UNITED NATIONS GATE, August 7 -- UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres says he has a "zero tolerance" policy for sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment, and for retaliation. But on March 15 he took his administration's "press briefing" about UN sexual abuse off the record, in a room he has banned Inner City Press which most asks about it from for 400days.
On August 6, the UN sent out an alert that there was new information on its sex abuse complaint website. But there, at the top it was the same Morocco peacekeeper child rape - an outrage - and the other items from before. So was the new allegation buried in the data below? On August 7, Inner City Press asked: " August 7-5: Please immediately state what is/was the new information on UN sexual exploitation and abuse referred to in yesterday alert - visiting the page, the top items remain Morocco peacekeeper child rape, Nigeria, etc - are new allegations being buried elsewhere on the data page? Please immediately explain, as Inner City Press remains barred from any entry of the UN to ask in person and follow up..."
Now this, which we nearly immediately publish in full, from Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq: "On question August 7-5: The UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) has received a report of sexual exploitation involving one member of the Republic of Congo military contingent formerly deployed to the Mission. The allegation refers to an exploitative relationship involving an adult woman that allegedly took place from unspecified date in 2013 to unspecified date in 2017 and resulted in birth of two children. The UN has informed the Member State of the allegation and has requested that a National Investigation Officer be appointed within five (5) working days, and the investigation to be completed within the reduced 90-days timeframe. The mission referred the alleged victim and children for appropriate services. The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) has received an allegation of sexual exploitation and abuse. The allegation involves an employee of a contractor in the Mission, and refers to the attempted sexual assault of a minor that allegedly took place in April 2019. An investigation into the allegation is underway by OIOS. The mission offered appropriate assistance to the victim in line with the UN’s victim assistance protocols." We'll have more on this.
At 12:31 pm on August 5, during a UN noon briefing from which Guterres and his spokesman Stephane Dujarric banned Inner City Press for the 398th day, they data dumped yet another UN sexual exploitation charge, against a UN Nigeria "peacekeeper" in South Sudan. Other previous charges were suddenly missing from the UN data base. No one allowed into Dujarric's briefing asked; Inner City Press has submitted this in writing: "This is a Press request that you immediately provide all if-asked and additional information about the new allegation of SEA announced at 12:31 pm today, apparently of SE by a Nigeria "peacekeeper" in South Sudan - and also why previously published charges are no longer in the data to which UN Peacekeeping Conduct and Discipline points, including what if being done for these victims and any steps taken to avoid this constant repetition of abuse despite the SG's ostensible commitments. Inner City Press is asking in writing because banned from the noon briefings and any follow up questions, now for a year. Today as before none of Inner City Press' written questions, including on Cameroon, have been answered."
Now Dujarric's deputy has sent Inner City Press the below, which we publish in full - no answer on where the now missing allegations went, much else any answers on Cameroon, Taiwan or Guterres' financially linked favorite, China: "The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has received two allegations of sexual exploitation. The first allegation involves a Ghanaian military officer formerly deployed to the mission, and refers to an exploitative relationship with a local female that allegedly took place from October to November 2018 and resulted in pregnancy. The second allegation involves a Nigerian military contingent member formerly deployed to the mission, and refers to an exploitative relationship with a local female that allegedly took place sometime in 2019. The UN has informed the Member States of their respective allegations and National Investigation Officers have been appointed by the two Member States within the timeframe requested. The alleged victims have been referred for appropriate assistance in line with the UN’s victim assistance protocols. The Mission will continue to monitor their needs, as well as maintaining contact as appropriate." Appreciated, but what about the now missing allegations? We'll have more onthis.
At 11 am on the morning of July 23 the UN data dumped a serious new charge, of child rape by a Moroccan UN Peacekeeper in the DR Congo. This comes a week after this pick up in TRT and elsewhere of Inner City Press' scoop on Guterres poised to reward Colin Stewart with re-appointment atop MINURSO despite sexual harassment charges UN staff complain to Inner City Press about. To Guterres, hisdeputy Amina J. Mohammed and two spokesmen, Inner City Press immediately in writing asked: "This is a Press request that you immediately provide all if-asked and additional information about the new allegation of SEA by a Moroccan UN Peacekeeper - apparently, rape of a child - in the DRC, uploaded after 11 am on July 23, including what if being done for the child victim and any steps taken to avoid this constant repetition of abuse despite the SG's ostensible commitments. Inner City Press is asking in writing because banned from briefing and any follow up questions, now for [more than] a year."
For three whole days Guterres' UN did not answer or even acknowledge the question. Inner City Press wrote about it each day, and its readers - even those following for coverage of the Jeffrey Epstein case in the SDNY -marveled at Guterres' cover up of child rapes. That may continue, but on July 26 from acting Spokesman Farhan Haq, which we immediately publish:
"In response to your question[s] -- The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) has received an allegation of sexual abuse involving a Moroccan military contingent member formerly deployed to the Mission. The allegation refers to the rape of a minor that allegedly took place from January to March 2019 and resulted in pregnancy. The UN has informed the Member State of the allegation and a National Investigation Officer has been appointed within the timeframe requested. The investigation will be conducted jointly by the Member State and OIOS. The mission has offered appropriate assistance to the victim in line with the UN’s victim assistance protocols."
On July 3 Inner City Press immediately wrote to Guterres and his spokesmen, Stephane Dujarric who does the noon briefing with his friends like banning Inner City Press, and Farhan Haq, "This is a Press request that you immediately provide all if-asked and additional information about the new allegation of SEA by a South African UN Peacekeeper in the DRC, uploaded after 11 am on July 3, including what if being done for the victim and any steps taken to avoid this constant repetition of abuse despite the SG's ostensible commitments. Inner City Press is asking in writing because banned from briefing and any follow up questions, now for a year."
Dujarric held his noon briefing, bantering with his correspondents who did not ask about UN sexual exploitation, and refused to answer Inner City Press' written questions about China and Cameroon, Nigeria and censorship. Farhan Haq sent this response: "The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) has received a report of sexual exploitation involving a Military staff officer from the Republic of South Africa currently deployed to the Mission. The allegation refers to transactional sex involving an adult woman that allegedly took place from November 2018 to January 2019 and resulted in pregnancy. The alleged victim was referred to UNFPA for appropriate support. The Mission will continue to monitor her needs, as well as provide any additional assistance if requested to do so by her. The Republic of South Africa has been notified and appointed the National Investigation Officer after eight (8) days. The matter is being investigated by the troop-contributing country. The UN has suspended payments for the staff officer who has also been suspended from active duty, pending the completion of the national investigation." We'll have more on this.
On May 13, in the middle of a belatedly UNSecurity Council meeting about Cameroon and still without providing basic if-asked information about rapes by UN peacekeepers at least identified as being from Cameroon, the UN data dumped more sexual exploitation allegations against it, in the DR Congo, by an "international" with nationality undisclosed.Inner City Press on the morning of May 14 asked Guterres, his spokesman Stephane Dujarric (who never answers despite his on camera promise to) and deputy spokesman Farhan Haq, who sometimes does provide the if-asked information,"May 14-2: On UN sexual abuse and exploitation, immediately provide all if-asked further information about the allegation(s) in the DR Congo put online on May 13 in the middle of the belated UNSC meeting on Cameroon, and explain why the SG does not disclose the nationality of international staff accused of sexual misconduct, and of the April 17 regarding Burundi and South Africa peacekeepers and still the Cameroon troops' rape allegations you have not provide any further information on - and now the four cases put online on May 9,four more sexual misconduct cases, declaring three "unsubstanted" including the alleged rape of a child in Guinea Bissau by a UN civilians whose nationality the UN declined to disclose. The fourth involves a UN person from DRC, but the position in the MONUSCO mission is undisclosed."
Deputy spokesman Haq some hours later replied, and we publish in full, "On question May 14-2, we can say the following: The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) has received an allegation of sexual exploitation involving a civilian international staff. The allegation refers to an exploitative relationship involving an adult woman that allegedly took place over an unspecified period and resulted in the birth of a child. The matter is being investigated by the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS). Meanwhile, the mission is making all efforts to locate the alleged victim and her child to provide them with the appropriate support as per the UN’s victim assistance policy." But why is the nationality withheld? We'll have more on this.
On May 9 - still unanswered four days later - the UN declared three "unsubstanted" including the alleged rape of a child in Guinea Bissau by a UN civilians whose nationality the UN declined to disclose. The fourth involves a UN person from DRC, but the position in the MONUSCO mission is undisclosed. Even the UN's initial disclosures are getting more and more evasive. Will they continue, as they began after physical ousting and banning Inner City Press which asks, to not provide if-asked information? Or will the Deputy Spokesman, as he did earlier this week and then more than a month before, provide at least that information? Watch this site.
On May 2 the UN disclosed two cases, both in CAR, by "peacekeepers" from Senegal and from Gabon, another country Guterres' UN is failing on. On May 3 Inner City Press asked UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric and others for the if-asked information on these cases, and one from Guinea Bissau. For five days, nothing. Inner City Press reiterated the questions early on the morning of May 8. Then this, from Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq, which we publish in full minutes after receipt: "Regarding question May 8-2, here is the relevant information from the missions:
The UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) has received two allegations of sexual exploitation involving members of its military contingents deployed to the Mission.
The first allegation refers to attempted transactional sex by a Gabonese peacekeeper, involving an adult woman, that allegedly took place in March 2019. The second allegation refers to transactional sex involving an adult woman by a Senegalese peacekeeper that allegedly also took place in March 2019. The Mission informed the alleged victim of available assistance in line with the UN’s victim assistance protocols, which was declined by the victim. The UN has accordingly separately informed both Member States. Further, the UN has requested the countries to appoint their own National Investigation Officer within five working days and for investigations to be completed within the reduced 90-days timeframe.
Meanwhile, the Mission reports that the Senegalese peacekeeper is currently confined to barracks, while the peacekeeper from Gabon has been repatriated. The UN has withheld payment for both peacekeepers.
The United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS) has received an allegation of sexual exploitation involving a civilian international staff. The allegation refers to transactional sex with an adult woman. The alleged victim was offered medical, psycho-social and legal assistance and the Mission is maintaining continuous contact with her to keep her informed of the status and progress of the investigation which is being conducted by the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS)." Why is the time frame of the abuse in Guinea Bissau not given? And why is the nationality withheld? We'll have more on this.
