia have been substantiated in four incidents and investigations launched, the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) told IRIN on Tuesday.

• NEWS: UN Probes Allegations of Sexual Exploitation by Peacekeepers in Liberia
29 April 2005 – (UN News)
The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Liberia has been investigating allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by its personnel and has sought cooperation from the troop contributing countries, a UN spokesman said today.

• Report of the Secretary-General on Special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse
15 April 2005
The present report is submitted in compliance with General Assembly resolution 57/306 of 15 April 2003, in which the Assembly requested the SecretaryGeneral to maintain data on investigations into sexual exploitation and related offences. The report presents data on allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse in the United Nations system in the period from January to December 2004. It also describes progress made in the creation and implementation of measures designed to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse, and measures for processing allegations.

• Report of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations and its Working Group on the 2005 resumed session (A/59/19/Add.1)
15 April 2005
The Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations met in a 2005 resumed session (4-8 April 2005) to review Prince Zeid's report “A comprehensive strategy to eliminate future sexual exploitation and abuse in United Nations peacekeeping operations” (see A/59/710). This report is the outcome document of the resumed session and outlines those recommendations introduced by Zeid which the C-34 has adopted, as well as the C-34's own proposals and recommendations in response to the actions proposed in Zeid's report.

For the draft General Assembly resolution on a "Comprehensive review on a strategy to eliminate future sexual exploitation and abuse in UN peacekeeping operations" (A/C.4/59/L.20), CLICK HERE.

For the Programme budget implications of the draft resolution A/C.4/59/L.20 (A/C.4/59/L.21), CLICK HERE.

• Presentation by Jean-Marie Guéhenno, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, to the 2005 resumed session of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations regarding their review of the report “A comprehensive strategy to eliminate future sexual exploitation and abuse in United Nations peacekeeping operations” (A/59/710)
4 April 2005

• Presentation by H.R.H. Prince Zeid Ra'ad Al-Hussein*, Permanent Representative of Jordan to the UN to the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations regarding their review of his report “A comprehensive strategy to eliminate future sexual exploitation and abuse in United Nations peacekeeping operations” (A/59/710)
4 April 2005
*Prince Zeid is the Secretary-General's Advisor on sexual exploitation and abuse by UN peacekeeping personnel.

• NEWS: SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS BEGINS REVIEW OF REPORT ON SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
4 April 2005 - (UN Press Release, GA/PK/186)
Meeting today in a reconvened 2005 session to consider the United Nations first-ever comprehensive report on the problem of sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations peacekeeping personnel, the Special Committee on Peacekeeping embarked on a tight timetable for reviewing the report and submitting its findings to the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) before the end of May to enable appropriate action by the General Assembly at its fifty-ninth session.

• un special committee on peacekeeping operations (C-34) begins discussion on prince zeid's report
4 April 2005
The C-34 reconvened on 4 April to review Prince Zeid's report on "A comprehensive strategy to eliminate future sexual exploitation and abuse in UN peacekeeping operations," which the C-34 had requested in their February 2005 report. "The 113-member team is scheduled to complete the review and submit its findings to the Assembly's administrative and budgetary committee before the end of May, to enable "appropriate action" to be taken by the 59th session of the General Assembly" (source: IRIN).

After hearing from Under-Secretary-General for peacekeeping operations, Jean-Marie Guéhenno, the C-34 reconvened its Working Group which will be meeting until 8 April 2005.

• NEWS: "No Go" Zones to Prevent Sex Abuse by U.N. Peacekeepers
4 Apri 2005 (IPS)
As charges mount of sexual abuse and child molestation by U.N. peacekeepers, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) has drawn up a list of "no go" zones barring visits by blue-helmeted soldiers and civilian staff.

• Report released on "A comprehensive strategy to eliminate future sexual exploitation and abuse in UN peacekeeping operations"
24 March 2005
This report was prepared by the Secretary-General's Special Advisor on addressing sexual exploitation and abuse, Jordan's UN Ambassador Prince Zeid, upon the request made by the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations in its 2005 report.

The report in the 6 official UN languages is available at: http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=a/59/710

To read the Secretary-General's statement, delivered after he forwarded the report to the General Assembly, CLICK HERE.

• secretary-general's REPORT: In larger freedom: towards development, security and human rights for all
- references to sexual exploitation and abuse
21 March 2005
... 113. Since the rule of law is an essential element of lasting peace, United Nations peacekeepers and peacebuilders have a solemn responsibility to respect the law themselves, and especially to respect the rights of the people whom it is their mission to help. In the light of recent allegations of misconduct by United Nations administrators and peacekeepers, the United Nations system should reaffirm its commitment to respect, adhere to and implement international law, fundamental human rights and the basic standards of due process. I will work to strengthen the internal capacity of the United Nations to exercise oversight of peacekeeping operations, and I remind Member States of their obligation to prosecute any members of their national contingents who commit crimes or offences in the States where they are deployed. I am especially troubled by instances in which United Nations peacekeepers are alleged to have sexually exploited minors and other vulnerable people, and I have enacted a policy of “zero tolerance” towards such offences that applies to all personnel engaged in United Nations operations. I strongly encourage Member States to do the same with respect to their national contingents.

For the full report, visit: http://www.un.org/largerfreedom/contents.htm

• NEWS: UN Turns on the Heat in Congo Abuse Probe
18 March 2005 (Reuters)
The United Nations fired one employee and suspended six without pay among 17 civilian staff being investigated on allegations of sexual abuse in the Congo, a UN spokesperson said on Thursday.

• STATEMENT: United States Outraged at Abuses by U.N. Peacekeepers in DRC [Printer-friendly version]
1 March 2005
Prepared Remarks of Kim Holmes, Assistant Secretary of State Bureau of International Organization Affairs, Department of State before the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Organizations, of the International Relations Committee, U.S. House of Representatives

• DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL ON ZERO-TOLERANCE MISSION IN WEST AFRICA
March 2005
Louise Frechette, the UN Deputy Secretary-General, is currently touring the UN's peacekeeping missions in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast to "drive home the secretary-general's zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse."

For UN news coverage of her tour of UNMIL in Liberia, CLICK HERE.
For UN news coverage of her tour of UNAMSIL in Sierra Leone, CLICK HERE.

• NEWS: UN PROBING RAPE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST PEACEKEEPERS IN HAITI
24 February 2005 (UN News)

For more media coverage of the rape allegations in Haiti, CLICK HERE.

• NEWS: How the UN was Forced to Tackle Stain on its Integrity
11 February 2005 (The Independent)
Kate Holt of The Independent was the first to write about the cases of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN peacekeepers in DRC. This article recounts her experience of 'breaking the story'.

• PROSECUTIONS FOR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE IN DRC
10 February 2005
To-date, the only known prosecution has been by South Africa against two of its soldiers, and by France against a U.N. staff member (civilian) who has been jailed on charges of rape and making pornographic videos of children. [Source: Reuters]

• LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY-GENERAL TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL INTRODUCING NEW MEASURES FOR UN peacekeeperS IN DRC TO ADDRESS ALLEGATIONS OF WIDESPREAD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE
9 February 2005
In a 6-page letter to the UN Security Council, the Secretary-General presented a set of new measures, put in place last week by MONUC, in response to the allegations of widespread sexual abuse and exploitation by UN peacekeepers. The measures include a non-fraternization policy - a ban on sex with the local population - a curfew for military contingents, comprehensive training and awareness-raising for all mission personnel, and proposals for improving recreation and welfare facilities for peacekeepers. These new measures apply only to MONUC peacekeepers, and within the mission, they apply exclusively to military personnel. However, the Secretary-General does intend for these new measures to have some impact on the other peacekeeping missions; in an interview with The Independent, he remarked "I want to use this to send a message to all the 17 UN peacekeeping missions around the world." Also, within MONUC, there is a possibility the new measures may be extended to civilian personnel as well.

In his letter to the Security Council, the Secretary-General made a special appeal for 100 extra military police and French-speaking qualified investigators with special skills in sexual exploitation and abuse cases.

In addition, the letter from the Secretary-General reviews the different initiatives implemented to-date by MONUC, DPKO, and other UN actors. These initiatives include the deployment of a multidisciplinary investigative team currently in DRC, led by Assistant Secretary-General Angela Kane (see below), and the establishment of a multidisciplinary Task Force, based at Headquarters, currently undertaking a variety of Headquarters and field-oriented initiatives.

RELATED NEWS STORIES: The Independent | Reuters | UN News story | BBC news story

•MONUC REVISES THEIR CODE OF CONDUCT
February 2005

• Remarks by Under Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations to the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations (C-34) on sexual exploitation and abuse
- Printer-friendly version -
31 January 2005, UN Headquarters, New York
Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Mr. Jean-Marie Guehenno, opened the C-34 Session with his reflections on the most important developments in UN peacekeeping in 2004 and their implications for 2005. One of the three developments he highlighted concerned the allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN peacekeepers in the UN peacekeeping mission in DRC (MONUC).

• REPORT RELEASED: Investigation by the Office of Internal Oversight Services into allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse in the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Report of the Secretary-General on the activities of the Office of Internal Oversight Services
11 January 2005

• NEWS: Peacekeepers' Sexual Abuse of Local Girls Continuing in DRC, UN Finds
7 January 2005 (UN News)
United Nations peacekeeping troops have continued the sexual abuse of girls in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the UN's watchdog office says, but peacekeeping officials say Member States providing the soldiers must send sterner commanders and toughen the punishment for perpetrators.

For more news on the investigations of sexual abuse by MONUC peacekeepers in DRC, CLICK HERE.

• NEWS: UN probing charges of sex abuse in drc peacekeeping official says
23 November 2004 (UN)
The United Nations has dispatched two teams to investigate 150 charges of sexual exploitation and abuse by civilian and military personnel serving in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), according to a senior UN official.

• NEWS: BURUNDI: UN MISSION SETS UP UNITS TO CHECK SEXUAL ABUSE
15 November 2004 (IRIN)
Following reports of sexual exploitation of host populations in several peacekeeping missions in Africa, the UN Mission in Burundi, known as ONUB, has established a Code of Conduct Unit and appointed a gender adviser to make sure this problem does not arise in Burundi.

• CONFIDENTIAL REPORT ON SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE IN DRC prepared by Prince Zeid Raad al-Hussein, Jordan's ambassador to the UN, and the Secretary-General's advisor on the question of sexual exploitation. Based on a trip to DRC in October 2004, he observed that the exploitation "appears to be significant, widespread and ongoing." The report details allegations of sexual misconduct by peacekeepers from Nepal, Pakistan, Morocco, Tunisia, South Africa and Uruguay, and lists incidents in which some soldiers tried to obstruct investigators.
8 November 2004

• Department of Peacekeeping Operations/Office of Human Resources Management investigation to DRC
to examinespecific allegations made against several civilian personnel, suspended pending further investigations.
November 2004

• Sub-section on "Preventing and responding to sexual exploitation and abuse by humanitarian and peacekeeping personnel in the Secretary-General's Report on women, peace and security (IV B)
13 October 2004
Accompanying recommendation: (103.) I reaffirm my conviction that sexual exploitation and sexual abuse are totally unacceptable forms of behaviour and reiterate my commitment to the full implementation of the special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse as set forth in my bulletin. I further urge Member States, intergovernmental and regional organizations, international and national aid and civil society organizations to apply the same standards to peacekeeping personnel, including military and civilian police.

• UN'S OFFICE OF INTERNAL OVERSIGHT SERVICES (OIOS) carries out an investigation of allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse in Bunia, DRC by MONUC peacekeepers
June-September 2004

• Secretary-General appointed Prince Zeid Ra'ad Zeid Al-Hussein, the Permanent Representative of Jordan, as HIS adviser on ADDRESSING sexual exploitatiON AND ABUSE COMMITTED BY ALL CATEGORIES OF PERSONNEL IN PEACEKEEPING CONTEXTS
July 2004

• ANALYSIS: UN Peacekeeping Mission Personnel and Trafficking in Women
1 July 2004 (last updated)
Stop Violence Against Women Website (STOPVAW) ‘Explore the Issue’
As covered in the Explore the Issue section of this website, military and post-combat operations in transitioning states can create ideal environments for trafficking to flourish, a phenomenon which has been documented through reports in numerous countries. In recent years, UN- and NATO -led international peacekeeping missions stationed in post-conflict zones have been targeted by the media and human rights watch groups for their failure to adequately confront the issue of trafficking in their assigned countries. The current criticisms leveled at UN peacekeeping operations are twofold. First, in response to evidence that individual peacekeepers have patronized establishments linked to trafficking networks, human rights groups have charged that UN peacekeepers do not face rigorous standards of legal accountability for their actions. Second, rights advocates argue that UN missions have not done enough to actively combat trafficking networks. Below is a summary of current UN standards of accountability and jurisdiction for peacekeeping missions, and accounts of the UN Missions in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo.

• FINAL REPORT TO THE INTER-AGENCY STANDING COMMITTEE WORKING GROUP ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE IASC TASK FORCE ON PROTECTION FROM SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE IN HUMANITARIAN CRISES
June 2004
"The IASC Task Force on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Humanitarian Crises was established in May 2002 and mandated with a finite set of tasks by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee and the Executive Committee on Humanitarian Affairs (ECHA). These tasks have now been completed, and the Task Force is set to close at the end of June 2004...4. This report highlights some of the key achievements in addressing the grave failure of protection that has led to sexual exploitation and abuse and outlines some of the concrete steps still needed to prevent such abuses in the future."

• TOOLS AND GUIDELINES ISSUED FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF SECRETARY-GENERAL'S BULLETIN
May 2004
The IASC Task Force, working on behalf of the Executive Committee for Humanitarian Affairs, has been tasked with coordinating implementation of the Secretary-General's Bulletin in the field, including peace operations. To this end, the IASC Task Force issued a number of tools and guidelines for use in the field. These include:
- Terms of Reference for In-country Focal Points on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
- Terms of Reference for In-country Network on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
- Model Information Sheet for Local Communities
- Model Complaints Referral Form
- Scenarios Covering Prohibited Acts
- Implementation Guidelines

• REPORT of the Secretary-General on the protection of civilians in armed conflict
28 May 2004
This is the Secretary-General's fourth report on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, which was requested by the President of the Security Council in his statement of 20 December 2002 (S/PRST/2002/41). In his report, the Secretary-General provides a brief update on the implementation of his bulletin on "special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse" (ST/SGB/2003/13) and recommends actions to be taken by the Security Council and UN Member States:

"14. The deeply disturbing issue of sexual exploitation and abuse of women and children in armed conflict by United Nations personnel — both civilian staff and uniformed peacekeeping personnel — has been the focus of considerable attention since my last report. In October 2003 a Secretary-General’s bulletin on special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse (ST/SGB/2003/13) was promulgated. The bulletin sets out minimum standards of behaviour expected of all United Nations personnel, as well as measures necessary to maintain an environment that prevents sexual exploitation and abuse. Since its issuance, all parts of the United Nations system with a field presence have been working to establish a coherent system for implementation of the bulletin at the field level. Human trafficking, which is a related issue of increasing concern, is being addressed by the Department of Peacekeeping Operations as a policy priority.

...30. In such violent and distressing circumstances, peacekeepers and United Nations staff must demonstrate exemplary personal conduct and behaviour. As a follow-up to the Secretary-General’s bulletin on sexual exploitation and abuse, transparent monitoring and accountability structures will be established to ensure a gender-sensitive response to allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse, as well as complaint, reporting and follow-up procedures. The bulletin should also inspire the inclusion of gender considerations as a priority in peacekeeping and humanitarian missions. The bulletin is not binding on uniformed personnel, however, as they fall under the jurisdiction of their own Governments. In order to be truly effective, therefore, the efforts within the United Nations system need to be reinforced by demonstrated action on the part of national Governments whose military and police personnel serve in peacekeeping operations, including punitive measures against offending personnel. I encourage the Security Council to urge personnel contributing countries to cooperate fully in this effort. Minimum standards of behaviour required of peacekeepers, based on the Secretary-General’s bulletin, should be incorporated into the standards and codes of conduct for national armed forces and police forces, and information should be provided on any legal action taken against those charged with violations, an area in which the Department of Peacekeeping Operations has received woefully inadequate information.

• REPORT of the Secretary-General on "Special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse"
23 April 2004
The present report is submitted in compliance with General Assembly resolution 57/306 of 15 April 2003 (on "Investigation into sexual exploitation of refugees by aid workers in West Africa), in which the Assembly requested the Secretary-General to maintain data on investigations into sexual exploitation and related offences. The report sets out data collected on the occurrence of cases of sexual exploitation and abuse within the United Nations system and on the efforts under way to prevent such acts. The report also describes the progress made in the development of guidelines and tools to establish a reporting process that is sensitive to the needs of victims and towards the promotion of a culture in which sexual exploitation and abuse are not tolerated.

The SGB is based on the "6 Core Principles of a Code of Conduct" developed by the IASC Task Force on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse as minimum standards of behaviour for all humanitarian staff.

While DPKO has said that it expects uniformed personnel to abide by the standards set out in the Secretary-General's Bulletin (2003), strictly speaking, as a UN regulation, it only applies to civilian personnel. Yet, while the directives for uniformed personnel list sexual exploitation and abuse as a form of serious misconduct, one of the major weaknesses is that the directives do not define sexual exploitation for uniformed personnel in the same way that the Secretary-General's Bulletin on sexual abuse and exploitation does for civilians.

• INTRODUCTION OF THE MISSION-SPECIFIC CODE OF CONDUCT FOR THE UN MISSION IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (MONUC)
December 2002
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Relevant to all members of the civilian and military components of MONUC, the MONUC Code of Conduct is meant to "provide guidance on the particular conditions and sensitivities in MONUC's area of operations." It "strictly prohibits...any act of sexual abuse and/or exploitation of members of the local community, including children." In addition, unlike the generic Code of Conduct, the MONUC Code of Conduct provides a detailed definition of sexual exploitation and abuse.

• COMBINED RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE UN SECRETARY-GENERAL AND UNIFEM
October 2002
This list compiles the recommendations made by the UN Secretary-General in his Report and Study on Women, Peace and Security, and in UNIFEM's Independent Experts' Assessment entitled Women, War and Peace to address the issues of peacekeeper violations and discipline.

• IASC Task Force Mission Report: Liberia and Sierra Leone
21-31 October 2002
On Peacekeeping Forces: "The original report identified the behavior of Peacekeeping troops as a concern. Despite what we learnt from UNAMSIL, we believe that more could be done to issue clear guidelines prohibiting exploitative sex, including sex with children. We were encouraged by efforts made to prevent abuse and exploitation by peacekeepers. The Mission acknowledges that responsibility for discipline of PK troops lies with their national governments and not with the UN system. It is vital that the UN system at global level, from DPKO as well as at country level engage in dialogue with troop contributing countries to advocate for and uphold the same standards of behavior being adopted by the international humanitarian community. The Mission was encouraged by the establishment of a telephone hotline to report misconduct by peacekeepers. However it suspects that few victims will have the means to make use of such a system. Continued monitoring will be essential."

• REPORT OF THE Secretary-General on the activities of the Office of Internal Oversight Services: Investigation into Sexual Exploitation of Refugees by Aid Workers in West AfricA
11 October 2002
"Late in November 2001, the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) was asked by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to review allegations of sexual exploitation of female refugees by international and national aid workers, specifically regarding United Nations and non-governmental organization (NGO) staff and peacekeepers in three West African countries: Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The allegation of widespread sexual exploitation arose from a report by two consultants who had been commissioned by UNHCR and Save the Children (UK) to study the question of sexual exploitation and violence in the refugee communities in the three countries..."

• REPORT OF THE IASC TASK FORCE ON PROTECTION FROM SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE IN HUMANITARIAN CRISES
13 June 2002
"This report reflects the deliberations and analysis of the members of the Task Force, as well as the opinions and experience of other actors from the UN system, NGOs, donors and other Member States, gathered through a series of consultations...The attached Plan of Action outlines a number of steps that the Task Force believes must be taken by the humanitarian community towards preventing sexual exploitation and abuse and responding to survivor needs. This plan is not a blueprint. It is part of an ongoing effort of the humanitarian community and will be refined on the basis of experience, pilot activities in selected countries and field visits to affected locations...Once approved by the IASC, the Plan of Action will apply to all IASC members and standing invitees. However, it is hoped that the Plan of Action will also have broader application. It will be an important guide for monitoring and evaluating progress made in efforts to eliminate sexual exploitation and abuse. It is hoped that it will form the basis for further discussions within the humanitarian community, with host governments, donors, peacekeepers and others engaged in working with and for populations affected by humanitarian crises, on the long-term measures and changes that need to be introduced to address the problem of sexual exploitation and abuse. It could also be used by donors for establishing requirements to be eligible..."

• ESTABLISHMENT of the UNAMSIL Personnel Conduct Committee (UPCC)
March 2002
UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL)
The role of the UPCC is to promote awareness among all national and international staff - civilian and military - of the UN Code of Conduct and issues of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV), respond to all reported allegations and ensure that "appropriate action is taken." The UPCC was established in response to a set of complaints from three women to UNAMSIL in April 2000 that "uniformed peacekeepers were going around the houses in the Aberdeen area offering US $1 notes to under-aged individuals in exchange for sexual favours."
(From Paul Higate, Gender and Peacekeeping Case Studies: DRC and Sierra Leone, March 2004 )

For a press release announcing the UPCC, CLICK HERE.

• establishment of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Task Force on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Humanitarian Crises
March 2002
The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) established this Task Force following allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation by aid workers and peacekeepers in refguee camps in West Africa. "The Task Force was mandated, within the overall objective of strengthening and enhancing the protection and care of women and children in situations of humanitarian crisis and conflict, to make recommendations that specifically aim to eliminate sexual exploitation and abuse by humanitarian personnel and the misuse of humanitarian assistance for sexual purposes."

The Task Force is co-chaired by OCHA and UNICEF and comprises WFP, UNHCR, OHCHR, DPKO, UNOPS, UNDP, OSAGI, InterAction and SCHR (Oxfam and Save the Children/UK).

• REPORT on Sexual Violence and Exploitation: The Experience of Refugee Children in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone
Unofficially released February 2002, Geneva
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Save the Children Fund UK (SCFUK)
This report detailed cases of sexual exploitation and abuse and gender-based violence, experienced by children in refugee camps in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, perpetrated by humanitarian and UN peacekeeping personnel...

• Guidelines for the conduct of peacekeepers were not circulated until 1995. From 1948-1995, there was no formal code of conduct.