UNMIK/PR/1712 - UNMIK Countdown #30
PRISTINA – Functioning within the office of the SRSG, the work of the Conduct & Discipline Unit (C&D), which was formally established at UNMIK in mid-November 2006, focuses on three main areas: prevention of misconduct and contribution to the establishment of a serene atmosphere in the workplace, ensuring enforcement of existing rules and regulations, and remedial action for UNMIK personnel and the local population.
C & D’s mandate could be summarized as follows:
- to act as the Mission Focal Point for all conduct and discipline matters, in particular as regards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA);
- to ensure the coherent application of standards of conduct for all categories of personnel;
- to assist in developing strategies to prevent, identify and respond to misconduct;
- to ensure that DPKO policies, procedures and guidelines on addressing misconduct are adequately disseminated to all categories of personnel;
- to receive complaints and refer them to the appropriate offices or bodies; and
- to liaise with the UNMIK Career Development Unit to ensure that all categories of personnel receive appropriate training in UN standards of conduct, with a special emphasis on the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse.
During the first year of its existence, C&D has developed standard operating procedures for dealing with allegations of misconduct at UNMIK. In its efforts to prevent the escalation of undesirable behaviour into misconduct and in order to reach amicable solutions, C&D has identified potential conflicts and has been involved in negotiating and mediating between various parties in such situations. These “good offices” have yielded positive results in areas where personnel and managerial problems have arisen.
C & D has been working on an awareness campaign and outreach programme, which is being launched and includes an UNMIK code of conduct and will target relevant civil society organizations, UN agencies and KFOR.
In addition, C & D is in the process of establishing a cooperation programme with its counterparts in the PISG, such as the Judicial Inspection Commission, the Internal Oversight Board and the Ombudsperson Institution. C&D intranet and internet websites are now operational and have received numerous visits. A newsletter on events and activities related to C&D will be published and distributed soon to all UNMIK personnel and to the general public through UNMIK C&D website.
