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In light of allegations in the spring of 2014 claiming that international peacekeepers and United Nations staff were sexually abusing and exploiting a number of young children, an independent panel was established to expose and punish the perpetrators.

In particular, a peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic had sexually abused a number of young children, apparently in exchange for food money. The abusers were mostly from a French military force called the Sangaris Forces, operating as peacekeepers and answering to the UN Security Council but not the UN itself.

The Sangaris Forces were in the Central African Republic to support African Union forces until they could be replaced by a UN peacekeeping mission. Some reports allege that perpetrators were actually wearing their blue UN helmets while taking part in the abuse.

Past the allegations, the UN agencies in charge of the groups failed to take any action at all against the abusers. According to the UN report, the head of the mission in the Central African Republic did not ask the Sangaris Forces to end the abuse nor that the children be removed to safe housing.

From the report: “One of the central mandates of the UN’s peacekeeping mission in CAR is the protection of civilians, in particular women and children affected by armed conflict. Unfortunately in the case of the Allegations, the UN and its local partners failed to meet their obligation to protect the child victims. For example, at the conclusion of the interviews, UNICEF referred the children to a local NGO partner for medical care and psychosocial support. While the local partner notified UNICEF that the children were being provided with medical care, it is now clear that the full extent of the services provided by the NGO at that time was a two-hour session in which a social worker, assisted by legal counsel, interviewed the children and filled out paperwork provided by UNICEF. The NGO made no assessment of the children’s medical or security needs and did not contact the children in the following months, either to provide additional services or to assess their well-being.”

In response to years of near impunity by UN workers and staff in conflict zones, the recently released report makes indications that UN policy will change in the coming years regarding abuse by workers.

The new report promises to deal with sexual abuse as conflict-related sexual violence, instead of the in-house policy of past. It identifies the need for transparent leadership on the specific allegations, and all future allegations concerning UN staff and sexual or other abuse. In addition, it claims to setup a trust fund to provide for survivors of abuse.

Further vetting of staff is quantified in the report as a necessity before anyone is allowed to serve in UN missions.

The UN has been accused in the past of trying to appease governments in places where it is working and in order not to offend specific officials, sweeping allegations of abuse by police and military under the rug.

At the UN world meeting in New York on 17 September, 2015, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stated the following about abuse allegations in the Central African Republic: “I am asking you today to join me in doing more -- much more -- to end this unacceptable conduct. Allegations must be reported. Investigations must be speedy and thorough. Perpetrators must be punished. Zero tolerance must be the rule.”