Peacekeepers Abused Children
Recent Report reveals peacekeepers abuse children their sent to help
Everyday children in conflict stricken countries face a variety of issues. Last month SavetheChildren UK, a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization released a report about members of international organizations abusing the children in countries their sent to help. The report stated that often children in countries affected by conflict and natural disaster are abused by those sent to help them.
Beginning their investigation in May 2007, SavetheChildren UK conducted research in nations like the Sudan, Cote d`Ivoire (Ivory Coast) and Haiti. Their fieldwork was conducted largely in focus group discussions. Their research was aimed to uncover general information about the problem.
The No One To Turn To report revealed that for years members of international organizations have abused children in the South Sudan and Haiti, and for years it has been under reported.
The major reason for the under reporting is because there is a fear of losing " the much needed assistance." A young man in Southern Sudan told SavetheChildren "People don't report it because they are worried that the [International organizations] agency will stop working here, and we need them."
The scale of the problem is only suggested and not confirmed because a majority of the evidence collected by SavetheChildren is anecdotal and there is very little data to support a thesis. But still the report suggested that the scale is global.
Haiti's Stance
The United Nations Stabilizing Mission in Haiti, deployed in 2004, was sent to help bring peace and order to Haiti.
The island nation has suffered from various of social, economic and political conflicts over the past few years, from the 2004 Haitian rebellion against Aristide's election, to the recent set of kidnappings plaguing its major cities.
In an interview with the Haitian Consulate General to New York, Felix Augustin, he said that the Haitian government sees the actions by those involved as "deplorable". He stated that since the release of the report the Haitian Government has launched its own investigation into the problem.
He also said that Haiti "has no reason not to trust to the United Nations as an institution, but we may have problems with some of the individuals from this institution."
The Haitian president in May 2008 requested officers from the Brazilian president to help them with solving the problem of the kidnappings. 1,200 of the troops in the UN Stabilizing Mission in Haiti are from the Brazilian armed forces.
Everyday children in conflict-ridden countries face harsh conditions. Many being orphaned or separated from their parents and family, and many are starving, homeless and abused. When those sent to help are adding to the hardships on a global scale, a request for a new global watchdog is SavetheChildrenUK's logical appeal.
