UN: 69 claims of sexual abuse made against peacekeepers last year

A United Nations (UN) report has said there were 69 allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse made against UN peacekeeping soldiers last year.

The figure, which the UN described as "deeply worrisome", is an increase on 52 claims made in 2014 and 66 in 2013. The most allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation - 75 - were made in 2011.

The UN said 22 of the cases in 2015 took place in the Central African Republic, while 16 were reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and nine in Haiti.

At least 22 of the claims involved sexual abuse of minors and 15 reportedly resulted in pregnancy, according to the report.

The countries which received the most allegations in 2015 are reportedly the DRC, Morocco, South Africa, Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Tanzania.

So far, 17 of the 69 claims have been investigated and 10 were found to be unsubstantiated.

Mr Khare said the UN and its partners must adopt a victim-centred approach, with urgent psychological, medical, and legal assistance provided, particularly when the victims are very young children.

He added: "In this regard, the Secretary-General is proposing the creation of a trust fund. It would be funded voluntarily, but also from the salaries withheld from those who face significant allegations which have been substantiated...

“We will spare no effort in making it possible for victims to come forward and for their allegations to receive serious consideration".

There are over 124,700 personnel serving in 16 peacekeeping operations around the world, according to the UN.