Conduct and discipline issues are an essential component of pre-deployment and in-mission induction training, which is mandatory for all civilian, military and police peacekeeping personnel.
Given the dynamic nature of peacekeeping and the unique challenges that peacekeeping personnel face on an everyday basis, there is a need to ensure that they are adequately equipped with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to perform their duties.
Peacekeeping training is regarded as strategic investment that enables UN military, police and civilian staff to effectively implement increasingly multifaceted mandates.
Pre-deployment training for all international civilian staff is conducted by the Department of Peacekeeping Operations’ Integrated Training Service (ITS) at the Entebbe Support Base in Uganda. International civilian staff members undergo this training en route to deployments in field missions and includes dedicated segments on conduct and discipline, the zero tolerance on sexual exploitation and abuse policy and how To Serve with Pride.
Troop- and police-contributing countries are responsible for providing mandatory pre-deployment training for military and police personnel (CPTM 2017). This training is usually delivered by peacekeeping training institutions operating on a national or regional/sub-regional basis. To assist with training delivery, additional common core lessons and assessment for all personnel and a specific additional lesson and assessment for managers and commanders are available (Specialised Training Material on PSEA). As a complimentary reference, the Military Aide Memoire: Commanders’ guide on measures to combat Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in United Nations military complements relevant training guidance prior to and during deployment to UN peacekeeping operations. It is intended for all UN military commanders.
Pre-deployment training provided by troop- and police-contributing countries must meet the standards set by the United Nations and must address UN latest standards of conduct (CPTM module 3.3), the prohibition of sexual exploitation and abuse (CPTM module 3.4) and the No Excuse guidelines.
The UN Secretariat is helping troop- and police-contributing countries to improve their pre-deployment training on the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse by making core training materials available and deploying mobile training teams to troop and police contributing countries in response to requests from those countries. For example, the UN is employing a train-the-trainers model on the core pre-deployment training material, including specific focus on conduct and discipline, thus strengthening the instructors’ understanding of the standards. Troop- and police-contributing countries are required to certify that military contingent personnel, formed police units and other individually recruited uniformed personnel being deployed in UN operations have received pre-deployment training which was delivered in accordance with UN standards.
In cooperation with Integrated Training Mission Cells (IMTC), Conduct and Discipline Teams (CDT) in field missions provide direct induction and refresher training in missions. The conduct and discipline training in missions is mission specific and covers a range of topics including the mandate and function of the CDT, the Code of Conduct and core values, definitions, types and consequences of misconduct with a particular focus on sexual exploitation and abuse, individual and management responsibilities, the obligation to report misconduct, how to report wrongdoing, disciplinary and administrative procedures, and the rights and responsibilities of the peacekeeping personnel. CDTs also provide ongoing ‘training of trainers’ courses for all categories of personnel.
Online training programme on the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse
The training programme is mandatory for all uniformed and civilian personnel and is intended to strengthen training on the standards of conduct, as well as the expectations of accountability and individual responsibility in matters of conduct and discipline, with a special focus on sexual exploitation and abuse.
The training programme covers the UN Standards of Conduct concerning sexual exploitation and abuse, including what qualifies as prohibited behaviour and the consequences and impact of sexual misconduct on peacekeeping personnel, operations and host populations. The programme consists of two mandatory courses: one for all personnel (LMS-2398) and a second for managers and commanders (LMS-2399). The training programme complements the pre-deployment training that Member States are responsible for providing to their uniformed personnel, and the in situ training that uniformed and civilian personnel receive.
The programme will be translated into all UN official languages, as well as languages of top troop and police-contributing countries. The course is now available in both English and French versions in different formats to best respond to local contexts (limited internet connection and computers available):
- The e-learning self-paced course, available on Inspira for personnel who have access, and on the UN Staff College platform for those who do not have access to Inspira.
If you are a UN staff member and would like to complete in the training now, go to Inspira and enroll. The course codes for the two courses are:
- (All Personnel) LMS-2398 Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by UN Personnel; and
- (Managers and commanders) LMS-2399 Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by UN Personnel: Managers and Commanders.
For certain entities, specific training can also be found at:
IASC Learning Package on Protection from Sexual Misconduct for UN partner organizations
‘Saying No to Sexual Misconduct’ is an interactive and innovative learning package that aims to raise awareness among IASC partner staff and ensure they have the skills and tools to define, detect and respond to sexual misconduct. The contents are based on an IOM learning package on protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. Working closely with WFP and UNHCR, IOM coordinated the adaptation of the package into an interagency product, expanded to include Sexual Harassment.