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UN Peacekeeping Forces – a Legal Analysis of Individual Accountability for Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

Rosqvist, Alva LU (2020) JURM02 20201
Department of Law
Faculty of Law
Abstract
United Nations peacekeeping operations have, for the better part of two decades, been plagued by allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse of local civilian populations. Several reports indicate not only that peacekeepers exploit and abuse the very people they were sent to protect, but also that these crimes routinely go unpunished. This thesis examines and evaluates the different methods of holding United Nations military peacekeepers accused of sexual crimes to account, with focus being put on criminal accountability. Firstly, the internal framework of peacekeeping missions is studied, and its implications for achieving accountability are assessed. Secondly, three different avenues of accountability outside the United Nations, namely... (More)
United Nations peacekeeping operations have, for the better part of two decades, been plagued by allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse of local civilian populations. Several reports indicate not only that peacekeepers exploit and abuse the very people they were sent to protect, but also that these crimes routinely go unpunished. This thesis examines and evaluates the different methods of holding United Nations military peacekeepers accused of sexual crimes to account, with focus being put on criminal accountability. Firstly, the internal framework of peacekeeping missions is studied, and its implications for achieving accountability are assessed. Secondly, three different avenues of accountability outside the United Nations, namely the jurisdiction of the troop contributing country, the host state and the International Criminal Court, are explored and analysed. The conclusion reached is that each examined pathway of accountability has its advantages, but none of them provide a satisfactory solution. Because of this, a number of measures to enhance and strengthen the individual criminal accountability of peacekeepers are suggested. These suggestions build upon the strengths and weaknesses discovered throughout the thesis. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
Förenta Nationernas fredsbevarande operationer har under nästan två decennier besvärats av anklagelser om sexuellt utnyttjande av och sexuella övergrepp på civilbefolkningar. Flera rapporter visar inte bara att organisationens fredsbevarande styrkor begår dessa brott mot just de människor de fått i uppdrag att beskydda, utan också att de undgår ansvar och straff. Denna uppsats undersöker och utvärderar olika alternativ för att hålla de Förenta Nationernas militära fredsbevarande styrkor anklagade för sexualbrott ansvariga. Fokus läggs på det straffrättsliga ansvaret. För det första studeras det interna regelverket för fredsbevarande operationer samt dess konsekvenser för det straffrättsliga ansvaret. För det andra utreds tre externa... (More)
Förenta Nationernas fredsbevarande operationer har under nästan två decennier besvärats av anklagelser om sexuellt utnyttjande av och sexuella övergrepp på civilbefolkningar. Flera rapporter visar inte bara att organisationens fredsbevarande styrkor begår dessa brott mot just de människor de fått i uppdrag att beskydda, utan också att de undgår ansvar och straff. Denna uppsats undersöker och utvärderar olika alternativ för att hålla de Förenta Nationernas militära fredsbevarande styrkor anklagade för sexualbrott ansvariga. Fokus läggs på det straffrättsliga ansvaret. För det första studeras det interna regelverket för fredsbevarande operationer samt dess konsekvenser för det straffrättsliga ansvaret. För det andra utreds tre externa alternativ för ansvarshållande, nämligen det truppbidragande landets jurisdiktion, värdstatens jurisdiktion och Internationella Brottmålsdomstolens jurisdiktion. Slutsatsen som nås är att alla undersökta alternativ har fördelar, men ingen av dem utgör en tillfredsställande lösning. På grund av detta föreslås ett antal åtgärder för att förbättra och stärka det individuella straffrättsliga ansvaret för fredsbevarande styrkor. Förslagen bygger på de fördelar och nackdelar som upptäcks under studiens gång. (Less)
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author
Rosqvist, Alva LU
supervisor
organization
course
JURM02 20201
year
type
H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
subject
keywords
public international law, United Nations, peacekeeping, sexual exploitation and abuse
language
English
id
9010384
date added to LUP
2020-06-15 11:53:03
date last changed
2020-06-15 11:53:03
@misc{9010384,
  abstract     = {{United Nations peacekeeping operations have, for the better part of two decades, been plagued by allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse of local civilian populations. Several reports indicate not only that peacekeepers exploit and abuse the very people they were sent to protect, but also that these crimes routinely go unpunished. This thesis examines and evaluates the different methods of holding United Nations military peacekeepers accused of sexual crimes to account, with focus being put on criminal accountability. Firstly, the internal framework of peacekeeping missions is studied, and its implications for achieving accountability are assessed. Secondly, three different avenues of accountability outside the United Nations, namely the jurisdiction of the troop contributing country, the host state and the International Criminal Court, are explored and analysed. The conclusion reached is that each examined pathway of accountability has its advantages, but none of them provide a satisfactory solution. Because of this, a number of measures to enhance and strengthen the individual criminal accountability of peacekeepers are suggested. These suggestions build upon the strengths and weaknesses discovered throughout the thesis.}},
  author       = {{Rosqvist, Alva}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{UN Peacekeeping Forces – a Legal Analysis of Individual Accountability for Sexual Exploitation and Abuse}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}