Sexual exploitation and abuse by international peacekeepers

The UK’s “leading” work to tackle the widespread problem of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) by international peacekeepers is relevant and important, but could be strengthened with more focus on survivors and a stronger approach to learning. This short report is a companion to ICAI’s January 2020 review of The UK’s Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative.

  1. Status: Completed
  2. Published: 30 September 2020
  3. Type: Companion review
  4. Subject: Cross-government aid spend, Fragile states, Humanitarian assistance, Women and girls
  5. Assessment: Unrated
  6. Location: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Somalia
  7. Lead commissioner: Tamsyn Barton

Read the review

Our review found that the UK’s “leading” work to tackle the widespread problem of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) by international peacekeepers is relevant and important, but could be strengthened with more focus on survivors and a stronger approach to learning. The review is not scored, but makes two recommendations for the government to take forward.

Findings:

Relevance: Does the UK have a well-considered approach to tackling sexual exploitation and abuse by international peacekeepers?

  • The UK is a leading voice on SEA at the UN and is encouraging other donors to follow.
  • The FCO supported its advocacy work with targeted investments to improve conduct and discipline in peacekeeping operations.
  • The UN has recognised the need to support survivors, but this has not featured strongly in the UK’s support to the UN.

 

Effectiveness: How well have programmes aimed at tackling sexual exploitation and abuse by international peacekeepers delivered on their objectives?

  • The UK has promoted some high-profile reforms to UN peacekeeping and helped to lay down the standards expected of peacekeepers.
  • While efforts to train peacekeepers on SEA show promise, the results from these training activities are yet to be demonstrated.
  • UK aid funds few local-level projects aimed at empowering and supporting survivors of SEA in international peacekeeping in their communities.

 

Learning: How have responsible departments sought to learn from, and apply learning to, programming on sexual exploitation and abuse by international peacekeepers?

  • So far, there has been little production and sharing of learning on SEA.

 Recommendations

  1. The UK government should aim for closer integration and sharing of learning between its efforts to tackle SEA in international peacekeeping and its wider work on conflict-related sexual violence.
  2. The UK government should ensure that efforts to improve discipline among peacekeeping personnel are balanced with measures to promote the interests and welfare of survivors.

 

Read the news story

 

Timeline

Approach

Published 12 June 2019

Evidence gathering

Complete

Review publication

Published 30 September 2020

Parliamentary scrutiny

IDC hearing 3 November 2020

Government response

Published 11 November 2020

ICAI follow-up

Published 30 June 2022