UN High Commissioner Al Hussein speaks out

Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein
High Commission for Human Rights

In a speech today in Geneva before the UN Human Rights Council, High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein gave a country-by-country report on current issues and had this to say about peacekeeper discipline:

In the course of my mission to the Central African Republic earlier this month, new allegations came to light regarding the sexual exploitation of a minor by a member of the Sangaris force. Although this was not a UN peacekeeping operation, I strongly believe that the time has come for Member States to take decisive action regarding investigation and courts-martial of peacekeepers involved in such abuses - in line with the recommendations that I made ten years ago, as adviser to the Secretary-General on this topic, and recommendations made by the High Level Panel on Peace Operations.