The United Nations has launched investigations into allegations
of "widespread sexual exploitation and abuse" by a UN contingent
serving in Bouake, Cote d'Ivoire, the world body announced
Friday.
Due to the serious nature of the allegations, the UN said in a
statement, all activities of the contingent have been suspended and
the soldiers have been confined to their base.
The allegations resulted from an internal investigation by the
United Nations Mission in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI), the statement
said.
"The United Nations reiterates Zero Tolerance policy toward
sexual exploitation and abuse and stresses its determination to
work with our troop and police contributing countries to ensure
that all UN personnel are held accountable to the highest standards
of behavior," the statement said.
Bouake is a rebel stronghold in northern Cote d'Ivoire.
Peacekeeping troops from Bangladesh, Ghana, Morocco and Pakistan
are reportedly based there.
On Monday, the UN Security Council extended the mandates of the
UNOCI and of the French forces that support it until January 1 next
year.
The UN mission and the French forces backing it, whose mandates
expired on Monday, will "support the organization in Cote d'Ivoire
of free, fair and transparent elections," the 15-member council
said in a resolution.
The resolution requested UNOCI to "support the full
implementation" of the Ouagadougou political agreement," which was
signed last March by Ivorian Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, a
former rebel leader, and President Laurent Gbagbo, to reunite the
country and pave way for elections aimed at re-establishing lasting
peace in the country.
(Xinhua News Agency July 21, 2007)
