The UN chief is taking aim at sexual abuse by peacekeepers, calling it "one of my greatest disappointments" and saying he will repatriate the troops of countries that don't act on allegations.
The UN has already started to suspend payments to countries when allegations are credible.
Ban Ki-moon's statements are in response to the first comprehensive assessment of peacekeeping in 15 years and largely agree with a high-level panel's suggestions for a major overhaul.
The UN has more than 105,000 troops and police in 16 missions in some of the world's most dangerous places. Member states contribute the personnel and receive monthly payments in return.
The report with Ban's response was intended for public release Friday, but The Associated Press found it on a UN website yesterday.
It comes as President Barack Obama prepares to host a major UN meeting later this month aimed at drawing European and other developed countries back to peacekeeping with their funding and skills in intelligence-gathering, engineering, air support and medical care.
Though more peacekeepers have been deployed than ever before, "proliferation of conflict is outpacing our efforts," Ban wrote.
It can take several months after a mission is authorized for peacekeepers to arrive. Not everyone comes properly equipped and trained. There is no current system for vetting peacekeepers for past abuses. Peacekeepers have been shown to rarely use force to protect civilians.
This summer's high-profile series of allegations of sexual abuse by peacekeepers, including of minors, in Central African Republic has caused another layer of concern as the U.N. Tries to reshape a peacekeeping system that costs about $8.2 billion this year alone.
"I will repatriate contingents where there is a demonstrated pattern of abuse or non-response to allegations of misconduct," Ban's report says.
The UN chief announces several other changes around the issue: From now on, countries that are repeatedly listed in his annual reports on children and armed conflict, and on conflict-related sexual violence, will not be allowed to participate in peacekeeping.
By the end of this year, "immediate response teams" will be established to gather evidence within 72 hours of a sexual misconduct allegation. Investigations, which have averaged a year or more, must be completed within six months. A plan for vetting troops and police for past sexual misconduct will be developed by the end of this year.
