U.N. Report Calls for Sex Offense Penalties

By Reuters
March 25, 2005
Los Angeles Times
Original Source: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-peacekeepers25mar25,1,5098379.story

UNITED NATIONS — A U.N. report released Thursday on sexual abuse by peacekeepers says offenders should be punished, their pay should be docked and a fund should be set up to assist anyone they impregnated. 

The 41-page report by Jordan's U.N. ambassador, Prince Zeid Raad Hussein, also recommends that court-martials be conducted in the countries where the offenses took place so witnesses could be available. 

The report follows U.N. accusations that some peacekeepers and civilian staff in Congo were guilty of rape and of enticing hungry children with food or money in exchange for sex. 

The reality of prostitution and other sexual exploitation in a peacekeeping context is profoundly disturbing to many because the United Nations has been mandated to enter into a broken society to help it, Zeid wrote.

Zeid had been asked by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the abuse and suggest policy changes for civilians and troops, who can be punished only by their home countries, although such punishment is rare. 

Zeid proposed that the 191-member General Assembly approve binding rules to be signed by every country contributing troops. The rules would specify prosecutions and funds for victims, especially those with peacekeeper babies. 

Though he acknowledged that distributing condoms to soldiers sends a mixed message, Zeid said they should be viewed as protection against AIDS and not as a license for sex with prostitutes or girls younger than 18 or abuse of any kind. 

Last year, 80 allegations of abuse were made against military personnel in Congo, 16 against civilians and nine against U.N. civilian police, for a total of 105 accusations, he said.

About 45% involved girls or boys younger than 18, 31% related to adult prostitutes and 13% involved rape and assault.