UN faces new sex scandal in Haiti
By Carol Williams
The Age
December 17, 2007
IN THE latest sex scandal to tarnish the United Nations, at least 114 Sri Lankan troops have been expelled from the stabilisation mission in Haiti for sexual exploitation of women and girls.
The expulsion follows allegations that:
- Girls as young as 13 were having sex with UN peacekeepers for as little as $A1.15.
- Five young Haitian women who followed soldiers back to Sri Lanka were forced into brothels or polygamous households. They have been sent home to warn others of the danger.
- The young mother of a peacekeeper's child had to send the toddler to live with relatives in the country after other children and parents taunted him.
Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere, has endured repeated occupation, each time suffering instances of statutory rape and economically coerced sexual relations.
But this time the troops were sent to protect them. The UN had taken measures to stop such abuse after revelations three years ago that its troops in Congo were having sex with girls in exchange for staples such as eggs or token sums of money.
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Senator Tom Coburn
Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International Security
340 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-2254 Fax: 202-228-3796
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