Girls as Young as Nine Raped by UN Peacekeepers in Liberia - allegations

[oberliner]

Liberia: UN Investigates Sexual Exploitations In Liberia

The Head of the United Nations Mission in Liberia, Ambassador Alan Doss, has disclosed that the UN Headquarters New York has begun investigating 24 cases of alleged sexual abuses and exploitations of Liberian girls by some UNMIL Peacekeepers.

Amb. Doss told journalists at UNMIL regular press briefing on Wednesday that claims of sexual abuses and exploitations by some UN troops in Liberia have claimed the attention of the UN Headquarters in New York and now an investigation has been launched to bring the alleged perpetrators to justice.

Several UNMIL soldiers have been accused raping young Liberian girls sometimes as young as nine years prompting outcry from family members of victims and human rights institutions who continue to demand justice.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200608250770.html

[struggle4progress]

1. UN mission in Liberia records 24 cases of sexual exploitation

... UN special envoy Alan Doss said there were four reports of rape, 16 reports of sexual exploitation and four reports involving sexual abuse of minors.

"All cases are under investigation and we encourage the public to report such cases to us," Doss said. But he advised against general allegations and called for specifics and facts.

Withholding the names of the accused, Doss assured that findings from the investigation would be sent to UN headquarters in New York.

The UN has a deployment of up to 15,000 multinational peacekeeping troops in the West African state since October 2003. The troops were sent to assist the government reestablish civil authority throughout the country following a peace deal which brought to end 14 years of civil war there ...

http://english.people.com.cn/200608/24/eng20060824_296368.html