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UN reveals new sexual abuse allegation against peacekeeper in CAR UN reveals new sexual abuse allegation against peacekeeper in CAR
(35 minutes later)
A French soldier deployed to the Central African Republic (CAR) has been accused of sexually abusing a teenage girl, the latest in a series of allegations against peacekeeping troops in the country. A French soldier deployed to the Central African Republic has been accused of sexually abusing a teenage girl, the latest in a series of allegations against peacekeeping troops in the country.
The UN high commissioner for human rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, revealed the fresh claims against peacekeepers during a visit to CAR on Thursday. The UN high commissioner for human rights, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, revealed the fresh claims against peacekeepers during a visit to CAR on Thursday.
Related: UN peacekeepers accused of sexually abusing street children in Central African RepublicRelated: UN peacekeepers accused of sexually abusing street children in Central African Republic
Zeid said the girl was in her mid to late teens, and had fallen pregnant as a result of the sexual abuse. She gave birth in April and has filed a paternity claim with local authorities, he said. Hussein said the girl was in her mid to late teens, and had fallen pregnant as a result of the sexual abuse. She gave birth in April and has filed a paternity claim with local authorities, he said.
“This is the latest in a series of appalling allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by foreign troops in CAR,” Zeid 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.” “This is the latest in a series of appalling allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by foreign troops in CAR,” 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.”
France’s military is already at the centre of an investigation into the abuse of children as young as nine, which was first revealed by the Guardian in April. France’s military is already at the centre of an investigation into the abuse of children as young as nine, which was first revealed by the Guardian in April. No arrests have been made. UN peacekeepers operating in CAR are also accused of sexually abusing street children in the capital, Bangui.
No arrests have been made. UN peacekeepers operating in CAR are also accused of sexually abusing street children in the capital, Bangui.
The UN said last month it had received 61 allegations of misconduct, including 13 cases of possible sexual exploitation and abuse relating to peacekeepers involved in its CAR mission, known as Minusca.The UN said last month it had received 61 allegations of misconduct, including 13 cases of possible sexual exploitation and abuse relating to peacekeepers involved in its CAR mission, known as Minusca.
The head of the mission, Babacar Gaye, was forced to resign after Amnesty International accused Minusca peacekeepers of abuses, including the rape of a 12-year-old girl during an operation in Bangui.The head of the mission, Babacar Gaye, was forced to resign after Amnesty International accused Minusca peacekeepers of abuses, including the rape of a 12-year-old girl during an operation in Bangui.
The visit by Zeid is the first to CAR since allegations of child sexual abuse by peacekeepers were revealed earlier this year. There are 10,000 UN peacekeepers in the country, where violence erupted in 2013 after mostly Muslim Séléka rebels seized power, sparking reprisal attacks from Christian militia. The visit by Hussein is the first to CAR since allegations of child sexual abuse by peacekeepers were revealed earlier this year. There are 10,000 UN peacekeepers in the country, where violence erupted in 2013 after mostly Muslim Séléka rebels seized power, sparking reprisal attacks from Christian militias.
Zeid revealed that UN staff were informed on 30 August of the allegations that a French soldier had sexually abused a girl in her mid to late teens last year. He said the French authorities had been told of the latest allegation and the UN mission had offered to help investigate. Hussein revealed that UN staff were informed on 30 August of the allegations that a French soldier had sexually abused a girl in her mid to late teens last year. He said the French authorities had been told of the latest allegation and the UN mission had offered to help investigate.
A French military spokesman said an internal investigation had been opened into the allegations.A French military spokesman said an internal investigation had been opened into the allegations.
Related: UN aid worker suspended for leaking report on child abuse by French troopsRelated: UN aid worker suspended for leaking report on child abuse by French troops
At least 13 French soldiers, two soldiers from Equatorial Guinea and three Chadian troops were implicated in alleged child sexual abuse between December 2013 and June 2014, according to a UN report leaked to the Guardian in April.At least 13 French soldiers, two soldiers from Equatorial Guinea and three Chadian troops were implicated in alleged child sexual abuse between December 2013 and June 2014, according to a UN report leaked to the Guardian in April.
The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, has appointed former Canadian supreme court justice Marie Deschamps to head an external independent review into how his organisation handled the allegations amid accusations that they failed to respond quickly to the claims.The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, has appointed former Canadian supreme court justice Marie Deschamps to head an external independent review into how his organisation handled the allegations amid accusations that they failed to respond quickly to the claims.
Since the allegations reached the UN a year ago, the only person punished has been the UN staff member, Anders Kompass, who passed the internal report detailing the allegations on to the French authorities.Since the allegations reached the UN a year ago, the only person punished has been the UN staff member, Anders Kompass, who passed the internal report detailing the allegations on to the French authorities.