New York: Moving aggressively to discipline its peacekeepers, the United Nations has investigated allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse against 313 members of its missions since 2004, resulting in dismissal of 17 staff and forced repatriation of 161 others.
As many 206 military personnel were investigated of whom 144, including seven commanders, were repatriated or rotated on disciplinary grounds, the world body Said.
Under the agreements with troop contributors, the UN does not prosecute military personnel but repatriates them to their respective countries with the request to the governments to prosecute the offenders.
As many as 84 civilians were also investigated, which lead to the dismissal of 10 staff members and seven UN Volunteers.
Another seven volunteers were severely reprimanded and the work period of one contractor was not extended.
Some 17 police officers were repatriated after the completion of inquiries against 23 people.
In total, 109 peacekeeping personnel were either cleared of all charges or the allegations against them could not be substantiated.
By far the worst affected operation was the UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, known by its French acronym MONUC, where investigations were carried out against 202 staff members - mostly military
personnel, but also civilians and police officers.
The United Nations announced ‘zero tolerance’ policy in cases of sexual misconduct after some peacekeeping personnel were found seeking sexual favours from girls as young as 13 years old in return for small amounts of food in the Congo where the world body has the biggest missions.
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