Reports of sexual abuse by peacekeepers “shocked” UN in CAR

The allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers in the Central African Republic or CAR came as a “huge shock” to the UN Mission there also known by the acronym, MINUSCA. That’s what Diane Corner, the Deputy Head of MINUSCA said during a visit to UN Headquarters in New York on the last day of her tenure. International troops serving as peacekeepers in CAR were accused of sexually abusing a number of young children in exchange for food or money between 2013 and 2015. A year later, an investigation by the UN uncovered more claims of abuse in ten peace operations. The majority were made against MINUSCA and the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, MONUSCO. Ms Corner shared with Liz Scaffidi the impact these cases have had on MINUSCA and the UN overall.

Women should form “sisterhood” as battle over their rights intensifies: expert

Women are being urged by a UN independent expert to “open their eyes” and form a “real sisterhood” to counter the “alarming backlash” against women’s rights underway in many parts of the world. Alda Facio, Chairperson of the Working Group on the Issue of Discrimination against Women in Law and in Practice made the remarks on Thursday. The group released a statement warning that the very concept of gender equality was being increasingly contested in some quarters. Speaking to Jocelyne Sambira on the line from Costa Rica, Ms Facio shared how some UN member states were “openly hostile” to women’s equality and rights.

Women have “powerful voice” in global scientific community 

Women have a “powerful voice” in the global scientific community, the head of a UN partner organization that works to end nuclear testing has said. Lassina Zerbo, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization or CTBTO, was speaking on the last day of an international conference on science and technology that took place in Vienna, Austria. CTBTO is active in traditionally male-dominated fields, but it has been making an effort to increase women’s representation in the organization. Speaking to Rocio Franco Rivero, Mr Zerbo also underscored the importance of having so many young people take part in the event.

Presenter: Jocelyne Sambira

Production Assistant: Ana Carmo

Duration: 10’00″