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Joint probe into alleged sexual abuse by UN peacekeepers going on in CAR

Xinhua, June 1, 2016 Adjust font size:

The investigations on allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations peacekeepers conducted jointly by the UN Office of the Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), Burundi and Gabon are continuing in the Kemo prefecture in the Central African Republic (CAR), a UN spokesman told reporters here Tuesday.

"OIOS informed us that so far, more than 60 out of the 106 complainants have been interviewed by the joint teams," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here. "Witnesses are also being interviewed in order to corroborate the testimonies."

"The interview process is expected to be finalised in the coming few weeks," Dujarric said.

"The allegations date back to 2014 and 2015 and there is a lack of medical, judicial and other physical evidence which means that the work of the investigators relies primarily on the testimonies of the victims and witnesses," he said.

"There is progress but it is going to take time to identify the alleged perpetrators and carry forward the investigation," he said. "While the investigations continue, the United Nations is keeping eight to 10 staff in the area at all times."

In addition, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and their implementing partners continue to provide medical, psycho-social and legal assistance in the area, he said.

A UNICEF partner, Association des femmes juristes Centrafricanes (AFJC), is assisting all victims, both minors and adults, during the interviews with OIOS, he added.

Most of the allegations relate to Burundian and Gabonese contingents present in the Kemo region between 2013 and 2015, as well as to the separate French Sangaris force stationed in the same region in the same period, UN reported.

The United Nations has formally notified the troop-contributing countries in question, as well as to the French authorities, informing them of these allegations. These countries have been requested to send investigators immediately to participate jointly in the ongoing investigation. Endit