U.N. reports sex abuse data concerning peacekeepers

By The Associated Press Comments 0
Published: November 6, 2009

GENEVA — At least 50 peacekeepers have received punishments ranging from reduction in military rank to eight months imprisonment for committing sexual abuses on U.N. missions since 2007, the United Nations said Thursday.

The data were released after media organizations asked what measures countries were taking against peacekeepers accused of rape and other abuses in conflict areas such as Congo. The United Nations can investigate allegations of misconduct, but prosecution is handled solely by governments contributing personnel to missions.

The figures show a significant increase in prosecutions and court-martials by national authorities this year. The disciplinary action against 33 peacekeepers in "cases involving sexual exploitation and abuse” through November ranged from dismissal, forced retirement and withdrawal of an officer’s commission, to prison sentences reaching eight months.

Only two military personnel were punished for similar abuses in 2008, and 15 in 2007, according to the U.N. data aggregated by the organization’s field support department.

"When allegations of misconduct involving military and police personnel are substantiated, the U.N. can repatriate the individuals concerned and ban them from participating in future peacekeeping operations,” the U.N. said.

Allegations of sexual exploitation and other crimes have dogged U.N. peacekeeping missions almost since their inception in 1948. The figures show that the United Nation has referred to national authorities more than 450 instances of misconduct — sexual and otherwise — since 2007.

The organization received responses in only 29 of these cases.