Sudanese watchdog expresses concern over sexual abuse

Independent legal body to prosecute allegations of sexual assaults on children in South Sudan

January 4, 2007 — SHRO-Cairo is gravely concerned for the sexual assaults on children as young as 12 by United Nations peacekeepers in the South.

The organization is concerned that the UN had been aware of the raping and abusing of the victim girls soon after arrival of the UN peace keeping force in the South. The UN, however, has not announced to the Sudanese people or the International Community prompt investigation of the cases in question, or held the perpetrators accountable for them, despite the fact that UNICEF issued an internal report with details on the assaults.

According to UN statement (January 4, 2006), four members of the peacekeepers involved in the violations were deported to their countries. Still, investigations continue with 13 members also linked to the allegations.

Similar accusations have been made vis-à-vis other members of the UN force in other regions of the country during the last two years, including Investigations conducted for 319 civilians or military personnel of whom 179 were put through disciplinary sanctions, according to the UN.

The Sudan Human Rights Organization calls on the United Nations to apply stronger procedures on the peacekeepers who involve themselves in such crimes. The Organization recommends that an independent legal body be considered to deal with the involved parties, instead of asking the national authorities to prosecute the accused persons.

The slow reactions of national authorities to apply firm decisions on similar violations, however, may lead to a loss of confidence in the UN. SHRO-Cairo is concerned that the authorities might then take advantage of the situation to abandon international duties by further censor on the movements of the international personnel or rejection of their new arrivals in Darfur.