VZCZCXYZ0003
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #0757 1082311
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 172305Z APR 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 1369
INFO RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA IMMEDIATE 7744
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO IMMEDIATE 3736
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 6591
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS IMMEDIATE 8307
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA IMMEDIATE 0333
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA IMMEDIATE 0948

UNCLAS STATE 040757 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL KPKO AORC APER UNGA
SUBJECT: UN OFFICE OF INTERNAL OVERSIGHT SERVICES FIELD 
INVESTIGATORS 
 
REF: USUN/IO E-MAILS OF 2/29/08 AND PREVIOUS 
 
¶1. (U) This is an action request (paragraph 5).  As USUN is 
aware, Rep. Chris Smith (R-New Jersey) visited the Democratic 
Republic of Congo in January. During that visit he learned 
that the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) had 
decided to move field investigators from UN peacekeeping 
missions in Africa to regional hubs.  OIOS investigators 
assigned to the UN peacekeeping operation in Congo (MONUC)'s 
office in Goma told him that they believed that this decision 
would hamper their ongoing efforts to deter and investigate 
allegations of misconduct, in particular allegations of 
sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) by UN peacekeepers.  Mr. 
Smith was a principal author of the Trafficking Victims 
Protection Act, and has a continuing interest in this issue. 
USUN followed up with OIOS which reported that, given a 
shortage of investigators and the difficulties of traveling 
between countries in Africa, they had determined that it 
would be faster and more efficient to deploy investigators 
from regional hubs.  OIOS did not agree that assignment of 
investigators to missions has a significant deterrent effect, 
stating that there is little regular interaction between 
mission personnel and investigators except in the course of a 
specific investigation. 
 
¶2. (U) During the House Foreign Affairs Committee's April 2 
hearing on UN peacekeeping operations, Mr. Smith again raised 
his concerns with IO Assistant Secretary Silverberg. 
Specifically, he stressed that he was particularly concerned 
about the effects of the withdrawal of investigators from 
Goma, given the persistence of allegations that MONUC 
personnel were committing abuses.  In addition, he reported 
that OIOS investigators had stated that MONUC troops and 
commanders did not take the UN zero tolerance policy 
seriously.  Mr. Smith also asked for additional information 
on pre-deployment training on SEA and disciplinary action 
taken against offenders, across the board.  He commented that 
his conversations with the AU as well as with troop 
contributors and trainers has led him to believe that, 
although intentions may be good, training is in fact 
insufficient and there is very little disciplinary follow-up 
by troop contributors when allegations of misconduct are 
substantiated. 
 
¶3. (U) Assistant Secretary Silverberg told Mr. Smith that she 
thought that, in some cases, regional hubs could be effective 
in making the best use of scarce staff and budget.  In 
addition, however, she agreed emphatically with Mr. Smith 
that there were particular reasons for concern with respect 
to MONUC and that we would continue to press the UN to 
reconsider its approach on the issue.  Ms. Silverberg also 
stressed the Department's continuing efforts to press for 
substantive training and disciplinary actions by troop 
contributors for their national contingents. 
 
¶4. (SBU) During his April 16 visit to the Department of 
State, SRSG for the DRC Alan Doss (protect) reported to 
IO/PSC Director Wake that he told the Secretariat he was very 
opposed to the removal of the OIOS investigators, calling the 
decision "appalling."  He said he had made this statement 
publicly; the Department has not yet found a reference. 
 
¶5.  USUN is requested to again underline to OIOS the U.S. 
view that in addition to placing investigators in regional UN 
hubs, it continues to be necessary to "embed" them in UN 
operations where there have been repeated reports of sexual 
exploitation and abuse by UN personnel.  If all OIOS 
investigators are based in regional hubs, this could 
significantly delay investigation of reports of SEA and 
impede or prevent the timely collection of forensic evidence. 
 In particular, we believe that assignment of field 
investigators to MONUC is essential.  You should reiterate 
our view that the UN Secretariat and individual 
troop-contributing countries should enhance training, and 
underline that we regret that we continue to hear reports 
that field commanders are not taking the "zero tolerance" 
policy seriously. 
RICE