Security Council denounces abuse by UN peacekeepers News
Security Council denounces abuse by UN peacekeepers

[JURIST] The UN Security Council [official website] Tuesday for the first time condemned acts of sexual abuse and exploitation [UN press release] committed by UN peacekeepers and urged countries contributing troops to work to prevent such behavior from occurring in the future. A statement drafted by the US was read encouraging member states to avoid situations such as that seen in the Democratic Republic of Congo [BBC country profile] where peacekeeping personnel and civilian staff are accused of rape, pedophilia, and bribing hungry children to trade sex acts for food or money [JURIST report]. Internal UN investigations [JURIST report] beginning in December 2004 have resulted in the dismissal of five UN staff members and nine more being subjected to disciplinary proceedings. The Security Council's statement asks Secretary-General Kofi Annan [official website] to include in his reports the ways in which a zero-tolerance policy [JURIST report] is being implemented. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Laws of Burgos put into effect

The Spanish Crown put the Laws of Burgos into effect on December 27, 1512. These laws governed the relationship of Spanish settlers with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The laws established the encomienda system of labor, promoted conversion to Catholicism, and safeguarded the indigenous peoples from physical abuse.  However, historians argue that the laws were ineffective at protecting the rights of the indigenous population. Learn more from the Library of Congress.

Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public bar smashing

On December 27, 1900, militant Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public smashing of a bar, at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Nation argued that destroying bars was an acceptable means of battling the liquor trade since the Kansas Constitution prohibited alcohol. Learn more about Carrie Nation.

World Bank created

On December 27, 1944, the World Bank was created during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Learn more about the history of the World Bank.