DEMARCHE ON RECOMMENDATIONS TO ELIMINATE SEXUAL

UNCLAS NEW DELHI 003366 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM KCRM KPKO MARR IN SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON RECOMMENDATIONS TO ELIMINATE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE IN UN MISSIONS DELIVERED REF: A. STATE 80761 ¶B. NEW DELHI 1554 ¶1. (SBU) Following up on discussion at the most recent US-India Peacekeeping Joint Working Group (Ref B),PolCouns and Poloff discussed India's efforts to encourage high standards of conduct for troops participating in UN peacekeeping operations (PKO) with MEA Joint Secretary (UN Political) Hamid Ali Rao on May 3. Rao expressed Indian support for efforts to eliminate sexual abuse in UN PKO, but deferred a specific response until consulting with his deputy, then on travel. ¶2. (SBU) On May 4, Poloff delivered UN PKO demarche (Ref A) to Rao's deputy, Under Secretary K Nandini, who agreed to review the recommendations with Rao and convey their decisions to the Indian UN Mission in New York. Nandini emphasized that India takes the issue of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN peacekeepers very seriously, and promised to keep us informed of the GOI's position. BLAKE