UN Peacekeeping Panel Seeks New Measures Against Sexual Exploitation
New York, Dec 18 2006 11:00PM
The United Nations Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations today called for continued efforts to formulate measures
against sexual exploitation and abuse involving countries contributing troops to the world body's missions.
Meeting in New York, the panel requested an expert working group to pursue its consideration of a revised model
memorandum of understanding between the UN and troop contributors.
Wrapping up its resumed 2006 session, the Special Committee decided that the working group drafting a document
regulating relations between the UN and troop-contributing countries should reconvene no later than June 2007.
The group was also tasked with advancing efforts to draft a policy statement on assistance and support to victims.
The Special Committee noted that until a comprehensive response to the problem of exploitation and abuse is in place, UN
peacekeeping missions should continue to provide emergency assistance to victims of abuse within their current budgets.
Earlier this month, the UN convened a meeting aimed at rooting out the problem of sexual exploitation and abuse in field
operations, with Secretary-General Kofi Annan setting a strict tone by declaring that no one should be above the law.
In late November, a UN spokesman reported that since the beginning of 2004, the UN has investigated 319 peacekeeping
personnel in all missions. These resulted in the summary dismissal of 18 civilians and the repatriation on disciplinary
grounds of 17 police and 144 military personnel.
Ends