GOH RESPONSE TO SAVE THE CHILDREN REPORT OF SEXUAL

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000886 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/EX AND WHA/CAR S/CRS SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR INR/IAA WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KJUS KPKO KWMN UNSC PHUM KCRM HA, CE SUBJECT: GOH RESPONSE TO SAVE THE CHILDREN REPORT OF SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE BY UN PEACEKEEPERS AND AID WORKERS REF: A. SECSTATE 57134 ¶B. 07 PORT AU PRINCE 1782 ¶C. PORT AU PRINCE 865 ¶1. (U) This message is sensitive but unclassified ) please protect accordingly. ¶2. (SBU) Poloff discussed reftel points June 13 with Ministry of Women's Affairs Director General Myriam Merlet. She commented that the Save the Children report, while informative, did not go far enough in analyzing the core social issues of women and children's rights. Merlet lamented that many Haitian victims do not know they are being victimized, and the Ministry is working with local governments on an awareness campaign to inform citizens of their rights vis-a-vis the UN troops. Additionally, the Ministry is proposing changes to Haitian law to provide greater protection to women and children who are victims of abuse. ¶2. (SBU) The Ministry of Women's Affairs is continuing to follow up on the case of over 100 Sri Lankan peacekeepers accused in 2007 of transactional sex and sexual involvement with minors (ref B). The GOH, led by Prime Minister Jacques-Edouard Alexis, formally approached UN Special Representative Hedi Annabi in early 2008 to request the formal report of the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS). Merlet expressed disappointment that the GOH had not yet received the OIOS report. The GOH also contacted the Government of Sri Lanka, which pledged to keep the GOH apprised of their investigation into the accusations. The GOH hopes the Government of Sri Lanka will establish fault and punish those troop found guilty of criminal offences. In addition, the GOH set up its own commission, composed of members of the Ministries of Justice, Social Affairs, Foreign Affairs and Women's Affairs, to investigate the accusations. The commission's activities are currently on hold while Haiti selects a new Prime Minister (ref C). ¶3. (SBU) Merlet said Haiti recently approached the UN Secretariat to propose the UN exercise caution in selecting troop contributing countries, and also allow the host government a voice in the decision. Haiti also argued for more rigorous human rights training by troop contributing countries, and proposed allowing UN Conduct and Discipline Units greater authority to punish offenders. ¶4. (SBU) Poloff also discussed reftel with MINUSTAH Conduct and Discipline Unit Chief Rahul Sur (protect) on June 3. Sur said MINUSTAH is collaborating with local NGOs to launch a campaign against transactional sex. He surmised that the Ministry of Women's Affairs is growing frustrated with the slow pace of the Sri Lankan investigation. SANDERSON