SUDAN RESPONSE - EFFECTIVENESS OF UN EFFORTS TO COMBAT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000078 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM KPKO SOCI SU SUBJECT: SUDAN RESPONSE - EFFECTIVENESS OF UN EFFORTS TO COMBAT SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE IN UN PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS REF: A) 09 STATE 130760; B) 09 KHARTOUM 218; C) 09 KHARTOUM 201 ¶1. (SBU) Both the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) and the UN African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) require all military personnel and civilian employees to undergo training to recognize, report and prevent sexual exploitation and abuse. According to the UNMIS Conduct and Discipline Unit (CDU) Officer in Charge (OIC) Ghandi Shukry and the UNAMID CDU Chief Wayne Hayde, all UN personnel must take several training programs designed to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse, including pre-deployment training, induction training upon arrival in Sudan, and refresher field training while in country. Both UNMIS and UNAMID also have train-the-trainer programs to expand their reach into the individual units of peacekeepers around the country. The UN has a mission-wide policy of zero-tolerance and all allegations are treated seriously and investigated by the CDU offices, as well as within the ranks of the peacekeeping forces. Substantiated allegations result in disciplinary actions up to and including demotion, separation from service, and dismissal. ¶2. (SBU) As staffing and funding permit, the UNMIS CDU visits team sites every three to four months in order to provide refresher training, analyze areas of concern and identify conditions that could increase potential risks. Shukry and CDU Training Officer Andrey Antonov said they provide tailored training to address specific conditions and concerns particular to an area. Locations frequented by prostitutes are designated as off-limits to UNMIS personnel, and military peacekeepers are prohibited from fraternizing with people living in the local community. ¶3. (SBU) The UNMIS CDU has a robust outreach program to engage and inform the public on what is and is not proper behavior for UN personnel, and how to report incidents of abuse or exploitation. The CDU works with local governments, civil society, non-governmental organizations, and universities to publicly discuss UN standards of conduct. Shukry said UNMIS wants the local populace to know that UN personnel do not operate with impunity, and that the UN will not tolerate misconduct, especially sexual exploitation and abuse. In 2009, UNMIS conducted five public outreach campaigns in the following areas of Southern Sudan: Torit, Yambio, Wau, Rumbek, and Bor. For 2010, they have recruited outreach experts to work in Northern Sudan and the transitional areas of Abyei, Kadugli, and Ed Damazin. The specific aim will be to work with leaders of student and religious groups, and local government. ¶4. (SBU) Hayde reported that UNAMID continues to expand its CDU presence in Darfur. Conduct and discipline officers were deployed to Nyala several months ago. Due to a lack of secure accommodations, the deployment of CDU officers to El Geneina was delayed. They operated out of El Fasher until recently. Following provision of secure housing, one officer moved to El Geneina on a full-time basis on January 8, 2010, and another officer will follow shortly. The UNAMID CDU also conducts outreach programs and additional training to team sites throughout Darfur and implements the same preventive measures to combat sexual exploitation and abuse as UNMIS. ¶5. (SBU) Sudanese human rights activists do not consider UNMIS and UNAMID peacekeepers to be engaged in widespread sexual exploitation and abuse of local populations. Nahid Jaber-Allah, director of SEEMA Center for Training and Protection of Women and Children's Rights, said she is not aware of any allegations of misconduct or sexual abuse by UN personnel. Amir Suleiman, director of the independent Khartoum Center for Human Rights, said that his organization did not track any sexual exploitation cases involving UNMIS or UNAMID peacekeepers in 2009. Khalil Tukras, an independent Darfuri human rights activist, also said he is unaware of any reports of UNAMID peacekeepers involved in sexual exploitation or abuse. However, he noted that El Fasher residents continue to speculate that UN staff in El Fasher are soliciting local women as prostitutes. He suggested more investigation to determine if the practice exists and greater outreach to the El Fasher community. KHARTOUM 00000078 002 OF 002 WHITEHEAD WHITEHEAD