VZCZCXYZ0432
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHLB #0040 0131621
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 131621Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6333
INFO RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 3741
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 0596
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 0126
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 3869
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 1526
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 4281
UNCLAS BEIRUT 000040
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR IO/PSC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPKO PHUM LE UN
SUBJECT: UNIFIL EFFORTS TO COMBAT SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
REF: A. 09 STATE 130760
B. 09 BEIRUT 116
1. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has
an authorized strength of 15,000 troops with current
troop strength at just over 12,500. In response to ref A, we
found no public or media reports concerning trafficking in
persons (TIP) or sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA)
involving UNIFIL personnel, and UNIFIL officials reported
there were no allegations filed against UNIFIL personnel in
2009. In addition, an official from the Lebanese office of
Human
Rights Watch (HRW) reported to that HRW had no information on
any TIP or SEA incidents involving UNIFIL personnel.
2. UNIFIL staff officers continue to receive training in
international humanitarian law, provided by the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), to help prevent SEA.
Military staff officers and civilian staff also receive a
briefing on UN standards of conduct that focuses on SEA and
the requirement to uphold international humanitarian law.
3. Since March 2009, the Regional Conduct and Discipline
Team (RCDT) based in UNIFIL has been carrying out two
training activities for UNIFIL military personnel. First,
all contingent/unit commanders are briefed on UN rules
and regulations as well as UNIFIL-specific standards of
conduct to ensure that they are fully aware of their
leadership obligations to uphold and maintain the expected
standards of conduct, including the prohibitions on SEA.
Second, the RCDT also conducts a train-the-trainers seminar
for contingents and military units at the earliest
opportunity, typically within their first month of arrival.
Following the training, the trainers then train the troops on
topics including SEA, the requirement to uphold international
humanitarian law, and the responsibility and avenues for
reporting misconduct.
4. The Embassy contacted the UNIFIL Office of Political
Affairs, Human Rights Watch, and the International Catholic
Migration Commission to compile the data for this report.
Point of contact for this report is Joshua W. Polacheck.
SISON