The number of allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse involving UN peacekeeping personnel in 2010 fell from the previous year, according to new statistics released here Tuesday by the United Nations Departments of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and Field Support (DFS).
Allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse involving all categories of peacekeeping personnel decreased to 85 in 2010 from 112 in 2009, said the 2010 statistics.
"I am pleased to announce that the number of allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse involving peacekeeping personnel decreased markedly from 2009 to 2010," said Susana Malcorra, under secretary-general for the department of field support. "The UN takes each and every allegation seriously, and we are fully committed to eradicating such abuse."
In 2008, 83 were reported compared to 127 in 2007.
The 2010 statistics also cited remaining concern over the number of allegations of most serious forms of sexual exploitation and abuse, involving non-consensual sex and minors, which represent 51 percent and 35 percent of the total number of allegations from that year.
The year 2010 marked the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the distinct entity to address misconduct involving peacekeeping personnel.
The Conduct and Discipline Unit (CDU) and its Conduct and Discipline Teams (CDTs) are currently deployed in 13 peacekeeping and special political missions and are in response to serious allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse involving peacekeeping personnel.
Both the CDU and CDT personnel work on the implementation of the UN's three-pronged strategy to eradicate sexual exploitation and abuse: prevention of misconduct, enforcement of UN standards of conduct, and remedial action.
