Response to allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by field personnel

The international community will not accept this form of massive preventive detention, with continuing allegations of abuse and torture.

Over the past year, the number of allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse against United Nations peacekeeping personnel has increased significantly.

Consider for a moment the vast quantity of column inches and hours of television devoted to the allegations of detainee abuse at Abu Ghraib.

The OIOS investigation into allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse of local Congolese women and girls found that the problem was serious and ongoing.

Given the number of allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse received by MONUC in recent months, the special investigation team focused its attention on the review of those allegations and on the conduct of as many investigations as possible.

Amid rising allegations of abuse, President George W. Bush s government realized some time ago that it could not maintain its Guantánamo detention camp forever.

Some detainees have reported abuse and ill treatment at the time of arrest and human rights observers have observed injuries consistent with such allegations.

UNMIL will continue to vigorously enforce my zero tolerance policy and ensure that all sexual exploitation and abuse allegations are thoroughly investigated.

The Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) of the United Nations has conducted an investigation into the allegations of sexual abuse (including in Ituri) within MONUC.

It adds that the allegations with respect to certain judges of the Plock District Court are defamatory and constitute an abuse of the right of submission.

The report considers how the Catholic Church handled allegations of sexual abuse against a sample of 46 priests between 1 January 1975 and 30 April 2004.

(h) Continuing allegations of excessive use of force and firearms, including cases of killings and reports of sexual abuse, by the police and, in particular, border guards.

(g) The Special Committee recommends that the Secretary General establish a data collection and management system at Headquarters and in the field to track allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse and responses of missions to those allegations (A 59 19 Add.1, para.

All allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse involving United Nations personnel must be thoroughly investigated and followed up, and preventive measures must be put in place.

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

The Department 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.

Since 1 December 2004, investigations have been completed into allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse involving 152 peacekeeping personnel 32 civilians, three civilian police and 117 military personnel.

The report of the Secretary General mentions that the allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse committed by peacekeeping personnel appear to be more serious and more widespread than previously known.

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.

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 the Congo.

In Kinshasa and Bujumbura, the mission was briefed on the actions MONUC and ONUB had taken to address cases and allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse over the past year.

(ii) 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 (A 59 661)

The independent expert offered his support to Zamzam Ahmed Dualeh should she wish to pursue her case, and he received an agreement from Somaliland authorities to investigate her allegations of abuse.

Allegations of torture

Having considered the report of the Secretary General on special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse and the report on the 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,

There are four major categories of child abuse neglect, physical abuse, psychological or emotional abuse, and sexual abuse.

All forms of abuse, particularly sexual abuse.

(l) Adopt legislation and other measures to combat violence against women, within the framework of plans to take measures to prevent such violence, including domestic violence, and to investigate all allegations of ill treatment and abuse

The Mission's proposed strategy has been sent to all UNOCI staff for comments, and is being transformed into a series of actions designed to enhance UNOCI capacity to prevent and address allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse.

(d) Full justification of resource requirements, both at Headquarters and in the field, taking into account the specificities of each mission and based on empirical data on the actual number of allegations and cases of sexual exploitation and abuse

Over the past 21 months, investigations into allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse involving 264 United Nations peacekeeping personnel have been concluded 16 civilians have been summarily dismissed, and 132 Blue Helmets have been repatriated (seven of whom were Commanders).

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.

Very few of the allegations involved civilian personnel, and in three of the four cases that did, the allegations were not substantiated.

Abuse of functions

Understanding the causes of abuse is crucial to addressing the problem of child abuse.

One allegation related to a person who could not be positively identified as a member of UNMIL. The sexual exploitation and abuse team has completed investigations into 21 cases, in 13 of which allegations were found to be substantiated and in 8 unsubstantiated.

Allegations are frequently not investigated.

(b) Introduce an effective system for reporting cases of abuse, including sexual abuse, of children

In addition to the efforts in place for dealing with the issues of harassment and sexual misconduct, in response to the widespread allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse at some United Nations peacekeeping operations, there has been aggressive pursuit by the Organization of such cases.

(e) About allegations of lack of independence of the judiciary

On 9 February, the Secretary General sent a letter to the President of the Security Council about the response to allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse in the Congo, with the request to bring the information to the attention of the members of the Security Council.

Emphasizes the need for the development of a comprehensive, well defined and coherent policy, taking into account also the relevant provisions of resolution 59 ___, addressing, inter alia, the various managerial aspects of preventing and addressing allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse in all United Nations activities

The main players and fraud allegations

The Supreme Court dismissed his allegations.