Outreach plays a vital role in the United Nations’ efforts to prevent and respond to misconduct, including sexual exploitation and abuse.
Across the global Secretariat, outreach campaigns are used to regularly remind staff of their responsibilities and the Organization’s standards of conduct. In field missions, Conduct and Discipline Teams (CDTs) also engage with local communities, in collaboration with other mission partners, to organize awareness sessions and public campaigns to explain what behavior is expected from United Nations personnel—and what is not.
CDTs communicate in local languages and use a variety of tools to reach people where they are. From posters and leaflets to radio broadcasts and even theatre performances, they communicate on the United Nations standards of conduct and how to report any wrongdoing.
CDTs also actively engage with government officials, civil society groups, schools, religious leaders, and NGOs to build trust and foster lasting partnerships. These relationships help create safe spaces for communities to speak up and report concerns.
In many field missions, the United Nations sets up Community-Based Complaint Reception Mechanisms, also often referred to as CBCMs. These mechanisms are based on trusted local liaisons—people from the community who are trained to receive and forward complaints to the CDTs confidentially and respectfully.
Through these outreach efforts, the United Nations strengthens its commitment to transparency and accountability. By listening to communities and empowering them to raise their voices, the Organization continues to build a culture of integrity and trust. In locations where there is no CDT, such as in most special political missions, CDTs support Conduct & Discipline Focal Points (CDFPs) in their outreach and awareness raising activities.