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A member of the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), who has been accused of sexual abuse, is being sent home to be prosecuted by his national authorities, UN News reported on Thursday, quoting UN spokesman Fred Eckhard.
Although Eckhard did not identify the suspect, he was quoted as saying: "The investigation into one case of alleged abuse has already been completed, and the person found responsible is being disciplined by early repatriation and prosecution follow-up by his national authorities."
UN News reported that the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services had sent investigators to probe allegations into the behaviour of military and non-military personnel with the UN mission in the northeastern DRC town of Bunia.
More investigators were expected to arrive in DRC next week, UN News said. "So far, about 30 cases are being investigated," Eckhard was quoted as saying at the daily press briefing in New York.
On 7 May, Eckhard was reported to have said that the UN mission in the DRC was determined to enforce UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's policy of zero tolerance of any sexual misconduct.
He had said "a comprehensive investigation" had been launched into reported instances of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of civilians, including minors, by MONUC personnel in Bunia.
The UN Mission in the DRC "is committed to completing a full and thorough investigation as a matter of urgency, and to applying all available sanctions against any of its personnel found responsible", Eckhard was quoted as saying.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
