New York -A new report of alleged sexual exploitation in the Central African Republic (CAR) has been received by the UN peacekeeping mission in that country, UN Spokesman, Stephane DuJarric, told correspondents on Tuesday in New York.
He told reporters that the UN received the new report on Monday and that the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in CAR (MINUSCA) was currently investigating the allegations.
DuJarrick said that four girls were allegedly abused in Bangui and that the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services had teken steps to investigate the case, in accordance with the UN Secretary-General’s zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse.
The spokesman also reiterated that MINUSCA condemned in the strongest possible terms any instance of sexual exploitation and abuse committed by UN personnel in CAR.
Meanwhile, he said, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of MINUSCA, Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, had reiterated his personal and institutional commitment to ensure that the rights and dignity of victims were protected.
Onanga-Anyanga said the UN would ensure that an investigation was carried out swiftly, and justice was done to affected persons.
[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the latest allegation follows 15 other possible cases of sexual exploitation and abuse by personnel of the MINUSCA that are currently under investigation.
It would be recalled that on Sept. 11, 2015, the UN peacekeeping chief, Hervé Ladsous, announced that following reports of alleged sexual exploitation and abuse, seven peacekeepers serving with MINUSCA were repatriated, while nine had their payments suspended.
Meanwhile, the UN had received 63 allegations of possible misconduct by personnel sine the mission begun work. (NAN)
SH/HA