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 9 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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