An important way of preventing misconduct is identifying risks before misconduct occurs. Missions are expected to develop risk management plans, which should look at the level of risk, and specific risk factors, linked to possible misconduct by their personnel, with particular emphasis on sexual exploitation and abuse.
As part of related risk management activities, missions may conduct risk assessment visits and patrols, identify and assess risks and their sources, undertake mitigating actions and conduct follow-up visits to ensure that identified risks are adequately addressed and mitigated. Missions are guided by a risk management framework, which was launched in 2014 and facilitates regular reporting, monitoring and follow-up activities.
Missions report to the Conduct and Discipline Service on a quarterly basis on their risk assessment and mitigation activities. Missions have also been requested to develop mission-specific plans of action, based on the realities on the ground in each mission.
To support Missions in identifying risks and mitigating measures, the former Conduct and Discipline Unit, now Conduct and Discipline Service, developed in 2018 a sexual exploitation and abuse risk management toolkit. The toolkit is designed to be adaptable to the specific prevailing conditions in different types of peace operations.
In 2019, the Conduct and Discipline Service developed misconduct risk management tools to help peace operations to better manage risks of all types of misconduct, in a comprehensive manner. The development of these new tools corresponds to an integrated approach to risk management and to the commitments of the UN Secretariat, taken in connection with the Secretary-General Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) initiative, to hold personnel and leadership accountable for proper conduct by enhancing the tools available to leadership and Member States to take a holistic approach to managing the risks of misconduct.