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U.N. Questions Criticism of Its Peacekeepers U.N. Questions Criticism of Its Peacekeepers
(35 minutes later)
The United Nations responded with a mix of diplomatic decorum and criticism on Thursday to a report asserting systemic flaws in the way that it selects and trains peacekeeping troops. The conclusions of the report, undertaken by Transparency International U.K., a prominent corruption monitoring group, appeared to have surprised and angered some United Nations officials. The United Nations responded on Thursday with a mix of diplomatic decorum and criticism to a report asserting systemic flaws in the way that it selects and trains peacekeeping troops. The conclusions of the report, undertaken by Transparency International UK, a prominent corruption monitoring group, appeared to have surprised and angered some United Nations officials.
The report, released on Wednesday, focused on the practices of the Departments of Peacekeeping Operations and Field Support, responsible for managing multinational contingents of nearly 100,000 uniformed personnel in 16 operations around the world. Based on examples of malfeasance investigated and made public by United Nations internal auditors, the report suggested that the organization was not paying enough attention to preventing corrupt behavior by its peacekeepers, particularly in conflict zones where corruption is endemic.The report, released on Wednesday, focused on the practices of the Departments of Peacekeeping Operations and Field Support, responsible for managing multinational contingents of nearly 100,000 uniformed personnel in 16 operations around the world. Based on examples of malfeasance investigated and made public by United Nations internal auditors, the report suggested that the organization was not paying enough attention to preventing corrupt behavior by its peacekeepers, particularly in conflict zones where corruption is endemic.
Farhan Haq, a spokesman for the United Nations, said in a statement that the departments “take all such observations and findings very seriously and are ready to consider how they can reinforce the integrity of our systems.” Mr. Haq also said the departments would “engage with other departments and other U.N. partners to consider the report’s findings and recommendations and determine appropriate follow-up.”Farhan Haq, a spokesman for the United Nations, said in a statement that the departments “take all such observations and findings very seriously and are ready to consider how they can reinforce the integrity of our systems.” Mr. Haq also said the departments would “engage with other departments and other U.N. partners to consider the report’s findings and recommendations and determine appropriate follow-up.”
At the same time, he said, “the report tries to cover a multitude of issues related to the broad subject of corruption — in some parts this leads the report to some superficial analysis and findings.” While the report suggested the United Nations confronted a crisis in its peacekeeping work, he said, there was no explanation provided of the research methodology to reach such a conclusion. He also said the report did “not provide much substantiation or sense of scale or the risk.”At the same time, he said, “the report tries to cover a multitude of issues related to the broad subject of corruption — in some parts this leads the report to some superficial analysis and findings.” While the report suggested the United Nations confronted a crisis in its peacekeeping work, he said, there was no explanation provided of the research methodology to reach such a conclusion. He also said the report did “not provide much substantiation or sense of scale or the risk.”
Some United Nations officials questioned how Transparency International U.K. selected the examples of corruption and whether the organization should have contacted them during its research. Some United Nations officials questioned how Transparency International UK had selected the examples of corruption and whether the organization should have contacted them during its research.
The report was coincidentally issued on the day that the United Nations was facing increased scrutiny over its peacekeeping force in Haiti, which was accused in a lawsuit of gross negligence for causing a deadly cholera epidemic that began to ravage the country three years ago. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has rejected assertions that the organization could be held responsible for the cholera outbreak, because in his view, the United Nations has immunity.The report was coincidentally issued on the day that the United Nations was facing increased scrutiny over its peacekeeping force in Haiti, which was accused in a lawsuit of gross negligence for causing a deadly cholera epidemic that began to ravage the country three years ago. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has rejected assertions that the organization could be held responsible for the cholera outbreak, because in his view, the United Nations has immunity.
On Thursday, the Security Council extended the mandate of the Haiti peacekeeping force, known as the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, for another year, to Oct. 15, 2014. A resolution authorizing the extension, which had been expected, noted the efforts by the United Nations to combat cholera in Haiti. On Thursday, the United Nations Security Council extended the mandate of the Haiti peacekeeping force, known as the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, for another year, to Oct. 15, 2014. A resolution authorizing the extension, which had been expected, noted the efforts by the United Nations to combat cholera in Haiti.