UNITED NATIONS: 179 U.N. soldiers disciplined for sexual abuse

Tacoma, WA - Saturday, December 2, 2006

UNITED NATIONS: 179 U.N. peacekeepers disciplined for sexual abuse THE NEWS TRIBUNE Last updated: December 1st, 2006 01:31 AM (PST) Nearly 180 soldiers, civilians and police in U.N. peacekeeping missions have been targeted for disciplinary action for sexual abuse since the beginning of 2004, the U.N. spokesman said Thursday. Despite the U.N.’s “zero tolerance,” Stephane Dujarric said, “acts of sexual exploitation and abuse by U.N. peacekeeping personnel continue to occur.” “Over the past two years, it’s been clear that we have redoubled our efforts … to prevent these acts from happening, to discipline those who are responsible, and to bring assistance to the victims,” Dujarric said. “But we obviously have a ways to go.” Since January 2004, the U.N. has investigated 319 peacekeeping personnel in all U.N. missions, Dujarric said. “These resulted in the summary dismissal of 18 civilians and the repatriation on disciplinary grounds of 17 police and 144 military personnel,” he said. The Associated Press Originally published: December 1st, 2006 01:00 AM (PST)