Should we Prosecute the Protectors? Holding Peacekeepers Accountable in Cases of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

Abstract

United Nations (UN) peace operations have come under increased strain in recent years due to numerous factors, including donor fatigue and the changing nature of international conflict. Serious accusations of crimes of sexual exploitation and abuse being committed by peacekeepers have further jeopardized the sustainability of UN-mandated missions and have raised the question of whether or not peacekeepers should be held accountable for their actions. The paper first explores the scope of the problem by highlighting the type of crimes that have been committed, the actors and stakeholders involved, and a few of the root causes that help to explain why crimes of sexual exploitation and abuse are being committed by UN peacekeepers. Following this is a brief discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the current measures that have been undertaken by the UN and, more specifically, by the Office of the Secretary-General and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations. The paper culminates in an evaluation of the advantages, disadvantages and consequences of increased accountability, and eventually argues that increased accountability is necessary in order to protect already-vulnerable populations from further harm at the hands of the very people sent to guard over them. In concluding, the author offers a few possible solutions that could be enacted by the UN to ensure that there are adequate measures for prevention and response to such criminal behaviour.