A sharp increase in reported cases of sexual exploitation by peacekeeping and other personnel, systemic corruption by publicly-owned enterprises in United Nations-administered Kosovo, and fuel theft at various peacekeeping missions are among issues addressed by the world body's internal watchdog office in its latest report.

The head of the Office for Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), Inga-Britt Ahlenius, briefed reporters Tuesday on the main findings of the report presented to the General Assembly's Administrative and Budgetary Committee.

The increase in the number of reports of sexual exploitation and abuse at peacekeeping missions and duty stations has led to new procedures and additional resources to conduct investigations, detect cases, and train personnel.

"Owing to the above-mentioned sharp increase in reported cases of serious misconduct, in particular cases of sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeeping personnel, it is evident that the discipline of peacekeeping and other personnel has become one of the main issues that the Organization needs to address," the report said.

With regard to Kosovo, OIOS has provided staff and resources to the ongoing work of the Investigations Task Force at the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) that is focusing on systemic corruption in the publicly-owned enterprises.

Investigators have spent approximately 18 months looking into the most significant charges of corruption concerning Pristina airport and have highlighted several criminal referrals and numerous reports on administrative violations.

The report said thefts of large amounts of fuel at peacekeeping missions by staff in collusion with local nationals have been identified, including the recent involvement of troop contingents in such theft along with breakdowns in the application of control systems.

Calling procurement "one of the most significant risks to the organization in terms of the potential for inefficiency, uneconomical contracting, fraud, corruption and abuse," the report said investigations continued to deal with allegations of corrupt behavior by UN staff.

Also on Tuesday, as part of a continuing effort to increase accountability of UN staff and ascertain potential conflict of interest, new rules were published calling for financial disclosure forms to be completed by any one at the director level and above.

The rules clarify that sexual abuse and sexual exploitation constitute serious misconduct. The current rules specify that the secretary-general may summarily dismiss any staff member found to have committed serious misconduct, but does not specifically mention sexual exploitation or abuse. The changes need to be considered and approved by the General Assembly so that they can come into force on January 1.

(Xinhua News Agency October 19, 2005)