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| French Soldier Accused of Sexual Abuse in Central African Republic | French Soldier Accused of Sexual Abuse in Central African Republic |
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| GENEVA — Another allegation of sexual abuse has been filed in the Central African Republic against a member of the French military force, the United Nations human rights chief, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, said on Thursday, bringing new attention to a year-old scandal over abuse of children by peacekeepers. | GENEVA — Another allegation of sexual abuse has been filed in the Central African Republic against a member of the French military force, the United Nations human rights chief, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, said on Thursday, bringing new attention to a year-old scandal over abuse of children by peacekeepers. |
| United Nations staff members learned at the end of August that a French soldier had been accused of abusing a girl who was believed to be in her mid- to late teens, and that in April she had given birth to a child in April, Mr. al-Hussein said. | |
| “This is the latest in a series of appalling allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by foreign troops in C.A.R.,” Mr. al-Hussein said in a statement released in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, where he is on a four-day visit. | “This is the latest in a series of appalling allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by foreign troops in C.A.R.,” Mr. al-Hussein said in a statement released in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, where he is on a four-day visit. |
| “We simply have to find ways to prevent such odious acts being committed by any soldiers anywhere who are supposed to be protecting vulnerable populations,” he said. | “We simply have to find ways to prevent such odious acts being committed by any soldiers anywhere who are supposed to be protecting vulnerable populations,” he said. |
| The alacrity with which Mr. al-Hussein has publicized the case highlights the sensitivity over allegations of abuse by peacekeepers, which has reverberated through the highest levels of the United Nations. Mr. al-Hussein noted that the latest case had not involved United Nations peacekeepers, but he pointedly observed that “there have been a number of other cases in C.A.R. — and elsewhere — which have.” | |
| The United Nations mission in the Central African Republic has received 13 allegations of sexual abuse by troops and police officers from Burundi, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Morocco. The United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, stepped in last month and fired the head of the mission, Babacar Gaye. | The United Nations mission in the Central African Republic has received 13 allegations of sexual abuse by troops and police officers from Burundi, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Morocco. The United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, stepped in last month and fired the head of the mission, Babacar Gaye. |
| The latest case comes a year after United Nations staff members in Bangui compiled a report detailing accusations of the sexual abuse of boys by French peacekeepers over a period of about six months, starting in late 2013. | |
| Mr. al-Hussein suspended a senior member of his staff who leaked the report to the French authorities. The move drew criticism, with the United Nations accused of dragging its feet on tackling abuse and punishing the whistle-blower. | Mr. al-Hussein suspended a senior member of his staff who leaked the report to the French authorities. The move drew criticism, with the United Nations accused of dragging its feet on tackling abuse and punishing the whistle-blower. |
| The official, Anders Kompass, was reinstated, but the United Nations’ handling of the issue is the subject of two investigations by an internal oversight office and an independent panel appointed by Mr. Ban. | The official, Anders Kompass, was reinstated, but the United Nations’ handling of the issue is the subject of two investigations by an internal oversight office and an independent panel appointed by Mr. Ban. |
| Mr. al-Hussein questioned why the French authorities had not acted faster to investigate. The French government said an investigation is underway but has not announced any charges. | Mr. al-Hussein questioned why the French authorities had not acted faster to investigate. The French government said an investigation is underway but has not announced any charges. |
| The French authorities had been informed of the latest case, Mr. al-Hussein said, adding that governments of nations that contribute troops had an obligation to investigate without delay. | The French authorities had been informed of the latest case, Mr. al-Hussein said, adding that governments of nations that contribute troops had an obligation to investigate without delay. |
| “No one is above the law,” Mr. al-Hussein said at a seminar on accountability in Bangui on Wednesday. “I want to emphasize that the U.N. insists that international or U.N. troops who have allegedly committed abuses while carrying out their duties be promptly investigated and held to account.” | “No one is above the law,” Mr. al-Hussein said at a seminar on accountability in Bangui on Wednesday. “I want to emphasize that the U.N. insists that international or U.N. troops who have allegedly committed abuses while carrying out their duties be promptly investigated and held to account.” |