UN RESPONSE TO AMBASSADOR WALLACE'S INQUIRY ON

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000489 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC KUNR UNGA SUBJECT: UN RESPONSE TO AMBASSADOR WALLACE'S INQUIRY ON RECENT ALLEGATIONS OF MISCONDUCT AT UNMIT ¶1. USUN is transmitting a June 5 letter from Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jane Holl Lute SIPDIS answering Ambassador Mark Wallace's May 11 inquiry into recent allegations of misconduct at the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT). ¶2. Text of June 5 letter from Assistant-Secretary General Jane Holl Lute: Begin text: Excellency, Thank you for your letter dated 11 May 2007 expressing concern on recent media reports of possible trafficking in persons and other sexual exploitation violations by UN personnel assigned to the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT). The reports referred to were two articles published on 7 May 2007, entitled "UN turns blind eye to use of Timor brothels" in The Age by Lindsay Murdoch and "UN under fire for turning blind eye to peacekeepers' misconduct" in The Sydney Morning Herald. The Conduct and Discipline Team (CDT) in UNMIT, in consultation with the mission Chief of Staff (COS),the Chief Public Information Officer (PIO) and the Spokesperson, has taken the following measures to address the issues raised in the articles: i) re-broadcasting the UNMIT media policy reminding staff of the procedures for dealing with the media, and ii) sending a broadcast message to staff reaffirming the conduct expected from UN staff, the obligation to report specific cases of misconduct, the protection available for "whistle blowers", and the drunk driving policy. The CDT in UNMIT sent a fact-finding team to the location in question and found it to be a stall. There had been no evidence of the location acting as a brothel prior to the articles' publication and there are presently no signs of illegal activity, but UN Police (UNPOL) has been advised to continue to patrol the area. In addition, the staff member(s) who provided information to the journalist, Mr. Murdoch, remain unidentified. As a best in UNMIT and other missions, as soon as allegations are made, a preliminary investigation or fact-finding mission is undertaken, and appropriate action is taken accordingly. To further facilitate these types of investigations, CDT in UNMIT has created a task force along with UN police and UN Security in order to set as off-limit or maintain control over locations where illicit business, including gambling, transactional sex, and use or trafficking of illegal drugs, is conducted and tolerated. There are currently 30 such locations under investigation. The mission will periodically review and update the list of "off-limits" locations, as well as check the locations regularly for suspected violations. CDT in UNMIT continues to implement DPKO's zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and abuse through prevention, enforcement and remedial action. There are currently three staff members in UNMIT CDT, including a Chief, one Conduct and Discipline Officer and one Administrative Assistant who deal on a daily basis with receiving and processing of complaints and allegations; counselling of victims; liaising with partner offices and agencies; conducting training on sexual exploitation and abuse for staff; preparing and revising material for dissemination and; coordinating and meeting with senior leaders, including the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on issues of conduct and discipline. SIPDIS With Conduct and Discipline Teams established in most of pur peace operations, we will remain vigilant in addressing sexual exploitation and abuse and ensuring that UN personnel adhere to the standards of conduct set out for them. We are thankful for your concern and support on these issues and we will continue to keep you updated on our work. Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. Signed, Jane Holl Lute Assistant-Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations WOLFF