INSPECTOR GENERAL DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 4800 MARK CENTER DRIVE ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA 22350-1500 February 19, 2016 MEMORANDUM FOR DISTRIBUTION SUBJECT: Allegations of Child Sexual Abuse by Members of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (Project No. D2016-DOOSP0-0083.000) During the late summer and fall 2015, a series of print and broadcast news articles surfaced allegations of child sexual abuse by Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) officials, paiiicularly against young boys, and created significant concern among Members of Congress and the public. We have been conducting a resemch project related to these issues since October 28, 2015. This announcement is to inform you that we are now conducting a full assessment addressing these issues. We are conducting this assessment in response to concerns raised by the staff of the Senate Committee on Armed Services and various Members of Congress. They have raised serious questions about international, U.S., and Department of Defense (DoD) law or policy related to child sexual abuse by ANDSF personnel. Our objective will focus on answering the following questions: • What laws, regulations, directives, standai·ds, or other guidance, including international law, treaties, or agreements, exist that impact DoD policy toward allegations ·of child sexual abuse involving AND SF personnel, the obligation of DoD affiliated personnel to rep01i suspected child sexual abuse by Afghan government officials, and DoD involvement in responding to such repo1is or allegations? • Is there or was there any DoD guidance, informal or otherwise, to discourage i·ep01iing by DoD-affiliated personnel? • What training has been conducted or planned for DoD personnel on identifying and responding to alleged child sexual abuse, or the obligation to repo1i suspected violations? . • How many cases of child sexual abuse alleged against Afghan government officials have been reported to U.S./Coalition Forces Commands, the Service Inspectors General, or the DoD Office oflnspector General? When were such rep01is made? What actions were taken and by whom? • How many cases of alleged child sexual abuse have been reported to the Afghan government by DoD affiliated personnel? When were such repo1is made? What knowledge does the DoD have of action taken by the Afghan government? · • What legal authority do DoD personnel have on bases in Afghanistan to intervene in cases where they observe, or suspect, cases of child sexual abuse by Afghan National Defense and Security Forces personnel? • Are U.S. military personnel authorized to use force to stop instances where they witness child sexual abuse by ANDSF personnel on bases iri Afghanistan? • What authority do DoD personnel have on bases in Afghanistan to control who can enter the bases, either Afghan Security Force personnel or Afghan civilians? • What DoD guidance exists to U.S. military personnel in this regard and what related training is provided? In addition, we will ·assess the DoD implementation of the Title 10 Leahy Law regarding human rights violations as it applies to DoD interaction with, and Title 10 suppmi of, the Afghan Security Ministries and the ANDSF. We may also address relevant related questions as they arise during our assessment. To accomplish our objectives we will identify and analyze relevant provisions of public policy, law, regulations, military policy, directives, standards, or other guidance governing U.S. and Allied personnel. We will obtain and analyze relevant testimony and court records, and review previous reporting, including reports from the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, the Congressional Research Service, and the DoD Office of Inspector General. We will visit various U.S. Government and DoD locations and interview stakeholders at all levels, including officials from the DoD or its various components, Members of Congress or Congressional staff, as well as journalists or others, as appropriate. We will also consider suggestions from management regarding additional or revised objectives. Please provide us with a point of contact within 10 days of the date of this memorandum. The point of contact should be a Government employee, a GS-15 or pay band equivalent, or the military equivalent. Send the contact's name, title, grade/pay band, and email to You may obtain information about the DoD Office of the Inspector General from DoD Directive 5106.01, "Inspector General of the Depaiiment of Defense," April 20, 2012 (Change 1, August 19, 2014); DoD Directive 7600.02, "Audit Policies," October 16, 2014; and DoD Instruction 7050.03, "Office of the Inspector General of the Depaiiment of Defense Access to Records and Information,'' March 22, 2013. Our web site is www.dodig.mil. $i~~~e_l.Q_ Ke eth P. Moorefield Depu ; Inspector General Special Plans and Operations . 2 DISTRIBUTION: OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR POLICY UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR PERSONNEL AND READINESS COMBATANT COMMANDS COMMANDER, U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND COMMANDER, RESOLUTE SUPPORT/ U.S. FORCES-AFGHANISTAN COMMANDER, COMBINED SECURITY TRANSITION COMMAND­ AFGHANISTAN · CC: JOINT STAFF DIRECTOR, JOINT STAFF DIRECTOR, PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN COORDINATION CELL DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY U.S. ARMY FORCES COMMAND - OPERATIONS (G3) INSPECTOR GENERAL, DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY NAVAL INSPECTOR GENERAL MARINE CORPS DEPUTY COMMANDANT, PLANS, POLICY AND OPERATIONS INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE MARINE CORPS DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE AIR FORCE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THE SPECIAL INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR AFGHANISTAN RECONSTRUCTION GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE 3