Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07USUNNEWYORK27
2007-01-16 20:12:00
UNCLASSIFIED
USUN New York
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR WALLACE MEETS WITH UN A/SYG LUTE ON

Tags:  AORC ASIG KTIA KUNR PGOV PREL UNSC 
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VZCZCXYZ0014
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #0027 0162012
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 162012Z JAN 07
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1132
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

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