Haiti - FLASH : UN peacekeepers, towards a new scandal
The draft report by the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), which was leaked to the press before its publication scheduled for June 15th reveals that members of the peacekeeping mission of the UN (MINUSTAH) in Haiti (present since 2004) have had sexual intercourse of transactional in nature with more than 200 Haitians (women and under 18 girls) in exchange for material assistance, financial or medical assistance.
The report reveals that investigators have reported 231 cases of Haitian women who claimed to have had transactional relationships with the peacekeepers. 1/3 of these women victims of alleged abuse are minors aged under 18.
In rural areas, the report said, women were motivated by hunger, lack of shelter or obtain goods like baby products or medications. In town, they wanted to get shoes, cell phones, laptops, money or perfume in exchange for favors.
This draft report does not specify how many peacekeepers are involved or over what period these events occurred.
