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2 UNMIL Soldiers Repatriated for Sexual Exploitation


The Inquirer (Monrovia)


NEWS
3 January 2008
Posted to the web 3 January 2008

By Melissa Chea-Annan


Two uniformed personnel of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) have
been repatriated to their various countries after they were guilty of being
involved in the act of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA).

The disclosure was made on Wednesday in Monrovia when the Mission released its
last report for the previous year, which covered the period from July to
December 2007.



The Chief of UNMIL Conduct and Unit, Roselyn Odera who addressed UNMIL's first
briefing in 2008 said appropriate disciplinary actions have been recommended
against the two uniformed accused to their various commanders, and their
leaders were also cooperative in their repatriation to their countries.

Although she did not give the full names of those involved and the countries
where they came from, but briefing the press on Wednesday in Monrovia Madam
Odera explained that the complaints of their acts have been reported to the UN
Headquarters in New York and according to the UN mandate, they will be
prevented from serving in future UN Peacekeeping Missions.

According to the UN SEA report, the involvement of UNMIL personnel in this
recent report has been reduced by 80% of the number of SEA cases reported as
compared to the 2006 report whereby nine incidents involving UNMIL personnel of
SEA were reported.

At the same time, the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) has
completed investigating five reports, including two, which were substantiated.

Speaking also at the briefing, UNMIL Officer-in Charge, Maj.-Gen. Muhammad
Tahir who welcomed the reduction of reported SEA pointed out that the
improvement in reported SEA allegations would not make them complacent, instead
they will continue to exert every effort with the government of Liberia, other
local and international partners to ensure that any sexual misconduct involving
UNMIL personnel is curtailed.

Maj.-Gen. Tahir stated further that they will continue to sensitize the local
population particularly women and children, to join them in the prevention of
SEA throughout the country, since they take serious consideration to their
moral obligation to care and protect the people of Liberia from any harm that
may result from their presence in the country.

In another development, the UN Mission through its Conduct and Discipline Unit
has been carrying out outreach programmes targeting local communities in
proximity to UN installations and border area through training and awareness
raised on SEA.

This action forms part of a comprehensive effort by UNMIL to address some of
the concerns raised by the Joint Save the Children-UK/UNMIL Assessment Report.

UNMIL and partners have been working through the Gender-based Violence
Taskforce and in the Country Network on the National SEA Awareness Campaign.


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