[Photo: UN peacekeeping mission MINUSCA patrol on the streets after a Muslim man was burnt to death by a Christian mob on Tuesday, Bangui, Central Africa Republic on 9 October 2014. Photo: AA]
By Izabela Kuczynska
NEW YORK (AA): The United Nations has acknowledged receiving allegations that UN peacekeepers have been involved in sexual abuse against children in the Central African Republic capital of Bangui.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday, UN secretary-general spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that the allegations against the foreign troops were received on June 19 and the member state contributing the troops was informed the following day.
However, Dujarric did not name the country from which the troops were allegedly involved. He only said that medical assistance was being provided to the victims and added that accusations were from this and last year.
“If the allegations are substantiated, this would constitute a grave violation of UN principles and code of conduct for UN peacekeepers. The member state would be requested to take swift and appropriate punitive action,” he said.
According to media reports, peacekeepers from France have been accused in the past of child abuse also in the Central African Republic in December 2013 and June 2014.
Earlier this month, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced an independent panel to investigate allegations that French peacekeeping forces were involved in the abuse. On Monday, the UN said that an ex supreme court justice of Canada would lead the review of how the UN handled the allegations.
