Five United Nations staff members have been relieved of their duties over misconduct while on mission in undeclared countries, an internal report from the world body says.
According to the UN report, the staff members were sacked for storing and sharing “pornographic material, including pornography involving a minor… through the organization’s e-mail system,” while another one was fired for using an official UN vehicle “to transport approximately 173 kilograms (381 pounds) of marijuana.”
The two separate cases of dismissals were on the grounds of misusing UN information and communications technology resources and misusing of UN property or assets, respectively.
The 13-page report, which documented disciplinary matters and cases of criminal behavior involving UN secretariat staff that happened between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015, did not mention the nationalities of the former staff, where they were stationed, or when they were dismissed.
It also listed some other cases of misconduct with milder actions taken.
The UN deputy spokesman for the secretary general, Farhan Haq, said on Friday that any cases of criminal conduct were referred to authorities in the staff member's country.
“While the United Nations can and does follow up with member states, the national authorities concerned have the sole prerogative in determining what, if any, investigations or proceedings are initiated against the individuals,” Haq said.
There are currently some 41,000 secretariat staff members from 188 countries working for the world body.
Earlier this year, reports said that French soldiers deployed to the Central African Republic had sexually abused several children aged between nine and 13 in exchange for food between December 2013 and June 2014.
UN peacekeepers in Haiti have also been accused of “transactional sex” with over 225 women and girls.