Special Committee on

Peacekeeping Operations

194^th Meeting (PM)

Special committee on peacekeeping seeks new understanding between

United Nations, troop contributors on sexual exploitation

 

Working Group Asked to Draft New Policy Statement on Aid, Support for Victims

Committed to devising a system-wide plan to fight sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations staff and uniformed peacekeepers, the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, today, requested an expert working group to continue its consideration of a revised model memorandum of understanding between the United Nations and troop contributors, and to move forward on drafting a policy statement on assistance and support to victims.

But, the Special Committee reiterated that a strategy for victims’ assistance was an important element of a comprehensive response to the problem of exploitation and abuse, and that, until a wide-ranging strategy for such assistance was implemented, United Nations peacekeeping missions should continue to provide emergency assistance to victims of abuse within their current budgets.

Wrapping up its resumed 2006 session, the Special Committee (also known as the Committee of 34, or C-34) took those decisions as it approved the draft report of its Ad Hoc Working Group of Experts, meeting at Headquarters since last Monday.  In its March report (document A/60/19), the Special Committee -– mandated by the Assembly to conduct a comprehensive review of all issues relating to peacekeeping operations –- decided to establish the Working Group from among Member States to consider a revised model memorandum of understanding, and the draft United Nations comprehensive strategy on assistance and support, as well as the Secretary-General’s strategy for victim assistance.

Reporting on the Working Group’s meeting, Chairperson Beata Peksa-Krawiec ( Poland), who is also a Vice-Chairperson of the Special Committee, said progress had been made on the revised draft document regulating relations between the United Nations and troop-contributing countries, but, the panel had been unable to finish its work.  The Special Committee decided that the Working Group would reconvene at a resumed session to be held no later than June 2007.

On victims’ assistance, the Special Committee also decided to request its Chair to consult with the Chair of the Fourth Committee (Special, Political and Decolonization) and, as appropriate, the President of the General Assembly, “with a view to enabling further consideration of the draft comprehensive strategy and to report to the Special Committee at its next substantive session in this regard”.

Henri-Paul Normandin ( Canada), Acting Chair of the Special Committee, said that body would take up procedural recommendations on that matter at its spring 2007 session.

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For information media • not an official record