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Ban Ki-moon declares "zero tolerance" to sexual abuse by UN troops

Xinhua, February 25, 2016 Adjust font size:

The United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday declared "zero-tolerance" to sexual abuse and violations by UN peacekeepers deployed across the world.

Ban was speaking in Kinshasa after meeting with Congolese President Joseph Kabila and opposition political actors in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).

After several accusations of rape and sexual abuse against a contingent of DR Congo peacekeepers in Central African Republic, in January the UN decided to withdraw Congolese peacekeepers from its peacekeeping mission in Central African Republic (MINUSCA).

"I declare zero tolerance to the issue of sexual abuse or violations by our troops," the UN secretary general declared, adding that "we shall conduct regular inquiries on allegations of violations and abuse."

Recently, the Congolese government had deplored the UN's decision to eject its contingent from MINUSCA.

During the press conference, Ban equally noted that he had urged Congolese political class to embrace dialogue in order to organize peaceful elections in the country.

Kabila had called for inclusive dialogue to discuss organization of forthcoming elections. However, the opposition has refused to participate in the dialogue, arguing that it is a ploy by the president to extend his term beyond November 2016. Enditem