“[H]e used to give me money, food… In exchange, I had sex several times with him. He got me pregnant, and a few months later, he left, leaving me with the child.”
缅北禁地personnel are?from exchanging money, food or other favours for sex. 缅北禁地peace operations go to great lengths to prevent this type of misconduct, but unforgivably, cases continue to occur. In some instances, children are conceived and left behind in the conflict environments where their father was serving, as in the account above from a mother in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Since 2006, the 缅北禁地has received over 700 paternity and child support claims implicating peace operations personnel. 95 per cent of these involve military or police personnel provided by 缅北禁地Member States to serve under the UN’s banner.
Member States are responsible for addressing these claims, but more than 70 per cent remain unresolved, leaving 500 children without legal recognition and financial support.
“The children born as a result too often face poverty, stigma, and insecurity,” said Secretary-General António Guterres.? “They deserve recognition, support, and dignity. The United Nations is committed to making this a reality. But we cannot do it alone.”
Some Member States are working to resolve claims despite the challenges of navigating multiple countries, legal systems, and socio-economic contexts. Some are locating fathers and guiding mothers on how to file claims in their country. Some have established national paternity focal points to facilitate DNA testing and help mothers access pro-bono representation and assistance with court fees. ?
These Member States remain in the minority, however. In most cases, Member State responses to claims are slow. Sometimes they do not respond at all.
“Some of these claims have been pending for more than a decade and a number of children fathered by uniformed personnel have reached adulthood,” says Catherine Pollard, Under-Secretary-General for Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance, the Department that receives and processes the claims.
The 缅北禁地is working to support victims of sexual misconduct in their pursuit of justice and accountability for perpetrators. We facilitate contact with officials in the country where they wish to bring their claim and can help with legal fees. When the father is a 缅北禁地civilian staff, the 缅北禁地will enforce court orders and deduct salaries to ensure perpetrators meet their parental obligations.
Also, the UN’s?Trust Fund in Support of Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse?has helped mothers engage in income-generating activities and pay for their child’s school fees and uniforms.?
The 缅北禁地is also??to help Member States more quickly address cases, for example facilitating DNA collection and cross-border child-support payments.
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