Misconduct by UN peacekeepers, 2012 data

An earlier post addressed aspects of the work of the UN's Conduct and Discipline Unit. Here is what the Secretary General reported last year with respect to incidents of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse by troop contingent personnel in 2012:

13. As at 31 December 2012, investigations had been completed in connection with 11 allegations received in 2012. They include those conducted by troop contributing countries into five allegations (two substantiated and three unsubstantiated) and by the United Nations into six allegations (one substantiated and five unsubstantiated). Investigations into 35 allegations remain pending. For allegations reported in 2011, investigations have been completed in 56 per cent of instances; for allegations reported in 2010, investigations have been completed in 75 per cent of instances. Of all allegations for which investigations were completed between 2008 and 2012, 51 per cent were substantiated. In that regard, it remains important to note that allegations found to be unsubstantiated through investigations were not necessarily false or made in bad faith. For example, allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse, owing to their nature and circumstances, often remain unsubstantiated because of factors such as a lack of forensic evidence, a lack of corroborating witnesses or the impossibility of positively identifying alleged perpetrators.

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15. Regarding actions in instances involving military and police personnel in 2012, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Department of Field Support referred 24 allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse received in 2012 or earlier to 16 troop- and police-contributing countries. It was also determined that nine police and eight military personnel would be repatriated on disciplinary grounds and barred from participating in future field missions in connection with 13 substantiated allegations received in 2012 or earlier. Again in 2012, the Department of Field Support received 11 responses from 10 States of nationality concerning actions that they had taken regarding allegations from 2012 or earlier. Of  those, the responses indicated the nature of the actions taken concerning nine allegations, with measures including jail terms ranging from six months to a year, accompanied by dismissal, for three personnel; jail terms of 30 or 60 days for four personnel; dismissal for three personnel; and other disciplinary measures for an additional two personnel. Responses in connection with two further allegations indicated that personnel had been convicted, but that information on sentences or disciplinary measures would be communicated later.

A/67/766 at 5-6 (footnote omitted). Many thanks to Bruce C. Rashkow, Lecturer in Law at Columbia Law School, for the reference.