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Peacekeepers 'abusing children'

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Children as young as six are being sexually abused by peacekeepers and aid workers, says a leading UK charity.

Children in post-conflict areas are being abused by the very people drafted into such zones to help look after them, says Save the Children.
Kallico75

24 responses // Peacekeepers 'abusing children'

  • "A 13-year-old girl described to the BBC how 10 UN peacekeepers gang-raped her in a field near her Ivory Coast home, and left her bleeding, trembling and vomiting on the ground."

    I hope this issue is investigated and resolved. It makes me sick to think that people deployed to an area to keep the peace would take advantage of young children... or anyone for that matter. People are supposed to trust they'll be taken care of. If UN personnel are taking advantage of the people they are supposed to help, it is the worst kind of abuse.
    abbym0308
  • watch this comment being used here
    That is horrific. I wonder if there are stringent background checks for these people as you would find now for other roles where you are working with children.

    How on earth are those children supposed to go on to trust again? The people they think are sent to save them abuse them like that. Vile!
    couteaux
  • It's no good saying the international community promises a policy of zero-tolerance to child sexual abuse if that simply isn't the case and abusers are getting away with it. I hope that any offenders found guilty from irrefutable evidence are dealt the maximum custodial sentence to emphasise the zero-tolerance approach.
    richjm
  • This story makes me sick to my stomach. I assume there are stringent screenings to become a member of the UN peacekeeping forces, but are candidates tested for a propensity to abuse children?! Were I doing those screening, I doubt that would have occurred to me! Perhaps they are too desperate for people to take these positions?
    Tori
  • 10. If her story is correct then TEN were present while she was being brutalized. I can't even fathom justifying that in one's head. Her trust of people there who are to help her is broken and I can't imagine it ever being fixed. It hurts my heart.
    J_Jammer
  • Is this really a big surprise?

    It seems such things crop up just about everywhere now-a-days.

    Sick and twisted people are found everywhere - often looking to take advantage of a situation.
    nuTinmuch
  • I am truly blown away by this story. At a time when so many countries are in need of so much help, a blow to the UN's credibility is really detrimental to all of its efforts to ameliorate any problem from natural disaster relief to child prostitution. Some organizations just can't afford to screw up like this.
    nwillens
  • I want to know what units and what army and regiment they were from. I'm continually hearing of soldiers committing organized abuse in war zones and other troubled areas.
    Kabimbi
  • as a hardcore UN supporter, this story saddens me. it's ridiculous that the peace keepers sent there to help the countries in need are the ones causing more conflict. what a shame
    shazo
  • The irony of this situation is absolutely horrendous. The fact that the peacekeepers the UN sends off to already devestated locations are doing little to assuage the matter is a horrible state of affairs. These peacekeeping forces, though valued for their efforts, need to be screened and prosecuted.
    Wizard_of_Ahhs
  • watch this comment being used here, here, here, here and here
    This issue isn't new. In the early 90's, the Bulgarian peacekeepers in Cambodia were known as the Vulgarians because of their soliciting of child prostitution, frequent violence, and heroin abuse.
    dgold0101
  • w t f...... i w w p.
    stephenthomson
  • The UN is horrible! They must be stopped at all costs! At least thats how some of the common logic would treat the situation...

    In all seriousness there needs to be an investigation and people need to be in big trouble for this...
    MoMoney
  • In all seriousness, the peacekeepers have a long history of not solving anything. See southern Lebanon, Rwanda, and Bosnia.

    http://www.amazon.com/Deliver-Us-Evil-Peacekeepers-Warl...
    dgold0101
  • dgold0101, thats ironic as one of thei instances i refered to hearing about is porstitution and child prostitution in the balkan conflict in the 90s by private contractors and troops. no details its gritty.

    in response to lebanon and bosnia they were pawns in a greater game, in lebanon the israelis shot at and even very purposefuly and destructively killed un troops with artillery and finaly air strike because of their bunker facing the israeli border could pose a threat in the invasion. in Bosnia that was a corperate war and theres still a lot of dodgy stuff to do with the yanks clinton and the murders. in short in bosnia they weren't gona achieve much.
    Kabimbi
  • In Lebanon they shared information with Hezbollah that helped them plan attacks on the IDF. In Bosnia they let themselves become pawns, they got manipulated and out strategized by all sides, mostly by milosevic. I don't doubt that their intentions are good, I just think they are destined to fail because of their charter. Forgot to mention Somalia, as well. For reference, read the book that I posted a link to.
    dgold0101
  • If there is any more reasons required that we divest ourselves of this criminal organization someone tell me what it may be. After the Oil for Food now we have this problem. The U.N is a thoroughly corrupt organization. We need to throw them out of New York and never spend another dime with the U.N. . Let's not forget that Obama wants to increase the amount we give the U.N. to erradicate "workd poverty". That idea shows us how irresponsible Hussein is.
    The U.N is a problem, not a solution.
    Paratus
  • I just can't imagine someone who appears to be devoting their entire careers and selves to humanitarian work and creating peace could commit such a detestible act. It's pointless question to ask, but how can spot them on the street when they are able to slip into the U.N.?
    Sara_Airey
  • Maybe these individuals were recruited to cast an even larger shadow over the UN, so that sentiment for them will dwindle, allowing the extremists, the far right and the far left, more free reign to do as they please... What they did was disgusting and inexcusable, but is there no merit for the other members who must have done some good over the years...with their hands tied behind their backs...

    Still, that's no reason to attempt a smear on Obama...some one needs to organize these people and hold them accountable...

    Perhaps Barack has a plan to clean up some of the loose ends that have been left dangling for far too long...
    PlatoTacius
  • i have no doubt obama is aware of how messed up the UN is, it would be interesting to see what he does with it.

    Dgold0101 i obviously have more to read about Bosnia, but if the UN aided Hezbollah surely that says something about the Israeli invasion. we dont see eye to eye a lot but i would never say your wrong about something :P your a learned man.
    Kabimbi
  • A few things:
    A lot of these peacekeepers don't really sign up with the intention of doing humanitarian work. Lots of UN peacekeepers come from developing countries where there aren't many options.
    The UN will not succeed because its charter prevents it from doing so. That's why you have a situation in Rwanda where because they peacekeepers are not directly engaged by the Rwandans, they must sit back and watch while the Hutus slaughter the Tutsi's. Also, the fact of the matter is that some countries really shouldnt have a vote. People bitch about the US, Russia, China, and deservedly so, but they weren't the ones who put Sudan as the chair for the UN Human Rights contingency.
    And me, learned? Ha, sometimes I like to think so. As for the UN aiding Hezbollah, I seem to remember reading reports that they were providing coordinates for them. I wouldn't make a statement like "If the UN helped Hezbollah it surely says something about the Israeli invasion." You could just as easily say, "Well, if the UN stood by as the Hutus slaughtered the Tutsis, it surely says something about the Tutsis."
    dgold0101
  • now im mad that is discusting and wrong! the un isdoing this! i can only imagine what were doing in myanmar omg!
    dani555
  • It's unfair to place blame solely on the UN, and you shouldn't jump to conclusions that this is occurring everywhere.
    dgold0101
  • Not only was this happening long ago, but for it to happen at this point of life where other people are in desperate need of help, is just sickening.
    Ruria

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