A/RES/71/278
United Nations
Distr.: General
20 March 2017
General Assembly
Seventy-first session
Agenda item 123
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 10 March 2017
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/71/L.59 and Add.1)]
71/278. United Nations action on sexual exploitation and abuse
The General Assembly,
Recalling the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and
international law,
Recalling also its resolutions 70/268 of 14 June 2016 on the comprehensive
review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects, 70/286
of 17 June 2016 on cross-cutting issues and 71/134 of 13 December 2016 on
criminal accountability of United Nations officials and experts on mission, and
taking note of Security Council resolutions 2242 (2015) of 13 October 2015 and
2272 (2016) of 11 March 2016,
Conscious of the importance of protecting the rights of victims of sexual
exploitation and abuse, as well as of ensuring adequate protection for witnesses, and
in this regard 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,
Strongly condemning, and expressing deep concern about, sexual exploitation
and abuse by United Nations personnel throughout the system, as well as by
non-United Nations personnel serving under a mandate of the Security Council, and
underscoring the commitment of Member States to strengthening me asures to
address sexual exploitation and abuse,
Acknowledging the work of all United Nations personnel throughout the
United Nations system, including peacekeepers, who serve the purposes and
principles of the Charter, and stressing that the actions of a few will not be allowed
to tarnish the achievements of all,
Emphasizing that proper discipline and conduct of United Nations personnel,
in accordance with United Nations rules and regulations, are crucial for their
effectiveness in fulfilling their respective mandates, as well as for the credibility of
the United Nations and the security and well-being of the populations it is mandated
to protect, and in this regard noting the importance of the ongoing efforts to
strengthen predeployment training on the issue of sexual exploitation and abuse,
Welcoming the continued efforts by the Secretary-General to combat sexual
exploitation and abuse, including the appointment of a Special Coordinator on
17-04041 (E)
*1704041*
Please recycle