La Strada Documentation Center

Protecting whom? Approaches to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in UN Peacekeeping Operations

Document number
2304
Date
2009
Title
Protecting whom? Approaches to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in UN Peacekeeping Operations
Author/publisher
Fafo Research Foundation
Availability
View/save PDF version of this document
Document type(s)
Research/Study/Analysis,
Keywords
Violence, Human rights violation, Crime against humanity, War crime, Armed conflict, Post-conflict situation, Terrorism,
Summary
This policy report critically examines the preliminary impact and implications of the zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and abuse in the UN peacekeeping missions in Haiti and Liberia, using the organizing principle of protection. It argues that the missions have taken different approaches to implementing the zero-tolerance policy according to different primary referents of protection: in Haiti, the UN image was primary referent, resulting in a minimalist approach to implementing the policy; while in Liberia, the local population was the primary referent, resulting in a more maximalist approach. The report also examines some unintended consequences of the zero tolerance policy, and lays out findings of particular relevance for policymakers and practitioners.
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