Demand the UN stop Sexual Abuse by Peacekeepers

UN peacekeepers burst into a family home at 2am in the morning for what they called a routine search. Deep inside the Central African Republic life is anything but routine. Rocked by political unrest it has become a hotbed of violence and extremism that has seen waves of killing and looting that have forced 1 million people - nearly a quarter of the population to flee. Despite the presence of a UN peacekeeping force, revenge attacks are a daily occurrence.

The blue helmets of the UN have become a source of calm and peace, as many look to them are their only providers of safety and security.
This dream was shattered for a young little girl on this dark night, as the routine search turned into a nightmare. Her protectors became her attackers, her trust broken forever. She was pulled outside, raped and beaten. She could not understand why the man with the blue helmet was hurting her. Her cries of confusion and hurt cut short as he beat her every time she opened her mouth. Even her last whimper as she lay curled up on the cold hard rocky ground resulted in a sharp slap.
Her cries went unheeded, as those who intervene face punishment themselves. She lay there till morning, when her parents felt safe enough to come out.

Recently the UN has revealed more allegations of abuse of girls or young women by peacekeepers in CAR. But the abuse is so much wider in range than just in the Central African Republic. All over Africa where UN peacekeepers are deployed reports of abuse and rape by the men in blue helmets has been reported, yet nothing is being done. But it is not just Africa, Haiti also has a long list of reported rapes by the UN.

The punishment as been mild thus far. Those put if charge of protecting the weak and vulnerable are continuing their abuse without fear of punishment. The reported cases are largely swept under the carpet or at most the perpetrator sent home. Being sent home means there was at last some sort of investigation, which unfortunately is very rare indeed.

Thos of us lucky enough to live in a first world country take our everyday freedoms for granted. We are assured that we are safe, that we can step out of our homes and walk the streets without fear. We do not think how such everyday things can be such a nightmare for others.
They rely on the protection of the UN to just be normal, to be able to go out and play soccer in the garden, to play with dolls in the streets and to push prams with make-believe babies. Yet when their protectors become their tormentors, where do they turn? Where do they turn when their very source of security becomes their deepest fears and nightmares? They turn to us, because we are the only ones now who can do anything. We, the people who will not put up with the world turning a blind eye to those in need, those of us who insist that the wrongs are righted and that people are respected and that they can enjoy the freedoms that we take for granted. They do not now this yet, but together we are going to make a difference. Sign with me and pass this petition on - we will make our voices heard, we will impact these lives that rely on others.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said much, but done little - and for those the blue helmets are meant to protect, actions speak louder than words. Secretary General you have promised reforms for increased accountability for those who would abuse the innocents they are meant to protect and support for those whom they have harmed, abused and raped.

We demand that you live up to your word - that a stricter vetting process be put in place to filter out would-be criminals and rapists, that you punish those already caught and that reports of abuse and rape are investigated immediately and not just swept under the carpet. Punishment must fit the crime. Sending a rapist home is giving him permission to rape again, just without his blue helmet.

The lack of a coordinated UN response is a complete failure on your part Mr Ban Ki-Moon, and we demand that you rectify this now.