UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein [official website] expressed his deep concern [press release] about the latest reports of sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers in the Central African Republic (CAR). The High Commissioner is seeking an investigation into the alleged conduct of the UN and French troops. He said the UN is taking these allegations very seriously, aiming to stop the vicious cycle of abuse. The Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), comprising experts on human rights, children and women’s protection and conduct and discipline took action launching a full ground investigation. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon [official website] stated that it is important to address the issue that the troops sent to protect the area acted in a despicable manner with a depraved and dark hearts. In order to restore trust in the institution and provide justice these allegations must be promptly addressed in an open manner.

Violence has persisted in the CAR since the predominately Muslim-based Seleka rebels ousted former president François Bozize [BBC profile] in March 2013. More than 400,000 people remain displaced due to the violent overthrow, with over a half million more people seeking refuge in other countries. In November UNICEF [official website] called for [press release] aid to approximately 1.2 million children distressed by conflict [JURIST report] in the CAR. In January of last year members of a UN investigatory commission reported that crimes against humanity have been widely committed by all parties to the conflict in the CAR, prompting the commission to call for the establishment of an international court [JURIST report] to objectively investigate and prosecute crimes. Earlier that month the UN published a report stating that violent acts committed in the CAR constituted war crimes and crimes against humanity [JURIST report], but not genocide. Despite this finding, members of the international community maintain that there is much work to be done [JURIST op-ed] in the nation. In 2014 the International Criminal Court [official website] opened a second investigation [JURIST report] into CAR war crimes.