SEXUAL ASSAULT: A recent report released by international children's charity, Save the Children, implicates peacekeepers and other relief workers in sexual assaults of children around the world.

The May 27 study found peacekeepers and international relief workers have committed numerous sexual crimes against the very children they were sent to protect. Save the Children wants the United Nations—responsible for many peacekeepers throughout the world—to assume a stronger role in preventing these incidents from happening.

Save the Children Asks the Children

International peacekeeping programs are created to provide protection to the vulnerable in areas troubled by conflict or disaster. But a small number of peace workers abuse their power and exploit those they are meant to protect.

The sexual assault of children by peacekeepers is under scrutiny, especially by researchers from Save the Children. For 12 months, they compiled interviews of 129 girls and 121 boys aged 10 to 17 in Sudan, Ivory Coast and Haiti. The study found that so-called peacekeepers have inflicted the following on children as young as six years old:

• coercion of sexual acts in exchange for food or money
• forced participation in pornography
• forced participation in improper touching or kissing
• outright rape

The study said the abuse is typically silenced because victims are often too frightened or too powerless to speak up against their offenders. And if they do take action, authorities are usually unwilling to investigate.

Therefore, Save the Children recommends:

• establishing an accessible way for people to report abuse locally
• developing an international watchdog group to keep a closer eye on the problem
• forming a preventative program to address underlying causes of child abuse

Sex Crimes by Peacekeepers Nothing New

For years people have reported abuses related to peacekeeping missions in Bosnia, Kosovo, Cambodia, East Timor, West Africa, and Congo. In 2005, the U.N. discovered that peacekeepers in Congo had sex with Congolese women and girls, usually in exchange for food or money.

In response, the U.N. enforced a "zero tolerance" policy and a universal code of conduct against sexual exploitation and abuse. The policy:

• requires all U.N. peacekeepers to receive training in conduct
• allows individual countries to enforce punishment for offenders

But overall, the U.N.'s policy seems to have little effect on preventing sexual crimes. Though the number of peacekeepers inflicting sexual abuse in their areas of service is small, many of the children interviewed for the study knew of 10 or more such incidents.

UN Plans to Address Peacekeeper Abuses

Save the Children spokesman Dominic Nutt said the U.N.'s world presence explains why the organization is involved in so many of these abuse cases. But, he said, "We're not singling out the U.N. In some ways they do a good job. It's all peacekeepers and all aid workers, including Save the Children," that are involved in sexual abuses." (Associated Press, 5/27/08)

U.N. General-Secretary Ban Ki-moon said the U.N. plans to tackle the issue. "... the abuse of children by those sent to help is a significant and painful issue," he said. "We are determined to redouble our efforts in this regard, and to work with all of our partners to implement fully our policy of zero tolerance of sexual exploitation and abuse by U.N. personnel." (The Hindu, 5/28/08)

Ban said the U.N has already taken steps to address the abuse, and, with the help of host countries, will aggressively investigate and prosecute the abusers.

Copyright © 2010 Informify

Sources

Ban promises UN probe of sex abuse by peacekeepers (Associated Press, 5/27/08)

UN to investigate sexual abuse by peacekeepers (The Hindu, 5/28/08)

Abuse victims suffer in silence (BBC News, 5/27/08)

Sexual abuse of children by aid workers too often unreported (Save the Children, 5/27/08)

Question for Readers:

Are you surprised to learn that some peacekeepers abuse their power over the vulnerable people they are sent to protect?