United Nations, July 23

India, one of the largest troop-contributing countries in UN peacekeeping operations, has contributed $1,00,000 to a trust fund set up for victims of sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers, becoming the first country to make a contribution to the fund.

The United Nations Department of Field Support (DFS) announced that India provided $1,00,000 for the Trust Fund in Support of Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.

This is the first contribution to the Trust Fund the Secretariat has received, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s deputy spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters here on Friday.

India has historically been one of the largest troop-contributing countries in peacekeeping operations and is currently ranked as the second largest contributor of military and police personnel.

The UN had faced severe backlash over allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation by its peacekeepers, particularly those in Central African Republic.

No Indian peacekeeper faced any allegations of misconduct as the UN received 44 allegations of sexual abuse in all peacekeeping and special political missions so far in 2016.

In 2015 also, when 69 allegations were recorded against peacekeepers, no Indian was accused of any wrongdoing.

India has strongly maintained that instances of sexual abuse and exploitation by UN peacekeepers are “abhorrent and repugnant” and has underscored that it has a zero tolerance policy on such cases. — PTI