VZCZCXYZ0014
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #0027 0162012
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 162012Z JAN 07
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1132

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000027 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AORC ASIG KTIA KUNR PGOV PREL UNSC
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR WALLACE MEETS WITH UN A/SYG LUTE ON 
SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE 
 
REF: A. STATE 993 
     ¶B. USUN 00005 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY: Ambassador Wallace met January 9 with 
Assistant-Secretary General for the UN Department of 
Peacekeeping Operations Jane Holl Lute on recent allegations 
of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) by peacekeepers in 
Sudan and on the general strategy to address SEA going 
forward.  Lute assured Ambassador Wallace that her office is 
expeditiously addressing the Sudan incident (refel A and B) 
and that measures are being taken to strengthen the 
Organization's handling of all aspects of SEA, including the 
issuance of standard operating procedures (SOPs), regular 
release of enforcement statistics, and ensuring that the 
Secretary-General underscores the importance of SEA 
 
SIPDIS 
allegations in his activities.END SUMMARY 
 
¶2. (U)  Ambassador Wallace conveyed the USG concern over the 
seriousness of SEA allegations, including the recent incident 
in Sudan, and queried A/SYG Lute on what steps the 
Secretariat is undertaking to address all aspects of the 
 
SIPDIS 
issue.  Lute noted that the Missions who have Conduct and 
Discipline Teams (CDTs) are already 70-80 per cent staffed. 
She used the example of Sudan's CDT (which excludes Darfur) 
as having 10 of 11 staff positions filled.    As to the 
broader question Ambassador Wallace raised on if the CDTs are 
effective, Lute noted that efforts to improve them still must 
be pursued, but that they are operating in a much better 
capacity than before. 
 
¶3. (U) Lute also noted proactive steps her office is 
implementing to address the SEA issue.  Such steps include 
assurances Lute received from the Secretary-General that he 
intends to raise the profile of the SEA problem in his 
activities.  Lute is also implementing a new policy beginning 
this month to release a monthly statistics summary of SEA 
enforcement worldide.  In addition, Lute's office is in the 
process of releasing several SOPs for peacekeeping Missions 
to address SEA prevention, enforcement, and remedial action. 
The SOPs include: 
-An SOP on 'Public Information Activities on Sexual 
Exploitation and Abuse' that was released on April 3, 2006 
internally to Missions. 
-A draft SOP on handling of misconduct allegations at UN 
Headquarters that is presently being debated by the Expanded 
Senior Management Team (ESMT), a final step before release. 
-A draft SOP on handling of misconduct in the field at 
peacekeeping Missions that is currently being drafted and 
will need approval by the ESMT prior to release. 
-An SOP on welfare and recreation, aimed at improving the 
extracurricular situation at peacekeeping Missions, which has 
been approved by the ESMT and is anticipated to be released 
this month. 
 
4) (U) COMMENT: Lute noted that current UN policy prevents 
making the SOPs public and therefore gives the impression 
that the UN is not taking systematic steps to address SEA. 
She is pressing internally to change this policy to allow for 
the release of the SOPs to show that the UN is implementing a 
comprehensive policy to address SEA situations by providing 
'clear cut guidelines in the field' on how to operate. END 
COMMENT. 
 
 
 
WOLFF