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| U.N. Peacekeeping Hit by New Allegations of ‘Sickening’ Sex Abuse | U.N. Peacekeeping Hit by New Allegations of ‘Sickening’ Sex Abuse |
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| The United Nations is investigating a litany of “sickening” new allegations that peacekeepers from at least three countries sexually abused civilians in the Central African Republic, including more than 100 girls in one prefecture, the organization said on Thursday. | The United Nations is investigating a litany of “sickening” new allegations that peacekeepers from at least three countries sexually abused civilians in the Central African Republic, including more than 100 girls in one prefecture, the organization said on Thursday. |
| The top human rights official at the United Nations, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, said in a statement that “major efforts were already underway to investigate allegations uncovered by a series of U.N. teams sent to the region over the past two weeks.” | The top human rights official at the United Nations, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, said in a statement that “major efforts were already underway to investigate allegations uncovered by a series of U.N. teams sent to the region over the past two weeks.” |
| Stéphane Dujarric, a spokesman for Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, told reporters at a regular daily briefing that Mr. Ban had been “shocked to the core” by the new allegations and that the Security Council was receiving a private briefing on them. | Stéphane Dujarric, a spokesman for Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, told reporters at a regular daily briefing that Mr. Ban had been “shocked to the core” by the new allegations and that the Security Council was receiving a private briefing on them. |
| Later in the day, the Security Council president for March, Ismael Abraão Gaspar Martins of Angola, told reporters the council had decided “a full and urgent investigation” was required. He would not discuss the details of the allegations but said “when we say zero tolerance, we mean it, especially when it comes to children.” | |
| The allegations date from 2013; implicate troops from France, Gabon and Burundi; and include at least 108 girls from Kemo Prefecture. Mr. Dujarric said “the vast majority of cases involve minors.” | The allegations date from 2013; implicate troops from France, Gabon and Burundi; and include at least 108 girls from Kemo Prefecture. Mr. Dujarric said “the vast majority of cases involve minors.” |
| If they are confirmed, they would significantly expand the scope of sexual abuse committed by international peacekeepers in the Central African Republic, a former French colony that is one of the world’s poorest and most dysfunctional countries, roiled by civil strife for years. | If they are confirmed, they would significantly expand the scope of sexual abuse committed by international peacekeepers in the Central African Republic, a former French colony that is one of the world’s poorest and most dysfunctional countries, roiled by civil strife for years. |
| “We must face the fact that a number of troops sent to protect people instead acted with hearts of darkness,” Mr. Dujarric said. | “We must face the fact that a number of troops sent to protect people instead acted with hearts of darkness,” Mr. Dujarric said. |
| Earlier disclosures in the sex abuse scandal led to a high-level shake-up last year at the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the country. And it has been a catalyst for a toughened policy by Mr. Ban on peacekeeper behavior and oversight, which was endorsed by the Security Council in a resolution passed less than three weeks ago. | Earlier disclosures in the sex abuse scandal led to a high-level shake-up last year at the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the country. And it has been a catalyst for a toughened policy by Mr. Ban on peacekeeper behavior and oversight, which was endorsed by the Security Council in a resolution passed less than three weeks ago. |
| “The U.N. investigation into these sickening allegations, which suggest sexual abuse and exploitation of a large number of women and girls, must leave no stone unturned,” Mr. al-Hussein said. “We are taking these allegations — some of which are particularly odious — extremely seriously. It is vital that the victims are protected and receive all necessary care.” | “The U.N. investigation into these sickening allegations, which suggest sexual abuse and exploitation of a large number of women and girls, must leave no stone unturned,” Mr. al-Hussein said. “We are taking these allegations — some of which are particularly odious — extremely seriously. It is vital that the victims are protected and receive all necessary care.” |
| He issued the statement after an advocacy group, AIDS-Free World, first disclosed the new allegations Wednesday night, based on what its co-director, Paula Donovan, described as leaked internal United Nations correspondence. The leaked messages discussed what investigators from Unicef, the United Nations Population Fund and other divisions had found so far, the advocacy group said. | He issued the statement after an advocacy group, AIDS-Free World, first disclosed the new allegations Wednesday night, based on what its co-director, Paula Donovan, described as leaked internal United Nations correspondence. The leaked messages discussed what investigators from Unicef, the United Nations Population Fund and other divisions had found so far, the advocacy group said. |
| The allegations, the group said, included an episode in 2014 in which four girls were tied up and undressed inside a camp run by France’s Sangaris force, which is independent of the United Nations peacekeeping mission. The girls were “forced to have sex with a dog,” AIDS-Free World said, adding that each girl was given 5,000 Central African francs (the equivalent of $9), and that one of the girls later died of an unspecified disease. | The allegations, the group said, included an episode in 2014 in which four girls were tied up and undressed inside a camp run by France’s Sangaris force, which is independent of the United Nations peacekeeping mission. The girls were “forced to have sex with a dog,” AIDS-Free World said, adding that each girl was given 5,000 Central African francs (the equivalent of $9), and that one of the girls later died of an unspecified disease. |
| Mr. Dujarric would not confirm such details. | Mr. Dujarric would not confirm such details. |
| “At this point these are allegations,” he said. “We are interviewing as many alleged victims as possible with the greatest possible care.” | “At this point these are allegations,” he said. “We are interviewing as many alleged victims as possible with the greatest possible care.” |
| Mr. Dujarric said the United Nations had requested that officials from France, Burundi and Gabon undertake investigations and that all were cooperating. He said that the “exact number and nature of these extremely troubling allegations are still being determined.” | Mr. Dujarric said the United Nations had requested that officials from France, Burundi and Gabon undertake investigations and that all were cooperating. He said that the “exact number and nature of these extremely troubling allegations are still being determined.” |
| France, which has been investigating a separate set of sex abuse accusations against some of its Central African Republic peacekeepers dating to 2013, called the new allegations “sickening and odious” in a statement from its United Nations ambassador, François Delattre. | France, which has been investigating a separate set of sex abuse accusations against some of its Central African Republic peacekeepers dating to 2013, called the new allegations “sickening and odious” in a statement from its United Nations ambassador, François Delattre. |
| “The French authorities are determined to shed full light on these grave allegations, in cooperation with the United Nations and the Central African Republic,” the ambassador said. | |
| The United States ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, who sponsored the Security Council resolution on peacekeeper sexual abuse and was visiting the Central African Republic when the new allegations were reported, also expressed outrage. | The United States ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, who sponsored the Security Council resolution on peacekeeper sexual abuse and was visiting the Central African Republic when the new allegations were reported, also expressed outrage. |
| “These infernal abuses defy the very values the U.N. was created to uphold,” she said in a statement. | “These infernal abuses defy the very values the U.N. was created to uphold,” she said in a statement. |