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Briefing by Spokesperson for Secretary-General
As part of the Secretary-General’s commitment to increase transparency on the reporting of sexual exploitation and abuse within the UN, the Deputy Spokesman provided an update on the period of 1 April-30 June. Not all the allegations have been fully verified and many are in the preliminary assessment phase.
During this period, the UN received 43 allegations involving UN personnel – 18 from peacekeeping and 25 from agencies, funds and programmes. We also received 24 allegations involving non-UN personnel working for implementing partners. 3 allegations pertain to non-UN international forces authorized by a Security Council mandate. The total number of allegations is 70. 27 incidents allegedly took place in 2018; 9 in 2017; 5 in 2016; 10 in 2015; 2 in 2014; and the date is unknown for 17 allegations.
Of the 70 allegations, 18 are categorized as sexual abuse, 46 as sexual exploitation, 3 as other and 3 are of an unknown nature. There are 84 victims: 46 women, 17 girls (under the age of 18), 12 females whose age is unknown, 1 boy (under the age of 18), and 5 males of an unknown age. The gender of 3 victims is unknown. Alleged perpetrators include 80 men, 4 women, and 4 individuals whose gender is unknown.
Of the 70 allegations, 3 have been substantiated through an investigation and 2 were not substantiated. 34 allegations are at various stages of investigation; 24 are under preliminary assessment; 3 are under review and limited information has been provided by the reporting organization. 4 were closed under other circumstances. 16 allegations have been referred to the Member State for action.
Meanwhile, we have continued our efforts to implement the Secretary-General’s strategy to combat sexual exploitation and abuse. With regard to ending impunity, in June we launched an electronic tool for screening UN staff dismissed as a result of substantiated allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse, or who resigned or were separated during an investigation.
Marking the World Day against Trafficking in Persons, the Secretary-General said in a message today that human trafficking is a vile crime that feeds on inequalities, instability and conflict.
He said that the United Nations is committed to advancing action to bring traffickers to justice while protecting and supporting their victims.
The Secretary-General noted that, in their proposed Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration to be adopted in December, Member States have also demonstrated resolve to prevent, combat and eradicate trafficking in persons in the context of international migration.
New data from the UN Migration Agency shows that, while human trafficking is often viewed as an underground activity linked to irregular migration, this is not often the case. In the past decade, nearly 80 per cent of journeys taken by victims trafficked internationally cross through official border points, such as airports and land border control points.
Meanwhile, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has found that nearly 30 per cent of identified victims of human trafficking are children. In regions such as sub-Saharan Africa and Central America and the Caribbean, the proportion is over 60 per cent.
In a statement issued yesterday, the Secretary-General expressed his concern over persisting restrictions of civil liberties and democratic rights in the run-up to today’s constitutional referendum in the Comoros. He urges the Government, political parties and all other relevant stakeholders to do their utmost to respect the rule of law and human rights.
The Secretary-General, echoing the recent decision of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government, calls on Comorian stakeholders to engage in a dialogue to ensure an inclusive consultation on constitutional reforms under the auspices of the African Union.
The Department of Peacekeeping Operations says that yesterday’s Presidential election in Mali was conducted in most of the country in a peaceful manner and it is hoped that the vote tally will be held in a transparent manner leading to results acceptable by all.
However, a number of violent incidents and other difficulties prevented voting from taking place in 644 of 4,632 polling stations in the north and centre of the country, according to the Government.
In addition, the UN peacekeeping mission in the country (MINUSMA) reports that yesterday afternoon, unidentified armed men launched 10 mortar shells against the MINUSMA camp in Aguelhok, Kidal Region. No casualties or damage was reported. A MINUSMA Quick Reaction Force and other security personnel already patrolling outside the city were dispatched to the area.
Panos Moumtzis, the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, called once more in a statement for the safety and protection of local aid workers inside Syria.
He calls on all steps to be taken to increase the protection of aid workers and ensure the continuation of services in support of an effective sustainable humanitarian response to the people in need.
Syria is one of the most challenging and dangerous environments for humanitarians to operate in, in the world today. Since the start of the crisis in Syria in March 2011, hundreds of humanitarian workers and service providers, including health workers, have been killed in the course of duty.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, a convoy of 452 people from the southwest - more than half of them women and children - arrived in northwestern Syria, following a local agreement reached between the parties. With this evacuation, the total number of people that have been evacuated from southwest Syria to the northwest rose to nearly 10,000 people.
Lise Grande, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, warned in a statement yesterday that recent airstrikes in and around Hodeidah are putting innocent civilians at extreme risk.
In the last few days, she said, airstrikes occurred near a reproductive health centre and public laboratory in Hodeidah and hit and damaged a sanitation facility in Zabid and a water station, which supplies the majority of the water to Hodeidah City.
Ms. Grande added that, despite working under some of the most difficult conditions imaginable, the United Nations and its partners have reached 80 percent of the people displaced by fighting with some form of assistance. But damage to sanitation, water and health facilities jeopardizes everything we are trying to do. She warned that we could be one airstrike away from an unstoppable cholera epidemic.
The UN and partners are requesting $3 billion through the 2018 Humanitarian Response Plan to support millions of people in need across the country. To date, $1.8 billion, 60 per cent of the resources required, has been received.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that, yesterday, a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck Lombok in Indonesia, reportedly killing at least 14 people and injuring over 160.
The most severely impacted area was East Lombok district.
The United Nations expresses its deep condolences to the relatives of the victims and the Government of Indonesia and stands ready to support Government efforts in responding to this disaster.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that, in the past week in Myanmar, heavy monsoon rains have led to flooding across the country, reportedly killing at least 11 people and displacing nearly 100,000 others.
The Government of Myanmar has established 178 evacuation sites. Local humanitarian and civil society organisations are supporting the Government-led efforts.
The United Nations is liaising closely with the Government and humanitarian partners to provide assistance where needed.