UN Suspends Four Peacekeeping Soldiers Amid Child Abuse Allegations in Southern Sudan

The United Nations has taken swift action in response to allegations of child sexual abuse by its peacekeeping soldiers in southern Sudan, suspending four soldiers and repatriating one accused of a serious sexual assault on a minor. The incident follows previous allegations that UN staff and soldiers have sexually exploited children as young as 12 in the war-torn country. Initially, the UN dismissed the allegations as "rumours," but subsequent internal investigations have confirmed the existence of widespread sexual abuse.

Key Takeaways:

• The UN has suspended four peacekeeping soldiers, including one Bangladeshi soldier accused of a serious sexual assault on a child, and repatriated him.
• The three other soldiers were sent home for "failure of command responsibilities," meaning they allegedly knew about the abuse but failed to act in accordance with UN policy.
• The UN has been conducting internal investigations into sex abuse allegations against children in southern Sudan, including by its own staff, since January 2005.
• The UN mission in Sudan, Unmis, does not have a personnel conduct officer, a role designed to prevent and investigate abuse cases.
• A draft June 2005 report highlighted the potential for sexual exploitation by Unmis personnel dating back to 18 months prior.
• Twenty children in Juba claim to have been forced into prostitution with UN staff, with the only identifiable nationality being Bangladeshi.
• The UN regulations state that soldiers accused of crimes while on mission must be prosecuted in their home country.
• Bangladesh's ambassador confirmed that a military investigation into the affair is ongoing, and the peacekeepers have been transferred from Sudan.

Statistics:

• 20 children in Juba claim to have been forced into prostitution with UN staff.
• The allegations of child sexual abuse by UN staff and soldiers date back to 18 months prior to a draft report in June 2005.