AMBASSADOR WALLACE MEETS WITH UN A/SYG LUTE ON

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000027 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC ASIG KTIA KUNR PGOV PREL UNSC SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR WALLACE MEETS WITH UN A/SYG LUTE ON SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE REF: A. STATE 993 ¶B. USUN 00005 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: Ambassador Wallace met January 9 with Assistant-Secretary General for the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations Jane Holl Lute on recent allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) by peacekeepers in Sudan and on the general strategy to address SEA going forward. Lute assured Ambassador Wallace that her office is expeditiously addressing the Sudan incident (refel A and B) and that measures are being taken to strengthen the Organization's handling of all aspects of SEA, including the issuance of standard operating procedures (SOPs),regular release of enforcement statistics, and ensuring that the Secretary-General underscores the importance of SEA SIPDIS allegations in his activities.END SUMMARY ¶2. (U) Ambassador Wallace conveyed the USG concern over the seriousness of SEA allegations, including the recent incident in Sudan, and queried A/SYG Lute on what steps the Secretariat is undertaking to address all aspects of the SIPDIS issue. Lute noted that the Missions who have Conduct and Discipline Teams (CDTs) are already 70-80 per cent staffed. She used the example of Sudan's CDT (which excludes Darfur) as having 10 of 11 staff positions filled. As to the broader question Ambassador Wallace raised on if the CDTs are effective, Lute noted that efforts to improve them still must be pursued, but that they are operating in a much better capacity than before. ¶3. (U) Lute also noted proactive steps her office is implementing to address the SEA issue. Such steps include assurances Lute received from the Secretary-General that he intends to raise the profile of the SEA problem in his activities. Lute is also implementing a new policy beginning this month to release a monthly statistics summary of SEA enforcement worldide. In addition, Lute's office is in the process of releasing several SOPs for peacekeeping Missions to address SEA prevention, enforcement, and remedial action. The SOPs include: -An SOP on 'Public Information Activities on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse' that was released on April 3, 2006 internally to Missions. -A draft SOP on handling of misconduct allegations at UN Headquarters that is presently being debated by the Expanded Senior Management Team (ESMT),a final step before release. -A draft SOP on handling of misconduct in the field at peacekeeping Missions that is currently being drafted and will need approval by the ESMT prior to release. -An SOP on welfare and recreation, aimed at improving the extracurricular situation at peacekeeping Missions, which has been approved by the ESMT and is anticipated to be released this month. 4) (U) COMMENT: Lute noted that current UN policy prevents making the SOPs public and therefore gives the impression that the UN is not taking systematic steps to address SEA. She is pressing internally to change this policy to allow for the release of the SOPs to show that the UN is implementing a comprehensive policy to address SEA situations by providing 'clear cut guidelines in the field' on how to operate. END COMMENT. WOLFF