SIERRA LEONE: EFFECTIVENESS OF UN EFFORTS TO COMBAT SEXUAL

UNCLAS FREETOWN 000422 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W, DRL, G/TIP E.O. 12958 TAGS: PREL PHUM UN KPKO SL SUBJECT: SIERRA LEONE: EFFECTIVENESS OF UN EFFORTS TO COMBAT SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE IN UN PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS REF: A) STATE 89356 B) MONROVIA 814 ¶1. PolOff spoke with representatives from the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL),UNHCR, UNICEF, and the United Nations Integrated Office for Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) concerning UN efforts to combat Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) and Trafficking in Persons (TIP) by UN peacekeepers and civilian staff. ¶2. The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) has a contingent of 250 Mongolian security guards on loan to the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) in Freetown. UNMIL's Conduct and Discipline Unit has sent staff to Sierra Leone with a translator to provide training to the newly rotated Mongolian troops. ¶3. SCSL representatives said there are various procedures in place to prevent UNMIL personnel from exploiting victims of trafficking or committing acts of sexual exploitation or abuse. The Chief of Personnel for the SCSL has conducted a series of trainings and workshop on the topics of TIP and SEA. ¶4. As of June 27, 211 SCSL staff members representing 32 nationalities have attended these training workshops. The UNMIL security guards have yet to receive this training; however they are the next group on the training schedule. There are also public programs created to educate the public about TIP and SEA issues. One of these programs is a weekly radio show on Radio UNIOSIL. UN interagency trainings are also regularly conducted on TIP and SEA issues in Sierra Leone. ¶5. SCSL staff members are encouraged to report cases of trafficking or sexual exploitation. According to the Chief of Personnel at the SCSL, as of June 27, no cases had been reported. SCSL personnel policy states that individuals who engage in any act related to TIP or SEA will be held accountable by their home country government after being terminated from their position at the SCSL. ¶6. Local human rights NGOs generally commend UN efforts to combat TIP and SEA. Training workshops, as well as public programs that help to educate the general public on TIP and SEA issues, are viewed as effective. However, some NGOs expressed concern that no lead agency exists to systematically address these problems. There were no complaints from local human rights NGOs involving UN peacekeeping forces regarding TIP or SEA activities. ¶7. Offices and NGOs contacted regarding Reftel A request: -Amnesty International -The British Council Justice Sector Development Program (JSDP) -Office of Personnel at the Special Court for Sierra Leone -Press and Public Affairs Office at the Special Court for Sierra Leone -Pampama Communications -UNHCR -UNICEF -UNIOSIL Conduct and Discipline Office