Posted on May 18, 2015
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From "The Globe and Mail"
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/editorials/SOMNIA/article24462138/
The UN must stop shielding predators in its peacekeeping ranks
In Canada, United Nations peacekeepers are seen as heroic figures and a legacy of a former prime minister, Lester B. Pearson. But in some countries to which the blue-helmeted international force are sent to protect civilians, the peacekeepers aren’t seen as heroes but as predators.
There is a serious crisis of sexual abuse and exploitation by peacekeeping forces and other UN staff working in trouble spots. The UN admits to 79 victims last year. Critics say there are many more, and that the blanket immunity from prosecution granted to UN personnel serving on peacekeeping missions should be partly lifted. We agree.
Roméo Dallaire, the retired Canadian general and former senator, said last week that he has been seeing reports of sexual abuse by UN peacekeepers since 2001. He called it a “festering situation” that the UN, through its inaction, has allowed to get worse.
He’s right. Last month, a whistleblower leaked an internal report about horrible sexual abuse by French soldiers in the Central African Republic. It detailed how soldiers were trading food for sexual favours with starving, homeless boys as young as nine. Some of the boys were sodomized. The UN suspended the employee who leaked the report, and then prevented French investigators from interviewing a UN staffer who took statements from the abused children. The UN cited immunity in denying the investigators access to its staff, according to the French investigators.
NOTE - It only takes one rotten apply to start ruining the barrel so please consider your answer carefully as the next article might be talking about someone you know.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/editorials/SOMNIA/article24462138/
The UN must stop shielding predators in its peacekeeping ranks
In Canada, United Nations peacekeepers are seen as heroic figures and a legacy of a former prime minister, Lester B. Pearson. But in some countries to which the blue-helmeted international force are sent to protect civilians, the peacekeepers aren’t seen as heroes but as predators.
There is a serious crisis of sexual abuse and exploitation by peacekeeping forces and other UN staff working in trouble spots. The UN admits to 79 victims last year. Critics say there are many more, and that the blanket immunity from prosecution granted to UN personnel serving on peacekeeping missions should be partly lifted. We agree.
Roméo Dallaire, the retired Canadian general and former senator, said last week that he has been seeing reports of sexual abuse by UN peacekeepers since 2001. He called it a “festering situation” that the UN, through its inaction, has allowed to get worse.
He’s right. Last month, a whistleblower leaked an internal report about horrible sexual abuse by French soldiers in the Central African Republic. It detailed how soldiers were trading food for sexual favours with starving, homeless boys as young as nine. Some of the boys were sodomized. The UN suspended the employee who leaked the report, and then prevented French investigators from interviewing a UN staffer who took statements from the abused children. The UN cited immunity in denying the investigators access to its staff, according to the French investigators.
NOTE - It only takes one rotten apply to start ruining the barrel so please consider your answer carefully as the next article might be talking about someone you know.
Posted in these groups: 
War Crimes
War Crimes
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
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Abiding by the Geneva Accords is what separates us from them. It needs to be kept that way. (on paper and in the public eye of course)
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SPC Christopher Cramer
soldiers should not be immune from military justice in a conflict zone. the only thing I can think to say is this. yes we follow the Geneva accords to the best we can but how are we supposed to follow said accords when the enemy we face in this age don't follow the accords? how are we supposed to either capture or kill an hvt without killing or wounding a ton of civilians who the terrorists always seem to have around them?
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This all depends really on the specific circumstances. If a Soldier willingly commits a war crime then yes they should be tried for their crimes. In other instances I would say generally no. Again it would really depend on the facts of the specific case. In the article they are talking about French peacekeepers on a UN mission. If the facts show that a crime was in fact committed then those Soldiers should be held accountable.
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Yes Unless, They break the rules of engagement, the law of land warfare, or commit crimes against civilian population unless the Civilian(s) are committing crimes themselves. And only prosecuted by the Soldiers own nation not the host nation.
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Immune to local prosecution? Absolutely. I'd hate to think what would happen if we were subject to Iraqi or Afghani courts, which are corrupt and politically motivated way too often. We're present in those countries because they suck and their governments can't be trusted to handle things appropriately.
HOWEVER, we should never hear about a situation that was investigated and swept under the rug. Soldiers should be expected to adhere to American and local laws and this sort of stuff should be dealt with harshly.
I would even be okay with turning said soldier over to local law enforcement once we've convicted them under our own standards, IF the crime committed warrants it and the punishment would be appropriate under our own laws.
HOWEVER, we should never hear about a situation that was investigated and swept under the rug. Soldiers should be expected to adhere to American and local laws and this sort of stuff should be dealt with harshly.
I would even be okay with turning said soldier over to local law enforcement once we've convicted them under our own standards, IF the crime committed warrants it and the punishment would be appropriate under our own laws.
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COL Ted Mc
SGT Jeremiah B. - Sergeant; I think that your idea of making "the troops" (which would include all contractors and assorted civilians) liable under the local laws BUT requiring that the trials be held using the standards which the Founding Fathers fought for is EXCELLENT.
Doing that would show the locals that their laws are respected (even if we have the same opinion of their judicial/legal system as they do).
In fact, I'd be tempted to see if it could be pushed one stage further and have any SOFA agreement include a clause that ANYONE accused of a crime could opt for a trial under the legal system of the occupying/assisting forces. (They WOULD NOT qualify for an acquittal simply because the action which they are accused of committing would not be criminal under some other set of laws and the punishment range would still be that allowed to a local court.)
Bizarre as it may sound, something like that could very well provide more incentive for modernization and fairness in the local judicial/legal system than any amount of aid - simply because the locals would start demanding it (once it became available) and the local government would have to either provide it or face the strong prospect of being kicked off the gravy train.
Doing that would show the locals that their laws are respected (even if we have the same opinion of their judicial/legal system as they do).
In fact, I'd be tempted to see if it could be pushed one stage further and have any SOFA agreement include a clause that ANYONE accused of a crime could opt for a trial under the legal system of the occupying/assisting forces. (They WOULD NOT qualify for an acquittal simply because the action which they are accused of committing would not be criminal under some other set of laws and the punishment range would still be that allowed to a local court.)
Bizarre as it may sound, something like that could very well provide more incentive for modernization and fairness in the local judicial/legal system than any amount of aid - simply because the locals would start demanding it (once it became available) and the local government would have to either provide it or face the strong prospect of being kicked off the gravy train.
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