This piece was reprinted by OpEd News with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.
At least 50 were involved in "committing sexual abuses (and exploitation) on United Nations missions since 2007, the UN said today." It's the tip of the iceberg. Since the first June 1948 UNTSO mission after Israel's "war of independence," abuses occurred regularly in Bosnia, Kosovo, Sudan, Lebanon, Cambodia, Liberia, East Timor, Rwanda, Haiti, DR Congo, and elsewhere. Since 2007 through late 2009 alone, UN officials uncovered over 450 instances of misconduct. Imagine how many others weren't reported, and abuses remain ongoing today.
In January 2009, Save the Children reported Blue Helmet abuses, including trading food for sex with girls as young as eight in Liberia, said also to go on in Burundi, Ivory Coast, East Timor, DR Congo, Cambodia, and Bosnia. Various other reports were similar, abuses including sex with young girls, rape and trafficking.
On July 16, 2009, IPS writer Marina Litvinsky headlined, "Rape by Regular Army a Growing Problem, HRW (Human Rights Watch) Says," stating:
In DR Congo alone, "tens of thousands of women and girls have suffered horrific acts of sexual violence at the hands of the government army," according to a new report, titled "Soldiers Who Rape, Commanders Who Condone: Sexual Violence and Military Reform in the Democratic Republic of Congo." Little is done to stop it nor against culpable peacekeepers. As a result, Congolese women and girls are ravaged with impunity.
HRW's report came two days after an Oxfam one about rampant sexual violence and abuse in 20 conflict-ridden North and South Kivu communities. As a result, people there live in constant fear of more attacks, vulnerable on their own. Congo's MONUC head, Alan Doss, also took note, saying:
"We have also seen violence against women and girls in provinces that have been at peace for many years." In large parts of the country, no one is safe.
On September 7, 2010, New York Times writer Neil MacFarquhar headlined, "UN Officials Say 500 Were Victims of Congo Rapes," stating:
In July and August, they were raped in eastern Congo. Rebel and government troops were accused, involving girls as young as seven. Worse still, "Over 15,000 rapes were reported annually in both 2008 and 2009," according to Atul Khare, deputy head of peacekeeping, omitting how many peacekeepers may be culpable, given how often later evidence shows it wherever they're deployed.
Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
1
1
