"The Power These Men Have Over Us" Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by African Union Forces in Somalia - Human Rights Watch
This 71-page report documents the sexual exploitation and abuse of Somali women and girls on two AMISOM bases in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, since 2013. The AU soldiers, relying on Somali intermediaries, have used a range of tactics, including humanitarian aid, to coerce vulnerable women and girls into sexual activity. They have also raped or otherwise sexually assaulted women who were seeking medical assistance or water at AMISOM bases. Human Rights Watch interviewed 21 women and girls who described being raped or sexually exploited by Ugandan or Burundian military personnel serving with the AU forces.
Country / Region:
Somalia
Thematic Focus:
General Women, Peace and Security
Protection
Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
Peacekeeping
Displacement and Humanitarian Response
Human Rights
Date of Paper:
Monday, September 8, 2014
Organization / institution website:
Contact person email:
taylors@hrw.org
Contact person phone number:
+1-212-290-4700
Responsible for submission:
Sarah Taylor
Strategic recommendation(s):
- Establish a permanent and adequately resourced independent investigative body, staffed by professional and independent investigators, to investigate allegations of misconduct and abuses, including sexual exploitation and abuse, in all AU peace support operations; the body should investigate abuses by military, police, and civilian personnel.
- If there are substantial grounds to believe that personnel of peace support operations forces are committing serious violations of international human rights or humanitarian law, including sexual exploitation and abuse, and where the relevant authorities have failed to take the necessary corrective or mitigating measures, raise public concern and urge the AU and the troop-contributing country to carry out immediate investigations.
- If substantial allegations are not adequately addressed, consider ending military assistance to AU peace support operations forces, including AMISOM. No assistance should be provided to any unit implicated in abuses for which no appropriate disciplinary action has been taken.
Paper / Document:
