UN peacekeepers face 69 sexual abuse allegations

(Baonghean.vn) - A recent report has named the countries where United Nations (UN) peacekeeping forces are stationed and have been caught up in sexual abuse allegations. The number of violations reported in 2015 was much higher than the previous year.

Peacekeeping forces in the Central African Republic, illustration photo. Source: AFP.

According to a recent study by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, copies of which were obtained by multiple news agencies on March 3, a total of 99 cases of sexual abuse have been reported involving the organization's staff, of which 69 are believed to have been committed by some peacekeeping troops.

The figure is a significant increase from 52 allegations of sexual abuse against peacekeepers in 2014.

About a third of the crimes committed by the force since 2015 have occurred in the Central African Republic, according to recent reports that UN troops have been involved in sexual abuse or using sex as a bargaining chip.

Most of the peacekeepers are believed to be from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Other countries listed as being involved in the allegations against peacekeepers include Burundi, Germany, Ghana, Senegal, Madagascar, Rwanda, the Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Tanzania, Slovakia, Niger, Moldova, Togo, South Africa, Morocco, Benin, Nigeria and Gabon, according to Reuters.

Last December, an independent body reported a “general institutional failure” to address allegations against UN peacekeepers in the Central African Republic. Since then, the UN has made a concerted effort to bring these crimes to light.

Phu Binh

(According to AP, Reuters)