Report Reveals UN Peacekeepers Trade Goods for Sex
June 12, 2015 00:11
A draft UN report has revealed that UN peacekeepers routinely flout a ban of the international organization and pay for sex with money, dresses, jewelry, perfume, cell phones and other items in a flagrant exploitation of poverty-stricken populations they are meant to protect.
Reuters received a copy of the draft report, which was conducted by the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), and detailed how UN forces bought the sexual services of hundreds of women in Haiti and Liberia who said they were forced to sell their bodies due to hunger and poverty.
"Evidence from two peacekeeping mission countries demonstrates that transactional sex is quite common but underreported in peacekeeping missions," concluded the OIOS report, which was dated May 15.
The reportedly common practice may have wide-reaching consequences, as the UN deploys 250,000 peacekeeping troops, police and civilians in 16 global operation.
"The number of condoms distributed, along with the number of personnel undergoing voluntary counselling and confidential testing for HIV...suggest that sexual relationships between peacekeeping personnel and the local population may be routine," noted the report.
A UN bulletin back in 2003 forbid peacekeepers from buying sex for cash or goods, the report added, noting that the step was taken because the practice severely harms the international body's credibility.
Breaking down the numbers, the report listed 480 allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse committed by UN peacekeepers between 2008 and 2013; in 2014 another 51 complaints were filed - however, the report acknowledged there is likely heavy underreporting.
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