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Mr. Chairman,
My delegation aligns itself with the statement made by the distinguished representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement. NAM countries are major participants in UN Peacekeeping operations and important stakeholders in the policy formation and effective implementation of mandates.
We thank the United Nations Secretary-General for his report entitled ‘criminal accountability of United Nations officials and experts on mission” contained in document A/68/173. The report, inter alia, highlights how Member States have established their jurisdiction over crimes of serious nature in situations where those are committed by their nationals serving in the capacity of the United Nations officials and experts on missions. We also appreciate the role of Office of Legal Affairs which referred nine cases to States of nationality during the reporting period. We note that three States of nationality had already raised the matter with relevant officials.
Mr. Chairman,
The issue of criminal accountability of United Nations officials and experts on mission is of utmost importance because it is linked with the image of the United Nations as an organization that has a fundamental role in the maintenance of peace and security and the promotion of the rule of law by demonstrating examples in its own work. We fully support zero tolerance policy for crimes committed by UN officials and experts on Mission.
As a troop contributing country, Pakistan supports the idea of pre-deployment training of UN officials and experts on Mission. In Pakistan, we have developed training modules that from part of the curricula for mandatory courses required in career progression of officials. We are willing to share our training experience with the Secretariat and UN membership.
We have been participating actively in the proceedings of working group on criminal accountability of United Nations officials and experts on mission to delineate the scope of deliberations and identification of jurisdictional gaps, if any, in this area of work. We derive satisfaction from the work of the Sixth Committee to promote international cooperation in this field and are confident that it would increase the transparency and accountability in the United Nations.
Mr. Chairman,
We are of the view that the implementation of General Assembly resolutions under this agenda item would go a long way in filling gaps if they exist in any national jurisdiction. We also believe that it can be explored whether there is any requirement at this stage to take measures by the General Assembly in this respect or not.
Mr. Chairman,
We agree with those delegations which have indicated that it is still premature to discuss a draft convention on criminal accountability of United Nations officials and experts on mission. At this stage, the Committee needs to focus on identification of issues and ways to address substantive matters. The issue of form can be settled at later stage.
I thank you, Mr. Chairman.