2024 UN Report: Allegations of Sexual Abuse in Peacekeeping Missions
The recent United Nations report regarding incidents of sexual abuse and exploitation within its peacekeeping and political missions has raised significant concerns. This report, released in early 2024, outlines that such allegations exceeded 100 for the third consecutive year, marking a troubling trend over the past decade.
Key Statistics
- In 2024, 102 allegations were reported, involving 125 victims, of which 98 were adults and 27 were children.
- 65 allegations pertained to women who had given birth after reporting rape and were actively seeking child support.
- Similar reports emerged from various U.N. peacekeeping missions across the globe, including significant instances in Congo (44 allegations) and the Central African Republic (40 allegations).
- The U.N. agencies and their staff faced 190 allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse, showing a decrease from 284 in the previous year.
Wider Context of Allegations
Allegations of sexual misconduct are not limited to the aforementioned regions; reports of misconduct also surfaced in missions operating in South Sudan, Lebanon, Haiti, Colombia, and Afghanistan. This highlights a systemic issue present across diverse U.N. operations.
Secretary-General’s Response
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the urgency of combating sexual abuse and exploitation since his tenure began in 2017. His report underlines ongoing initiatives aimed at enforcing a strict “zero-tolerance” policy for such misconduct:
- Accelerating investigations into allegations.
- Appointing a victims’ advocate to support affected individuals.
Concerns Over Training and Trust
Despite mandatory training regarding sexual misconduct, a survey of 64,585 U.N. staff members revealed alarming attitudes, with 3.65% believing it is acceptable to pay for sex, and nearly 1% acknowledging it is acceptable to engage in sexual activities with minors. Furthermore, trust in U.N. leadership appears to be waning, with 6% of respondents expressing a lack of confidence in leadership’s capacity to tackle issues of sexual exploitation, a significant increase from 3% in 2023.
Paternity Claims and Accountability Issues
The report also noted that since 2006, about 750 claims related to paternity and child support involving U.N. peacekeepers have been reported. Unfortunately, over 500 of these cases remain unresolved. Generally, these claims are referred to the peacekeeper’s home country for resolution; however, the report indicated that most nations have yet to take meaningful action on these matters.
Call to Action
In conclusion, Secretary-General Guterres is urging nations to implement decisive measures holding individuals accountable for these serious allegations. He emphasized the necessity for children born from such incidents to receive their rightful entitlements, including citizenship. “I will examine ways to bring even greater attention to this critical issue,” he stated, underscoring the importance of accountability at all leadership levels within the United Nations.
