Amid Somalia Gang Rape Charges, UN Silent on Policy, Post-MSF Plan B
By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, August 22, 2013, updated -- With the UN-supported African
Union force in Somalia accused, along with the national army, of gang rape,
does the UN's stated Human Rights Due Diligence Policy apply to the support
it gives through UNSOA?
Inner City Press asked this policy question at the August 15 UN noon
briefing -- but 23 hours later, there is no answer from the Department of
Peacekeeping Operations, led by Herve Ladsous. Under his watch, the Policy
has been made a mockery of in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
After the Congolese Army's 391st Battalion was implicated in mass rape,
Ladsous tried to cover it up (video compilation here
<
http://youtu.be/rm1V-cY9u40> ) then decided to continue support.
Now that the same 391st Battalion is implicated in the desecration of
corpses <
http://www.innercitypress.com/drc1bat391usun072213.html> , support
continues, and Ladsous is nowhere to be found. And there are no answers on
policy.
From the UN's August 16 transcript:
<
http://www.un.org/News/briefings/docs/2013/db130815.doc.htm>
Inner City Press: I wanted to ask you about Somalia. There are these
allegations that the AMISOM [African Union Mission in Somalia] peacekeeping
force there, as well as the national forces, perpetuated a gang rape, and
it’s something that the AMISOM itself has said that it would investigate.
But, what I wanted to know is that, since the UN provides support to AMISOM
though UNSOA [United Nations Support Office for AMISOM] and provides money
and otherwise, does this human rights due diligence policy apply? And what
are the next steps if, in fact, either AMISOM or units of the national
forces of Somalia, which they, in turn, support, are guilty of the gang rape
as alleged?
Deputy Spokesperson Eduardo Del Buey: Well, we’re going to have to see what
the AMISOM investigation comes up with. Obviously, it’s up to them to
investigate and it’s very encouraging that they are going to investigate.
Inner City Press: No, but I guess what I want to know is, even before they
reach their finding, it seems like the UN should be able to say does this
human rights due diligence policy, which Patricia O’Brien spoke about, which
is a Ban Ki-moon policy, does it apply to the support the UN gives to AMISOM
in Somalia?
Deputy Spokesperson Del Buey: Well, we’ll have to find out about that,
Matthew. I don’t have that information with me.
Twenty three hours later, nothing. Inner City Press asked another question
about Somalia:
Inner City Press: with the MSF [Médecins Sans Frontières] statement that you
had yesterday, since then it said that Al-Shabaab either looted or took
over, it’s a little unclear, one of the hospitals that MSF is leaving in a
place called Marare, and I wanted to know, does the UN team there have any
information on that? What’s going to happen? It turns out that MSF was
running hospitals in eight cities with doctors and nurses that were Somali
nationals. Is there any plan to try to get another NGO [non-governmental
organization] to run the hospitals?
Deputy Spokesperson: Well, as I said yesterday, Mr. [Philippe] Lazzarini,
the Humanitarian Coordinator, is looking to see how the humanitarian
agencies can, in fact, replace what Médecins Sans Frontières was doing.
And what's the update from Philippe Lazzarini, or from the UN's top envoy
in Somalia, Nicholas Kay? Watch this site.
Update :
And look! After publication of the above, and seven minutes before the
Friday noon briefing, the UN and DPKO send an answer:
Subject: Your question on alleged rape in Somalia.
From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not Reply [at] un.org
Date: Fri, Aug 16, 2013 at 11:53 AM
To: Matthew.Lee_at_innercitypress.com
The Human Rights Due Diligence Policy does apply to support given by the UN
Support Office for AMISOM (UNSOA) to the African Union Mission in Somalia.
The Departments of Peacekeeping Operations and Field Support, including
UNSOA, take all allegations of violations of human rights by troops
supported by our missions with the utmost seriousness. In the particular
incident referred to, we understand that investigations into the alleged
rape are ongoing.
The Human Rights Due Diligence Policy emphasizes the responsibility of
national or responsible authorities to take action to mitigate or respond to
human rights abuses by security forces that receive our support. The policy
is aimed at over-all performance and respect for human rights and is
intended to prevent the United Nations supporting units associated with
"grave violations" as a pattern of behaviour.
This allegation is a reminder that violence against women and girls is
pervasive in Somalia. Early this year, Somali media, civil society and the
Government began to give the issue of sexual and gender-based violence the
attention it demands. At the London conference in May, the Government
further demonstrated its commitment when it signed an agreement with the UN
on preventing sexual violence.
Received on Thu Aug 22 2013 - 21:42:43 EDT