Pre-deployment training

Pre-deployment training for all international civilian staff is conducted by the Department of Peace Operations’ Integrated Training Service (ITS) at the Entebbe Support Base in Uganda (with effect from 1 January 2017). International civilian staff members undergo this training, which includes dedicated segments on conduct and discipline, including the zero tolerance policy, en route to deployments in field missions.

Troop- and police-contributing countries are responsible for providing mandatory pre-deployment training for military and police personnel. This training is usually delivered by peacekeeping training institutions operating on a national or regional/sub-regional basis. Pre-deployment training provided by troop- and police-contributing countries must meet the standards set by the United Nations and must address UN standards of conduct and the prohibition of sexual exploitation and abuse.

The UN Secretariat is helping troop- and police-contributing countries to improve their pre-deployment training on the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse by making core training materials available and deploying mobile training teams to troop and police contributing countries in response to requests from those countries. For example, the UN is employing a train-the-trainers model on the core pre-deployment training material, including specific focus on conduct and discipline, thus strengthening the instructors’ understanding of the standards. Troop- and police-contributing countries are required to certify that military contingent personnel, formed police units and other individually recruited uniformed personnel being deployed in UN operations have received pre-deployment training which was delivered in accordance with UN standards. 

Induction training

In cooperation with Integrated Training Mission Cells (IMTC), Conduct and Discipline Teams (CDT) in field missions provide direct induction and refresher training in missions. The conduct and discipline training in missions is mission specific and covers a range of topics including the mandate and function of the CDT, the Code of Conduct and core values, definitions, types and consequences of misconduct with a particular focus on sexual exploitation and abuse, individual and management responsibilities, the obligation to report misconduct, how to report wrongdoing, disciplinary and administrative procedures, and the rights and responsibilities of the peacekeeping personnel. CDTs also provide ongoing ‘training of trainers’ courses for all categories of personnel.

Online training programme on the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse

An online training programme on the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse was launched in September 2016. The training programme is mandatory for all uniformed and civilian personnel and is intended to strengthen training on the standards of conduct, as well as the expectations of accountability and individual responsibility in matters of conduct and discipline, with a special focus on sexual exploitation and abuse.  

The training programme covers the UN Standards of Conduct concerning sexual exploitation and abuse, including what qualifies as prohibited behaviour and the consequences and impact of sexual misconduct on peacekeeping personnel, operations and host populations. The programme consists of two mandatory courses: one for all personnel and a second for managers and commanders. The training programme complements the pre-deployment training that Member States are currently responsible for providing to their uniformed personnel, and the in situ training that uniformed and civilian personnel receive. 

The roll out of the programme to all field missions, as well as all peacekeeping and field support personnel at UN Headquarters, was completed by the end of 2016. Efforts are being made to have the programme available for all UN Secretariat personnel in early 2017.

The programme will be translated into all UN official languages, as well as languages of top troop and police-contributing countries.

If you are a UN staff member and would like to complete in the training now, please go to Inspira and enroll. The course codes for the two courses are LMS-2398 (all staff) and LMS-2399 (managers and commanders).