Topic: 2025 – Criminal Accountability of UN Officials
Country: Argentina
Delegate Name: Izzy Sheppard
Delegate: Izzy Sheppard
School: Williamston High School
Committee: Legal Committee
Topic: Criminal Accountability of UN Officials
Country: Argentine Republic
Holding UN officials accountable for misconduct and crimes, is a very concerning and real issue. In recent years, the reported number of UN official misconduct and crimes has steadily risen, with cases ranging from bribery, to sexual assault. The UN is composed of a number of bodies, specialized groups, and aid based organizations, and their deployment of these groups into developing, or war stricken nations allows for opportunities for corruption and misconduct to occur. In 2024 alone there were 724 allegations against UN officials across the globe, with 90% being towards the UN operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Central African Republic. While this may only seem to affect a small area, or group, it raises several alarms, and red flags, and highlights the need for more clarity on how to prosecute, identify, and bring justice to those affected by this heinous abuse of power. The solution to this rests on the UN’s ability to balance on the fine line of respecting local laws, applying international law, and strictly adhering to mission standards and goals, while still allowing enough legal leeway and flexibility for UN officials to do what is necessary to provide aid and complete their designated mission.
The Argentine Republic has fortunately not experienced many of these issues. The largest scandal has been that pertaining to the sexual assault and misconduct by an Argentine UN official, Luis Maria Gomez. Gomez assaulted staff member Catherine Claxton in his office. Claxton pressed charges, won, and due to the allegations, Gomez resigned. Additionally, the Argentine Republic has supported a letter to the UN written by representatives of El Salvador on behalf of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) addressing the growing need for further discussion and development of policy to bring accountability and justice to the severe abuse of power, and criminal actions of UN officials.
Moving forward, the Argentine Republic finds that the best course of action is to attempt to clearly define how crimes should be prosecuted, and where the prosecution should take place. UN officials often experience a certain degree of comfortable legal immunity, which is intended to allow them to achieve their mission in a certain area without having to “jump through the hoops” of the local law enforcement. While this is a fair and reasonable advantage that UN officials experience, it also impedes justice when it comes to accountability. The Argentine Republic believes that by discussing the balance of power between immunity, and local law, the best solution can be found. Argentina would support resolutions that look to define immunity, and establish where, if misconduct occurs, should it be prosecuted. It must be kept in mind that the Argentine Republic believes that individual nations should be able to prosecute certain crimes in the state or nation in which they occur, as to bring the full force of justice for such a grievous abuse of power, and source of corruption. The UN is meant to be a body of nations, to support nations, not lead to further corruption, abuse, and mistreatment of the means by which the UN uses to complete good, and honorable missions across the globe.
Works Cited:
Chesler, Phyllis. “Rape in High Places.” On The Issues, 10 Apr. 1995, https://ontheissuesmagazine.com/violence/__trashed/ . Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
El Salvador. “Criminal Accountability of United Nations Officials and Experts on
Mission.” Received by The United Nations, Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Argentine Republic, 5AD, https://enaun.cancilleria.gob.ar/en/criminal-accountability-united-nations-officials-and-experts-mission-0 . Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
The United Nations. “Sexual Exploitation and Abuse: UN Intensifying Efforts to Uphold Victims’ Rights .” UN News, 26 Mar. 2024, https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/03/1148016 .
