Peacekeeper Sex Abuse in Central African Republic
On April 29th, The Guardian broke news of reported child sex abuse by soldiers, mainly from France, and also from Chad and Equatorial Guinea who were sent as peacekeepers to war-ravaged Central African Republic. Media from around the world are covering the unfolding saga of sexual violence by soldiers, months of inaction by the UN, nearly a year of inexplicable silence, and the UN’s suspension of the senior staff member who personally alerted French authorities to the crimes, and is now accused of breaching UN protocol by bypassing the UN’s normal diplomatic channels. The internal UN document, which contains detailed firsthand and witnessed sexual abuse reported by young boys to UN staff, was given to the Guardian by AIDS-Free World co-Director Paula Donovan. The document summarizes interviews with six children who had taken temporary refuge near M’Poko airport in the country’s capital, Bangui, and who reported the crimes to staff of the Office of the High Commission for Human Rights and UNICEF during May and June 2014. Selected highlights of print, audio and video coverage are listed below. Please note that the accounts contain disturbing content.
Note: Dates listed refer to the “last updated” date
The Guardian
Sandra Laville
May 8, 2015
UN human rights chief admits delay to inquiry into peacekeeper abuse claims (Print)
The Washington Post (Associated Press)
May 7, 2015
Paris prosecutor: UN slowed probe of troops sex-abuse claims (Print)
CNN
Lauren Smith-Spark
May 7, 2015
Judges to eye allegations of child sex abuse by French soldiers in Africa (Video, with print)
Al Jazeera
May 7, 2015
CAR to sue French soldiers over alleged sex-for-food child sex abuse (Print)
International Business Times
Maria Khan
May 6, 2015
Central African Republic: Legal action against French soldiers accused of child sexual abuse (Print)
The Guardian
Sandra Laville
May 6, 2015
UN suspension of sexual abuse report whistleblower is unlawful, tribunal rules (Print)
Al Jazeera
May 5, 2015
UN says CAR armed groups agree to free child soldiers
Daily Maverick
Simon Allison
May 4, 2015
When peacekeepers become perpetrators: France and the UN’s child sex shame in the CAR
France 24 (English)
May 3, 2015
Exclusive: The aid worker who revealed the French army’s ‘sex abuse’ in Central Africa (Print - Includes video by Anthony Fouchard)
Newswire
May 2, 2015
Boris Djuric
UN Investigates Possible Cover-Up in 'Children Raped by Peacekeepers' Scandal
CNN
Laura Smith-Spark & Sandrine Amiel; Video with by Fred Pleitgen
May 1, 2015
French soldier-child sex abuse claims in Central African Republic investigated (Video)
International Business Times
Elsa Buchanan
May 1, 2015
CAR: UN 'covered up' rape of African boys by French peacekeepers, alleges aid worker
BBC
May 1, 2015
Central African Republic child abuse: UN denies 'cover up'
Fox News
George Russell
May 1, 2015
African troops involved with French in UN rape report scandal
Die Welt
Martina Meister
May 1, 2015
Wenn Soldaten vergewaltigen, statt zu beschützen (German)
Le Monde
Soren Seelow & Cyril Bensimon
May 1, 2015
Accusations de viols en Centrafrique : retour sur neuf mois d'enquête (French)
The Local (SE)
April 30, 2015
Swedish UN worker in French troop abuse row
The Guardian
Sandra Laville
April 30, 2015
UN accused of 'reckless disregard' for allegations of peacekeeper child abuse
CCTV America
Clementine Logan
April 30, 2015
French peacekeeping troops accused of sexual abuse in CAR (Video)
RFI (English)
April 30, 2015
French military investigating Central Africa child sex abuse allegations (Print; includes audio interview with Paula Donovan, by Marcel Arseneault)
Al Jazeera
April 30, 2015
French soldiers accused of raping CAR children (Video)
Toronto Star (Associated Press)
Hippolyte Marboua & Angela Charlton
April 30, 2015
French troops used water, food to procure sex with children, refugees allege (Print, with Reuters video: France investigates allegation of child abuse by its troops in CAR)
Voice of America
April 30, 2015
France Probes Reports of Child Sex Abuse By Its Soldiers in CAR
Deutsche Welle
Isaac Mugabi
April 30, 2015
'Investigate UN peacekeepers for sexual crimes' (Interview with Paula Donovan)
Le Point
Olivier Pérou
April 30, 2015
Viols présumés en Centrafrique: "Tu auras à manger contre du sexe" (Print: interview with Paula Donovan - in French)
France 24 (English)
April 30, 2015
Video: Aid worker describes ‘tremendous’ amount of sexual abuse in CAR refugee camps (Video)
CBC: As It Happens
April 29, 2015
UN Child Abuse (Audio: Interview begins at 8:49)
Salon (Associated Press)
Angela Charlton
April 29, 2015
France investigates accusations that soldiers raped children
Yahoo! News (AFP)
Thomas Urbain
April 29, 2015
France investigating alleged child sex abuse by its troops in C.Africa
BBC
April 29, 2015
Newshour (Audio: segment begins at 01:34)
New York Times
Somini Sengupta
April 29, 2015
French Army Investigates an Allegation of Sex Abuse in Central African Republic
The Conversation
Rosa Freedman
April 29, 2015
French peacekeeper abuse scandal fits an old pattern of impunity
Vice News
Etienne Rouillon
April 29, 2015
Leaked Report Alleges French Troops Raped Starving Children in the Central African Republic as They Sought Food
El Pais
Óscar Gutiérrez
April 29, 2015
Francia investiga a sus soldados en Bangui por abusos sexuales a menores (Spanish)
The Guardian
Sandra Laville
April 29, 2015
UN aid worker suspended for leaking report on child abuse by French troops