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STORY: UN / SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE
TRT: 2:59
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 13 DECEMBER 2021, NEW YORK CITY / FILE
RECENT – NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, exterior, United Nations
13 DECEMBER 2021, NEW YORK CITY
2. Wide shot, press briefing room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, United Nations:
“To update you on recent steps taken to address allegations of sexual misconduct by peacekeeping personnel in the Central African Republic. As you may recall, when the new disturbing allegations came to light, we took decisive action. On the 14th of September, the Secretary General decided to repatriate the Gabonese military contingent from the UN Mission in the country MINUSCA. Since the allegations came to light, the Office of Internal Oversight Services and the Gabonese authorities have collected evidence which we understand what allowed the Gabonese authorities to complete their national investigation and inform us of its outcome. Realizing the wellbeing and rights of victims is our utmost priority, all identified victims have been referred for assistance in line with our strategy on support to victims of sexual exploitation and abuse. The mission is also looking at ways to address existence gaps, a project through the Trust Fund in support of victims of sexual exploitation and abuse, which will provide medical, mental health, psychosocial, legal and material support for victims and their children is currently under review. The mission also deployed immediate response teams, several remote locations and gathered information regarding more recently reported allegations of sexual misconduct involving UN troops. We are in the process of informing the Member States concerned so that national investigations can be launched as soon as possible with the assistance of the Office of Internal Oversight Services. We continue to have constructive exchanges with troop and police contributing countries. We expect them to take urgent measures to address all allegations concerning their personnel and ensure that perpetrators who are found to engage in sexual exploitation and or abuse are held accountable in line with national laws. As a reminder, the public website on conduct in peace operations continues to be updated with allegations concerning peacekeeping personnel in accordance with established procedures as an integral part of our commitment to transparency. Meanwhile, the mission is stepping up its efforts to communicate to its personnel and communities and raise awareness of our standards of conduct. It's also coordinating with our partners in the country to strengthen its risk management with close attention to its operating basis deployed in remote locations. Here at headquarters, senior leadership has stepped up engagement with other peacekeeping missions. As well as other MINUSCA troop and police contributing countries, including through official visits to ensure that matters related to sexual exploitation and abuse are addressed. Victims are supported and prevention is strengthened. We remain strongly engaged with troop and police contributing countries to ensure that vetting and selection of their peacekeeping personnel strictly meet the UN standards of conduct. The Secretary General will continue his efforts to ensure that the UN system as well as Member States, work in a coordinated manner to combat sexual exploitation and abuse and spare no effort and supporting the victims.”
4. Wide shot, press briefing room
Updating reporters on recent steps taken to address allegations of sexual misconduct by peacekeeping personnel in the Central African Republic, a UN spokesperson said,“realizing the wellbeing and rights of victims is our utmost priority, all identified victims have been referred for assistance in line with our strategy on support to victims of sexual exploitation and abuse.”
Speaking to reporters today (13 Dec) in New York, UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said, “as you may recall, when the new disturbing allegations came to light, we took decisive action. On the 14th of September, the Secretary General decided to repatriate the Gabonese military contingent from the UN Mission in the country MINUSCA,” adding that “since the allegations came to light, the Office of Internal Oversight Services and the Gabonese authorities have collected evidence which we understand what allowed the Gabonese authorities to complete their national investigation and inform us of its outcome.
Haq added, “the mission is also looking at ways to address existence gaps, a project through the Trust Fund in support of victims of sexual exploitation and abuse, which will provide medical, mental health, psychosocial, legal and material support for victims and their children is currently under review.”
He continued, “the Mission also deployed immediate response teams, several remote locations and gathered information regarding more recently reported allegations of sexual misconduct involving UN troops. We are in the process of informing the Member States concerned so that national investigations can be launched as soon as possible with the assistance of the Office of Internal Oversight Services. “
The Deputy Spokesperson reiterated, “we continue to have constructive exchanges with troop and police contributing countries. We expect them to take urgent measures to address all allegations concerning their personnel and ensure that perpetrators who are found to engage in sexual exploitation and or abuse are held accountable in line with national laws.”
Haq said, “as a reminder, the public website on conduct in peace operations continues to be updated with allegations concerning peacekeeping personnel in accordance with established procedures as an integral part of our commitment to transparency.”
Meanwhile, he said that the Mission is “stepping up its efforts to communicate to its personnel and communities and raise awareness of our standards of conduct. It's also coordinating with our partners in the country to strengthen its risk management with close attention to its operating basis deployed in remote locations.”
Here at headquarters, senior leadership “has stepped up engagement with other peacekeeping missions, as well as other MINUSCA troop and police contributing countries, including through official visits to ensure that matters related to sexual exploitation and abuse are addressed. Victims are supported and prevention is strengthened,” said Haq.
He continued, “we remain strongly engaged with troop and police contributing countries to ensure that vetting and selection of their peacekeeping personnel strictly meet the UN standards of conduct.”
The Deputy Spokesperson reiterated that the Secretary General will continue his efforts to “ensure that the UN system as well as Member States, work in a coordinated manner to combat sexual exploitation and abuse and spare no effort and supporting the victims.”
