U.N. Faces 100+ Sexual Misconduct Allegations in 2024: 82% Tied to Two African Missions

Allegations of sexual misconduct within U.N. peacekeeping and political missions have reached alarming levels in 2024, surpassing 100 cases for the third time in a decade, according to a new report released by the United Nations on Tuesday. 

The document reveals a staggering 65 cases where women who were reportedly raped by U.N. personnel gave birth and are now seeking child support, shedding light on the ongoing crisis of sexual abuse within U.N. missions.

The U.N. Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, in his report to the General Assembly, confirmed that 125 victims were identified in these incidents—98 adults and 27 children. Although this represents a decline from the 145 victims reported in 2023, the number remains shockingly high. 

Two specific peacekeeping missions—those in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (44 allegations) and the Central African Republic (40 allegations)—accounted for a staggering 82% of the total sexual misconduct cases.

Despite longstanding efforts to combat abuse, including a "zero-tolerance" policy championed by Guterres since his appointment as U.N. chief in 2017, the report continues to highlight distressing patterns of sexual exploitation and abuse across U.N. operations worldwide. Allegations have emerged not only from African peacekeeping missions but also from U.N. deployments in South Sudan, Lebanon, Haiti, Colombia, and Afghanistan.

Additionally, the report detailed 190 allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse involving U.N. staff, a decline from the previous year's 284 allegations. However, a more troubling figure emerged—382 allegations were linked to non-U.N. personnel working with organizations involved in U.N. programs.

While U.N. leadership has made strides in initiating reforms to combat misconduct, the survey conducted in 2024 among 64,585 U.N. staff members found deeply concerning results. More than 3% of respondents (2,360 staff members) stated that paying for sex was acceptable, while nearly 1% (555 individuals) believed that engaging in sexual activity with a child was acceptable. 

The survey also revealed a significant loss of trust in U.N. leadership, with 6% of staff expressing doubts about the organization’s ability to address sexual exploitation—double the previous year’s figure.

The report also highlighted the long-standing issue of paternity and child support claims against U.N. peacekeepers, noting that over 750 such claims have been filed since 2006, with more than 500 still pending. Most claims are referred to the peacekeeper’s home country for resolution, but many have been stalled or ignored, with little meaningful action taken.

In response to the findings, Secretary-General Guterres has called for immediate, decisive actions from member states to hold those responsible accountable and ensure that children born as a result of sexual misconduct are provided with their rights, including citizenship. He also expressed a commitment to increasing attention to the issue and ensuring that senior U.N. officials are held personally accountable.

“This report underscores the urgent need for stronger, more visible leadership within the U.N. system to regain the trust of staff and the communities we serve,” Guterres stated, acknowledging the critical steps that must be taken to address the deep-rooted problems within the organization.

(Source:Kurdistan24)