Nepal: final report clears UNHCR staff members

A preliminary investigation of alleged sexual abuse of young women and children in refugee camps in Nepal carried out in late 2002 by the UNHCR Inspector General's office made allegations of gross negligence against three UNHCR staff members in charge of UNHCR's Nepal programme. The investigation was part of a multi-step process which also included a further rebuttal by the staff concerned; then a legal analysis of the case; and then a final review. The final review, which took into account the initial investigation as well as the arguments cited in the rebuttal and the legal analysis, revealed that there had been no wrongdoing on the part of the staff members, that no instructions had been willfully disregarded, and that therefore the conduct of the staff members did not justify disciplinary action.