A RISING United Nations star who played a key role in organising the Iraqi elections has been accused of running an office in which favouritism, misuse of funds and sexual harassment were rife.

Carina Perelli, the outspoken Uruguayan director of the UN electoral assistance division and the youngest woman at her level in the organisation, had won praise for her work in setting up the Iraqi elections on dangerous trips to Baghdad.

However, a confidential review by external management consultants has questioned her “basic integrity”.

Ms Perelli, 48, who holds the high UN rank of D2, allegedly boasted: “There’s nothing they can do to me. I’m the youngest D2, a woman from a developing country.”

The report comes as the UN is reeling from allegations of sexual exploitation by its peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the recent resignation of Ruud Lubbers, the UN refugee chief, after accusations of sexual harassment. It will increase pressure on Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary- General, as he faces one scandal after another.

Ms Perelli, a political scientist, has run the 18-member electoral assistance unit for nine years and directed elections in troublespots such as Iraq, the Palestinian territories, Afghanistan, East Timor, Colombia, Liberia and Haiti.

The report, by the Swiss consulting company Mannett S.A.R.L., found the work environment in Ms Perelli’s unit to be “offensive” and “abusive”.

“Those interviewed indicated that a constant sexual innuendo is part of the ‘fabric’ of the division,” it said. “They referred to a steady stream of sexual jokes, references and behaviours within the division which the director believes are ‘conducive to collegiality’.”

Such behaviour included “unwelcome advances/sexually suggestive behaviours”, “unwelcome sharing of sexual behaviours and exploits” and even references to a “dominatrix” in an office exam. Staff also complained of “references to and inquiries into the most intimate details of the sex lives of staff members”, including public humiliation with respect to their responses to those inquiries”.

The report accused Ms Perelli and some other officials of using at least one political affairs officer and some secretaries to run personal errands. It also raised concern about the “perceived misuse” of UN funds for travel.

The consultants cite concern about “frequent, unjustifiable mission travel to Latin American destinations in particular”.

The review criticised Ms Perelli’s “inner circle” that appears to be based on the “personal affinities of the director rather than on competence or experience”. The report said that the “syndrome is so pronounced” that it raises “serious questions around the director’s judgment, ethics and basic professionalism”.

The study was commissioned by Sir Kieran Prendergast, the UN’s British Under-Secretary for Political Affairs, who oversees Ms Perelli’s unit.

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