UN vows to dismiss peacekeepers involved in sex abuse
The United Nations has vowed to expel the troops whose countries fail to punish the perpetrators of sexual abuse during the world body’s peacekeeping missions.
"I will repatriate contingents where there is a demonstrated pattern of abuse or non-response to allegations of misconduct," said United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a report released on Thursday.
Ban urged the member states to initiate thorough investigations if their troops are accused of sexual harassment, pledging that those countries who adopt a lax stance on the issue will not be allowed to take part in UN peacekeeping missions any longer.
"I urge member states to hold court-martials in host countries as a measure of visible accountability," he went on to say.
According to Ban, "immediate response teams" will be formed within three days whenever the UN receives reports of sexual abuse, saying the body is responsible to defend civilians against any such misconduct.
"Uniformed personnel must comply with orders to prevent, deter and protect civilians against attacks," he stressed.
Since contributing nations exercise exclusive jurisdiction over their troops, the most the UN can do in the face of sexual exploitation and abuse is repatriate the accused - at the expense of the contributing nation - and, if the accused is eventually found guilty, block future service in UN missions.
Ban further touched upon the importance of the UN peacekeeping missions across the world, warning that the "proliferation of conflict is outpacing our efforts."
Different countries have currently contributed 105,000 troops to the UN missions all over the world, receiving payments in return. However, Ban says he has suspended funding those countries whose soldiers were proved to have committed sexual abuse.
Earlier in the year, reports said that French soldiers deployed to the Central African Republic had sexually abused six children aged between nine and 13 in exchange for food between December 2013 and June 2014.
UN peacekeepers in Haiti have also been accused of “transactional sex” with over 225 women and girls.
US to pull out troops from Chad in second African state withdrawal
Tehran economic conference: Raeisi hails Iran-Africa expansion of ties
UK's Rwanda deportation plan morally disgraceful
‘Violent suppression of anti-Zionist student protests shows West’s true colors’
VIDEO | Displaced Gazans thank US students for their support
‘Hamas serious about reaching agreement, will not yield to US pressure’
Haniyeh: Justice demands arrest of Netanyahu, his terrorist cabinet
VIDEO | Israeli war crimes in Gaza
Syrian president, Bahrain FM discuss expansion of bilateral relations
Sudan demands UNSC emergency meeting on UAE ‘aggression’
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
