Roundup: UN ends probe of sexual abuse allegations against blue helmets in CAR

The UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) has concluded its investigative process on the allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse against Burundian and Gabonese contingents deployed in Dekoa, Kemo prefecture, in the Central African Republic (CAR), a UN spokesman told reporters here Monday.

"These allegations referred to incidents between 2014 and 2015," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here. "OIOS has conducted joint investigations with Burundian and Gabonese national investigative officers."

Overall, 139 possible victims were interviewed and their accounts were investigated, Dujarric noted. "By means of photo array and/or other corroborating evidence a total of 41 alleged perpetrators (16 from Gabon and 25 from Burundi) were identified by 45 interviewees; eight persons were unable to identify perpetrators through photo array or other corroborating evidence but were able to describe some distinctive traits; 83 were not able to identify perpetrators or provide corroborating evidence; and three accounts were considered unreliable."

"A total of 25 minors asserted they had been sexually abused," he said. "A total of eight paternity claims were filed, including by six minors."

The United Nations has shared the OIOS report with both Burundi and Gabon, including the names of the identified alleged perpetrators and has requested for appropriate judicial actions to ensure criminal accountability, he said.

"Responsibility for further investigations lies with Burundi and Gabon," the spokesman said. "The United Nations has requested from the Burundian and Gabonese authorities that they review the OIOS findings and conduct the interviews of the alleged perpetrators who had all been rotated out from the Central African Republic before the allegations surfaced."

"The United Nations has asked for a copy of the final national investigation reports to be transmitted urgently," he said.

"The alleged perpetrators, if allegations against them are substantiated, and, if warranted, their commanding officers, will not be accepted again for deployment in peacekeeping operations," he said.

The UN Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) has strengthened its prevention measures and reinforced its outreach among communities and peacekeepers across the country, especially in high-risk areas to improve awareness and reporting on sexual exploitation and abuse and other forms of misconduct, said the spokesman.

"The Mission is also regularly monitoring conditions and behaviour of mission's personnel and has partnered with United Nations agencies and implementing partners in Central African Republic that provide psychosocial, medical and legal assistance to victims of sexual exploitation and abuse," he said,

"The United Nations condemns, in the strongest terms, all acts of sexual exploitation and abuse committed by peacekeepers or any other UN personnel and will maintain follow up so that perpetrators of these abhorrent acts are brought to justice," the spokesman added.

In late February, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon declared "zero-tolerance" to sexual abuse and violations by UN peacekeepers deployed across the world.

In March, the United Nations vowed to promote transparency and accountability in addressing the issue of sexual abuse in the UN system, months after UN peacekeepers in Central African Republic (CAR) were alleged to conduct sexual abuse against children last year.

The world body has published a report on measures of preventing sexual exploitation and abuse, saying the total number of allegations of such misconduct recorded in 2015 in the UN system was 99, and 69 of them took place in countries where peacekeeping operations are deployed.

At least 22 children were sexually abused by peacekeepers, according to the report.

Investigations started in April 2016, a few days after the allegations were brought to the attention of the United Nations and lasted for more than four months, the spokesman said. "The investigators relied primarily on the testimony of possible victims and witnesses given the lack of medical, forensic or any other physical evidence."

"This was due to the fact that the majority of the allegations referred to incidents that took place a year or more earlier," he said. "Everyone who came forward with claims, both minors and adults, were assisted by national and international partners." Enditem