On June 3, 2015, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement announcing his intention to appoint an External Independent Review to examine the UN’s handling of allegations of child sex abuse by international peacekeepers in the Central African Republic and ‘the broad range of systemic issues’ in the UN’s response to sexual exploitation and abuse. AIDS-Free World, in welcoming the decision, noted that the Review must truly be independent; that the highest levels of the UN must be examined; and, crucially, that the Review must indeed be a broad examination of the UN’s approach to sexual exploitation and abuse, in order to make its ‘Zero Tolerance’ policy a reality.

Highlights of the media coverage are included below. 

AFP
June 3, 2015
UN chief sets up review over child sex abuse scandal in C. Africa
http://news.yahoo.com/un-chief-sets-review-alleged-child-sex-abuse-162717371.html

Al Jazeera
By Lauren Carasik 
June 5, 2015
End sexual exploitation by UN peacekeepers
http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2015/6/end-sexual-exploitation-by-un-peacekeepers.html

Associated Press
By Cara Anna
June 3, 2015
UN chief orders external probe into handling of child sex abuse claims against French soldiers
http://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2015/06/03/un-chief-orders-external-probe-into-child-sex-abuse-claims

Associated Press
By Cara Anna
June 4, 2015
UN mission orders investigation into child sex abuse claim
http://www.salon.com/2015/06/04/un_mission_orders_investigation_into_child_sex_abuse_claim/

Guardian
June 3, 2015
UN chief orders review of handling of claims of child abuse by French soldiers
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/03/united-nations-child-abuse-french-soldiers

Le Figaro
By Alain Barluet
June 3, 2015
Viols présumés en Centrafrique : l'ONU va lancer une enquête (in French)
http://www.lefigaro.fr/international/2015/06/03/01003-20150603ARTFIG00381-viols-presumes-en-centrafrique-l-onu-va-lancer-une-enquete.php

Fox News
By George Russell
June 4, 2015
EXCLUSIVE: UN sex abuse scandal: Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announces new inquiry
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/06/04/exclusive-un-sex-abuse-scandal-secretary-general-ban-ki-moon-announces-new/

France 24
June 3, 2015
UN chief orders external probe into claims of Central Africa child sex abuse
http://www.france24.com/en/20150603-un-independent%20-investigation-child-sex-abuse-car-peacekeepers-france

Inter Press Service
By Thalif Deen
June 3, 2015
U.N. Sets Up Independent Panel to Probe Sexual Abuses in CAR
http://www.ipsnews.net/2015/06/u-n-sets-up-independent-panel-to-probe-sexual-abuses-in-car/

Le Monde
By Marie Bourreau and Cyril Bensimon
June 4, 2015
L’ONU ordonne une enquête externe sur les viols en RCA (in French)
http://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2015/06/04/l-onu-ordonne-une-enquete-externe-sur-les-viols-en-rca_4647171_3212.html#HZrCsprPbLjjFPfm.99

National Mirror
By Paul Arhewe, with Agency reports
June 4, 2015
Ki-moon to probe child sex scandal in CAR
http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/ki-moon-to-probe-child-sex-scandal-in-car/

Newsweek
By Lucy Westcott
June 5, 2015
U.N. Opens Investigation Into Peacekeeper Abuse in Central African Republic
http://www.newsweek.com/un-opens-investigation-peacekeeper-abuse-central-african-republic-339933

New York Times
By Rick Gladstone
June 3, 2015
U.N. Creating Panel to Review Handling of African Children Sex Abuse Inquiry
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/04/world/africa/un-france-peacekeepers-sexual-abuse-central-african-republic.html?_r=0

Reuters
June 3, 2015
External review to probe how U.N. handled abuse charges in Africa
http://af.reuters.com/article/chadNews/idAFL1N0YP1MI20150603

Sky News
June 4, 2015
UN chief sets up child sex abuse review
http://www.skynews.com.au/news/world/africa/2015/06/04/un-chief-sets-up-child-sex-abuse-review.html

Toronto Star
By Olivia Ward
June 3, 2015
UN orders probe of peacekeepers’ alleged sex abuse
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2015/06/03/un-orders-probe-of-peacekeepers-alleged-sex-abuse.html