India has termed as "abhorrent and repugnant" the instances of sexual abuse and exploitation by UN peacekeepers and asked the international community to send a strong message that the malaise will be addressed collectively.
"We have contributed our troops because we see peacekeeping as a shining example of the international community's commitment to collective security. So, to us, it is very worrisome that the protectors are now being widely perceived as predators," India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin said.
He said India has a policy of zero tolerance on sexualexploitation and abuse cases and there is no hesitation or reluctance in its approach to deal with the problem.
"It would be immoral if there was so. There are aberrations that have taken place in United Nations peacekeeping, these are abhorrent and repugnant. This is particularly so, given the confidence that has been reposed in blue helmets and in this organisation," he said at a Security Council meeting here yesterday on 'UN Peacekeeping Operations: Sexual Exploitation and Abuse'.
Akbaruddin stressed that the international community needs to send a message that it is together in addressing the problem and the issue is not being tackled as a command issue.
"Regaining our collective reputation as exemplars of universal idealism is too important a matter to be confined to a few. It requires participation of all, not least, troop contributing countries," he said.
Sharing UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's "distress" over the issue, Akbaruddin said as a country which has provided peacekeepers to 48 of the 68 UN peacekeeping operations and has contributed the largest cumulative troops, India is "deeply disturbed by this rising phenomenon".
"The malaise that we are confronting is not one merely of enforcing compliance but of setting norms. What we are venturing into, is emphasising on values of universal application.
"The approach and cures that are being mentioned require a format that is more broad-based and more inclusive than merely being addressed as a matter of peace and security," he said.
"Yes that may be difficult and yes that may be frustrating and slow but if the medium is the message then the message we ought to convey can be only through a more inclusive format. Anything less will be, in our view, not conveying the same message," he said.
The Secretary-General's report on allegations of sexual abuse against UN personnel, made public last week, lists for the first time the names of the countries of alleged perpetrators, a measure meant to end impunity by increasing transparency.
The report shows an increase in the number of new allegations in 2015, with 69 of the total 99 allegations lodged against UN personnel serving in peace operations.
No Indian personnel has been involved in any wrongdoing.
Ban presented to the Security Council special measures aimed at ending impunity, helping and supporting victims, and strengthening accountability as part of a more effective collective response to sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations personnel. No Indian personnel has been involved in any wrongdoing. Ban presented to the Security Council special measures aimed at ending impunity, helping and supporting victims, and strengthening accountability as part of a more effective collective response to sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations personnel.
"I am determined that the United Nations must lead by example. Sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations personnel demands nothing less than decisive, bold action," the Secretary-General told the 15-member body.
He underlined that sexual exploitation "is a global issue" and "is not confined to any one region, mission or nation".
Troop- and police-contributing countries have also been urged to designate paternity focal points, who will follow up "vigorously" to ensure that children borne of these abuses received the necessary support, Ban said.
"Member States must also consider how they will respond to claims from victims who pursue legal action to seek redress," he noted.
The UN is finalising the establishment of a trust fund that will provide the victims, many of whom are children, with medical, psychosocial and legal services.
In his briefing to the Council, Ban encouraged Member States to make voluntary contributions to the fund.
States have also been asked to approve the transfer to the trust fund of payments that will be withheld in substantiated cases of sexual exploitation and abuse.
The UN is also calling for the development of "uniformly high standards of investigation" and the creation of immediate response teams to gather and preserve evidence.
"All investigations should be concluded within six months at most, with the most urgent cases concluded within three months," Ban said, urging Member States to adopt this standard and to cooperate with the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) in the conduct of investigations.
