Fifty-ninth General Assembly

Fourth Committee

28^th Meeting (PM)

FOURTH COMMITTEE APPROVES DRAFT RESOLUTION URGING ACTION BY MEMBER STATES

TO ELIMINATE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION, ABUSE IN PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS

In Unanimous Action, Delegates Also Endorse

Recommendations of Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations

The General Assembly this afternoon urged Member States, the Secretariat and other organs of the United Nations to implement measures designed to eliminate sexual exploitation and abuse in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

For that purpose, through the unanimous adoption of resolution A/C.4/59/L.20, the Assembly endorsed the proposals, recommendations and conclusions found in section II of the Report of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations and its Working Group on its 2005 resumed session (document A/59/19/Add.1).

Those recommendations include the enforcement of uniform standards of conduct, as well as training in those standards for both military and civilian personnel.  The report emphasizes that managers and commanders must lead by example and ensure that all those under their supervision are aware of the Secretary-General’s policy of zero tolerance of sexual exploitation and abuse.  Those found culpable must be punished by their respective supervisors.

The report also considers the increased participation of women in peacekeeping operations particularly important in this context.  In addition, it encourages troop-contributing countries to send established units to peacekeeping missions, rather than assembling units from other existing groups.

The report further recommends that the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) take steps to improve living conditions and recreation facilities for all categories of personnel as soon as possible.  It also recommends the establishment of a data-management system for allegations of sexual abuse, and enhanced capacity to investigate and address misconduct.

The report also contains recommendations on related measures in public information, victim assistance, staff regulations and memoranda of understanding with troop-contributing countries.  It recommends that the Secretary-General introduce expedited procedures to deal with cases of abuse and exploitation, including suspension without pay.  Finally, it recommends that the Secretary-General appoint a group of legal experts to submit a comprehensive report on the subject to the General Assembly’s sixtieth session.

Delegates speaking in explanation after the vote welcomed the swift action on the issue of sexual exploitation and abuse.  The representative of Luxembourg, speaking on behalf of the European Union, said he realized that today’s action alone would not put an end to the problem.  However, the immediate reaction by the mission leadership to recent events in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda proved that a process of increased awareness and responsiveness had been initiated.  He urged all partners in this common endeavour to carry out their commitment by swiftly and fully implementing all recommendations adopted in the report.

Morocco’s representative, speaking on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, said the Movement desired more than the implementation of the recommendations -- it wanted to be sure that incidents of abuse never happened again.  India’s representative welcomed the report’s affirmation of the zero-tolerance party, but expressed disappointment that there was not a more substantial outcome.  Norway’s representative said the implementation of the recommendations should not be made dependent on voluntary contributions; Member States must take collective responsibility for financing.

In a general statement, the representative of Japan pointed out the extreme importance of concrete measures on the part of troop-contributing countries to deal with the matter.  Together with exclusive jurisdiction over their contingents, those countries had a primary responsibility to maintain discipline in their units.

The resolution and the report were introduced this afternoon by the Rapporteur of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, Alaa Issa (Egypt).

The General Assembly will meet again at a time to be announced in the Journal.

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