UN High-Level Panel on Peace Operations: "Immunity must not mean impunity" for sexual exploitation and abuse
On June 16, 2015, the High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations delivered its final report to the UN Secretary-General. The panel was appointed in October 2014 to make a “comprehensive assessment of the state of UN peace operations today and the emerging needs of the future.” The New York Times declared that “the panel’s recommendations for curbing sexually abusive behavior were among the most eagerly anticipated components of its review.” The panel’s Chair, José Ramos-Horta, a Nobel Laureate and former President of Timor-Leste, delivered a strong statement via the media that all non-military personnel should recall the UN’s zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, and should know that “immunity never applies in those cases, not even for a moment.” AIDS-Free World’s statement on the Panel’s findings, and the Chair’s remarks, is here, and a summary of media coverage is below. (UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe)
AFP
By André Viollaz
June 16, 2015
UN report makes recommendations to stop sex abuse
http://news.yahoo.com/un-seeks-eliminate-peacekeeping-sex-scandals-212435527.html
Al Jazeera
By Tom Kutch
June 16, 2015
UN panel calls for major overhaul of peacekeeping operations
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/6/16/un-panel-recommends-major-changes-to-peacekeeping-operations.html
Al Jazeera
June 16, 2015
UN report recommends sweeping changes on peacekeepers
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/06/report-recommends-sweeping-peacekeepers-150616181257631.html
Associated Press
By Edith M. Lederer
June 16, 2015
Panel: Name Countries Whose Troops Commit Sexual Abuse
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/panel-name-countries-whose-troops-commit-sexual-abuse/2015/06/16/496ffbb8-1488-11e5-8457-4b431bf7ed4c_story.html
BBC Newshour
June 17, 2015
UN sexual abuse report (audio interview, including with Paula Donovan at 5:48)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02tc150
BBC
June 17, 2015
UN urges ban on peacekeeping for child sex-abuse
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-33166214
Cihan
By June 17, 2015
UN Peace Panel release report on sexual abuse allegations by peacekeepers (with video)
http://en.cihan.com.tr/en/video/UN-Peace-Panel-release-report-on-sexual-abuse-allegations-by-peacekeepers_3613-CHMTgwMzYxMy8wLzI=
Deutsche Welle
June 17, 2015
Prosecute sexual offenders, says UN panel
http://www.dw.de/prosecute-sexual-offenders-says-un-panel/a-18521740
First Post
June 17, 2015
UN panel on peacekeeping operations recommends stringent measures against sexual abuse
http://www.firstpost.com/world/un-panel-peacekeeping-operations-recommends-stringent-measures-sexual-abuse-2299284.html
Fox News
By George Russell
June 17, 2015
Sex and UN peacekeepers: Tens of thousands of Liberian women involved?
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/06/17/sex-and-un-peacekeepers-tens-thousands-liberian-women-involved/
Latin American Herald Tribune
June 17, 2015
U.N. Missions Need to be More Rapid, Political and Realistic, Say Experts
http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2390466&CategoryId=12395
New York Times
By Somini Sengupta and Rick Gladstone
June 16, 2015
Panel Urges Changes in Using U.N. Soldiers
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/17/world/panel-urges-changes-in-using-un-soldiers.html
PassBlue
By Barbara Crossette
June 16, 2015
UN Peacekeeping Needs Top-Down Restructuring, Expert Panel Says
http://passblue.com/2015/06/16/un-peacekeeping-needs-top-down-restructuring-expert-panel-says/
Voice of America
By Margaret Besheer
June 16, 2015
Panel Reviews UN Peacekeeping Operations
http://www.voanews.com/content/panel-review-un-peacekeeping-operations/2825583.html
Xinhua
June 17, 2015
Review of UN peacekeeping operations highlights political solutions
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/article_xinhua.aspx?id=287987