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No sex with locals for peacekeepers

[DRC] UN peacekeepers use tankers to block the road linking Rwanda to the eastern Congolese city of Bukavu, where fighting has been going on since 26 May. Date taken: 3 June 2004 IRIN
UN troops in the DRC.
    NAIROBI

    UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced on Wednesday that he has banned peacekeepers of the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), known as MONUC, from fraternising with locals, UN News reported.

    He was reacting to claims of widespread sexual abuse of women and girls.

    In a letter to the Security Council, Annan also asked for another 100 military police and qualified French-speaking investigators to conduct self-monitoring programmes and "root out" the abuse.

    UN News reported that in January, a report by the UN watchdog, the Office of Internal Oversight Services, found that MONUC personnel engaged in sexual exploitation of Congolese women and girls as young as 13.

    The UN has investigated 150 allegations, including gang rape, made against some 50 soldiers based in DRC's northeastern town of Bunia.

    The multidisciplinary team of investigators led by Assistant Secretary-General Angle Kane has tightened a no-fraternisation rule and imposed a curfew for military contingents. Recreation and welfare opportunities are to be developed "to alleviate the concentrated stress present in field missions".

    Annan's letter spelt out the new regulations for more than 12,000 UN military personnel.

    Annan declared his "personal outrage" at the abuse and reaffirmed his personal commitment to remain vigilant on this issue.

    GREAT LAKES: Focus on sexual misconduct by UN personnel
    DRC: Focus on rampant rape, despite end of war

    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

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