Topic: 2025 – Criminal Accountability of UN Officials
Country: Ethiopia
Delegate Name: Xavier Sapotichne
Country: Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Committee: Legal Committee
Topic: Criminal Accountability of UN Officials
Delegate: Xavier Sapotichne
School: Okemos High School
Ethiopia has a zero-tolerance stance toward misconduct in line with UN guidelines. The United Nations has worked hard to implement boundaries and policies set in place for our officials, and we believe that one official doing something that falls under misconduct brings a bad reputation to all UN officials. Therefore, Ethiopia believes that if an official is found to have committed a crime, they should be punished to the full extent of the law. Ethiopia is one of the UN’s largest contributors of troops to the efforts of peacekeeping, so we have an extra responsibility in making sure that our troops and officials are held accountable for misconduct and crimes against the UN’s guidelines. We believe that to ensure accountability among our peacekeepers in foreign areas that they are properly trained as well as informed of the repercussions of misconduct. States need to exercise their jurisdiction over their officials to reprimand them, as well as acknowledge referrals from the UN about any allegations of their officials, and to take these into account. Nationals should be very aware of the guidelines and misconduct, especially when they are given immunity from prosecution at the place of commission of a crime, so that they do not overstep the boundaries of the UN’s guidelines.
The credibility of the UN must be maintained by having rules and regulations on democratic privilege and immunity. To balance immunity and ensure accountability from UN officials can be done by outlining guidelines firmly and with utmost importance from the States. The UN can be undermined significantly if the officials representing it do not conduct. Ethiopia would furthermore like to see changes in favoritism and for state governments to remain impartial when trying their own officials to promote accountability and recognition of the UN’s rules. Ethiopia would like to see the UN reinforce the systems of investigating and prosecuting officials, and protecting whistleblowers from intimidation for speaking out against crimes committed by officials. It is widely important for the UN and its member nations to give full cooperation to maintain the integrity and proof that the UN is a competent organization.
Overall, the accountability of UN officials needs to be taken seriously and acted upon with haste in terms of delivering punishment and holding officials accountable for misconduct and tarnishing the UN’s appearance and reputation.
