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P R E S S R E L E A S E
NEWS
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| For Immediate Release: | August 13, 2008 |
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| Ros-Lehtinen Comments on Continuing Reports of UN Peacekeepers Sexually Abusing Children, Calls for Full Investigation | |||||
| (WASHINGTON) – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) said today that a new report of sexual abuse by UN peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was “simply unconscionable” and underscored that “the entire UN system urgently needs reform – now more than ever.” An internal UN probe unearthed evidence that UN peacekeepers engaged in sexual abuse and exploitation of young girls and boys while serving in the DRC. The peacekeepers have been redeployed to their native country pending a promised investigation. “Reports that UN peacekeepers are sexually abusing children are simply unconscionable,” said Ros-Lehtinen, Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “Peacekeepers are deployed to prevent war, violence and brutality – not to facilitate such atrocities. Allegations of abuse irreparably harm the credibility of the peacekeeping mission," said Ros-Lehtinen, who is author of the UN Transparency, Accountability, and Reform Act (H.R. 2712), which includes important peacekeeping reforms. "The UN mission in DRC has been plagued for years by charges of abuse and corruption, yet new allegations continue to surface. We must ask how such a culture of impunity can persist. The UN must fully investigate these charges and make the necessary management reforms to prevent further corruption. In the interim, the UN must ensure that those accused are not deployed on other peacekeeping missions where they might continue to commit crimes against the defenseless and vulnerable,” said Ros-Lehtinen. The probe follows reports that UN peacekeepers worldwide traded food and other goods to children in exchange for sex; UN authorities failed to act on proof that its peacekeepers had gang-raped young girls; UN officials covered up evidence of peacekeepers arming Congolese rebel militias in exchange for gold, ivory and drugs; and UN peacekeepers in Lebanon were photographed saluting a convoy of dead Hezbollah militants. “America and other responsible nations must use our leverage to effect change at the UN and prevent further corruption of its founding principles and mandate,” Ros-Lehtinen concluded. ### |
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