U.N. Fires One, Suspends 6 Over Sex Abuse

March 17, 2005
The New York Times
Original Source: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-UN-Congo-Sex-Abuse.html

UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- The United Nations has fired one employee and suspended six without pay over allegations of sexual misconduct in the peacekeeping mission in Congo, the U.N. spokesman said Thursday.
The allegations of sex abuse in Congo and several other peacekeeping missions by both soldiers and civilian employees have severely tarnished the United Nations' reputation, and led to promises of reform and swift justice.
While the United Nations has taken measures to try to stop the abuse, the U.N. watchdog agency said in January that abuse by peacekeepers continued.
U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard said action had been taken against 17 civilians so far in the Congo mission. In addition to the staff member who was fired and the six suspended, he said one resigned rather than face discipline while another employee's case is under review.
Five others are members of the U.N. Volunteer program and their cases were referred to the U.N. Development Program, he said.
Eckhard also said investigator determined that allegations against three people were unsubstantiated. One of those cleared was Jacque Grinberg, the former chief of staff of the Congo mission, known as MONUC.
Allegations of sexual exploitation of girls as young as 13 by peacekeepers in Congo started emerging around the eastern town of Bunia in early 2004. About 150 cases were reported.
Some 16,700 U.N. peacekeepers are deployed in Congo to help secure a peace deal that ended the 1998-2002 war which involved half a dozen African nations.