MOROCCO: EFFECTIVENESS OF UN EFFORTS TO COMBAT

UNCLAS CASABLANCA 000007 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR IO/PSC AND NEA/MAG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL KPKO CG IV WI MO SUBJECT: MOROCCO: EFFECTIVENESS OF UN EFFORTS TO COMBAT SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE IN UN PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS REF: A. 09 STATE 130760 ¶B. 07 RABAT 1238 ¶1. (U) This cable responds to Ref A request for information on UN efforts to combat trafficking in persons (TIP) and sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) involving UN peacekeeping mission personnel in the Western Sahara and Moroccan peacekeepers in Cote d'Ivoire the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This message was cleared with Embassy Rabat and represents coordinated Mission views. ¶2. (SBU) According to the Government of Morocco (GOM),TIP and SEA are not a problem within the United Nations Mission on the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). Redouan Houssaini, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) UN Division Chie, submitted a response in writing to Mission inqiries stating the MFA is not aware of any SEA orTIP issues pertaining to MINURSO. ¶3. (SBU) MINRSO Public Affairs Officer Carmen Johns told poloff that there were no cases of SEA or TIP misconduc in 2009. MINURSO is currently in the process o hiring a new Conduct and Discipline Officer whowill be is responsible for briefing andtraining all new arrivals on SEA, TIP, and other conduct issues. Johns reported that MINURSO conducts regular refresher training throughout the year. ¶4. (SBU) Houssaini also reported there were no incidents of SEA or TIP among the 1,561 members of the Moroccan Armed Forces serving at the UN Peacekeeping Operations in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC). ¶5. (U) In July 2007, Moroccan peacekeepers in Cote d'Ivoire were accused of sexual abuse involving underage girls. The GOM fully supported UN efforts to investigate the accusations. An inquiry team, consisting of UN investigators and Moroccan army officers, was unable to unearth any conclusive evidence of abuse. No formal charges were filed (Ref B). There have been no allegations regarding Moroccan peacekeepers since 2007. ¶6. (SBU) Mission is unaware of any other official reports in 2009 of SEA or TIP incidents involving MINURSO personnel or Moroccan peacekeepers in Cote d'Ivoire. The Embassy's Human Rights officer contacted local NGOs in Laayoune, Western Sahara which reported they do not believe there are SEA or TIP problems connected to MINURSO.