Sexual Conduct and Peacekeeping

Abstract

This book critically analyses the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General's Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (SGB) which was promulgated in 2003 to address the problem of 'sexual exploita-tion and abuse' 1 within the context of peacekeeping operations (PKOs). 2 The book is concerned with the broad definition of sexual exploitation provided by the SGB, which includes most sexual relationships and prostitution. This research project was prompted by my apprehension that, following application of the SGB, local women who entered into sexual relationships with peacekeepers 3 were being identified as victims of sexual exploitation, and unfairly banned from engaging in such relationships. I also became concerned that the SGB might reinforce the stereotype that all women working in prostitution are victims, and that all peacekeepers engaged in prostitution or sexual relationships are sexual predators who cannot treat local women with respect. In light of these concerns, I decided to undertake qualitative empirical research to determine whether it was justified in the context of PKOs for the UN's zero tolerance approach to sex between peacekeepers and local people to include sexual relationships and prostitution. To answer this core question, the book employs primarily qualitative research. The research involved interviewing three groups of participants: Bosnian women who had engaged in sexual relationships with peacekeepers during the UN's 1 Since the promulgation of the SGB, the term 'sexual exploitation and abuse' has become widely used in official UN documents, often as an acronym: SEA. 2 The UN, scholars and researchers interchangeably use terms such as: UN peacekeeping operations, peacekeeping missions, missions and operations. For clarity within this book, I will use the term 'peacekeeping operations' to refer to the broad range of UN peacekeeping operations from 1948 until the present. 3 For the purpose of this research, the term 'peacekeepers' will be used to refer to any uniformed service member serving as the UN military component, UN civilian police officers and military observers, UN volunteers, and individual contractors and consultants working on behalf of peace support operations.