Peacekeepers 'abusing children'

Heres your great saviour of the Pope, the United Nations front. -Craig

Peacekeepers 'abusing children'

By Adam Mynott
BBC News, Ivory Coast
Monday, 26 May 2008 00:11 UK
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/7420798.stm



UN peacekeepers stand accused of abusing those they are sent to protect
Children as young as six are being sexually abused by peacekeepers and aid workers, says a leading UK charity.

Children in post-conflict areas are being abused by the very people drafted into such zones to help look after them, says Save the Children.

The most shocking aspect of this abuse is that most of it goes unreported and unpunished, a new report argues, with children too scared to speak out.

The UN has said it welcomes the report, which it will study closely.

A 13-year-old girl described to the BBC how 10 UN peacekeepers gang-raped her in a field near her Ivory Coast home, and left her bleeding, trembling and vomiting on the ground.

No action has been taken against the soldiers.

No support

The report also found that aid workers have been sexually abusing boys and girls.

Heather Kerr, Save the Children's Ivory Coast country director, says little is being done to support the victims.

"It's a minority of people but they are using their power to sexually exploit children and children that don't have the voice to report about this.

"They are suffering sexual exploitation and abuse in silence."

Save the Children says the international community has promised a policy of zero-tolerance to child sexual abuse, but that this is not being followed up by action on the ground.