http://tinyurl.com/39uhplThe United Nations will remove more than 100 Sri Lankan peacekeepers from Haiti after they were accused of sexual exploitation and abuse, said reports.
Of Sri Lanka's 950 soldiers in the impoverished Caribbean nation, 108 have been accused of paying for sex with Haitian prostitutes, including underaged girls, said Reuters and the BBC.
UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters in New York Friday the peacekeepers would be sent home Saturday.
"The United Nations and the Sri Lankan government deeply regret any sexual exploitation and abuse that has occurred," Montas said.
He added that the government of Sri Lanka plans to take further action against the soldiers.
"They are back under national jurisdiction. So far Sri Lanka has said … that they are going to be prosecuted in Sri Lanka."
The United Nations will remove more than 100 Sri Lankan peacekeepers from Haiti after they were accused of sexual exploitation and abuse, said reports.
Of Sri Lanka's 950 soldiers in the impoverished Caribbean nation, 108 have been accused of paying for sex with Haitian prostitutes, including underaged girls, said Reuters and the BBC.
UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters in New York Friday the peacekeepers would be sent home Saturday.
"The United Nations and the Sri Lankan government deeply regret any sexual exploitation and abuse that has occurred," Montas said.
He added that the government of Sri Lanka plans to take further action against the soldiers.
"They are back under national jurisdiction. So far Sri Lanka has said … that they are going to be prosecuted in Sri Lanka."
The UN has a zero-tolerance policy toward sexual abuse within its peacekeeping missions.
Over the past few years, UN peacekeepers in Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo have been accused of sexual exploitation.
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posted 04 November 2007 09:51 AM
