MISSION JUSTICE
The campaign to stop sexual violence by UN Peacekeepers
Peacekeeping – a force for good
Peacekeeping works. Recent positive examples of peacekeeping include Liberia and Sierra Leone, while the situation in Mali, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo is considerably improved as a consequence of the UN's intervention.
Several academic studies have determined that the presence of peacekeepers significantly reduces the risk of renewed warfare, and that the more peacekeeping troops and police deployed, the fewer the civilian deaths. A study by the Rand Corporation concluded that:
"the UN success rate among missions studied (seven out of eight societies left peaceful, six out of eight left democratic) substantiates the view that... the UN provides the most suitable institutional framework for nation-building missions that require fewer than 20,000 men; one with a comparatively low cost structure, a comparatively high success rate, and the greatest degree of international legitimacy"
UN peacekeeping represents very good value for money. The cost of deploying a UN troop is over 80 times less, than that of deploying - for example - an American troop to perform the same task.
Sexual exploitation and abuse - progress at last
At long last the UN and member states are taking some of the steps needed to get to grips with the issue. On the UN side, the UN has:
Meanwhile member states have:
Peacekeeping works. Recent positive examples of peacekeeping include Liberia and Sierra Leone, while the situation in Mali, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo is considerably improved as a consequence of the UN's intervention.
Several academic studies have determined that the presence of peacekeepers significantly reduces the risk of renewed warfare, and that the more peacekeeping troops and police deployed, the fewer the civilian deaths. A study by the Rand Corporation concluded that:
"the UN success rate among missions studied (seven out of eight societies left peaceful, six out of eight left democratic) substantiates the view that... the UN provides the most suitable institutional framework for nation-building missions that require fewer than 20,000 men; one with a comparatively low cost structure, a comparatively high success rate, and the greatest degree of international legitimacy"
UN peacekeeping represents very good value for money. The cost of deploying a UN troop is over 80 times less, than that of deploying - for example - an American troop to perform the same task.
Sexual exploitation and abuse - progress at last
At long last the UN and member states are taking some of the steps needed to get to grips with the issue. On the UN side, the UN has:
- Appointed a Special Coordinator for Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA)
- Appointed a victims' rights advocate
- Established a new approach and strategy regarding the issue, following a comprehensive consultation exercise, with stronger training, vetting and investigation
- Drafted a "voluntary compact" between states contributing troops (TCCs) and the UN
- Set up a trust fund for victims, and arranged for confiscated wages to be paid into it
- Undertaken imaginative and powerful outreach programmes with local communities and set up "community based complaint mechanisms"
- Launched a "risk management toolkit" to help missions guard against the risks of SEA
- Instituted comprehensive quarterly reporting on SEA
Meanwhile member states have:
- Passed Security Council Resolution 2272, which gives the Secretary-General the power to send back entire contingents of troops if they are found to be engaging in "widespread and systemic" sexual exploitation and abuse
- 72 countries have signed the compact
- Morocco has deployed National Investigation Officers (NIOs) alongside its troops, to facilitate investigations of abuse
- South Africa has NIOs on 72 hour standby and has announced its willingness to undertake court martial proceedings in situ in the Democratic Republic of Congo should they be required. South Africa is also pioneering new forms of training regarding sexual exploitation and abuse
- Uruguay has established a Protocol of action for reported cases of Sexual Abuse, Exploitation and Paternity, has included courses on SEA, human rights, women’s rights and child protection in its pre-deployment training and has created a focal point on SEA within its Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Brazil, which has never had an allegation of SEA leveled against its personnel, acts as an exemplar for pre-deployment training and interaction with civil society
