WE WILL NOT STAND BY WHEN UN SOLDIERS ABUSE, RAPE AND MURDER

A report by the AIDS-Free World’s Code Blue campaign found that U.N. and French troops in the Central African Republic (CAR) abused at least 98 girls (see below). These latest revelations about soldiers stationed by the UN are evidence that it is untenable for French troops to continue to be based in Africa.

It is clear that they have stepped far out of the bounds of their mission and of the law.
Young girls have been exploited and suffered sexual abuse at the hands of UN peacekeepers. Indeed, it has been alleged that these abuses were orchestrated by a General and that one of victims has subsequently died. Like in many parts of the world, rape carries terrible consequences for young girls and many of the girls have since been ostracised by their community. Thus, in addition to the trauma of having experienced sexual violence, these girls will have to endure marginalisation, stigma and live with the knowledge that their attacker(s) may never be held to account, if we allow it to happen...

*From the released report:*

A report by the AIDS-Free World’s Code Blue campaign confirmed that U.N. and French troops in the Central African Republic abused at least 98 girls. At least 98 girls from the Central African Republic were sexually abused by United Nations peacekeepers and French troops and four of the girls were forced to have sex with a dog by a French commander, the U.S.-based AIDS-Free World’s Code Blue campaign said in a press release Wednesday.

“Last Saturday, March 26, 2016, the deputy special representative of the secretary-general and a delegation from MINUSCA, the U.N.’s peacekeeping mission in CAR, met with local leaders and victims who reported that troops from France and Gabon have sexually abused several girls in their province. Some victims left the area due to stigmatization by the community,” the Code Blue campaign said in a press release citing sources familiar with the meetings.

This content was originally published by teleSUR at the following address here.

But we can make sure justice is served and we have a responsibility to do so.
The testimonies coming out are simply too horrific for us to stand by. Those who are accused of having committed those crimes must face criminal charges and a trial. It must be fair and its decision binding. The exploitation of young African girls and women by people who hold power and are employed by us to keep them safe, must go to the top of everyone’s agenda. We must not be silent and collude in child exploitation and violence against women regardless of where it happens. Let’s not add the CAR to the long list of countries in which cases of sexual abuse and exploitation by UN peacekeepers have gone unpunished.

In December 2015, The Report of an Independent Review on the Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by International Peace Keeping Forces In The Central African Republic already highlighted an number of disturbing findings.

It described the manner by which the UN had responded to the allegations as 'seriously flawed' and urged the UN to undertake a number of reforms including taking actions to protect the victims.

Last February Ban Ki-moon appointed Jane Holl Lute as Special Coordinator on Improving the United Nations Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (specifically aimed at dealing with the abuses in the CAR). But despite this and Ban Ki-Moon calling “all Senior-Level actors” (including the Executive Director of UNICEF and Jane Holl Lute) to this urgent crisis on March 29th this year, French Troops remain in CAR, justice is still to be served and, the public is unclear what measures, if any, will be put into place to protect, support and safeguard the welfare of the girls involved.

We the public have had enough. Africa has had enough. The world has had enough.
If you have, do your duty! We know that it was a French military commander from the Sangaris Force who directed the abuses. We know that 98 girls were abused (though we expect that eventually more will come forward). That’s more than enough to act and put pressure on the UN to do its duty too.

We demand accountability. And we demand it now! Join us.

Join us in demanding:

- That the recommendations from the report of Dec 2015 be put into practice

- That the French government withdraw all its troops from the CAR and investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of the horrific abuses of children

- That action to ensure victims receive proper care and support in rebuilding their future and prevent further abuse

Thank you.

To access the 2015 report in to the abuse.

Read: Is the U.N fit for purpose?

Signed,
Samantha Asumadu and Guilaine Kinouani

PETITION