'Glib': UK criticised for failing to give to fund for survivors of UN sexual abuse

The UK government has come under fire from victims’ groups for failing to contribute to a UN fund for survivors of sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations staff.

A lawyer representing the mothers of the 11 “peacekeeper babies” in Haiti said survivors of UN abuse see the UK as “very glib about supporting victims”.

The fund was set up by the secretary general in March 2016, to provide medical, legal and other support, and to “place victims at the core” of its approach. So far, 19 member states – including Canada, Australia, Italy, Norway, India, Bangladesh and Albania – have made voluntary payments totalling $2m (£1.4m). The fund includes $370,000 (£265,000) of money withheld from UN personnel in cases where sexual abuse and exploitation allegations have been substantiated.

The Foreign Office said it has contributed £3m to “ending sexual abuse and exploitation” at the UN, but could not provide details on how much of the money would go to supporting survivors.

The criticism follows the international development secretary’s demand for British aid agencies to become world leaders in safeguarding, in the wake of allegations of sexual misconduct by Oxfam aid workers in Haiti following the earthquake in 2010.

Sienna Merope-Synge, an attorney at the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti (IJDH), said there was a “disconnect” between the UK government’s words and actions when it comes to survivors of exploitation.

Source: theguardian