RESDAL contributes to amplifying the role of the UN Conduct and Discipline Service within peace operations

With the support of the Elsie Initiative of Global Affairs Canada, on November 20 RESDAL held the webinar “Peace Operations: The Role of the United Nations Conduct and Discipline Service.” Moderated by specialist Cecilia Mazzotta, the event formed part of the series “Interregional Conversations from the Global South,” a cycle promoted by RESDAL within the framework of the project Women in Peace Operations: Supporting Inclusive Environments through Interregional Collaboration and National Engagement.

Driven and organized by RESDAL since 2024, this series has helped strengthen South–South and South–North cooperation and has demonstrated the importance of maintaining spaces for exchange around the Women, Peace and Security agenda. The activity brought together more than 400 participants from 53 countries, representing armed forces, judicial institutions, government agencies, UN entities, civil society organizations, academia, and independent experts—evidence of a growing interest in understanding and improving conduct standards in peace operations.

Moderated by Argentine expert Cecilia Mazzotta, the session sought to explore the challenges involved in preventing and responding to sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment in operational contexts, particularly from a Global South perspective.

Specialists from the UN Conduct and Discipline Service, Beth Asher and Magdalena Wos, provided a clear overview of the normative and operational frameworks that govern personnel conduct in peace missions. They recalled that the UN Charter requires particularly strict standards for all categories: civilian, military, police and contractors. They also explained how the organization structures its response to sexual exploitation and abuse through three core pillars.

The first pillar is prevention, supported by systematic training and risk-management tools. The second is accountability, which requires troop- and police-contributing countries to carry out the corresponding investigations. The third is victim assistance, which both specialists described as the most difficult to implement. The diversity of contexts, the specific needs of each case and the legal obstacles that persist across jurisdictions make this pillar the most fragile of the system.

Asher and Wos further emphasized the complexity of addressing paternity cases involving multiple jurisdictions. They also highlighted the persistent structural gaps in social, health and legal services in many operational environments—factors that continue to hinder the ability to provide rapid, adequate and sustainable responses for victims.

Perspectives from Cameroon and Egypt

The webinar also offered a comparative view from two troop-contributing countries: Cameroon and Egypt. Cmdr. Alice Etondy Songue outlined Cameroon’s approach in missions such as MINUSCA and MONUSCO, which relies on a firm zero-tolerance policy reinforced through mandatory training in all military schools and through the role of the Senior National Investigation Officer, responsible for acting immediately upon reports of possible SEA. Songue underscored that sanctions may include disciplinary and criminal measures, as well as salary withholding in confirmed paternity cases. However, she acknowledged persistent obstacles such as underreporting due to fear or distrust of institutional channels, and the difficulties victims face in accessing reparations. In this context, Cameroon is exploring new reporting and support mechanisms, including anonymous hotlines.

Lieutenant Colonel El-Amira Randa Awd A. Mansour presented Egypt’s experience, where UN conduct standards are deeply embedded in national military doctrine. She described a victim-centered approach that includes scenario-based training, cultural sensitivity and a gender perspective. She explained that Egypt maintains accountability mechanisms through its military justice system and works in close coordination with the UN to expedite reporting and investigations. She also stressed the importance of early engagement with local communities and the deployment of female interpreters, whose presence, she noted, significantly contributes to abuse prevention and to strengthening trust.   

A global reach

The wide geographic distribution of participants reinforced the seminar’s genuinely interregional character. From Latin America and the Caribbean, participants joined from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela. From the African continent, participants joined from Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia. The Asian region was represented by India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. Europe and North America contributed participants from Canada, the United States, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United Kingdom. Additional participation came from Turkey, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, bringing the perspective of the MENA region.

Throughout the webinar, it became clear that—beyond normative frameworks—the challenges associated with SEA carry a strong human dimension: fear of reporting, cultural barriers, lack of information and the complexity of cross-jurisdictional responsibility. Both national experiences and CDS perspectives underscored that community trust, institutional leadership, rigorous training and international cooperation are essential to advancing towards safer and more accountable peace operations.

There was broad agreement on the importance of sustaining interregional spaces for dialogue and mutual learning, such as those promoted by RESDAL. The convergence of voices from multilateral bodies, state institutions and civil society enabled the articulation of shared priorities aimed at transparency, professionalism and the protection of those who serve — and those who are served — within peace operations.