View source for UN child sexual abuse scandal in Haiti

{{Short description|Crime involving UN peacekeepers}}
The [[United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti]] ("MINUSTAH") was tainted by multiple scandals involving U.N. personnel engaged in sexual exploitation or abuse of Haitians, including Haitian children.<ref name="votes_2017_04_13_ap">Sanon, Evens: [https://apnews.com/article/1e1c4cabea494f44bf747db766e27b1a "UN votes to end to Haiti peacekeeping mission in mid-October,"] April 13, 2017, [[Associated Press]], retrieved September 26, 2024</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2017-05-27 |title=UN Peacekeepers: How a Haiti child sex ring was whitewashed |url=https://apnews.com/article/a41a3d23872d4e1d976663e2338f8e4d |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Klarreich |first=Kathie |date=12 January 2015 |title=UN in Haiti: When Protectors Turn Predators |url=https://kogainon.com/100Reporters/HAITI/Text.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910123745/https://kogainon.com/100Reporters/HAITI/Text.html |archive-date=10 September 2015 |website=kogainon.com}}</ref> Most prominent of these was a '''child sexual abuse scandal''' involving the [[Sri Lanka Army#Peacekeeping|Sri Lankan UN peacekeepers]], which emerged in 2007 following an investigation by the UN's [[United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services|Office of Internal Oversight Services]] (OIOS). At least 134 Sri Lankan soldiers serving with the [[United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti|UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti]] were accused of [[child sexual abuse|sexually abusing]] nine Haitian children from 2004 to 2007.<ref name="UN"/><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-04-12 |title=AP Investigation: UN troops lured kids into Haiti sex ring |url=https://apnews.com/article/7ccc5fbc05124fa9b0f42ce2edb62d9d |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>
In 2016, the Sri Lankan government decided to make a one-time [[ex-gratia]] payment to a victim and child born as a result of sexual exploitation and abuse, which was praised by the UN.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.colombopage.com/archive_16A/May14_1463250531CH.php|title = Sri Lanka: UN official commends Sri Lanka\'s decision to pay victim sexually exploited by peacekeeper |website=Colombo Page |access-date = 2016-05-22|archive-date = 2019-11-04|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191104190807/http://www.colombopage.com/archive_16A/May14_1463250531CH.php}}</ref> However, none of the accused were convicted of crimes by the [[Government of Sri Lanka|Sri Lankan government]].<ref name=":0" />
==Background==
In November 2007, 114 members of the 950 member [[Sri Lankan Army]] peacekeeping mission in Haiti were accused of sexual misconduct and abuse.<ref name="UN">{{cite web |title=Haiti: Over 100 Sri Lankan blue helmets repatriated on disciplinary grounds – UN |date=2 November 2007 |url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2007/11/238162 |access-date=14 July 2013}}</ref> 108 members of the contingent, including 3 officers, were sent back after being implicated in alleged misconduct and sexual abuse.<ref name="hindu">{{cite news | url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/11/04/stories/2007110457201800.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071106051401/http://www.hindu.com/2007/11/04/stories/2007110457201800.htm | archive-date=6 November 2007 | title=Title unknown | access-date=14 July 2013 | location=Chennai, India | work=[[The Hindu]] | date=4 November 2007}}</ref> The culture of [[impunity]] for the [[Sexual violence against Tamils in Sri Lanka|sexual violence against Sri Lankan Tamils]] during [[Sri Lankan Civil War|Sri Lankan civil war]] contributed to the abuses.<ref name=":0" />
Officials in Haiti have said that UN peacekeeping soldiers from Sri Lanka who had been accused of [[sex crimes]] in 2007 had even raped [[children]] as young as 7 years old.<ref name="[[BBC NEWS]]">{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7076284.stm | title=Sri Lanka to probe UN sex claims | access-date=14 July 2013 | work=BBC News | date=3 November 2007}}</ref><ref name="Sunday Leader.lk">{{cite web | url=http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2011/09/11/haiti-says-lankan-troops-raped-even-minors/ | title=Haiti Says Lankan Troops Raped Even Minors | access-date=14 July 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915105156/http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2011/09/11/haiti-says-lankan-troops-raped-even-minors/ | archive-date=15 September 2012 }}</ref><ref name="opensalon(Haiti Lawyers Leadership Network)">{{cite web | url=http://open.salon.com/blog/ezili_danto/2009/11/09/letter_to_the_un_asking_for_investigative_reports_on_un_rape | title=Letter to the UN asking for investigative reports on UN rape | access-date=14 July 2013 | archive-date=1 June 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130601103126/http://open.salon.com/blog/ezili_danto/2009/11/09/letter_to_the_un_asking_for_investigative_reports_on_un_rape | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Open salon">{{cite web | url=http://open.salon.com/blog/ezili_danto/2009/12/30/obamas_empty_promises_change_did_not_come | title=Obama's empty promises | access-date=14 July 2013 | archive-date=15 May 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515083657/http://open.salon.com/blog/ezili_danto/2009/12/30/obamas_empty_promises_change_did_not_come | url-status=dead }}</ref> The UN released a report slapping the Sri Lankan contingent with accusations of building a brothel in [[Martissant]], [[Port-au-Prince]] charging them with systematic [[sexual exploitation]] and [[sexual abuse]] of minors, [[prostitution]] and [[rape]].<ref name="Open salon"/> "In exchange for sex, the children received small amounts of money, food, and sometimes mobile phones," reported the OIOS, the UN's investigative arm.<ref name='UN3'/>
One girl was only 12 years old when she was first raped by Sri Lankan soldiers. One boy was raped by more than 20 soldiers in UN military trucks where he was sodomised or made to perform oral sex. Another boy was raped by over 100 soldiers, 4 per day, starting at the age of 15. Due to the prolonged contact with the Sri Lankan soldiers, the Haitian children had knowledge of various sexual expressions in [[Sinhala language]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-04-15 |title=UN peacekeepers forced children into sex ring in Haiti |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/un-haiti-peacekeepers-child-sex-ring-sri-lankan-underage-girls-boys-teenage-a7681966.html |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref>
==Investigations and reactions==
After inquiry into the case the [[United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services|UN Office of Internal Oversight Services]] (OIOS) has concluded, "acts of sexual exploitation and abuse (against children) were frequent and occurred usually at night, and at virtually every location where the contingent personnel were deployed." The OIOS said charges should include [[statutory rape]] "because it involves children under 18 years of age".<ref name='UN3'>{{cite web|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/080330/News/news0015.html |title=UN confirms sex charges |access-date=2008-03-30 |date=2008-03-30 |work=Sundaytimes }}</ref>
UN spokeswoman [[Michele Montas]] said: "The United Nations and the Sri Lankan government deeply regret any sexual exploitation and abuse that has occurred."<ref name="[[BBC NEWS]]" /> The Sri Lankan Officials claim that there is little tangible evidence on this case.<ref name="UN"/>
Noted Haitian female activist [[Ezhili Danto]] alleges:
{{quote|If only a dozen UN peacekeepers were punished for sexual abuse and rape, then that means, for instance, most of the 114 Sri Lankan soldiers deported back to Sri Lanka from Haiti in 2007 for sexual abuse and rape in Haiti did not get punished.}}
In March 2013, a fresh batch of 400 soldiers from the Sri Lankan Army's [[Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment|Sinha Regiment]] left for Haiti as part of the UN Peacekeeping mission.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tamilguardian.com/article.asp?articleid=7458|title = 400 'Sinha regiment' Sri Lanka soldiers leave for Haiti &#124; Tamil Guardian}}</ref>
According to Sri Lanka's Permanent Ambassador to Haiti, several Sri Lankan military officers were "disciplined" for violations of military rules and some officers were "asked" to resign. Since Sri Lankan authorities judged the sexual activity in the cases to have been "consensual" and thus not criminal under Sri Lankan law, none of the accused were imprisoned.<ref name=":1" />
==See also==
{{Portal|Haiti}}
* [[United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti#Sexual abuse and exploitation of Haitians]]
* [[Sexual abuse by UN peacekeepers]]
* [[Sexual violence against Tamils in Sri Lanka]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:2007 in Haiti]]
[[Category:History of the Sri Lanka Army]]
[[Category:Child sexual abuse cover-ups]]
[[Category:Wartime sexual violence in North America]]
[[Category:Sex crimes in North America]]
[[Category:Violence against women in Haiti]]
[[Category:Forced prostitution]]
[[Category:Child sex rings]]
[[Category:Child sexual abuse in Haiti]]
[[Category:Sri Lanka and the United Nations]]
[[Category:Haiti and the United Nations]]