In March 2005, the Zeid Report, A comprehensive strategy to eliminate future sexual exploitation and abuse in United Nations Peacekeeping operations, was released. The Zeid report provided a comprehensive and innovative package of reforms for both the UN Secretariat and Member States.

Although the focus was on sexual exploitation and abuse, the problems identified related to a range of misconduct, which highlighted a lack of awareness of UN standards of conduct, unclear procedures for making complaints, incomplete data on misconduct and insufficient capacity in peacekeeping missions to conduct investigations. One of the first steps taken to rectify this situation was the creation at Headquarters of the Conduct and Discipline Unit and the establishment of Conduct and Discipline Teams in field missions in November 2005.