Addressing the Criminal Accountability of Peacekeepers

Abstract

For UN peacekeeping to be equipped to respond to complex security environments—including mandates for the protection of civilians—it is important that instances of sexual misconduct and abuse by UN peacekeepers towards persons in the same communities that they seek to protect be prevented and properly addressed. The essay that follows tries to identify the measures in place to address the challenges that surround the criminal accountability of peacekeeping personnel following allegations of sexual exploitation, analyzes how such measures can be advanced as the nature of peacekeeping operations is revisited, and provides recommendations accordingly.