A/RES/74/181
Criminal accountability of United Nations officials and experts on mission
Recognizing the valuable contribution of United Nations officials and experts
on mission towards the fulfilment of the purposes and principles of the Charter,
Honouring the heroic work of tens of thousands of United Nations officials and
experts on mission, underscoring that the United Nations should not let the actions of
a few tarnish the achievements of the whole, and commending the Member States that
have taken steps to prevent, investigate and hold accountable their personnel for
criminal conduct, such as that involving sexual exploitation and abuse,
Reaffirming the need to promote and ensure respect for the principles and rules
of international law,
Reaffirming also that the present resolution is without prejudice to the privileges
and immunities of United Nations officials and experts on mission and the United
Nations under international law,
Reaffirming further the obligation of United Nations officials and experts on
mission to respect the national laws of the host State, as well as the right of the host
State to exercise, where applicable, its criminal jurisdiction, in accordance with the
relevant rules of international law and agreements governing operations of United
Nations missions,
Underlining the importance of appropriate training of United Nations officials
and experts on mission to prevent any criminal conduct,
Deeply concerned by reports of criminal conduct, and conscious that such
conduct, if not investigated and, as appropriate, prosecuted, would create the negative
impression that United Nations officials and experts on mission operate with impunity,
Reaffirming the need to ensure that all United Nations officials and experts on
mission function in a manner that preserves the image, credibility, impartiality and
integrity of the United Nations,
Emphasizing that crimes committed by such persons are unacceptable and have
a detrimental effect on the fulfilment of the mandate of the United Nations, in
particular with respect to the relations between the United Nations and the local
population in the host country,
Conscious of the critical importance of providing expeditious suppor t and
protecting the rights of victims of criminal conduct perpetrated by United Nations
officials and experts on mission, as well as of ensuring adequate protection for
witnesses, and recalling the adoption of its resolution 62/214 of 21 December 2007
on the United Nations Comprehensive Strategy on Assistance and Support to Victims
of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by United Nations Staff and Related Personnel, as
well as of its resolution 71/297 of 30 June 2017 on special measures for protection
from sexual exploitation and abuse,
Emphasizing that genuine accountability rests on the cooperation of the Member
States,
Emphasizing also the need to enhance international cooperation to ensure the
criminal accountability of United Nations officials and experts on mission,
Taking note of the report of the High-level Independent Panel on Peace
Operations on uniting our strengths for peace: politics, partnership a nd people, 4 and
of the subsequent report of the Secretary-General entitled “The future of United
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See A/70/95-S/2015/446.
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