Sexual misconduct allegations probed

The United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) has said it will investigate allegations published in the Italian press about a former member of UNMEE having sex with underage girls while serving in the mission area. According to an UNMEE statement released on Monday, the allegations have never previously been reported to the mission. It said an unidentified former member of UNMEE’s Italian contingent was allegedly being investigated in Italy by a military prosecutor on accusations of having allegedly had sex with underage girls while serving in the mission area. UNMEE said the mission had “zero tolerance” towards such acts, and would do its utmost to act quickly and thoroughly to establish the facts. Once the information has been gathered and assessed, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Legwaila Joseph Legwaila, will “determine the scope and depth of appropriate measures to be taken”. It said UNMEE would strive to respect the laws, culture, traditions, customs and practices of the two host countries, and emphasised that all UN peacekeepers were bound by their code of conduct. “They should not indulge in immoral acts of sexual, physical or psychological abuse or exploitation of the local population, especially women and children.”