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| U.S. Senators Threaten U.N. Over Sex Abuse by Peacekeepers | U.S. Senators Threaten U.N. Over Sex Abuse by Peacekeepers |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| UNITED NATIONS — Lawmakers on Wednesday used a rare hearing in the United States Senate to excoriate the United Nations secretary general for what they called his failure to stanch sexual abuse by his agency’s peacekeepers and threatened to withhold crucial funding not only for the United Nations, but also bilateral aid for countries that fail to hold their soldiers accountable. | UNITED NATIONS — Lawmakers on Wednesday used a rare hearing in the United States Senate to excoriate the United Nations secretary general for what they called his failure to stanch sexual abuse by his agency’s peacekeepers and threatened to withhold crucial funding not only for the United Nations, but also bilateral aid for countries that fail to hold their soldiers accountable. |
| The United States is the largest single donor to peacekeeping operations, though not many of its soldiers and police serve under United Nations command. The congressional scrutiny came as the United Nations has been roiled by allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by its blue-helmeted troops, particularly in the Central African Republic. | The United States is the largest single donor to peacekeeping operations, though not many of its soldiers and police serve under United Nations command. The congressional scrutiny came as the United Nations has been roiled by allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by its blue-helmeted troops, particularly in the Central African Republic. |
| The allegations emerged a year ago against French soldiers sent to quell the violence in the fragile former French colony. They were accused of sexually abusing children in exchange for food. The allegations spread to soldiers from other countries, serving under the United Nations flag, and they prompted the secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, to start naming countries that fail to investigate and prosecute misconduct by their troops. | The allegations emerged a year ago against French soldiers sent to quell the violence in the fragile former French colony. They were accused of sexually abusing children in exchange for food. The allegations spread to soldiers from other countries, serving under the United Nations flag, and they prompted the secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, to start naming countries that fail to investigate and prosecute misconduct by their troops. |
| The scandal also prompted him, for the first time, to throw out of peacekeeping an entire battalion from the Democratic Republic of Congo. That nation’s army has had a long record of using rape as a weapon of war in its own internal conflicts, and several senior United Nations officials had warned against using its armed forces at all. | The scandal also prompted him, for the first time, to throw out of peacekeeping an entire battalion from the Democratic Republic of Congo. That nation’s army has had a long record of using rape as a weapon of war in its own internal conflicts, and several senior United Nations officials had warned against using its armed forces at all. |
| The Senate hearings displayed the challenge that the Obama administration faces — on one hand championing peacekeeping, and on the other needing to confront misconduct in the missions that American taxpayers help pay for. | The Senate hearings displayed the challenge that the Obama administration faces — on one hand championing peacekeeping, and on the other needing to confront misconduct in the missions that American taxpayers help pay for. |
| Senator Bob Corker, the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wasted no time in voicing his contempt for the United Nations. He said if United Nations peacekeepers were to be sent to his hometown, North Chattanooga, Tenn., he would rush home immediately to protect his wife. “I would drop what I was doing,” he said. “I would take the next flight home.” | Senator Bob Corker, the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wasted no time in voicing his contempt for the United Nations. He said if United Nations peacekeepers were to be sent to his hometown, North Chattanooga, Tenn., he would rush home immediately to protect his wife. “I would drop what I was doing,” he said. “I would take the next flight home.” |
| He went on to ask, rhetorically, whether civilians in the Central African Republic would not prefer to rout all the peacekeepers. He repeatedly wanted to know which countries had the worst offenders in their armies. He also called Mr. Ban “inept.” | He went on to ask, rhetorically, whether civilians in the Central African Republic would not prefer to rout all the peacekeepers. He repeatedly wanted to know which countries had the worst offenders in their armies. He also called Mr. Ban “inept.” |
| Isobel Coleman, an American envoy who serves as the American mission’s chief liaison to United Nations peacekeeping operations, said civilians in the Central African Republic had told her that they wanted justice, not a wholesale exit of the troops. Ms. Coleman also said it was difficult to pinpoint one or two offenders among troop-contributing countries. France, she pointed out, has a professional army, but faces some of the most serious allegations. | |
| Several senators, including Jeanne Shaheen, Democrat of New Hampshire, wanted to know if the United States had withheld funds from specific countries over sexual abuse allegations. State Department officials said they were unaware of any such wholesale withholding of aid. | Several senators, including Jeanne Shaheen, Democrat of New Hampshire, wanted to know if the United States had withheld funds from specific countries over sexual abuse allegations. State Department officials said they were unaware of any such wholesale withholding of aid. |
| Senator Benjamin L. Cardin, Democrat of Maryland, called for ways to guarantee better oversight over how countries ensure accountability. Or else, he said, Congress would come up with an oversight plan that the administration would probably not like. | Senator Benjamin L. Cardin, Democrat of Maryland, called for ways to guarantee better oversight over how countries ensure accountability. Or else, he said, Congress would come up with an oversight plan that the administration would probably not like. |
| Stéphane Dujarric, a United Nations spokesman, said Mr. Ban was “determined to continue to shine a spotlight on the scourge of sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers and hold those responsible accountable,” but that it was ultimately up to countries to try their own citizens. | Stéphane Dujarric, a United Nations spokesman, said Mr. Ban was “determined to continue to shine a spotlight on the scourge of sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers and hold those responsible accountable,” but that it was ultimately up to countries to try their own citizens. |
| He added: “Member states are the only ones who have the power to swiftly bring to justice those who have committed crimes and to impose the strongest possible disciplinary and criminal sanctions.” | He added: “Member states are the only ones who have the power to swiftly bring to justice those who have committed crimes and to impose the strongest possible disciplinary and criminal sanctions.” |
| The hearings came on the same day that an advocacy group, Code Blue, said that additional sexual abuse allegations had come to light in Central African Republic. Mr. Dujarric said United Nations investigators were looking into the latest allegations, but that he could not confirm the number of new cases. | The hearings came on the same day that an advocacy group, Code Blue, said that additional sexual abuse allegations had come to light in Central African Republic. Mr. Dujarric said United Nations investigators were looking into the latest allegations, but that he could not confirm the number of new cases. |