Sexually abused by aid workers: Part II

For decades, United Nations peacekeepers accused of sexual exploitation and abuse have operated under an umbrella of impunity. That is, until today. Christian Saunders, the United Nations’ director of the Office of the Under-Secretary-General for Management, told Al Jazeera’s The Stream, “There is no longer going to be impunity.” 

Saunders also says UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres is going to work with member states to make sure abusers are taken to task and held criminally responsible for their crimes.

In February, the UN announced the number of reported cases worldwide has risen since 2015. The UN attributes the increase to its efforts to encourage victims to come forward. While this is seen as a step in the right direction, why is the abuse still happening and what’s being done to curb future attacks?

Representatives of the UN and other aid organisations join The Stream to answer those questions in the second half of a two-part discussion.

On this episode of The Stream, we speak to:

Christian Saunders
Director, Office of the Under-Secretary-General for Management, United Nations

Liz Bloomfield @bloomfield_liz1
Program Manager for Protection, InterAction

Catherine Plumridge
Director, Humanitrain
humanitrain.com

Ezili Danto
Founder, Haitian Lawyers Leadership Network
ezilidanto.com

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