Risk management is the foundation of the United Nations’ approach to addressing misconduct and is essential to each pillar of its core work:
- Prevention of misconduct, including sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA);
- Enforcement of the United Nations standards of conduct; and
- Assistance to victims of SEA and children born from SEA.
Misconduct risk management activities across all Secretariat entities include mandatory training on preventing sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other prohibited conduct, and fraud and corruption. In peace operations misconduct risk management activities also include pre-deployment training, establishing community-based complaint mechanisms so that local communities are able to report misconduct committed by United Nations personnel; and providing assistance for victims of sexual exploitation and abuse such as medical, legal and psychosocial support.
The United Nations Secretariat approach to risk management, including a methodology, guidance and tools are set out in the Misconduct/SEA Risk Management Toolkit which was developed and is managed by the Conduct and Discipline Service, in the Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance. The Toolkit provides a set of practical tools to assist identification and assessment of risks to misconduct, including the most serious – sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment – as well as developing treatment and monitoring plans to manage these risks.
In the context of peace operations, it emphasizes the importance of integrating misconduct/SEA risk management across all departments and offices in field operations, including both uniformed and civilian sections, and from Headquarters to field locations.
Troop and Police Contributing Countries are encouraged to develop risk management workplans for their personnel deployed to peace operations. Conduct and Discipline Teams in peace operations, as experts in misconduct risk management, support these efforts.
For additional information on the United Nations’ risk management approach, click on the PDF link beside to access the Misconduct/SEA Risk Management Toolkit.
