Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07FREETOWN422
2007-07-16 10:17:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Freetown
Cable title:  

SIERRA LEONE: EFFECTIVENESS OF UN EFFORTS TO COMBAT SEXUAL

Tags:  PREL PHUM UN KPKO SL 
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VZCZCXRO3471
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHFN #0422 1971017
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 161017Z JUL 07 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY FREETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1200
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHMV/AMEMBASSY MONROVIA 0642
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

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