In my post on August 1, 2007, UN Peacekeepers and the Abuse of Children, I reported on the failings of UN peacekeepers in the wake of recently emerging and wide spread abused in Liberia. However as I reported then then these abuses where not new in the world of the blue helmets, and nor are they isolated. In 2006 the Security Council states that Problem of sexual abuse by peacekeepers now openly recognized, Broad strategy in place to address it, stating that;
"We dishonour these brave men and women when we fail to prevent or punish those from within their ranks who victimize the very people peacekeepers are meant to protect and serve."
The issues has once again re-emerged in the press and as before one of the issues has been the delay in both reporting and action taken to both prevent and prosecute perpetrators. However in the re-emerging reports of abuse it is not just peacekeepers who have been thrust into the spotlight as abusers, but civilian aid staff. As this past week abuses by UN peacekeepers and aid workers have been brought to light after a report, No One to Turn To: The under-reporting of child sexual exploitation and abuse by aid workers and peacekeepers, by Save the Children UK.
The report was composed of research done over the past year in Haiti, Southern Sudan and Ivory Coast, where the group conducted 38 focus groups with 250 children and 90 adults. Following the focus groups in-depth interviews and other research where conducted to compile the findings which included: children trading sex for food, forced sex, verbal sexual abuse, child prostitution, child pornography, sexual slavery, sexual assault and child trafficking. The age of the victims identified in the report where as young as six years old, however the majority of victims ranged in age between 14 and 15.
The report has made national and international headlines, as the news has left many dismayed and confused by the actions of those sent to protect those most vulnerable by the tragedies of armed conflict. In the recent spotlight individual stories of peacekeepers turned predictors have emerged, such as, Didier Bourguet, a U.N. official from France, who was found to have thousands of photos of him having sex with hundreds of young girls on his computers hard drive.
In a press conference Jane Holl Lute, Assistant-Secretary-General for Field Support, addressed the issue of punishing troops, who must be tried by their home countries, responsible for the sexual abuse of children, stating that the UN was working to increase dialogue and that “We can't let up. We need to be vigilant.", until all Member States are seeing the same picture and solution. Lute also made the following statement in response to the report;
"Save the Children has been an effective partner with us in bringing their perspective — which is different from our own — to this problem," she said, voicing agreement with its call for a better reporting mechanism for victims. "We need to work with community leaders so that children and those who are abused can come forward in safety."
In response the UN will investigate the sex abuse report, as Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told reporters he had “zero tolerance” for such behavior and said, “On all these cases which have been raised, we will very carefully investigate” and that the UN would take “necessary measures” where findings warrant.
The recent abuses and the longstanding impunity of those members of peacekeeping forces leave many to wonder who to trust and if there is any real safety from abuse. However the emergence of media and public outrage have once again thrust the issue into the spotlight and hope that the acknowledgment and punishment of those who have committed such grave crimes against vulnerable children will continue and we can brake the silence and impunity of abuse. Both the UN and International community must continues to take further steps to see that children, the most vulnerable victims of armed conflict, are adequately protected, which includes the prosecution of all predators, regardless of affiliation.
