To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what recent discussions she has had with UN troop contributor Governments on the conduct of troops on UN missions; (105274)

Foreign and Commonwealth Officeand Ministry of Defence officials have regular consultations with leading UN troop contributors, both bilaterally and in the context of UN General Assembly discussion, on a wide range of peacekeeping issues including peacekeeping doctrine, the role of peacekeepers in the protection of civilians, conduct and discipline, combating sexual exploitation and abuse, and the role of women in peace and security.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received on the involvement of UN troops in the ill-treatment of children in (a) Haiti and (b) Liberia. (105319)

I have noted with concern recent allegations of the ill-treatment of children by UN peacekeepers in Haiti and Liberia. The UN held a High Level Conference on eliminating sexual exploitation and abuse by UN and non-governmental organisation personnel on 4 December. During this conference, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jane Holl Lute, stated that

“all credible allegations would be investigated. A peacekeeper found to have committed such acts, at a minimum, would be repatriated, and there would be follow-up with the country regarding disposition of the case”.

The UK will be monitoring the progress of UN follow-up to these allegations closely.

In Liberia, the Government, together with national and international partners, launched a campaign on4 December to combat sexual exploitation and abuse.