Special Rapporteur says child rights-based approach and accountability key to combatting child sexual abuse during crisis

GENEVA  – Despite undeniable efforts on the part of the United Nations system to combat sexual exploitation and abuse, the offence of child sexual abuse persists in peacekeeping and humanitarian contexts, a UN Special Rapporteur said today.

“Sexual abuse of children perpetrated by UN staff and related personnel in crisis settings is a fundamental protection failure, a serious crime and a grievous violation of the human rights of one of the most vulnerable groups of people,” said Mama Fatima Singhateh, UN Special Rapporteur on the sale, sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children in her report to the Human Rights Council.

The report outlines many reforms that the United Nations has undertaken over the past decades to address the issue of sexual exploitation and abuse, from adopting a zero-tolerance policy to putting victims’ rights and dignity at the centre of all responses.

“Despite this significant progress, child sexual abuse cases continue to persist. My report identifies the gaps in the efforts of the UN and its partners in combating this problem and provides concrete recommendations to bridge the gaps by integrating a child rights-based approach and ensuring accountability of perpetrators,” Singhateh said.

“A child-rights based approach includes strengthening child safeguarding in peacekeeping and humanitarian contexts with due coordination and oversight, strengthening community-based preventive measures, putting in place child friendly reporting mechanisms, while putting the needs, the rights and the agency of children at the centre of all intervention,” the expert said.

The report also points out that one of the most important protective measures is holding perpetrators accountable for their crimes. To this end, the report recommends the establishment of an independent special court mechanism to investigate and prosecute child sexual abuse offences committed by United Nations civilian and affiliated personnel, and by military personnel where their countries are unable or unwilling to do so.

“This proposed solution would go a long way towards ensuring respect for human rights and due process and will allow victims and affected communities a greater ability to hold perpetrators accountable,” Singhateh highlighted.

“All stakeholders in peacekeeping and humanitarian contexts have an important responsibility to undertake renewed efforts to ensure proper mechanisms for preventing and responding to sexual abuse of children effectively and justly,” the Special Rapporteur said.