Geneva | Wednesday
THE UN refugee agency said on Tuesday that it had found evidence of “extensive” sexual exploitation of refugee children in West Africa, allegedly by local aid workers.
A team commissioned by the UNHCR and Save the Children UK reported that much of the abuse had allegedly been carried out by workers locally employed by aid organisations and UN agencies, the two said in a joint statement.
The evidence, based largely on childrens’ testimonies collected during a 40-day mission late in October and November, was found in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, the statement said.
In all three countries, the team said workers had reportedly used “the very humanitarian aid and services intended to benefit the refugee population as a tool of exploitation.”
Most of the alleged perpetrators were male national staff who traded humanitarian commodities and services for sex with girls under 18, according to the findings.
The report also contains allegations of sexual exploitation against children by international peacekeepers and community leaders, the statement added.
In all, more than 40 agencies and organisations and nearly 70 individuals were mentioned in the testimonies.
UNHCR and Save the Children UK have released details of the report because of the “disturbing nature of the allegations” and the apparent scope of the problem, they said.
They added that the problem appeared to be especially pronounced in refugee camps in Guinea and Liberia.
Sources in Abidjan said the report was due to have been made public after being discussed in Geneva by the UNHCR on Wednesday. But details of the findings were reported in the media before then.
UNHCR and Save the Children also highlighted the need for “immediate and coordinated remedial measures” by agencies and organisations.
They stressed that the assessment mission was neither an investigation nor in-depth research study and the team had made clear that it was not in a position to verify all the allegations.
“Nevertheless the number of allegations leaves no doubt that there is a serious problem of sexual exploitation demanding further action and investigation,” the statement said.
An independent team has already been sent to the region to carry out a “preliminary, low profile” investigation to determine how to proceed without endangering the children involved.
It includes UN investigators from New York, staff from the office of the UNHCR Inspector General and an outside expert on child sexual abuse.
In addition, the two agencies said measures would be taken to improve protection for women and children refugees.
The UNHCR has drawn up a plan for implementing remedial measures to combat child abuse in the region which include increasing security and international presence in camps and the deployment of more female staff.
Other steps on the list include establishing a reporting mechanism to provide refugees with a secure channel for raising complaints with senior UNHCR staff.
The initial assessment was launched by UNHCR and Save the Children UK last year following growing concern over the nature and extent of sexual violence and exploitation of refugee children in West African countries.
The mission included an independent consultant, a UNHCR consultant and a staff member of Save the Children UK. – AFP