US embassy cable - 02ROME4208

UNCLAS ROME 004208 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FROM U.S. MISSION IN ROME 
 
STATE FOR A/S PRM DEWEY AND IO/D 
USAID FOR DCHA/FFP, DCHA/OFDA AND PPC 
USDA/FAS FOR MCHAMBLISS/RTILSWORTH 
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH/USAID 
USUN FOR LSHESTACK 
NSC FOR JDWORKEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID, PREF, AORC, EU, EAGR, WFP, UN 
SUBJECT:  WFP ACTIONS TO PREVENT SEXUAL ABUSE AND 
EXPLOITATION OF REFUGEES AND DISPLACED CHILDREN 
 
REF: (A) GENEVA 2742, (B) STATE 136848, (C) STATE 146665 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1.  WORLD FOOD PROGRAM (WFP) IS ACTIVELY IMPLEMENTING THE 
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE UNICEF-OCHA TASK FORCE ON PROTECTION 
FROM SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE IN HUMANITARIAN CRISES, 
AS AGREED TO BY THE UN INTER-AGENCY STANDING COMMITTEE 
(IASC) ON JUNE 20.  A WFP-INTERNAL ACTION PLAN HAS BEEN 
FINALIZED, WHICH WILL OPERATIONALIZE IN STAGES THE IASC SIX 
CORE PRINCIPLES. IN GUINEA, WFP AND ITS UN PARTNER AGENCIES 
HAVE ALREADY PROMULGATED A CODE OF CONDUCT, THE TEXT OF 
WHICH IS TRANSCRIBED BELOW. END SUMMARY. 
 
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WFP ACTIONS TO DATE 
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2.  WFP HAS PARTICIPATED IN ALL OCHA-UNICEF TASK FORCE 
MEETINGS ON THIS ISSUE, INCLUDING THE CHAIRING OF A WORKING 
GROUP DEALING WITH ASSISTANCE DELIVERY MECHANISMS (SUCH AS 
RATION CARDS AND ENTITLEMENTS). 
 
3. A WFP-SPECIFIC PLAN OF ACTION HAS BEEN FINALIZED WHICH 
INCORPORATES ALL SIX OF THE IASC CORE PRINCIPLES INTO A CODE 
OF CONDUCT, AFFIRMING THAT HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS HAVE A 
DUTY OF CARE TO BENEFICIARIES AND A RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE 
THAT BENEFICIARIES ARE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT. THE 
WFP PLAN DELINEATES WFP IN-HOUSE RESPONSIBILITY FOR FOLLOW- 
UP ACTIONS ON EACH OF THE CORE PRINCIPLES. 
 
5. IN ITS PLAN OF ACTION, WFP AFFIRMS A CLEAR ZERO-TOLERANCE 
TOWARDS ABUSERS. EXISTING DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES FOR WHEN 
VIOLATIONS OF THE CORE PRINCIPLES OCCUR ARE IN THE PROCESS 
OF BEING INCORPORATED INTO STAFF RULES AND REGULATIONS. 
 
6. WFP/GUINEA HAS, ALONG WITH OTHER UN AGENCIES IN GUINEA, 
ADOPTED A CODE OF CONDUCT THAT INCLUDES THE IASC CORE 
PRINCIPLES. 
 
7. THE TEXT OF THE WFP/UN GUINEA CODE OF CONDUCT IS 
TRANSMITTED HEREWITH. BEGIN TEXT. 
 
"CODE OF CONDUCT FOR HUMANITARIAN AND DEVELOPMENT STAFF 
IN GUINEA - AS INDIVIDUALS SERVING OR EMPLOYED BY A 
HUMANITARIAN OR DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION WORKING IN GUINEA 
WE ARE BOUND TO UPHOLD THE PRINCIPLES OF THE INTERNATIONAL 
HUMANITARIAN LAWS AND UN CONVENTIONS, ADDITIONAL PROTOCOLS 
TO THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD, TREATIES AND 
COVENANTS GOVERNING OUR WORK.  WE ARE ALSO BOUND TO FOLLOW 
STAFF RULES AND CODES OF CONDUCT GUIDING STAFF MEMBERS OF 
THE ORGANIZATION FOR WHICH WE WORK. 
 
-WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE WILL BE PUNISHED ACCORDINGLY FOR ANY 
ABUSES OF THIS CODE OF CONDUCT OR ANY OTHER ILLEGAL ACTS 
COMMITTED.  SPECIFICALLY, SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE BY 
HUMANITARIAN AND DEVELOPMENT WORKERS CONSTITUTE ACTS OF 
GROSS MISCONDUCT AND WILL RESULT IN TERMINATION OF 
EMPLOYMENT. 
 
ARTICLE I: GENERAL PROVISIONS 
 
-WE WILL RESPECT THE FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS OF ALL PEOPLE 
REGARDLESS OF SEX, RACE, RELIGION OR LANGUAGE ACTING WITH 
IMPARTIALITY, INTEGRITY AND TACT IN ALL THAT WE DO. 
-WE WILL ENSURE THAT OUR PERSONAL CONDUCT AND ACTIONS ARE IN 
LINE WITH THE INTERNATIONAL LAWS, UN CONVENTIONS, TREATIES 
AND COVENANTS GOVERNING OUR WORK. 
-WE WILL UPHOLD THE RIGHTS OF ALL CHILDREN AS DEFINED IN THE 
CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD AND THE ADDITIONAL 
PROTOCOLS TO THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD AND 
ENSURE THAT THEIR BEST INTERESTS ARE ALWAYS HELD PARAMOUNT. 
-WE WILL RESPECT THE NATIONAL LAW AND LOCAL CULTURE, 
TRADITIONS, RELIGIONS, CUSTOMS AND PRACTICES THAT ARE IN 
ACCORDANCE WITH THE UN CONVENTIONS, TREATIES AND COVENANTS. 
-WE WILL NOT BE ABUSIVE OR DISCOURTEOUS TO ANY MEMBER OF THE 
PUBLIC OR BENEFICIARIES. 
-WE WILL STRIVE TO ACHIEVE THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF 
EFFICIENCY, COMPETENCE AND INTEGRITY. 
 
ARTICLE II: SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE 
 
-WE WILL DISCOURAGE SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE AND 
PROMOTE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS CODE OF CONDUCT.  WHEN IN 
A MANAGEMENT POSITION, WE WILL ACCEPT ADDITIONAL 
RESPONSIBILITIES TO SUPPORT AND DEVELOP SYSTEMS THAT 
MAINTAIN THIS ENVIRONMENT. 
-WE WILL NEVER USE THE OFFICE OR KNOWLEDGE GAINED FROM 
OFFICIAL FUNCTIONS FOR PRIVATE GAIN INCLUDING ACCEPTING 
GIFTS OR SEXUAL FAVORS FOR THE PROVISIONS OF SERVICES OR 
SUPPLIES THAT ARE BEING PROVIDED BY MY AGENCY, OFFERING 
JOBS, OR GIVING PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT. 
-WE WILL NEVER PHYSICALLY, SEXUALLY, OR PSYCHOLOGICALLY HARM 
INDIVIDUALS, ESPECIALLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN. 
-WE WILL NOT BECOME INVOLVED IN SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH 
CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18, REGARDLESS OF THE AGE OF 
MAJORITY OR AGE OF CONSENT LOCALLY.  MISTAKEN BELIEF IN THE 
AGE OF THE CHILD IS NOT A DEFENSE. 
-WE WILL NOT BECOME INVOLVED IN SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH DIRECT 
BENEFICIARIES OF ANY AGE OR SEX. 
-WE WILL NOT BE ACCOMPLICES TO OR PARTY TO ANY FORM OF 
SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OR ABUSE. 
 
ARTICLE III: DRUGS AND ALCOHOL 
 
-WE WILL NOT WORK UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS, 
CONSUME ALCOHOL OR DRUGS AT THE WORKPLACE, OR OPERATE THE 
ORGANIZATION'S EQUIPMENT OR VEHICLES UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF 
ALCOHOL OR DRUGS. 
 

ARTICLE IV: USE OF THE ORGANIZATION'S RESOURCES AND 
INFORMATION 
 
-WE WILL NEVER EXCHANGE ASSISTANCE THAT IS DUE TO 
BENEFICIARIES FOR GIFTS, FAVORS OR ANY KIND OF REMUNERATION 
FROM ANY SOURCES. 
-WE WILL PROPERLY ACCOUNT AND CARE FOR ALL MONEY, EQUIPMENT 
AND PROPERTY ASSIGNED TO US BY OUR ORGANIZATION. 
-WE WILL EXERCISE THE UTMOST DISCRETION IN HANDLING 
CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AND MATTERS OF OFFICIAL BUSINESS. 
 
SIPDIS 
-WE WILL NOT ALTER, DESTROY, OR MISPLACE ANY OFFICIAL 
DOCUMENT, RECORD OR FILE ENTRUSTED TO US. 
 
ARTICLE V: ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY 
 
-WE WILL BE ACCOUNTABLE ONLY TO OUR ORGANIZATION. 
-WE WILL REPORT IMMEDIATELY ANY BREACHES TO THE CODE OF 
CONDUCT, ACTS OR CONCERNS OF EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE BY A 
HUMANITARIAN OR DEVELOPMENT WORKER TO THE HEAD OF AGENCY OR 
SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE AT FIELD LEVEL OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR 
WHICH WE ARE WORKING. 
-WE WILL NEVER MISREPRESENT OUR FUNCTIONS, TITLES OR DUTIES. 
 
ARTICLE VI: AWARDS, HONORS, REMUNERATION 
 
-WE WILL NOT ACCEPT HONORS, DECORATION, FAVOR, SEXUAL 
FAVORS, GIFTS OR REMUNERATION FROM ANY SOURCE OTHER THAN THE 
ORGANIZATION WE WORK FOR, OTHER THAN GIFTS SYMBOLIC IN 
NATURE, EXCEPT WHEN DULY AUTHORIZED BY THE ORGANIZATION. 
 
ARTICLE VII: OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT AND PERSONAL INTERESTS 

-WE WILL NOT ENGAGE IN OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT, PAID OR 
VOLUNTEER, WITHOUT THE PRIOR APPROVAL OF MY AGENCY. 
-WE WILL ENSURE THAT OUR PERSONAL VIEWS AND INTERESTS DO NOT 
UNDERMINE THOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION WE SERVE. 
-WE WILL NEVER ALLOW PERSONAL POLITICAL OPINIONS TO 
INTERFERE WITH OUR WORK OR THE OBJECTIVES OF THE 
ORGANIZATION FOR WHICH WE WORK. 
 
ARTICLE VIII: TRAFFICKING AND EXPLOITATIVE EMPLOYMENT 
 
-WE WILL NEVER TRAFFIC IN PEOPLE, ILLEGAL OR NON- 
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, ARTIFACTS, PRECIOUS METALS OR STONES OR 
FIREARMS.  WE WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE RESALE OF ANY OF 
THE ABOVE-MENTIONED ITEMS THAT HAVE BEEN TRAFFICKED. 
-WE WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE EXPLOITATIVE EMPLOYMENT OF 
ANY PERSON." 
 
END TEXT OF UN GUINEA CODE OF CONDUCT. 
 
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COMMENT 
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8.  USMISSION/ROME UNDERSTANDS THAT WFP WILL TEAM UP WITH 
UNICEF IN THE SOUTHERN AFRICA REGION ON A PILOT BASIS ON 
JOINT STAFF TRAINING AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMON UN 
TRAINING MODULES RELATED TO THE IASC CORE PRINCIPLES. COST 
EFFECTIVENESS OF INTER-AGENCY COLLABORATION RELATED TO 
TRAINING IS AN EVIDENT PLUS. AND, AS A KEY MEMBER OF THE WFP 
EXECUTIVE BOARD, THE UNITED STATES IS COMMITTED TO 
REQUESTING PERIODIC PROGRESS REPORTS (COMMENCING IN OCTOBER 
2002) RELATED TO FIELD LEVEL IMPLEMENTATION OF WFP'S NOW IN- 
PLACE ACTION PLAN.