Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by UN Peacekeepers

This episode of the Völkerrechtliche Tagesthemen focuses on crimes of sexual nature. Specifically, those not alien to the United Nations peace operations as they have been present since the 1960’s. What makes the phenomenon so appalling and unforgivable is the fact that it is committed by the very same people who are responsible for the safeguarding of the civilian population against armed violence.

This lecture covers the cyclical nature of sexual exploitation and abuse (short: SEA) on the level of the United Nations as well as the delving into the UN’s actions aiming to prevent, curb and eliminate SEA. It also highlights the issue of reporting and underreporting along with the motivations of perpetrators and in general the category of victims based on available data. Lasty and briefly, it addresses how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected SEA.