Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ASMARA56
2007-01-18 13:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:  

UNMEE: CONFRONTING SEXUAL ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION

Tags:  PREL KPKO ER ET 
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RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1292
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RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0606
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000056 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/18/2017
TAGS: PREL KPKO ER ET
SUBJECT: UNMEE: CONFRONTING SEXUAL ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION

REF: A) 2006 STATE 204157 B) 2006 ASMARA 755 C)
ASMARA 814

Classified By: CDA Jennifer McIntyre for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000056

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/18/2017
TAGS: PREL KPKO ER ET
SUBJECT: UNMEE: CONFRONTING SEXUAL ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION

REF: A) 2006 STATE 204157 B) 2006 ASMARA 755 C)
ASMARA 814

Classified By: CDA Jennifer McIntyre for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) The following is in response to reftel A.


2. (C) Since the establishment of the UN Peacekeeping Mission
to Eritrea and Ethiopia in 2001, there have been few reported
incidents of sexual exploitation and abuse and trafficking in
persons within Eritrea. UNMEE Chief Legal Counsel Franklyn
Baikargbo and UNMEE Human Rights Officer Monyluak A. Kuol
recounted to Poloff three substantiated incidents of sexual
exploitation. They stated there had been no incidents of
human trafficking, and a handful of cases where UNMEE
peacekeepers or civilian personnel had to be pressured into
providing support to children born from consensual
relationships. They report one substantiated incident of
UNMEE personnel engaged in smuggling since the establishment
of the mission. These combined events have resulted in UNMEE
repatriating a total of four individuals to their home
nations.


3. (U) In order to prevent such incidents from occurring,
UNMEE requires that all military personnel participate in
quarterly awareness and prevention training. This training
also occurs with every troop rotation. The length and detail
of training varies depending on the availability of training
personnel, but at a minimum, it involves day-long training
covering HIV/AIDS, sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
Civilian employees must also participate in similar training
upon their arrival at the mission. In late 2005, UNMEE
updated the code of conduct with increased focus on sexual
exploitation and abuse, human trafficking and obeying the
laws of the host nation. The UN's zero tolerance policy is
reiterated in all trainings and in the code of conduct.


4. (U) Upon receipt of a report of sexual exploitation, abuse
or human trafficking, UNMEE convenes a panel to review the
allegations. Category 1 claims (such as sexual abuse or
assault) for military personnel are referred to the UN Office
of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) in Nairobi that leads
the investigation. For All other claims, including category

2 claims and allegations against UNMEE civilian personnel,
UNMEE establishes a local panel comprised of civilian
personnel to investigate. They call witnesses, take
statements and evaluate the claim. If it appears the claim
will be substantiated, a report is sent to the Office of
Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and DPKO informs the SRSG of
the findings and the sanctions. All persons under
investigation are afforded due process.


5. (U) UNMEE works diligently in a difficult environment to
raise awareness in the local population of the roles and
responsibilities of UNMEE military and civilian personnel
within Eritrea. The absence of a free and open media in
Eritrea compounds UNMEE's difficulties in educating the local
population about their Mission. UN Human Rights Officers in
the field conduct outreach to the local population and UNMEE
tries to use Eritrean local staff to spread the word. Unlike
the Ethiopian side, where UNMEE is able to use newspapers,
radio and television to inform the local population, the
Government of Eritrea,s control of all forms of media make
these efforts more difficult.


6. (C) Comment: The local population,s perception of
UNMEE,s presence in Eritrea is basically that of a necessary
evil. The Government of Eritrea (GSE) frequently uses the
entity of UNMEE as a "whipping boy" and a means to gain the
attention of the international community to highlight the
impasse in the border demarcation process. The GSE has been
actively engaging in an anti-U.S. and anti-Western propaganda
campaign, which often includes the UN and UNMEE. Yet even
Col. Zekerias Ogbagaber, the Eritrean head of the Commission
for Coordination with the UN Peacekeeping Mission, has
repeatedly told Poloff that the Eritreans have no complaints
about the behavior of the UNMEE personnel within Eritrea or
with the UN,s response to the few allegations of staff
misconduct. Conversations with local Eritreans in Asmara and
with UNMEE staff and military personnel indicate that the
local population, at least in the capital, has neutral
feelings about the peacekeepers themselves. Gaining
additional perspectives from other sources is nearly
impossible, as U.S. Embassy staff is restricted by the GSE to
the city of Asmara. The nine NGOs operating within Eritrea
are not permitted to travel within the temporary security
zone and their projects are strictly controlled. Not
surprisingly, there are also no independent human rights
organizations operating within Eritrea.


7. (C) Comment con't: Post believes that given the duration
(6 years) and size of the mission (at one point over 4200
personnel),the number of sexual exploitation and abuse and
human trafficking cases is extremely low. What has been an
on-going problem is human smuggling, with one highly visible
case in fall 2006 of a UN Volunteer who attempted to smuggle
several Eritreans to Ethiopia in an UNMEE vehicle. (Refs B&C)
Other smuggling cases have predominantly involved local
staff crossing the border in UNMEE vehicles. In one case,
upon arrival in Ethiopia the local staff called UNMEE
headquarters in Asmara to inform UNMEE staff where in
Ethiopia they had abandoned the vehicle. Eritrea continues
to be an oppressive society that controls the movement of its
own people, as well as UNMEE personnel. As long as Eritreans
are desperate to leave the country by any means possible,
human smuggling will continue to be an issue for UNMEE. End
Comment.
MCINTYRE