78 port summarized the discussion held at four meetings in November and December, with the participation of 30 countries and organizations. Oversight activities The Office of Internal Oversight Services (oios) reported in February [A/63/302 (Part II)] on its peacekeeping oversight activities in 2008. The Office issued 199 oversight reports related to peace operations, which accounted for 43 per cent of all oios recommendations for the year. They underscored the need for the United Nations to develop a formal internal control framework to ensure that risks were managed consistently and systematically through focused control processes across the Organization. In 2008, 87 out of the 162 audits in the workplan were completed in various focus areas—including financial management; strategic management and governance; safety and security; the management of human resources, information technology, logistics, procurement and contracts, programmes and projects, and properties and facilities. For 14 audits, the field work was completed and the draft reports were being prepared; the field work was in an advanced stage for 22 other audits; 14 audits were in the planning stage; and 10 were carry-overs to 2009. During 2008, the Investigations Division received 336 reports of possible misconduct regarding peace operations, comprising 54 per cent of all reports made to oios that year. Additionally, the then Procurement Task Force received 17 reports of misconduct regarding peacekeeping matters. That reflected a decrease of 133 reports (28 per cent) of possible misconduct in peace operation-related activities from the previous year. Similarly, the intake on matters relating to sexual exploitation and abuse declined by 44 reports (35 per cent). While those numbers underscored the need for stronger efforts to prevent misconduct, particularly sexual exploitation and abuse, the decline in allegations reflected positively on the concerted efforts of the Organization following the report of the adviser to the Secretary-General on a comprehensive strategy to eliminate future sexual exploitation and abuse in UN peacekeeping operations [YUN 2005, p. 119]. Some of those efforts included alternative reporting mechanisms for prohibited conduct and enhanced local outreach programmes. A sampling of oios findings revealed that the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire had generally been able to ensure a secure and stable environment in the country, with a majority of Ivorians appreciating the role of the peacekeeping force in ending the conflict and contributing to stability and security. In the United Nations Mission in the Sudan (unmis), oios substantiated reports that a national staff member had abducted and sexually assaulted a local minor; the matter was pending with the Office of Human
Part One: Political and security questions Resources Management. In the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (monuc), oios substantiated reports that a senior military observer had improperly assisted a licensed civilian diamond prospector and others involved in diamond exploration—a matter in which a high-ranking member of a national military contingent was also implicated but who had been repatriated before the commencement of the investigation. Pursuant to oios recommendations, dfs had referred the case to the concerned Member State for appropriate action, but had received no response. An audit of the management of expendable inventory found that the United Nations Mission in Liberia (unmil) had not established adequate controls over such inventory, valued at $60 million as at 30 June 2008; unmil agreed with the oios recommendations and issued guidelines on inventory management which had been implemented as at December 2008. In an audit of the supply of food rations and combat ration packs in monuc, oios found that the contractor had failed to maintain critical stock levels for some items as required by contract; dfs stated that the contractor had been penalized proportionally for the non-delivery of reserves and lack of the required warehouse space. Oios also found delays in replacing repatriated monuc police officers, thus reducing the operational capacity of the police and posing the risk of programmed activities not being implemented effectively; the Mission accepted the oios recommendation that it coordinate with dpko to ensure timely replacements. In addition, it found that monuc’s information technologyrelated standard operating procedures, administrative instructions and other policies and procedures were largely incomplete or outdated. Monuc accepted the oios recommendation that it update its information technology policies and procedures and ensure their continuous update. On 30 June, the General Assembly deferred consideration of the report until its sixty-fourth session (decision 63/550 C).
Comprehensive review of peacekeeping Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations As requested by the General Assembly in resolution 62/273 [YUN 2008, p. 82], the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations and its Working Group continued their comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects. The Special Committee held its 2009 substantive session from 23 February to 20 March [A/63/19]. It discussed guiding principles, definitions and im-