Peacekeepers and Sexual Abuse: A Persistent Stain on the United Nations Image

This research paper examines the history and systemic challenges of sexual abuse and exploitation perpetrated by United Nations peacekeepers. It details the 'food-for-sex' scandals, the legal hurdles preventing the UN from prosecuting troops due to national jurisdiction, and the policy responses implemented to combat these crimes, including Resolution 2272.

• The UN defines sexual exploitation as the abuse of vulnerability, power, or trust for sexual purposes, regardless of the age of consent. This definition recognizes that peacekeepers' higher earnings compared to impoverished local populations in post-conflict areas create a power imbalance that facilitates transactional sex, often involving the exchange of food or provisions for sex.
• Data from the UN Department of Field Support Conduct and Discipline Unit Misconduct Tracking System indicates that of 2,000 reported cases of sexual misconduct over 12 years, 700 occurred in the DRC and 300 involved children. However, the document notes that UN statistics are often inaccurate due to poor record-keeping and under-reporting.
• The UN faces significant legal obstacles in punishing peacekeepers because Status of Force Agreements (SOFAs) ensure that nation-states maintain ultimate jurisdiction over their own troops. This results in a lack of prosecution if the deploying country lacks the political will or if the crimes are not domesticated in the home country's laws.
• Resolution 2272, adopted in March 2016, strengthened the UN's ability to address sexual violence by reinforcing the Secretary-General's authority to repatriate and replace peacekeepers based on evidence of exploitation. An example of this was the June 2017 repatriation of 600 peacekeepers from the Republic of Congo serving in the CAR.
• The under-deployment of female peacekeepers is identified as a barrier to reporting, as female victims are believed to find it easier to report crimes to other women. The document notes that only India and Bangladesh have effectively responded to calls to increase the number of female peacekeepers.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2017). Peacekeepers and Sexual Abuse: A Persistent Stain on the United Nations Image. https://saiia.org.za/research/peacekeepers-and-sexual-abuse-a-persistent-stain-on-the-united-nations-image/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Peacekeepers and Sexual Abuse: A Persistent Stain on the United Nations Image. 2017. https://saiia.org.za/research/peacekeepers-and-sexual-abuse-a-persistent-stain-on-the-united-nations-image/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Peacekeepers and Sexual Abuse: A Persistent Stain on the United Nations Image |date=23 November 2017 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/peacekeepers-and-sexual-abuse-a-persistent-stain-on-the-united-nations-image/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2017peacekeepers, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Peacekeepers and Sexual Abuse: A Persistent Stain on the United Nations Image}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2017}, month = nov, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/peacekeepers-and-sexual-abuse-a-persistent-stain-on-the-united-nations-image/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }