In 2024, a U.N. report revealed that allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation in U.N. peacekeeping and political missions exceeded 100 for the third time in a decade. According to the report, 65 of the allegations involved women who gave birth after stating they were raped and sought child support.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed in the report to the General Assembly that the allegations named 125 victims — 98 adults and 27 minors. It was fewer than the 145 victims identified in 2023, he said.
According to the report, two U.N. peacekeeping missions were responsible for 82% of the 102 allegations — Congo with 44 and the Central African Republic with 40. There have long been allegations of child rape and other sexual abuses committed by United Nations peacekeepers, particularly those based in the two African nations.
However, sexual misconduct was also reported at U.N. peacekeeping missions in South Sudan and Lebanon, as well as at political missions in Haiti, Colombia, and Afghanistan.
The secretary-general announced 190 allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse against staff of U.N. agencies, funds, and programs, down from 284 allegations in 2023. Additionally, there were 382 allegations concerning non-U.N. personnel collaborating with organizations that implement U.N. programs.
A high priority for Guterres has been to combat sexual abuse and exploitation since he became UN chief in 2017, and he has emphasised enforcement of the U.N.’s “zero-tolerance” policy on sexual misconduct. He has begun a series of changes to U.N. peacekeeping to increase investigations and designated a victims’ advocate to assist victims of sexual abuse.
But the latest report discovered that while U.N. training on sexual misconduct is compulsory, a 2024 survey of 64,585 U.N. staff uncovered that 3.65% — 2,360 employees — expressed it was acceptable to pay for sex. And close to 1% — 555 staffers — said “it was acceptable to engage in sexual activity with a child.”
It stated that “alarmingly”, the 2024 U.N. survey also revealed a significant incline in distrust toward the U.N. administration, with 6% of respondents — 3,700 team members — voicing a lack of confidence in the capacity of leaders to tackle sexual exploitation and abuse, double the percentage in 2023.
“This underscores an urgent need for leaders to demonstrate stronger, more visible and accountable leadership to foster trust among the staff of the United Nations system and the communities they serve,” the report stated.
Since 2006, the report declared, around 750 paternity and child support claims involving U.N. peacekeeping personnel have been documented, but more than 500 are still pending.
All claims are directed to the peacekeeper’s home country for resolution, but the report noted that most have failed to take significant action. The secretary-general called on countries “to take decisive action” to hold their nationals accountable and ensure that children born from sexual exploitation and abuse receive their rightful entitlements, including citizenship.
“I will examine ways to bring even greater attention to this critical issue, ensuring senior United Nations officials are held personally accountable when addressing sexual exploitation and abuse,”
Guterres added.
