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‘Exclude countries that do not discipline peacekeepers’ – NYT

States that have not taken action against troops that have been accused of sexual abuse whilst taking part in United Nations peacekeeping missions should be excluded, said the New York Times in an editorial this week.

The United Nations is failing some of the most vulnerable children it is supposed to protect,” said the newspaper. “A decade ago, the organization acknowledged that some of the peacekeepers sent to international conflict zones were sexually abusing local women and children, and it promised corrective action. The scourge continues, prompting one senior United Nations official to recoil at what he called the “constant horror story of allegations” against the peacekeepers.”

The editorial follows reports that girls were raped or sexually exploited last year in the Central African Republic by troops from the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Countries that contribute troops to vital multimillion-dollar peacekeeping missions bear the primary responsibility for crimes committed by their forces,” said the New York Times. “But the United Nations urgently needs to intensify its oversight, documenting abuse cases; keeping better track of whether the abuses are followed up with prosecutions; and holding countries publicly accountable when they let abusive troops off the hook, which seems to be the pattern.”

“And despite the difficulties in recruiting enough troops for peacekeeping duties, it is time to exclude countries that do not impose the necessary discipline to make zero tolerance possible.”

Sri Lankan troops were expelled from Haiti for sexually abusing children in 2007, with 111 soldiers and 3 officers were repatriated back to Sri Lanka after being part of UN mission in Haiti and were accused of a string of sexual assaults, including rape of children as young as 7 years old. No prosecutions or punishments have taken place.

Sri Lankan military spokesperson Brigadier Jayanath Jayaweera however claimed his country's troops have created "extremely positive" impressions regarding the country's armed forces in the international community, during peacekeeping missions.

The Sri Lankan military and president have also called for increased participation in peacekeeping missions with the United Nations, with the commander stating the forces were a “professional army”.

No mercy for soldiers found guilty of abuse says French president (30 April 2015)

ICP questions UN on impunity for SL peacekeepers (18 September 2013)

Haitian sexual abuse troops remain unpunished (11 January 2012)

Rs 18 billion paid to Sri Lanka for UN peace keeping missions (09 July 2012)

Haitian lawyers condemn impunity for Sri Lankan soldiers (11 September 2011)

Child rape impunity no bar to UN peacekeeping deal with Sri Lanka (27 May 2011)

Sri Lanka forces fire into Haitian civilians (25 November 2009)

UN confirms sex charges against Sri Lankan troops in Haiti child abuse (09 April 2008)

Rape by Sri Lankan troops resurfaces – in Haiti (07 November 2007)

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