UN votes to end sex abuse by its troops


A set of special measures aimed at ending impunity for sex crimes by UN troops serving in peacekeeping mission has been adopted.

The resolution allows for the repatriation of military and police units where there is credible evidence of widespread and systematic abuse.

The UN will have the ability to vet all uniformed personnel for previous allegations of misconduct while working for the organization.

Ninety-nine allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse were uncovered last year and 69 of them were in countries where the UN is deployed.

And as new information comes to light, the Security Council held a vote on Friday to end impunity by increasing transparency.

"Our draft outlines broad, objective criteria for troop- and police-contributing countries, as appropriate, to satisfy in the event that their personnel are the subject of an allegation or allegations. These criteria relate to countries not taking any of the following steps, namely: not investigating an allegation or allegations; not holding accountable somebody who had been found to be a perpetrator, or not informing the Secretary-General of the actions that the State has undertaken." 

The UN is also considering designating certain areas as "out of bounds" to limit the social activities of peacekeeping contingents.

Samantha Power, United States Ambassador to the UN, explains in the attached audio.

SOURCE: Jocelyne Sambira, United Nations.