The grotesque revelation about UN peacekeepers raping young children who they are suppose to protect really makes a person lose all hope in humanity.
As the cruelties happening around the world (most recently witness in relation to the Burmese regime’s reaction to Cyclone Nargis) are a reality of human behaviour, we would not expect that same behaviour from peacekeepers who dedicate their life to work against such cruelties.
How any human being can exploit and abuse a young, defenceless child is so grotesque I can barely stand thing about it.
Nick Birnback, a UN spokesman said in relation to the revelation, that it was impossible to ensure zero incidents within an organisation that has up to 200,000 personal serving around the world. But to me, that is a cowardly approach and unless zero incidents can be assured, the UN should not be allowed to portray themselves as peacekeepers, as peacekeeping is about protecting vulnerable people from injustice, not inflict it!
The cruel incidents came to light through a report issued by ‘Save the Children’ which has proposed an international watchdog to be set up. The report also found out that also aid workers have been sexually abusing young girls and boys.
Jasmine Whitbread, executive Save the Children UK, said: “In recent years, some important commitments have been made by the UN, the wider international community and by humanitarian and aid agencies to act on this problem. However, all humanitarian and peacekeeping agencies working in emergency situations, including Save the Children UK must own up to the fact they are vulnerable to this problem and tackle it head on.”
