LEBANON: RESPONSE REGARDING UN EFFORTS TO COMBAT

UNCLAS BEIRUT 000694 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ELA ALSO FOR IO A/S BRIMMER AND IO/PSC P FOR DRUSSELL, RRANGASWAMY PARIS FOR RWALLER USUN FOR WOLFF/GERMAIN/SCHEDLBAUER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KPKO LE SUBJECT: LEBANON: RESPONSE REGARDING UN EFFORTS TO COMBAT SEXUAL EXPLOITATION (SEA) AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING (TIP) IN UN PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS REF: A. STATE 57489 ¶B. 08 STATE 005 ¶1. (SBU) Post found no public or media reports about TIP or SEA involving UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) personnel in Lebanon. UNIFIL official on June 11 told PolOff that there were no cases or reports of TIP or SEA involving UNIFIL personnel since last semi-annual report (Ref B). UNIFIL staff officers continue to receive training in international humanitarian law, provided by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC),to help prevent TIP and SEA. UNIFIL schedules ICRC training for all contingents within the first two weeks of their arrival in the mission area. ¶2. (SBU) This year, UNIFIL started a new training initiative by its Conduct and Discipline Team, to conduct training of all contingents on UN standards of conduct. This training covers combating sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse. ¶3. (U) The Lebanese public is generally supportive of the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon and its personnel. ¶4. (U) The UNIFIL mandate currently extends to August 31, ¶2009. SISON